Bam Bam Bigelow

Bam Bam Bigelow
Birth name Scott Charles Bigelow
Born (1961-09-01)September 1, 1961[1]
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Died January 19, 2007(2007-01-19) (aged 45)[1]
Hudson, Florida
Cause of death Drug overdose
Spouse(s) Dana Fisher
(divorced in 2000)
Children 3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Bam Bam Bigelow[1]
Bruce Bigelow[1]
Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow[2]
Crusher Yurkof[1]
Billed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[3]
Billed weight 390 lb (180 kg)[3]
Billed from Asbury Park, New Jersey[1]
Trained by Larry Sharpe[1]
Debut 1985[1]
Retired 2006

Scott Charles Bigelow (September 1, 1961 – January 19, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, best known by the ring name Bam Bam Bigelow. During his professional wrestling career spanning twenty-one years, Bigelow worked in major wrestling promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the original Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion, and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was recognizable by his size of nearly 390 pounds (180 kg), and a distinctive flame tattoo that spanned most of his bald head. Bigelow was known by the nickname, "The Beast from the East".[4]

Bigelow held multiple championships in both ECW and WCW, and thirteen throughout his career. Among other accolades, he was a one-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and a two-time WCW World Tag Team Champion. Although he never held a WWF title, he headlined multiple pay-per-view events for the promotion, including WrestleMania XI.[5] Ryan Murphy of WWE (formerly the WWF), in a 2013 publication, described Bigelow as "the most natural, agile and physically remarkable big man of the past quarter century."[4]

Career

Memphis

After training in Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory in New Jersey, Bigelow debuted as an athletic and agile monster heel in the Memphis territory of Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett in the summer of 1986. Billed as "the Beast of the East" and referred to as "the Bammer" by announcer Lance Russell, Bigelow was slowly established as an unstoppable force who challenged then-champion Jerry Lawler.[6]

Continental Wrestling Association and World Class Championship Wrestling (1987)

In early 1987, Bigelow wrestled in the Continental Wrestling Association, teaming with Jerry Lawler to feud with Austin Idol and Tommy Rich. Around the same time, Bigelow worked a brief stint in World Class Championship Wrestling with a Russian gimmick under the name Crusher Yurkof.

World Wrestling Federation (1987–1988)

In May 1987, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The storyline upon his debut was that the various heel managers were all vying for Bigelow's services. The angle was thus called "The Battle for Bam Bam." Bigelow in the end wound up a babyface when he denounced all the heel managers and announced that his manager was going to be Oliver Humperdink.[1] Fans were entertained by Bigelow's unique style and his remarkable agility for a man his size. His first WWF encounters were with Nikolai Volkoff and his jilted manager Slick. Bigelow wrestled as a part of Hulk Hogan's team at the first Survivor Series, in which he survived longer than even Hogan (the biggest star in wrestling history at the time). He eliminated both King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang, but eventually lost to sole survivor André the Giant.[3] He wrestled in the WWF for one year before leaving to have surgery on a badly injured knee. Despite this injury, he performed anyway to elevate the status of his co-performers. Bigelow lost by count-out to One Man Gang in the first round of WrestleMania IV's WWF World Heavyweight Championship tournament.

Jim Crockett Promotions and Japan (1988–1992)

Bigelow briefly re-emerged with the NWA member Jim Crockett Promotions in late 1988, and was immediately set up to challenge Barry Windham for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship.[7] While NWA wanted control of Bigelow, his loyalty was with New Japan, to whom he was committed.

After this brief stay, Bigelow went to Japan to work for the legendary Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro Wrestling. Here, he formed a tag team with Big Van Vader, winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[8] In 1992 he left New Japan, performing for several other Japanese professional wrestling promotions. His time in these promotions featured a win over Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi during a brief stint in All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Return to WWF (1992–1995)

Bigelow in the WWF in 1994.

In late 1992, Bigelow returned to the WWF as a heel, making his in-ring return on the November 28 episode of Superstars. In his pay-per-view return, he defeated The Big Boss Man at the 1993 Royal Rumble.[1] That June, Bigelow made it to the finals of the 1993 King of the Ring tournament, losing a match to Bret Hart[9] Soon after, Luna Vachon became Bam Bam's love interest and manager. Bigelow went on to feud with Tatanka and Doink the Clown; he teamed with The Headshrinkers to lose to Tatanka and The Smoking Gunns at SummerSlam 1993, his team consisting of The Headshrinkers and Bastion Booger was defeated by The Four Doinks (The Bushwhackers and Men on a Mission) at the 1993 Survivor Series, he lost to Tatanka at the 1994 Royal Rumble and he teamed with Luna to defeat Doink and Dink at WrestleMania X.[9] In mid-1994, he was made part of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation faction, often teamed-up with fellow Corporation members Irwin R. Schyster and (a now heel) Tatanka. Bigelow also survived a high profile Survivor Series-style match, with Corporation member King Kong Bundy, at the 1994 Survivor Series; they faced Lex Luger's "Guts and Glory" team.[9]

