WWE icon Sabu passes away at 60

Professional wrestling legend Sabu, widely known for his trailblazing presence in ECW and WWE, has passed away at the age of 60. As confirmed by PWInsider, the icon breathed his last on May 11, only weeks after marking his retirement with a final bout against Joey Janela—billed as his farewell match.

While the cause of his death has yet to be revealed, reports confirm that Sabu had previously faced serious health concerns. 

In 2013, he suffered a medical emergency during the Squared Circle Expo, where he was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the show floor. At the time, Sabu acknowledged the incident through a brief post on Twitter (now X), stating he was recovering and thanking fans for their support, without disclosing further details.

Tributes have since poured in across the wrestling community. Fellow ECW star Francine wrote, "My heart is broken. Rest in peace to my friend Sabu. I love you always." 

Long-time ring partner Rob Van Dam paid homage with a simple finger-pointing emoji, a nod to Sabu's signature ring gesture. Brian Heffron, popularly known as The Blue Meanie, shared, "Rest In Peace Sabu… Thank you, I love you, I'll miss you… I'm totally devastated." 

WWE star Damian Priest added, "Rest easy, legend," along with a broken heart emoji.

Trained by his uncle Ed "The Sheik" Farhat, Sabu began his wrestling journey in 1985. He first gained fame in Japan through promotions such as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling, before joining ECW in 1993. His return to the franchise later that year led to a five-year run that shaped the hardcore wrestling genre.

A three-time World Heavyweight Champion, Sabu will be remembered as one of the most innovative and fearless performers to ever step into the ring.