Reason Why Sabu’s WCW Run Ended Abruptly

Sabu’s time in WCW was short-lived, and Eric Bischoff finally revealed the real reason behind it. Although the extreme wrestler made a splash in 1995 by appearing on Monday Nitro, his run didn’t last long—and Bischoff admitted the lack of trust was the breaking point.

When asked why Sabu didn’t stick around despite being featured early on during his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff was upfront that the decision wasn’t really his, and that he wasn’t comfortable bringing Sabu into the mix from the start.

“I didn’t trust Sabu. Okay? Simple as that. It wasn’t about his work. It wasn’t about his character. He had a reputation. I was well aware of him. I had watched some of his stuff. And by the way, Kevin Sullivan talked me into this one. This was not me going, ‘Wow, I can’t wait to get my hands on Sabu.’ It was the opposite of that. Like, I wasn’t dead set against it, but there was some selling going on.”

Bischoff also addressed what happened with Sabu’s contract situation. Reports have long suggested that the ECW star was offered a per-appearance deal that didn’t meet his expectations, and Bischoff confirmed that lines up with what he remembers.

“In terms of the offer, I’ve read the same thing [about the per-appearance deal]. So my bias is kind of leans towards what I read, which is he got a lowball offer, he didn’t like it, and was offended, and left — is what I remember. What I remember reading. I actually don’t even remember the incident, but I do remember reading about it.”

In the end, Sabu’s WCW run ended not because of his talent, but because Bischoff didn’t trust him and the company wasn’t willing to pay him what he felt he deserved. While ECW and later WWE showcased Sabu’s chaotic style, WCW never gave him that chance—and his brief Nitro appearance remains a “what if” moment in wrestling history.

October 21, 2025 11:10 am