The moment in MCU’sDeadpool &Wolverinewhen the original live-actionSabretoothmade a cameo appearance to challenge Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was one of the more exciting scenes in the whole film. Deadpool himself even made a big deal about their rematch, as it marked the first time these iconic rivals faced-off since their fight atop the Statue of Liberty in 20th Century Fox’sX-Men. At least, that’s what fans might have thought, but in truth,Wolverine and Sabretooth actually got a rematchin canon long beforeDeadpool & Wolverine.
InX2: X-Men United: The Movie Prequel: Wolverineby Brian K. Vaughan and Tom Mandrake, readers are given an official comic book tie-in storyline set between the events ofX-MenandX2: X-Men United. In it,Wolverine is trying to unravel the mystery of his past, and Professor X gives him a location to investigate: Alkali Lake.
Fans of the original FoxX-Menfilms are well aware of how this solo-mission plays out. Logan’s story in the firstX-Menfilm ends with him leaving the X-Mansion for Alkali Lake, and his story in the second begins with him arriving at that location. While that’s a pretty direct continuation, Wolverine actually went on an entire mission in between - a mission involving none other than Sabretooth.
Wolverine Battled and Then Partnered with Sabretooth Before X2: X-Men United
Wolverine and Sabretooth Became Friends in the FoxX-MenUniverse, Something Viewers Never Saw
As Wolverine is riding Cyclops’ motorcycle to Alkali Lake, he’s ambushed by Sabretooth. Victor Creed tracked Logan to a gas station, and when Wolverine stopped to fill up, Sabretooth launched his attack. After expressing shock at the fact that Sabretooth was actually alive following his defeat at the Statue of Liberty, the two mutant rivals fought viciously, ending with Wolverine dousing them both in gasoline and igniting his lighter, burning himself and Sabretooth alive.
After their fight, Wolverine and Sabretooth start to realize that they are both looking for the same thing: answers about their past - which the two actually share. Unknown to them at the time, both Wolverine and Sabretooth were Weapon X operatives, and once they come to that realization, they decide to team up to find out about their past. Unfortunately, Sabretooth is abducted and killed by Weapon X (after Victor saved Logan’s life by helping him escape Weapon X’s grasp at the end of the comic), bringing an abrupt and tragic end to their movie-universe partnership.
Marvel Comics Gave the Live-Action Sabretooth What the Movies Didn’t: Redemption
While learning that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tyler Mane’s Sabretooth had a rematch before the events ofDeadpool & Wolverineis undeniably awesome, what’s even cooler is that Sabretooth didn’t just come back as a villain, but that he actually found redemption. When fans see Sabretooth inDeadpool & Wolverine, he’s still very much the same evil henchman he was in 2000’sX-Men. However, this comic confirms that there was much more to him than movie fans knew, adding a level of depth to an otherwise fairly two-dimensional comic book movie villain, and bringing his story to a fantastic close.
Now, when fans go back and watchDeadpool & Wolverine, they’ll know that while Sabretooth’s original live-action comeback is awesome, it’s not the first Tyler Mane’sSabretoothand Hugh Jackman’sWolverinehave fought since their iconic battle in the firstX-Menfilm, as they got a movie-canon rematch in Marvel Comics long before then.
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men’s wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He’s played in Fox and Marvel’s movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
