GCW’s Brett Lauderdale Addresses Fan Backlash Over Sabu’s Final Match – The wrestling world is mourning the loss of ECW icon Sabu, who passed away on May 11, 2025, at the age of 60. The hardcore legend, whose real name was Terry Brunk, competed in his final match just weeks earlier, facing Joey Janela in a brutal no ropes barbed wire bout at GCW’s Spring Break 9 on April 18.
The match included a particularly dangerous moment in which Sabu took a bump to the outside and struck his head on the concrete floor. In the aftermath of his death, fans took to social media to question the decision to allow the match to proceed, given Sabu’s known health struggles and past statements regarding his physical condition.
Brett Lauderdale, promoter of Game Changer Wrestling, issued a public statement in response to the criticism. Lauderdale, who says he had been in close contact with Sabu for two decades and particularly in the last two years, defended the decision to host the match and denied any claims of negligence.
“As a rule, I try not to respond to every claim made on social media, but sometimes I need to speak up and get on the record.
When I received word of Sabu’s passing on Sunday, I was devastated. I have known Sabu personally for almost 20 years and been in constant contact with him for the last 2 years.
We were friends, and I cared about him and had/have deep respect for him. In the months leading up to the match, I told him repeatedly how much I believed in him and how excited I was for him to finally get his flowers and be celebrated the way he had earned and deserved. He was both nervous and excited, but determined to give the fans 1 last extreme performance to remember.
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. It’s upsetting and discouraging to see people so eager to cast judgment without knowledge of the facts.
I would never knowingly put someone who I believed was a danger to themselves or others in the ring and my track record shows this to be true. I have pulled people – in a public and painful manner – from big matches before, sometimes literal moments before a match was to begin and I would do it again if I had to.
I spoke to Sabu moments before the match, and he was Sabu. He was the same Sabu I had encountered in years past when I participated in his matches as a referee and later as a promoter. He was the same Sabu I met with the following day at Wrestlecon, andthe same Sabu that made multiple appearances on podcasts and at conventions in the weeks that followed.
The truth is Sabu lived a hard life both in and outside the ring. He was fearless and reckless… qualities that both endeared him to millions and made us worry about him at the same time. Decades of extreme took it’s toll and no matter what we want to believe, nobody is immortal.
While SABU will live forever, Terry Brunk will not and unfortunately his time has finally come. It’s sad, and my heart goes out to his friends and family and I join them in mourning his loss.
I feel lucky and blessed to have known him and I am proud to have been able to host his final match. Sabu was a legend and his impact in our world was immeasurable. He will never be forgotten.”
Sabu’s contributions to professional wrestling, particularly in the hardcore and extreme styles, left a lasting impact across multiple promotions including ECW, WWE, TNA, and GCW. His influence will be felt for generations to come.
GCW’s Brett Lauderdale Addresses Fan Backlash Over Sabu’s Final Match
