Saturday, January 27, 2007

Tribute to Bam Bam Bigelow

The wrestling world was saddened last week when another legend, Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow, passed away at the age of 45.

Almost exactly 12 years ago, American football legend Lawrence Taylor appeared at the Royal Rumble in Fresno as a member of the audience.

The confrontation he had with Bam Bam Bigelow, though entirely scripted, caused a huge buzz and the pair went on to headline WrestleMania.

It is not by accident that Bigelow was the man asked to 'carry' LT in a match of this magnitude.

Wherever he went - including WWE, WCW, ECW and Japan - Bam Bam quickly made a name for himself, not just for his in ring work, but also for his reputation as a true professional.

Bigelow's first stint in the WWE was largely unheralded, although he did take part in the inaugural Survivor Series PPV, but a return in 1992 saw him receive a bigger and more sustained push.

In the cartoonish world of the early 90s' product, the larger-than-life Bam Bam - with his bald head adorned with tattoos, menacing glare and fiery outfit - was a natural heel. He had the world's worst theme music - just someone saying "Bam Bam" over and again!



While never holding a major WWE championship, Bam Bam worked with all the top names of the era, including Bret Hart and Diesel, and was a member of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation.

He eventually turned babyface when The Million Dollar Man fired and ordered his charges to attack Bigelow, who had "let him down" by losing to Lawrence Taylor.

In the mid 90s, upstart promotion ECW was gaining momentum, and many point to the more experienced grapplers who worked for Paul Heyman's Philadelphia based organization as being a key reason for this swift success.

Terry Funk and Bam Bam Bigelow are the two names most frequently mentioned in this context.

Bigelow went on to win the ECW world title from Shane Douglas, only to drop the strap a month or so later to The Franchise.

The Beast From The East also created one of the enduring images of ECW, when during a match for the television title with Taz (now commentator Tazz), they crashed through the ring before Bigelow was able to clamber out and claim the title, in his home town of Astbury Park, New Jersey.

It was Bigelow who dropped the ECW television championship to Rob Van Dam, after which RVD began his hottest streak and record-breaking title reign.

Both Taz and Van Dam acknowledge the contribution Bam Bam made to their careers, with RVD having this to say of WWE.com: "One of the favourite 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.

"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."

In 1998, Bam Bam moved to WCW, where he stayed until the company was bought out in 2001.

While in WCW, he fought mainly for the hardcore title, often with fellow ECW alumni Raven, Hardcore Hak (Sandman) and Mike Awesome.

Bam Bam will long be remembered as one of the most agile big men in wrestling history.

Typically using a slingshot splash or diving headbutt as finisher, he would also take to the skies with a textbook moonsault - not bad considering his weight was approximately double that of a Rey Mysterio.

It remains to be seen whether the WWE will include Bam Bam as one of this year's Hall of Fame inductees.

No-one could claim he does not deserve it.

by ROB McNICHOL

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