Professional wrestling lost one of the great innovators as we learned that Terry Brunk, professionally known as Sabu, passed away at 60.

The nephew of wrestling legend, The Sheik, Sabu was trained by his uncle and debuted in 1985.  Sabu gained national prominence in the early 1990s as one of the main stars of ECW, and over the second half of the decade, he would main event multiple shows for the Philadelphia-based promotion.

Sabu won all three major titles in ECW (World Heavyweight, World Television, and World Tag Team), and his aerial style combined with uncontrollable barbarism made him legendary within the industry.  It also kept him from becoming a star on a National promotion, as WWE was gun-shy in hiring a wrestler they could not contain.  He did have a shot with WCW, but that lasted less than a month.

Following ECW’s collapse in 2001, Sabu wrestled in minor promotions and the Indies. When the WWE resurrected ECW in 2006, Sabu was brought in, though his style, which won him over, had to be tamed. He didn’t last the year. 

Sabu wrestled in the independents until three weeks ago when he wrestled his retirement match against Joey Janela.

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to offer our condolences to Sabu's fans, friends, and family.

A well travelled referee (including the WWE), Bill Alfonso will always be best known for his run in Extreme Championship Wrestling, where after a stint as a ref, he became a whistle blowing manager.

Balls Mahoney may be best known for being a “chair swinging freak in ECW” but he did spend time in the WWE twice and was a top guy for Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling.  Mahoney was a hardcore icon and was actually a decent amateur wrestler but it was that style that got him over, and likely led to his early death.

While we wouldn’t want to see that wrestling style, New Jack was a staple in ECW, and yes that is a pun intended, as he would use a staple gun or any other weapon he could find.  New Jack claims to have multiple justifiable homicides and based on in ring actions (Vic Grimes, Gypsy Joe, Mass Transit, etc.) we believe him.  Entertaining as he was reckless, New Jack won’t make the WWE Hall of Fame, but he does belong on this list.

Without speaking any English, “The Japanese Buzzsaw”, Yoshihiro Tajiri got himself over in both the original ECW and the WWE.  With a high skilled moveset and undeniable charisma, it can be argued that Tajiri was not given the proper forum to prove his worth in the WWE, but he always got a pop everywhere he went. 

A sentimental favorite for many ECW fans, Stevie Richards went from “clueless putz” to a certified ECW Heavyweight Title contender.  Amidst the parodies and comedy routines lied a very good in ring wrestler who while he never really found his niche in the WWE (though he did work there for a few years) will always be remembered in Philadelphia…and should be!

The WWE may be the elite in every capacity, but when they put a jockstrap on the head of poor Peter Polaco they showed that their wardrobe team can certainly swing and miss.  Polaco would have a lower card spot as Aldo Montoya, but it was in ECW where he had a gimmick that matched his skills. 

The voice of ECW, was not just the announcer for the renegade Philadelphia based promotion but for many he was one of the best announcers of all time.

When Perry Saturn first gained attention from the wrestling world as one half of the Eliminators with John Kronus it was clear who was the true talent of the team.  WCW rightfully snatched him up and considering that he could wrestle virtually any style, he was an immediate asset to the roster.  Saturn was one of many younger talents who felt under utilized in WCW and along with Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko joined the WWE.  Sadly, Saturn was not used well by the “E”, and degenerated to a comedy role where he was in love with a mop.  Once Saturn lost that, he disappeared from wrestling all together.  In can only be wondered what Perry Saturn would have accomplished had he been used correctly.

As you may have deduced, we are not in the practice of ranking wrestlers from TNA.  It is not that we don’t respect them, but realistically as long as they are competing for the only viable National wrestling alternative, they will never be inducted while they are actively performing there.  We are not sure if we are making an exception with Tazz, who due to injury will never perform again, but is the current color commentator with Impact Wrestling.

Before “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was chugging beer on Monday Night Raw, there was the Sandman.  He didn’t just drink beer; he took the empty can and smashed his forehead with it, often drawing blood.  He also entered the ring smoking a cigarette with a kendo stick in hand, the latter of which would often find its way into his matches.

Sometimes it takes a long time for a wrestler to finally make it. For Minnesota native, Jerry Lynn it must have felt like eternity.

Steve Corino never made it beyond enhancement work or tryout matches to the WWE, but his matches in the dying days of ECW turned many heads.

Corino was not afraid to bleed, and many of his matches ended with the proverbial crimson mask.  While the WWE passed on him, he won a plethora of singles and tag team titles on the independent scene, and was a coveted mind and draw on that level.

That should mean something, shouldn’t it?