After Bigelow and Tatanka lost in the finals of a WWF World Tag Team Championship tournament to Bob Holly and the 1-2-3 Kid at the 1995 Royal Rumble, Bigelow was mocked at ringside by former New York Giants All-Pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Bam Bam fought back, shoving "L.T." at ringside, and was soon engaged in a highly publicized feud with the famous ex-football player. Bigelow was defeated by Taylor in the main event at WrestleMania XI.[1] Shortly after WrestleMania tensions were starting to build up between Bigelow and Ted DiBiase. After he lost a match with then WWF champion Diesel in a RAW main event; DiBiase slapped him and led the entire Million Dollar Corporation to take him down (including newly joined member Sycho Sid). Diesel made the save and Bigelow turned babyface, publicly quitting the Million Dollar Corporation. He was teamed with then WWF World Heavyweight Champion Diesel at the 1995 King of the Ring; they defeated Corporation members Tatanka and Sycho Sid.[1] Bigelow's last WWF match was a loss to Goldust at the Survivor Series 1995.[1]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996–1998)

After rumored problems backstage with The Kliq, Bigelow left the WWF in late 1995 and made a few appearances in the original Extreme Championship Wrestling in early 1996, feuding with Taz. Later in the year, Bigelow would face "Bam Bam" Terry Gordy. He won with the assistance of The Eliminators.

Bigelow at a U-Japan MMA event in 1996.

On November 17, 1996, Bigelow competed in a "U-Japan" mixed martial arts event against Kimo Leopoldo. Bigelow was dominated throughout the match, being mounted within the first 10 seconds. He lost to a rear naked choke in the first round.[10] Despite not being a trained mixed martial artist, Bigelow was able to command a substantial purse for the fight (Bigelow claimed in his 1998 RF Video shoot interview that he received $100,000; though it has been suggested by others that he actually received $75,000). Bigelow later commented that despite the crushing defeat, he would gladly sign up for other MMA fights providing the financial rewards were as appealing; however, he never fought after that. Bigelow would later claim in a shoot interview that the fight was a work and he received minimal damage for a nice paycheck. He then claimed that he was the "world's highest paid jobber."

He returned to Paul Heyman's ECW in 1997, eventually joining with the re-formed Triple Threat faction, with Chris Candido and lead member Shane Douglas. He was a dominant force in ECW, carrying out feats of strength such as hurling Spike Dudley out of the ring and into the audience and slamming Taz through the ring itself. He held the ECW World Television Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship during his run. Bigelow turned on fellow Triple Threat member, Shane Douglas, under the guidance of Rick Rude and won the ECW World Heavyweight Title in October 1997. He would go on to lose the belt back to Douglas at the November to Remember pay-per-view in a classic match. Both men were so badly injured as a result of the match that they didn't appear on television for over a month.

They continued to feud, with Bam Bam looking to Taz to join him in his campaign against the Triple Threat. Eventually, he turned on Taz and rejoined the group as Triple Threat prospect Lance Storm was tossed aside. His reign as World TV Champion began with a victory over Taz at the Living Dangerously pay-per-view in March 1998. After defending the title in a few vicious brawls with The Sandman, Bigelow was defeated by Rob Van Dam. RVD was assisted by Sabu, who had originally been scheduled to receive a shot at Bigelow's title; Van Dam was only supposed to "soften up" the Beast from the East. Bigelow remained in the Triple Threat and continued to feud with Taz for most of 1998. By the end of the year, he left the company for WCW.

World Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)

On November 16, 1998, Bigelow debuted in World Championship Wrestling.[11] He initially was portrayed as an unwelcome guest from outside the company and feuded with then-WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg before being shifted to the WCW Hardcore division, along with fellow ECW alumni Raven and Hardcore Hak.[11] He was put in a stable with Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon, known as the Jersey Triad, in May 1999. After the Triad disbanded, Bigelow began feuding with ECW alumnus Mike Awesome, who defeated him in an ambulance match at Starrcade 2000.[11] His final feud in WCW was with Shawn Stasiak, culminating on the final episode of WCW Nitro in March 2001.[11] The stipulation of the match was that, if Bigelow won, he would tattoo "that sweet thing" in the ring (Stasiak accepted the stipulation, assuming he meant his valet Stacy Keibler when he was, in fact, referring to Stasiak himself). However, Stasiak won the match.[11]

Independent circuit (2002–2006)

Bigelow remained with WCW until the company was purchased by the WWF in March 2001. Then, he waited until his Time Warner (the major corporation that had bought the promotion from Jim Crockett in 1989) contract expired in June 2002. He returned to the ring, making several appearances for USA Pro Wrestling. He performed his final wrestling match on October 25, 2006 for the American Combat Wrestling promotion, teaming with Ralph Mosca as "The Syndicate" in a tag team match against Overkill (Legion Cage and Marcus Hall).[12]

In his most profitable years, he earned between $750,000 and $1.2 million per year.[13]

Later life and death

In 2000, Bigelow and his wife Dana Fisher, with whom he had three children, divorced. In 2005, Fisher sued Bigelow for non-payment of child support.[13]

In July 2000, Bigelow received second degree burns on 40% of his body while rescuing three children from a burning house near his home. Following the incident, Bigelow spent two months recovering in a hospital.[14]

In August 2002, Bigelow made several public appearances to promote a chain of automotive customizers called "Hot Rodz" throughout the southeast of the United States. Along with a seven-minute speech that Bigelow prepared himself, he would also often unveil a hot rod which was detailed by the staff of each shop to resemble the hot-rod style flames associated with Bigelow for much of his career. Fourteen cars were displayed and eventually sold, with all proceeds going to local charities.

