10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week

By Jamie Kennedy /

4. Sabu Personally Thanked Cyrus For ECW Commentary

Originally, Don Callis was lined up for a tag-team run alongside Rick Martel in the WWF. Unfortunately for Callis, Martel would elect to leave the company in 1997, leaving him without much purpose. Reportedly, it was Bret Hart who helped him get signed regardless, and he went on to play the role of 'The Jackyl', acting mainly as a manager and an announcer. Then, in 1999, he left the WWF. Debuting in ECW shortly afterwards, Callis was renamed 'Cyrus The Virus'. Eventually, he'd go on to play a big part in the ongoing tensions between the wrestling company and TV network TNN. As the leader of 'The Network', Cyrus tried to clean up ECW programming, raising the ire of the fans. Long before that, he was simply a heel announcer, calling the action alongside Joey Styles. According to Cyrus, one of the biggest compliments he ever received came from one of the most unlikely of sources. Following one ECW Pay-Per-View, the commentator was approached by none other than Sabu. Naturally hesitant as to the wrestler's intentions at first, Callis was surprised when Sabu said he really loved his announcing. The hardcore grappler wanted to thank him for putting him over so strongly during his matches.