Bam Bam Bigelow passes away

[dubq 0]

Only 45? This is nuts. RIP to the Beast. This really sucks.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

The sports-entertainment world was saddened with news of the passing of Bam Bam Bigelow. WWE.com has been in contact with several of the men who worked with Bigelow over the years, and this is what they had to say about the man known as "The Beast from the East."

 

Rob Van Dam:

“I’ve never seen anyone of Bam Bam’s size move the way he did. He’s one of the strongest men I’ve ever been in the ring with. In the old ECW, he was the big star that added credibility to our cause. It was an honor to work with him and to know him. One of the favorite moments of my career was the night in Buffalo where I beat him for the ECW Television Title; I got the biggest rub of my career that night, and that match turned me into a Superstar. Everything from there has been uphill, and I’ve always been seen with a different perception and higher respect from the fans. I’ve always enjoyed bragging when I show off the old ECW Television Title to the fans that I beat Bam Bam for that title. He was a true Superstar, I enjoyed watching him as a fan, working with him and wrestling him. In and out of the ring he was a tremendous professional and I have a lot of respect for him.”

 

Tazz:

"I’m really saddened about this. I had the opportunity to wrestle Bam Bam several times in ECW, and I learned a lot from being in the ring with him. He was one of the toughest S.O.B.’s you could ever, ever, face in that ring. This is horrible news. He was too young to go."

 

Paul Heyman:

“Scott Bigelow got a lot more out of life than he ever imagined possible. Bam Bam had a level of raw, unrefined talent that no one had ever seen before. He broke the mold. He clearly broke the mold. When else could a guy that size do picture perfect drop kicks and do moves off the top rope? Later on, Bam Bam settled down in his career to just do the splash from the top. But, there was nothing he couldn’t do if he wanted to. He was a like a prodigy in that if he watched someone do something in the ring, he could emulate it in the ring instantly.”

 

Jerry Saggs of the Nasty Boys:

"Bam Bam needs to be remembered in a positive light for all the contributions he had to this business. He was a good friend to me, and everyone."

 

Tommy Dreamer:

“It’s a definite loss to the wrestling business and the world. I knew Bam Bam very well; I had many great matches with him, and I loved watching his matches with Rob Van Dam. Bam Bam was a major star that really helped put ECW on the map. He’ll be missed.”

 

Ted Dibiase:

“He was a joy to work with in those years that I managed him. I was in his corner when he had the match against LT, and he was all business then. He was a real likeable guy and he was all into his family. In my dealing, he was a good guy and a businessman and a pleasure to work with.”

 

Mean Gene:

“I’m very, very, sorry to hear that. About the only thing I can say is it’s a real shocker to me. Here was a guy that in my opinion enjoyed life to the Nth degree. He was a great fisherman, I don’t think a lot of people knew that. He really enjoyed fishing. I went fishing with him before out on the Atlantic Ocean, and he was the best. Im going to miss the guy, not only from his wrestling exploits, but also because this guy was a human being. He was one of us, and he liked to get out and enjoy life, and he did enjoy life. I’m just very sorry to hear he’s passed on.”

 

Howard Finkel:

“He was a big man who could move, which was an amazing feat. He was unique in his style and appearance, and never left the ring without leaving everything he had out there. He was a very talented performer and will be missed.”

 

Jimmy Hart:

“I was actually on a radio show this morning, and when I got off the show I found out about Bam Bam. This is such a terrible, terrible loss for the wrestling world. Bam Bam was so unique and so different, and what a heck of a worker, just tremendous. Wow, this is just a total shock.”

 

Jake Roberts:

"He was a funny guy, a great guy to be around. He was a man. He was one of the best big men we ever had in this business. All I can say is that I wish the best for his family."

 

Joey Styles:

“As a wrestling fan, the visual of Tazz and Bam Bam Bigelow crashing through the ring in Bam Bam Bigelow’s home town of Asbury Park, New Jersey, is forever burned into my mind. Bam Bam Bigelow was a great performer and more importantly he was a father. He will be missed by everybody who knew him.”

 

Gregory Helms:

“I can’t recall ever wrestling him in WCW, but I can say that he was always in good spirits in the locker room. He seemed like a happy-go-lucky guy. He was one of the few guys that you never heard anyone say a bad thing about which is rare, because everybody has bad days in this business.”

 

Steve "Brooklyn Brawler" Lombardi:

"I actually traveled with Bam Bam for many years. He’s always been a good guy and a true professional. I wrestled him several times as well. I have nothing bad to say about Bam Bam. He was a great person."