Upon his retirement, Bigelow moved to a private recreational community called "The Hideout" in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. He also opened the eponymous Bam Bam Bigelow restaurant, located nearby in the town of Hamlin in Salem Township,[15] but it later closed. He then relocated to Florida, with even his close friend Shane Douglas clueless as to his whereabouts.[13]

In May 2004, Bigelow was charged with endangering the welfare of a child through reckless driving. He attributed the incident to a seizure he had suffered, and the charges were dropped two months later.[13]

On October 2, 2005, Bigelow was hospitalized with a broken nose and several lacerations after crashing his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Spring Hill, Florida. Janis Remiesiewicz, Bigelow's girlfriend, was his passenger at the time of the crash, and she suffered severe injuries. A spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol stated that Bigelow would be the focus of a homicide investigation should Remiesiewicz die, but she eventually made a complete recovery and remained with Bigelow until his death.[16]

On the morning of January 19, 2007, Bigelow was found dead in his home by Remiesiewicz at approximately 10:00 a.m. EST in Hudson, Florida.[17] He was 45 years old. The autopsy results showed that Bigelow's death was due to multiple drugs found in his system including toxic levels of cocaine and an anti-anxiety drug.[18] Bigelow was also suffering from a heart problem,[18] specifically arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and had severe back problems.[6]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

1Bigelow defended the title with either Page or Kanyon under the Freebird Rule.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0-1 United States Kimo Leopoldo Submission (rear naked choke) U-Japan November 17, 1996 1 2:15 Japan

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "Bam Bam Bigelow Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  2. ↑ "Bam Bam Bigalow Profile" (in Russian). Wrestlingzone.ru. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  4. 1 2 Murphy, Ryan. 15 Superstars who should've been bigger deals: Bam Bam Bigelow. WWE. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ See Survivor Series (1987), King of the Ring (1993), WrestleMania XI and King of the Ring (1995).
  6. 1 2 http://kentuckyfriedwrestling.com/theword2/tag/bam-bam-bigelow/
  7. ↑ Cawthon, Graham; Cornette, Jim (2013-12-25). Sawyer, Grant, ed. The History of Professional Wrestling: Jim Crockett Promotions & the NWA World Title 1983-1988 (1 ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781494803476.
  8. 1 2 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Japan & Korea: New Japan IWGP Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 373. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. 1 2 3 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990 - 1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
  10. ↑ "Fight Finder – Bam Bam Bigalow’s Mixed Martial Arts Statistics". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Cawthon, Graham (2015). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995-2001. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 1499656343.
  12. ↑ "Bam Bam Bigelow’s final match". Kocosports.com & Combat-TV.com. January 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Kruse, Michael (November 17, 2005). "Wrestling with Bam Bam Bigelow". St. Petersburg Times Floridian Online. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  14. ↑ Padden, Gene (July 27, 2004). "Meet Burger King Bam Bam Bigelow". ZWire.com. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  15. ↑ "Best Burger in NEPA - Bam Bam Bigelow". ZWire.com. October 28, 2004. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  16. ↑ Kruse, Michael (October 4, 2005). "Wrestler 'Bam Bam Bigelow' crashes bike on SR 50". St. Petersburg Times Floridian Online. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  17. ↑ O’Neil, Gary (January 19, 2007). "Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow passes away". kocosports.com. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  18. 1 2 Wrestler's death a familiar story By Mike Mooneyham. Sunday, March 22, 2009.
  19. 1 2 World Championship Wrestling (1999-02-21). "Goldberg Vs. Bam Bam Bigelow". WCW SuperBrawl IX.
  20. 1 2 "The up and down life of Bam Bam Bigelow (Do a text search for "splash")". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  21. ↑ World Championship Wrestling (1999-07-11). "Tag Team title; Jersey Triad Vs. Benoit & Saturn". WCW Bash at the Beach.
  22. ↑ World Championship Wrestling (2000-03-19). "The Wall vs Bam Bam Bigelow". WCW Uncensored.
  23. ↑ World Championship Wrestling (1999-06-13). "Tag Team title; Jersey Triad Vs. Benoit & Saturn". WCW Great American Bash.
  24. ↑ "DDP's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  25. ↑ Matt Mackinder (January 17, 2008). "Sir Oliver Humperdink recalls career of yesteryear". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  26. ↑ "Bam Bam Bigalow Profile" (in Russian). Wrestlingzone.ru. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  27. 1 2 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  28. ↑ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.

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