Bam Bam Bigelow is fondly remembered as one of the most agile and unique big men in the history of professional wrestling. His tenures in WWF, New Japan and ECW tend to be what most fans point towards as his best work, but he also made a prominent splash in the Continental Wrestling Association, which shouldn’t be understated. Conversely, Bam Bam’s last years of national prominence would be spent pursuing a less-than-desirable run in WCW as the company folded.
Bam Bam Bigelow would tragically pass away in 2007 at age 45 due to an accidental drug overdose, but what transpired during the final years of his life well after WWF purchased WCW?
2000
Before we cover life after WCW, I would be remiss if his heroic act in 2000 was completely ignored.
Bigelow reportedly charged inside a burning building to rescue three children. Bam Bam suffered severe burns to over 40% of his body and was forced to spend several weeks in the hospital. Miraculously, Bigelow would return to wrestle for WCW later in the year.
While accounts of this story vary, he reflected on his luck to the Diamond City/ Electric City Weekly Newspaper, “It's really ironic that a guy who wore flames almost his whole career and has his head tattooed can be burnt 40 percent and not have scars.”
2001
In WCW’s final PPV titled Greed, Bam Bam would lose to Shawn Stasiak following a neckbreaker in under 6 minutes.
Eight days later, during the final televised episode of Monday Nitro on March 26, 2001, Bam Bam would again lose to Stasiak in 1 minute and 23 seconds featuring interference from Stacy Keibler.
As WCW went out of business and was purchased by WWF, the possibility of Bam Bam re-joining WWF was particularly intriguing. Still, The Beast from the East would reportedly opt to sit out and reap the benefits of his WCW contract that was set to pay him over $400,000 a year up through June 2002.
Do you blame him? Several other prominent WCW performers took a similar approach.
2002
There were also rumblings that an upstart NWA-TNA was interested in pursuing Bam Bam, but they could not proceed further due to his WCW contract.
Once his WCW contract expired, Bigelow sporadically wrestled in 2002, where he would capture the USA Pro Heavyweight Championship on two occasions, first on August 17, in Deer Park, Long Island, New York, then later on October 19 in Queens, NY.
Due to ongoing back issues, Bigelow decided to retire in November, but this decision would last less than two years as a way to earn an income.
2004
Trouble continued to follow Bigelow in 2004 as he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child through reckless driving. No charges were filed, and Bigelow would attribute this to a seizure he had suffered.
In 2004, Bam Bam opened a local hamburger restaurant in Hamlin, Pennsylvania, supposedly called Bam Bam's Bigelow’s Burger Joint. He would wonder, “Maybe that was my calling and I missed it.”
Unfortunately, despite marketing a two-pound hamburger, the restaurant would quickly shut down, forcing Bigelow to relocate to Florida as, according to him, the warm weather made his aches and pains feel a little less sharp.
Due to injuries suffered throughout his professional wrestling career, he would become dependent on OxyContin.
Bigelow would un-retire and re-retire from professional wrestling on several occasions throughout 2004.
2005
After divorcing in 2000, Bigelow’s ex-wife, Dana Fisher, would sue her former husband for non-payment of child support for their three kids. She ended up suing him on three separate occasions.
In November of 2005, Bigelow crashed his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on State Road 50 with his girlfriend, Janis Remiesiewicz, suffering life-threatening injuries as a passenger riding on the back of the bike.
Neither Bigelow nor Janis was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
FHP spokesman Larry Coggins would tell the Tampa Bay Times, “If she dies, it becomes a homicide investigation.”
Fortunately, she made a full recovery, and Bigelow could avoid charges.
2006
After losing contact with friends and family while still behind on child support payments, Bigelow reportedly lived on Social Security disability to pay the bills.
By all accounts, Bam Bam Bigelow’s final match transpired on October 21, 2006, at ACW Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, for an American Combat Wrestling promotion. He would team up with Ralph Mosca to defeat The Cousins.
2007
On January 19, 2007, the body of Scott Bigelow was discovered by his girlfriend, Janis Remiesiewicz. The Tampa Tribune would report that his death was caused by toxic levels of cocaine and the anti-anxiety drug benzodiazepine in his system. The Pasco-Pinellas Medical Examiner's Office would rule his death as accidental.
Back in 2006/07, WWE-sponsored rehab, DDP’s constant pursuit of combating addiction while physically and emotionally transforming his brothers in arms and GoFundMe was virtually non-existent. Still, it could have altered Bigelow’s trajectory, but that’s just pure speculation in 2020.
While the final years of Bam Bam Bigelow’s life were undeniably distressing, his legacy as one of the most outstanding big men to ever grace the squared circle is firmly cemented.
In 2017, Bret Hart reflected fondly on his fallen comrade in an Instagram post:
Bam Bam Bigelow was the best big man in the business. Always so strong, so quick, and most of all he was safe, a real pro in the ring.
Bam Bam Bigelow’s larger-than-life character is unmistakably etched in the memories of wrestling fans. While his call to the great unknown came much earlier than expected, one hopes the next call received is a long overdue one that features an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The flames on Bigelow’s skull were perhaps far more symbolic than originally portrayed as they remind us that time is the fire in which we burn. Make the most of your time as the flame eventually extinguishes.
