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The Tragic Death Of WWE Legend Bam Bam Bigelow, Explained

Posted: Nov 3rd 2022 By: Shawn Van Horn - TheSportster.com

Bam Bam Bigelow was one of WWE’s biggest superstars, but at just 45 his life came to a tragic end.

Wrestling history is full of wrestlers who were not just talented but intimidating. For example, who would have ever messed with the likes of Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Haku, or The Undertaker in real life? Another name on that list who could make you fear him just by his imposing presence was WWE legend Bam Bam Bigelow. He may have borrowed his name from a Flintstones character, but there was nothing cartoonish about Bigelow. He will forever be remembered for his massive physique and the tattoos, especially the flames that ran across his bald head. While he may have been scary, he was also a great wrestler, but he left us way too soon.

Bam Bam Bigelow’s Wrestling Legacy

Scott Bigelow began his wrestling career in 1985 at the age of 24. A year later he would adopt the moniker of Bam Bam, which he carried with him for the rest of his life. Another year later, in 1987, Bigelow’s career would start to take off with stops in New Japan, and most notably WWE, debuting with the latter at Survivor Series as part of Hulk Hogan’s team. In one short year he worked with the likes of One Man Gang, Ted DiBiase, and Andre the Giant.

He left the promotion for WCW in 1988, where he was quickly put in a feud with Ric Flair. His stay there was short, and after short runs with various promotions, Bigelow came back to WWE for a three-year stay starting in 1992. The biggest success of his career came in a loss. At WrestleMania 11, Bigelow took on Lawrence Taylor, the defensive icon from the New York Giants. Though it’s regarded by many as the weakest main event in WrestleMania history, it spoke to how highly Bigelow was thought of, that he was chosen to headline WWE’s biggest show. It was also a showcase not just of his offensive abilities as a wrestler, but his ability to sell and carry someone who wasn’t a wrestler.

Bigelow would have a couple of stints in ECW, where he became the ECW Champion, before spending the last few notable years of his career in WCW. His first order of business saw him challenging Goldberg for the WCW Championship, before later becoming part of The Jersey Triad, a stable consisting of Bigelow, DDP, and Kanyon. When WCW folded in 2001, Bigelow would wrestle for several small promotions, but for most fans, his work in WCW was the last they ever saw of him.

Bam Bam Bigelow Had A Troubled Life Behind The Scenes

So much led to Bam Bam Bigelow’s death. He had lived a troubled life that only seemed to get worse through the years. Before his wrestling days, he was a Mexican bounty hunter, even getting shot and spending half a year in prison. Later in life he was involved in a car accident as well as a motorcycle accident. He had seizures, heart issues, diabetes, and chronic back pain.

If that wasn’t enough, Bigelow was also severely burned over half of his body in 2000. Bam Bam may have made many mistakes in his life, but in this instance, his injuries were received when Bigelow rescued three kids from a fire, risking his own life. Bam Bam Bigelow was a hero and should always be remembered for that. The burns and injuries received led to Bigelow becoming addicted to painkillers, an all too common reality for many wrestlers of his era. And just as so many wrestlers died young due to their addictions, so did Scott “Bam Bam” Bigelow.

Bam Bam Bigelow Lost His Life To A Drug Overdose

On January 19, 2007, the world lost a troubled but heroic man in Bam Bam Bigelow. Early in the morning his girlfriend found him dead in his home in Hudson, Florida. An autopsy revealed results that were tragic but not surprising. Bigelow had high levels of anti-anxiety medications and cocaine in his system. It was also found that he had heart disease. The combination of a failing body, the pain he lived with, and the drugs he used to numb it all proved to be too much, ending his life.

Bam Bam Bigelow will be remembered for many things. It’s that look, the tattoos across his head that many will remember first. We shouldn’t forget his accolades either. He’s one of the few men to main event WrestleMania. What he should be remembered most for is his selflessness when it mattered most. When he saw people in need, he risked his life and nearly lost it. It’s an absolute shame that WWE hasn’t recognized him by putting him into the Hall of Fame. Bam Bam Bigelow is one of the greatest big men in history and deserves to be recognized for all he gave to the business that took so much from him.