Joey Janela resting in a training facility during his time with American wrestling promotion AEW. © Brian Johnston

Joey Janela Addresses Fan Allegations Following WWE Legend Sabu's Death

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Franz Christian Irorita | Last updated May 13, 2025 5:27 PM ET

GCW star Joey Janela denies claims by fans that he and GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale allowed WWE and ECW legend Sabu to wrestle his last match while under the influence of kratom. Controversial for its use as a pain reliever and treatment for opioid withdrawal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against the consumption of kratom.

The allegations came after the release of Janela's interview with Yahoo Sports' Uncrowned. In this interview, Janela described Sabu in the moments leading up to his retirement match on April 19. He explained how Sabu needed to use krakom in order to compete in the match. The interview was done just a few days after the match, although it wasn't released until last Monday.

Through a post on X, Janela claims that it was not he or GCW who gave Sabu the kratom, but instead it was Sabu's team who did.

"Sabu was a grown man, he did what he had to do to get out there," Janela explains. "I took care of him to the best of my ability... That night wasn't about me, it was about Sabu, and I wouldn't change a thing."

Janela wrestled Sabu at Joey Janela's Spring Break 9 event just a few weeks before Sabu's untimely death last Sunday. The hardcore legend won the No Rope Barbed Wire match in 17 minutes. After the match, Janela presented the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque to Sabu.

.@janelababy gives Sabu his Indie Wrestling Hall Of Fame plaque after their crazy barbed wire ropes match at #JJSB9 pic.twitter.com/fuw1sB1o5o
— Joel Pearl | Fightful Overbooked (@JoelPearl) April 19, 2025

Brett Lauderdale also responded through a post of his own, saying that "Any suggestion that I or 'GCW' or Joey Janela 'forced' him to do this match, supplied him with substances or somehow caused his death is irresponsible, disingenuous, hurtful and false."

A Fightful report (through SEScoops) suggests that there was no evidence that Sabu's retirement match contributed to his death. Details regarding the ECW legend's passing have not been made public as of publishing.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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