Stephanie McMahon Removed Sabu From Title Match For Being Uncooperative

Sabu is legendary in wrestling circles for his suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, take-no-prisoners approach to wrestling. From ultra-violent deathmatches in Japan’s FMW to a long run in Extreme Championship Wrestling, and even to WWE, Sabu’s done it all in pro wrestling. He officially retired from in-ring competition last week.

In a recent video for Title Match Wrestling, Sabu told the story of why he was pulled from the Extreme Elimination Chamber match at the 2006 December to Dismbember pay-per-view. It was all over a disagreement Sabu had with Stephanie McMahon.

McMahon handed Sabu a scripted promo. Sabu said he couldn’t read it or memorize it and refused to do it. He was then removed from the show completely and replaced with Hardcore Holly. For many, it marked the symbolic end of WWE’s relaunched ECW brand.

“They didn’t try to cater to me at all. They just treated me like I was another guy… Stephanie McMahon, she wasn’t taking no for an answer. She either took no for an answer or she got rid of it [the problem]. I was supposed to be in an Elimination Chamber match that Sunday. They had me do an angle where I hurt my arm, and they took me out of it.”

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Sabu shared that fans still ask him why such an ECW icon wasn’t included in the main event at their only standalone pay-per-view. Sabu was pulled from the match because of the kayfabe injury. He didn’t realize at the time the angle was shot that he was being written off of the show.

“I had a guy the other day say, ‘Hey, remember that time in WWE when you no-showed? What happened? He goes, ‘Yeah, I bought the DVD and you’re on the cover, but you’re not nowhere in it.’ Because I wouldn’t cut that promo, Stephanie McMahon took me out of it.”

Sabu’s stint in WWE was short. After the ECW brand re-launched, he was expected to be one of the top stars on the show. Instead, he was arrested along with Rob Van Dam and faced drug charges. Sabu was released from his contract in May of 2007 and remained independent for the balance of his career.

What do you think of Sabu refusing to cut a promo for Stephanie McMahon? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription!