Sabu Fan Page

Sabu continued to bounce around on the independent circuit, as well as getting some time in Japan, where he participated in brutal barbed wire matches, a special match which, at that time, was unheard of in the States. The pain he felt from the barbed wire remains embedded on his chest today. These scars stand for bravery, for courage, and for insanity. The pain only brought him pleasure, enforcing his masochistic tendencies. Many a times he returned to the wire, tearing, wrenching like a caged animal, but coming out victorious on many occasions.

In 1993, Sabu joined a small organization running out of Philadelphia called Eastern Championship Wrestling. ECW was, at the time, owned by the National Wrestling Alliance. The promotion made a say for the "hardcore" style of wrestling, so naturally, Sabu fitted in nicely. By this time, Sabu already had won a few titles in the NWA, and had several rivals who were participating in ECW. The fans welcomed him with open arms, and his wild style soon caught on. Many wrestlers starting using his maneuvers, putting people through tables, pushing themselves to the limit just to destroy their opponents. But Sabu always showed them that the Arabian Machine of Destruction is often imitated, never duplicated. Sabu was always ready for action, but he was so intense and vicious, he had to be restrained. He was wheeled in on a hand truck in chains and a muzzle, not unlike the character from "Silence of the Lambs," Hannibal Lecter. During his tenure there, he won the ECW World and TV titles. Ironically enough, his first ECW victory was against a man who would have a huge impact on him in the future: the Tasmaniac.

Sabu continued wrestling in independents, Japan, and ECW for the remainder of the year. In 1994, he, Shane Douglas and Terry Funk fought in a now legendary three-way dance. By the end of the night, Shane Douglas won the ECW World title. Several months later, he won the NWA title tournament, but threw down the belt, declaring the ECW title to be a world heavyweight title. The NWA commission let it be known that ECW could not recognize any other titles. Eastern Championship Wrestling soon closed down, only to reform under the new name of Extreme Championship Wrestling. ECW was now ready to take it all the way to the extreme, and Sabu was more than willing to head the hardcore wave of the future.

By now, Sabu was a mainstay in ECW, fighting matches regularly against 2 Cold Scorpio and Shane Douglas, never letting up. By this time, he had obtained the services of Paul E. Dangerously as a manager, and the giant 911 as an enforcer/bodyguard. But in 1994, tragedy struck. Sabu went into a match against longtime rival, Chris Benoit. Benoit laid Sabu's knee across his, perhaps looking to go for a knee breaker, but instead he hoisted Sabu over his head. Sabu crashed down on the mat... head first. His neck was broken. His future was in question. His determination was unparalleled. By this time, Sabu had become accustomed to wrestling with injuries, whether it be a bruised arm or a broken neck, it didn't matter. This man once broke his knuckles and crazy glued them back together. So, maintaining his dedicated work ethic, Sabu continued to wrestle after the injury with a neck brace. His feud with Benoit intensified to new levels. To this day, these men still hate each other.

In 1995, he initiated a feud with the ECW Tag Team champions, the Public Enemy. Paul E. claimed that Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge stole the concept of putting people through tables from Sabu. Paul E. teamed Sabu up with his formal rival, the Tasmaniac to even the odds. This feud culminated into one of the oddest stipulated matches in ECW. A Double Tables match. The rules were simple: Both members of a team must be put through tables in order to achieve victory. Tasmaniac was put through a table, as was Johnny Grunge. The Tasmaniac managed to distract the referee while Rocco Rock hit Sabu with a senton through a table, but since the ref didn't see it, the match continued. Sabu and Tasmaniac laid out Rock on a table, and Sabu hit him with a somersault plancha, giving them the win and the ECW Tag Team titles. With Sabu, the addition of the Tasmaniac, and the looming presence of 911, Paul E.'s Dangerous Alliance looked to be better than ever.

However, all was not as rosy as it seemed. Dissension was imminent within the Alliance. Finally, in 1995, it all ended. The Tasmaniac and Sabu lost the belts to Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. The Tasmaniac, infuriated, threatened to leave unless Paul E. fired Sabu. On the night that Sabu and Tasmaniac were scheduled to fight in a three way dance against Benoit and Malenko and the Public Enemy, Sabu never showed up. Paul E., with 911 and the Tasmaniac along side him, publicly fired Sabu. Sabu was no longer in ECW. Later that night, Rick Steiner replaced Sabu in the three way dance, only to lose to the Public Enemy. Paul E. continued to manage 911, but Tasmaniac went his own way. He changed his appearance and style, laying the Tasmaniac to rest. It was time for Taz to shine.

During his time off from ECW, Sabu competed in Japan. During one show, a promoter from Atlanta named Eric Bischoff was in attendance and was impressed with this young man's ability and potential. He signed him to WCW. Sabu appeared on the first Monday Nitro ever. The fans of WCW welcomed him with open arms, but after the match was over, Bischoff and the other execs were quite displeased. Sabu had put Alex Wright through a table after the match, and this greatly angered the execs. They told Sabu "no more tables." Sabu obliged... for a little while. He fought two more matches against Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn), one of which at Halloween Havoc. Sabu's last match was against the Disco Inferno. Sabu was victorious as he had been with his previous matches, and again, he attempted to put his opponent through a table. Sabu launched himself through the table, staggered to his feet, and walked back to the locker room and out of WCW. Sabu was soon released from his WCW contract.

Fast forward to November 1995. Much has changed in ECW. Underdog Mikey Whipwreck had defeated the Sandman for the World Heavyweight title, Steve Austin was making headlines around the organization, Tommy Dreamer was still feuding with the Raven, and Paul E. was about to set Philly on it's ears. At November to Remember 1995, Paul E. dimmed the lights, and Sabu came out to the ring. The fans went crazy, chanting "Welcome back! Welcome back!" Sabu went on to defeat "The Shaw" Hack Meyers later that night, using the Atomic Arabian Facebuster for the first time in ECW history.

In the same night, Sabu's former partner, Taz, took a turn for the worse. During a special match between ECW commissioner Tod Gordon and referee Bill Alfonso, Taz acted as special guest referee, and attacked Gordon, aligning himself with Fonzie. It seems a little more than a coincidence that in the same night Sabu returned, Taz turned on ECW. What ensued for over a year thereafter was a game of cat and mouse between Sabu and Taz.

As 1996 began, Sabu continued his winning ways in ECW. But early on, he had trouble. In one of the most memorable matches of 1996, Sabu took on newcomer Rob Van Dam, formerly known as Robbie V in WCW, and Rob Zakowski in independent federations. The match was fast and furious, both men took to the ropes and impressed the fans. Finally Sabu came out on top. When he offered Van Dam a handshake, he was rejected. This began a long feud that would stem into a partnership that has become the greatest alliance in ECW today. Van Dam and Sabu fought in a respect match in which the loser had to admit he respected the victor. Van Dam beat Sabu with a top rope fisherman's buster, but when Sabu offered his hand, Van Dam again shunned him and insulted him. Van Dam left the ring to meet up with Taz and Bill Alfonso, while Sabu collapsed in the ring. Taz revealed the true severity of Sabu's neck injury to Van Dam. What followed was a string of memorable matches, including Hardcore Heaven 1996 in which, despite the top rope breaking, both men took to the air with considerable ease. Then a stretcher match. Then... a partnership. Van Dam signed a dream partner match against Doug Furnas. Furnas chose long time tag team partner Dan Kroffat. Van Dam chose Sabu. The two actually worked well as a team, and formed a sold partnership.