Sabu's Legacy and Triumphant Final Weeks in Pro Wrestling

After scoring the win, Sabu finally received his plaque for induction into the Independent Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was inducted last year but didn’t show up for the ceremony. This was a much more fitting place for him to receive the award: in the ring after one of his crazy hardcore matches.

Here’s a look at Sabu’s ring entrance for his retirement match against Janela.

Tommy Dreamer is known as “The Innovator of Violence,” but he gave Sabu credit for being a game changer on the level of some of the greats in the sports world.

Sabu also went out on top because he got to spend time with his peers, friends, and fans just one weekend before his death. ECW original Chubby Dudley shared his photo from the gathering.

I was fortunate to announce one of Sabu's matches. It was a six-man bout for Pittsburgh’s International Wrestling Cartel in 2003. In my ECW history book, "King of Philadelphia," I recognized Sabu as one of the Most Valuable Players in the history of the promotion:

“Before the eras of DVDs and streaming services, wrestling fans from around the world would trade videotapes with each other. One of their favorites was Sabu. Like New Jack, there was nothing Sabu wouldn’t do to destroy his opponents with chairs, tables, and crazy dives. He didn’t care if he hurt himself. He would bandage himself (or Krazy Glue himself!) back together and keep going. Sabu also won several titles and later was a top star in the WWE era of ECW.”