MOTW 84: Sabu vs. Joey Janela
"M.O.T.W. #84: Sabu vs. Joey Janela" - ink & digital illustration
Hi friends! It's currently a brisk, windy morning up in the hills but also that time for the latest in our 'Match of the Week' illustration series!
This week I've picked a match that I have no better description for than a "beautiful disaster". A 'No-Ropes Barbed Wire Death-Match' & a farewell match for everyone's favourite 'Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying Maniac' which took place as the main event of GCW's 'Joey Janelas' Spring Break 9' event on April 18th, 2025 at the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas.
So this one was really something. It was simultaneously terrible & incredible. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". The simultaneous existence of hope and despair. Either way, it was certainly the most memorable thing I watched this week & a match I will likely never forget!
As many of us, I've long been a fan of 'Bombay, Michigan's' favourite son since my early days of getting bootleg wrasslin' video tapes in the mail. From my earliest memories of watching & adoring Extreme Championship Wrestling I was transfixed by this freak of a human. A lifetime ago it was a bucket list item to one day wrestle Sabu, but of course that was not quite meant to be. Safe to say, I have a lot of love for this dude.
In many ways, this was the most fitting, most 'Sabu' match possible if this really was his final send-off. From the get-go, it was quite clear that Sabu was not in what I'd call a 'lucid' state. Hats off to the amazing Joey Janela for this whole thing. A likely somewhat traumatic love-letter to his wrasslin'-hero.
Sabu took some insane, honestly pretty uncomfortable punishment throughout. This felt like an illegal, underground freakshow in the best of ways! The visual of Sabu in a white suit covered in crimson, clearly in a lot of pain, but also so undeniably alive will stay with me forever.
Not for everyone, but I thought this whole thing rocked so hard! Thank you Joey & Thank You Sabu!!
ENJOY!!
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Pre-Framed Art Prints (Premium): Printed on 320gsm 'Sihl Masterclass Textured Cotton Rag', French made, Cold Press style textured art paper. High archival rating, printed with 12 colour Canon Lucia EX pigment Inks, expected life over 100 years if displayed correctly. Black or Oak-finish frame (Medium-density fibreboard) w/ double-mat border. 8 x 8" print size / 10 x 10" total frame size. Since I send these out myself, I'll also include a little bonus 'surprise' for you!
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