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"Beast from the East" another premature loss to pro wrestling

"Beast from the East" another premature loss to pro wrestling

Posted: Feb 1st 2007 By: CMBurnham

It seems like I find myself saying this all too often, and that's because I do. We lost another one.

On Jan. 19, Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow was found dead in his home in Hudson, Fla. He was 45 years old.

Read a biography of Bigelow anywhere on the Internet and you will likely find that his crowning achievement in the industry was being involved in the main event at Wrestlemania XI in a match against former National Football League linebacker Lawrence Taylor. But Bigelow was so much more to professional wrestling than a jobber to "LT." He was one of the most agile big men the business has ever seen, and he was an impact performer, no matter what organization he was a member of. He was one of the few to actually wrestle for all three of the big companies around during his time - World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Bigelow, whose most notable feature is the flame tattoo encompassing the entirety of his scalp, has his roots in New Jersey. He was born in Asbury Park and billed from there before his wrestling matches. At 6'3" tall and over 300 pounds, observers were amazed that "the Beast from the East" could move around the ring as well as he did and perform moves off the top rope, like his flying headbutt finishing maneuver that he used along with his Greetings From Asbury Park piledriver finisher. He was trained by Larry Sharpe at the infamous Monster Factory in Mount Laurel Township, N.J. - a school that has also graduated other notable stars like Chris Candido, Raven and The Big Show.

Bigelow's life outside of the ring was rocky. He went through a messy divorce with his wife in 2000, and would later be sued by her for unpaid child support. He had problems with drug addictions. He was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2005 that almost killed his girlfriend. And for most of the time after he left professional wrestling, people barely knew where he was or if he even still existed. They found out on Jan. 19.

When I was younger, about 11 or 12 years old, I had the privilege of seeing Bigelow live and in person in a venue far outside the ones holding professional wrestling events. While taking hockey lessons at the Wall Sports Arena in Farmingdale, N.J. in hopes of one day becoming an NHL star, I noticed Bigelow at the rink several times with one of his children. I never had the guts then to actually go and ask for an autograph, but just being able to see him outside of his element was intriguing enough at that point for me. My father spoke to Bigelow between the time when the WWE bought WCW and owned his contract to the time that contract expired. At that time, the WWE did not want to bring Bigelow back, and he just collected his paychecks during the remainder of the contract he originally signed with WCW.

My favorite in-ring memory of Bigelow is definitely the infamous crashing through the canvas moment during his match against Taz at ECW's Living Dangerously 1998 in Asbury Park. Taz had Bigelow locked up in his Tazmission submission finisher when Bigelow fell backward and both men went crashing through the mat, disappearing under the ring. Bigelow successfully pinned Taz after getting him back into the ring and walked out that night with the ECW World Television Championship in front of his hometown fans.

Bigelow was also the man responsible for the legendary Spike Dudley crowd surf in ECW. Bigelow tossed Dudley out of the ring and over the guardrail to the waiting arms of the fans, who proceeded to pass him around the ECW Arena.

In the end, Bigelow's best days were probably when he was with ECW. But, he made his mark in all of the big three promotions around during the time. Many that really got the chance to see him and appreciate his in-ring style are saddened by his passing, of which the cause is still unknown - though his brother said Bigelow suffered from diabetes and had a persistent infection, according to the Associated Press.

The WWE has acknowledged Bigelow's death with bell tolls before broadcasts to live crowds and a brief televised moment before its programs for those watching at home. I hope the WWE goes further, though, and puts out a DVD chronicling his life and career. And I also hope the company gives strong consideration to inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame. "The Beast from the East" deserves such a distinction.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-08
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  • Wendi Richter Sep 8th Today!
  • Silas Young Sep 8th Today!
  • Rebel [2nd] Sep 8th Today!
  • Vincent Cross Sep 8th Today!
  • Mike Clancy Sep 9th
  • Rancid Sep 9th
  • Owen Sep 10th
  • Vivian St. John Sep 10th
  • Les Mayne Sep 10th
  • Kool Ade Sep 10th
  • Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
  • Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
  • Summer Thunder Sep 11th
  • Vic Nichols Sep 11th
  • N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
  • Bash Sep 12th
  • Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
  • Danni Bee Sep 12th
  • Montego Seeka Sep 12th
  • Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
  • Animal Sep 12th
  • American Anarchy Sep 12th
  • Adrian Dell Sep 12th
  • K. P. Moore Sep 13th
  • Angelina Love Sep 13th
  • Poder Oriental Sep 13th
  • Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
  • Bobby Starr Sep 13th
  • Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
  • Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
  • Waddy Young Sep 14th
  • Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
  • Bernie D Sep 14th
  • Korvin Sage Sep 15th
  • Daniel King Sep 15th
  • Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
  • L. C. Green Sep 15th
  • Haru Sonada Sep 16th
  • Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
  • Jake Swayze Sep 17th
  • Rex Mori Sep 17th
  • Jim Cornette Sep 17th
  • Dick Brower Sep 17th
  • Bill Irwin Sep 17th
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
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  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st

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