 

Viscera:

“Bam Bam Bigelow and Andre the Giant were the two guys who inspired me to get into wrestling. Whenever I saw Bam Bam wrestle, I just had so much respect for him. I had never seen a guy of his girth move with such agility. We wrestled together in matches all around the world, and he taught me so much. I think he was an ambassador of big men in wrestling; he showed the world that we’re also athletes, not just guys who little guys can bounce off of. I’m very saddened about Scott’s death, and I want his family to know that they’re in my heart and prayers. Scott Bigelow will live forever. He will never die.”

[theintensifier 0]

That's a shocker to say the least.

 

Out of everyone who ever faced Goldberg during his undefeated streak, Bam Bam is the won I wanted to end it. RIP "The beast from the East".

[Scroby 0]

I'm still shocked that he is gone. I kept thinking that someday, we'd see him again in a WWE or TNA ring. I honestly think he was the best big man in the buisness and its really sad that he is now gone.

 

R.I.P Bammer

[spman 0]

Bam Bam was definitely a good worker in the ring, few men his size could pull off the stuff he used to do. I always thought he was one of the most criminally underused talents in WWE history. He started off fairly strong, including a very good showing at King of the Ring 1993, but it was all downhill from there. A never ending feud with Doink the Clown, getting paired with Ted Debiase in the biggest heat vacuum of a stable of all time, and a very poorly booked face run where he played second fiddle to Kevin Nash of all people really did him in. His matches in ECW were fantastic though, and I'll never forget his one match with Sandman in WCW on that one Pay Per View. Definitely one of the most underrated wrestlers of all time, and easily, the second best worker over 350 lbs of all time, only bested, in my opinion, by Vader.

[death_by_burrito 0]

This is very sad today. I told all my older brothers who got me into wrestling, and they were all very sad to hear it. Absolutely one of the best big men to ever step in the ring. RIP Bam Bam.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

RIP Bam Bam

 

Definitely one of my favorite big men of all time. The job to LT @ WM 11 pretty much killed his WWF career and he was still getting heat for it years later because when I was at a Thunder taping in 1999 when he fought Meng in the U.S. title tournament people chanted "L.T." at him quite a bit.

[iliketurtles 0]

My initial reaction:

 

Another death to add to the under 50 group.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Thank you Bam Bam. One of the true great big men of all time, and from what I've read a few times now, a legitimate good guy.

[RepoMan 0]

I was very sad to hear the news. He was truly one of the great big men in wrestling. Sounds like he was a great guy to boot. This industry claims another man before his time. Truly sad.

[Jericholic82 0]

wow i didnt find out till today (monday) weird thing wa ssat I wa splaying svr07 and doing a season mode as carlito and got the "piper and ba, bam break micl foleys leg" storyline. Plus I was just watching heatwave 98 last week

 

sad sad news. I only knew him from his wwf return in 93 since I didnt watch wrestling till the early 90s (though I was excited when he came back cuz I had seen him in the wrestlemania NES game and thought he looked cool) I was always amazed at his high flying antics and how can you not love him doing cartwheels. sure the LT angle kinda hurt him but he playe d his role very well and carried LT to a great (for a celebrity match)match at wm 11

 

a recent (maybe last year?) wwe mag did a profile on him and mentioned his restaurant

 

RIP Bammer and thank you.

[Downhome 0]

From PWInsider:

 

CAUSE OF DEATH FOR BAM BAM BIGELOW ANNOUNCED

by Mike Johnson @ 12:40:00 AM on 3/5/2007

 

The Tampa Tribune reported over the weekend that former WWF, WCW, and ECW star Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow death was caused by toxic levels of cocaine and the antianxiety drug benzodiazepine in his system. The death was ruled accidental by the Pasco-Pinellas Medical Examiner's Office. A contributing factor in Bigelow's passing was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, narrowing of small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

 

Bigelow, a former ECW World champion, was found dead at home by by his live-in girlfriend this past January.

[Red Baron 0]

Never thought it would be a coke overdose would due him in.

[Darth Vader 0]

No clue what Mr. McMahon was thinking putting that match over Diesle vs. Shawn on Wrestlemania. Even as an 11 year old semi-mark I was like WTF?

[humanoid92 0]

No clue what Mr. McMahon was thinking putting that match over Diesle vs. Shawn on Wrestlemania. Even as an 11 year old semi-mark I was like WTF?

 

Do you mean why did he put it on last or why did he put it on at all?

 

If you mean why did LT/Bigelow go on last, it's pretty obvious. That was the big match that they tried to get national exposure with. It made sense to put it on last. I always liked that Shawn vs. Diesel wasn't last because it really teased the Shawn win. Heels never walked out with the Title back then. By not putting Diesel and Shawn in the last match I think a lot more people bought the idea that Shawn could go over.