Wrestler: Bam Bam Bigelow
Real Name: Scott Charles Bigelow
Birthday: September 1, 1961
Hometown: Billed: Asbury Park, New Jersey
Height & Weight: 6’3″ – 325 lbs.
Trained by: Larry Sharpe
Debut: August 23, 1985
Previous Gimmicks: Crusher Yurkof, Bruce Bigelow, and Beast From The East
Finishing Move: Headbutt from top rope and Greetings from Asbury Park
Favorite Moves: Enziguri, Big Splash, Headbutt Splash, Catapult Splash, Powerbomb, Lariat, Delayed Vertical Suplex, Press Slam, Double Underhook Backbreaker, Cobra Clutch Bulldog, Running Corner Charge, and Running Somersault Senton
Bam Bam Bigelow Title History
The concept of a man who stands at 6 feet 3 inches and ways almost 400 pounds flying off the top rope in the same way as a Cruiserweight or Lucha Libre competitor who stands at 5 feet 5 and weighs no more than 175 pounds is simply breathtaking to think about. This is exactly what Bam Bam Bigelow stood for; at his enormous size, sporting a tattooed head, huge body and simple frightening facial features, Bam Bam Bigelow made a name for himself in the sport of professional wrestling as being one of the greatest big men of all time, famous for his seemingly impossible high flying antics, wrestling prowess and his generous and out-going personality out of the ring.
Bam Bam Bigelow made his debut in professional wrestling in the year of 1985 working for minor promotions in the United States. Just 2 years into his career however, Bam Bam already had made a huge impression due to the fact that he was a huge man who could actually fly. It was only a short amount of time before he wound up in the World Wrestling Federation in 1987. The WWF at the time was about to peak on their fame, and wanted to bring in new and fresh stars to carry them into the 1990′s. However, Bigelow’s tenure with the company was short as since his debut, he had been wrestling almost non-stop and had severely injured his knee.
After he left the WWF to heal up, he made his way to Japan for the first time in his career. Much like big men before him such as Big Van Vader, Bigelow was simply destined for success in Japan, and it is arguably in Japan over the course of his 20 year career that Bam Bam earned his biggest and most renowned successes. During his first tenure in Japan, Bigelow worked against the likes of Barry Windham, Dr. Death Steve Williams, Big Van Vader and other big names currently wrestling for the Jim Crocket NWA promotion, which later went on to become known as WCW.
Bigelow made his return to the WWF after achieving huge success in Japan in 1992. His biggest success in the company came after excelling himself to the 1993 King of the Ring tournament where he eventually lost to Bret “Hitman” Hart. Bigelow then remained in the upper mid-card position for the rest of his WWF career against the likes of footballer Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania 9, “Sycho” Sid Vicious and Kevin “Diesel” Nash.
Bigelow once again left the WWF in 1995 and made his way to ECW. The ECW fans originally doubted Bigelow for being a “superstar” rather than a wrestler, but after his epic feud with Taz which involved even in the destruction of the ECW stage, Bigelow was accepted as a true wrestler and one of the sports greatest. He spent the majority of his career in ECW then made the move to the “big money” in World Championship Wrestling in late 1998.
This would go on to be Bigelow’s last major tenure in wrestling as he would become semi-retired, only working the odd match in Japan and on the Independent scene before he tragically passed away of a combined effect of heart disease, diabetes and cocaine addiction.
The legacy that Bam Bam Bigelow created however is irreplaceable. He will always be remembered as one of the definitive big men in the sport, it is just a shame that Bam Bam, much like many wrestlers who peaked fame in the 80′s and 90′s, did so in an era of the sport that was corrupted by too many drug scandals and party lifestyles.
Bam Bam Bigelow
1961 2007
Thank you for the memories
R.I.P
written by Wayne K. Wilkins
