Joey Janela Defends Sabu Retirement Match Amid Kratom Controversy

Joey Janela has defended the decision to proceed with Sabu's retirement match despite the wrestling legend's severe physical condition just hours before the event. Sabu's knees locked up and his feet were bleeding, rendering him unable to walk, which nearly led to a last-minute replacement. His team administered kratom, a legal opiate-like substance commonly used by wrestlers for pain relief, enabling Sabu to participate in the no-rope barbed wire bout at GCW’s Spring Break 9. Janela faced backlash for comments made in an interview describing these circumstances, prompting him to clarify that neither he nor GCW provided kratom, and emphasized the match was about giving Sabu a final spotlight and payday. While some within GCW reportedly felt embarrassed by the interview, there is no evidence linking the bout or kratom use to Sabu's passing weeks later. Janela expressed that he took care of Sabu as best as possible and would not change the decision to go forward with the match.