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Bryan Idol from the NWA sent the following tribute to Sabu:
I still really don’t have the words, and it’s hard to believe I’m even writing this.
It was only a few weeks ago when we last hung out—and even better, it was totally unplanned and random. It was one of those nights that flew by because we were laughing hysterically at life’s nonsense the whole time. At the end of the night, I left with a great feeling, because although he usually gave me a compliment or encouragement here and there, he really took the time to say how proud of me he was and how blown away he was by some of the things I’ve been up to. It meant so much to me that he did that.
In some weird way, it almost felt like a final hangout—even though neither of us realized it at the time.
One thing I can say about Sabu is that he wasn’t some broken-down, taken-advantage-of bum like haters and Twitter dramas try to portray. Was he beat up? Yes. But for being in his 60s, he was still a BMF. He still had all his faculties and that demeanor that made him who he was—sharp, intense, tough, but also hilarious, gentle, and of course wild, with that thing inside him burning. He was still looking for what to do with it next, because he knew he didn’t have many matches left. But as you saw, he was reckless and unbreakable right down to his last one.
I’m not going to tell the whole world the story, but he seriously said something so personally funny that night, I will laugh about it for the rest of my life. Come to think of it, he has a few moments like that in my mind.
Bottom line: he lived hard and fast. He was a partier for sure—and that’s not a recipe for longevity.
I met Sabu in 2008, and what followed was a rollercoaster of events and emotions that could fill a book. From bloody matches, car crashes, and movie auditions to a couple of scuffles and so much more, I can honestly say I’m one of the luckiest wrestlers in the world to have shared those moments—both good and bad ????.
They say you learn the most on road trips with veteran wrestlers, and I can honestly say I had 2–3 life-changing talks with Sabu under those circumstances. I used to think I was just lucky, but that wasn’t luck—that was trust. And it means the world.
Sabu never made anything easy and wasn’t the type to really open doors. He said his uncle made it hard for him too, so that’s the way he was with me. But when I did earn something, he’d put himself on the line to make sure I got it. I always appreciated that. I was even lucky enough to train with him for a bit, and I can personally say he’s the reason I throw the best punches—even though I just kept bugging him to teach me the triple jump moonsault! But the punches… they’re the best (hilarious, I know—of all the things you can imagine Sabu teaching).
He was more than just a wrestler to me. He was beyond an inspiration. A warrior. A rebel. A legend. There was no second version of Sabu—he was the one and only.
He gave everything to this business, even when it gave nothing back. His scars told stories (stolen by The Wrestler movie). His character’s silence spoke volumes. His presence? Unforgettable.
He’s the reason that every time I’ve ever been really hurt on the ground and probably shouldn’t continue, I’ve gotten back up. He’s the reason that even when this business beats and breaks you until you feel like there’s nothing left, I’ve kept going. How could I complain when I’ve seen actual video of him breaking his neck, then trying to tape it up with athletic tape and finish the match?
When I broke my collarbone, they showed it one way on TV, but the reality is: I got up, was ready to finish the match, went to the back on my own, ate pizza and had a soda, then asked for a ride to the ER. There was only one reason. I told myself, “If Sabu can do it, so can you.” That’s carried me through more than a few times when I was seriously hurt in a match.
This Saturday, I’ll be stepping into the ring at the ECW Arena for the NWA—a building soaked in his legacy. A place where he became a legend. Win, lose, or draw, no matter what—I’m dedicating my match that night to Sabu. For every lesson. Every moment. Every memory. For the man who helped shape the wrestler I am today.
This one’s for you, brother—no… uncle, because you told me what that meant to you.
I was lucky that we got to share this time and space. I love looking back and thinking about some of the random moments you had with my parents, or my aunt, or my little brothers—complete nonsense
I hope Melissa is waiting for you.
Goodbye, Sabu. I’ll carry you with me every time I step out there.
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