Terry Brunk - SABU: Scars, Silence & Superglue:

SABU: Scars, Silence, & Superglue
Copyright 2019 by Walking On Hot Waffles Publishers
in conjunction with Kenny Casanova & WOHW.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

The people depicted in this publication were very important people in Sabus life at one time or another. Therefore, we have tried to best recreate events, locations, and conversations from Sabus memories of them, but in some cases, minor details have changed due to the effects of many years of steel chair shots to the head, broken jaws, and other brain jarring injuries. In order to maintain anonymity, Sabu has also changed the names of a few individuals, places, identifying characteristics, and details such as physical properties, occupations, and locations. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
My neck!

ISBN: 978-1-941356-07-4

Printed in the USA

Sabu was always there for me, even since day one.

Back in December of 1989 was the first time I met Sabu. Our friend, Sampson, whom I had known through bagging groceries, set up the deal for a tryout, so we were off to the Sheiks sons garage in the middle of a cold winter. When I walked in, I was looking at a wrestling ring that was cut in half to fit in a mechanics garage. It was really weird. It was something like an 8x16 feet long rectangle. Sheik was there. I was a little intimidated at first, and then realized that I wasnt going to be working out with him or anything, but rather someone else. I didnt know who this hippie was in the ring with me.

Sabu had long hair, bushy like an afro almost, and he didnt look at all how he looks now. He was a lot smaller. I was smaller too. I was 185 pounds I think, while now Im probably around 235. I didnt want to be rude and ask The Sheik who this dude was in the ring with me. I thought if he was the one who was going to be training with me, he must have been someone, right? So I remember I eyeballed Sabu up and down and tried to figure out just who he was. At this point, I was just 18 years old. All we got for wrestling was WWF on our TV. I didnt even know there was an independent scene. I looked at Sabu, wondered if he was someone who had his hair different, or maybe was a guy who wrestled with a mask on like a Mr. X, or a Conquistador. After a few minutes of following the commands from the man outside of the ring, it didnt matter who was in the ring with me. We started training and we immediately clicked.

Sabu for as long as I can remember was always hurting himself because of the crazy stuff he would try. Maybe that is how he built up his huge tolerance for pain? I dont know. What I do know is that the few us who trained with him all figured he wouldnt be happy until he was in a wheelchair.

One time during our training time together when The Sheik wasnt around, I remember wanting to work on some crazy stuff myself. I wanted to learn how to do a jumping spinning back kick out of the turnbuckle. Sabu knew I was a kickboxer. So when I told him I wanted to learn how to do it off the ropes, the request didnt strike him as weird.

So, how do I do it? I asked.

Just try it.

Sabus answer was just to try it. I didnt realize it at the time, but there were no rules. Nobody was doing that kind of shit at the time, so asking Sabu how to do it wasnt really going to get me anywhere. I was hesitant, though, because I didnt want to hurt the Sheiks main guy and get any heat, you know?

Just try it?

Yeah.

But I mean, how? I havent done it before, and I dont want to hit you too hard.

Just try it, he said, again.

I dont want to like break your jaw.

Well, when you do try it, he said, just try not to break my jaw.

I laughed at his fearlessness, but he was serious.

I dont know how to pull it.

Look, you can do it. And if it doesnt work at first and you break my jaw, we will just have to wait until it heals, but then we will try it again, he said. You understand?

I nodded.

Right on, he said.

So, we went over to the corner. We lined the whole thing up. I jumped up a few times to practice where my feet were going to land. Then I went through the motions with nobody there. Once I had it figured out, Sabu stepped right in, offering his face as the target.

I took a breath. I ran up, did my thing and

BANG!!!

And he was right, I could do it! I was all proud of myself for a moment until I looked down on the mat. After that, Sabu was eating through a straw for weeks.

Now, just as he said though. He was a man of his word. It would be another three weeks before we tried it again, but Sabu was right there again for me once he could chew again, helping me get the courage to do finally do it right. I owe Sabu for that. (Incidentally, that was the same kick that would eventually knock Abysss teeth out in TNA.)

Another cool Sabu training story that I remember illustrating Sabus superhuman threshold for pain happened in the summer. We had the full ring set up outside in The Sheiks backyard when Sabu came up to me.

My uncle isnt around, he said. I immediately knew what that meant. That was code for we didnt have to worry about basics and could do some crazy stuff.

Sheik never said this is how you dont hurt your opponent, or this is how to bump like this. Sheik only wanted to see us working on the basics when we were training. That meant a lot of lock up - go behind combos, and pinfall attempts after every big move every time. He believed in us believing in the sport of it. In a real match, you would go for the pin whenever you could to really try to win the match, right? Today, I really appreciate him drilling the basics into us. However, when he would go answer phone, we would immediately jump up to the top rope.

See, I want to practice diving through the ropes, Sabu said when his uncle was away. Can you stand there in the grass so I have a target, but move just before I hit you?

What the fuck? I asked. Why?

I want to practice my fall, he said. I want to like dive through ropes, but land like flat and open on my ribs.

Like a belly flop?

Yeah, he laughed. The audience will pop because it will look like it really hurt.

But thats because it actually WILL really hurt, I said, chuckling back. Are you sure?

Anyhow, Sabu lined himself up, and I got into position just as he asked. He bounced off ropes, and I moved out of the way last second. Now, he came right at me, graceful as a swan. He kept himself open and yes, it looked just like hell, just like he wanted.

SPLAT! He knocked the wind right out of himself.

I told you so! I told you so! I said running over to Sabu who was gasping for air. As soon as he caught a breath, he stumbled to his feet and held his ribs. Sabu was coughing and probably had a broken rib. His eyes were watering and he patted me on the shoulder.