Joey Janela recently took to Twitter to clarify comments he made about the retirement match of ECW legend Sabu, who passed away on May 11, 2025, at age 60. Janela’s original interview had drawn considerable backlash.
In his statement, Janela explained Sabu used kratom for years to manage pain from his long career, saying, “Kratom is something Sabu took daily for years it helped him get off other substances, Sabu loved his weed & Kratom his body was wrecked doing what he loved for 40 years.”
Janela admitted to embellishing details of the April match at “Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9” in an interview conducted shortly after, stating, “I said he was “knocked out” after that spot when despite being a rough deal, he was not that. I was just trying to add to the lore and unpredictably of sabu.”
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He also apologized for lashing out on social media, adding, “Sabu was fine after, the day after signed at wrestlecon and has been doing many appearances since.” Reports indicated Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) officials were upset by Janela’s initial interview with Yahoo Sports’ The Uncrowned, though there’s no indication the match was linked to Sabu’s passing.
I’m truly devastated over this and this whole deal has really affected me. Kratom is something Sabu took daily for years it helped him get off other substances, Sabu loved his weed & Kratom his body was wrecked doing what he loved for 40 years.
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) May 12, 2025
I did an interview for that… https://t.co/jtLM8S5M6g
READ MORE: Joey Janela Sparks Controversy After Revealing Sabu Used Kratom Before Final Match
