Bam Bam Bigelow’s legacy rests on a rare combination: a super heavyweight’s imposing presence and the agility to move with striking speed. His career carried him through WWE, ECW and WCW, from a high-profile WrestleMania XI main event to memorable ECW title matches. Bigelow died at 45 in 2007. Early reports said the cause was unknown; a later report attributed the medical examiner’s findings to an accidental death involving drug toxicity, with cardiovascular disease contributing.
What made Bam Bam Bigelow stand out?
Scott Charles Bigelow, known to wrestling audiences as Bam Bam Bigelow, was introduced to WWE viewers in 1987. His flame tattoo and distinctive look made him instantly recognizable, but his athletic range gave that image substance. WWE’s profile describes him performing moonsaults and diving headbutts—moves that made his size an unexpected part of the spectacle, rather than the limit of what he could do. WWE lists his billed height as 6 feet 4 inches and weight as 390 pounds; those are profile figures, not independently verified measurements. WWE profile
Colleagues emphasized the same contrast. Fellow wrestler, teammate and friend Diamond Dallas Page remembered, “He moved like a cat, especially when he was younger.” WWE ring announcer and executive Howard Finkel put it more simply: “He was a big man who could move, which was an amazing feat.” WWE memorial coverage
Which moments defined his wrestling career?
WrestleMania XI and mainstream visibility
Bigelow’s most visible mainstream moment came at WrestleMania XI in 1995, when he faced NFL star Lawrence Taylor in the event’s main match. The bout brought a major football celebrity into a professional wrestling spectacle and became a defining visibility milestone for Bigelow. He lost the match; its prominence should not be confused with a claim that it was his best performance. WWE WrestleMania XI retrospective
#1 Best Overall
ECW championships and the Tazz rivalry
Bigelow’s ECW run gave him championship success and some of the images most closely associated with his career. In 1997, he won the ECW World Title from Shane Douglas. His rivalry with Tazz produced another landmark scene: at Living Dangerously in 1998, the two crashed through the ring during their ECW Television Title match. WWE also recalls Bigelow’s connection with the crowd in Asbury Park, New Jersey, his home town.
Wrestling commentator Joey Styles later recalled the moment: “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.” WWE memorial coverage
Rank #2
- Each Elite comes with a WWE Championship Sticker
- The WWE Legends Elite action figures are approximately 6 inches tall and at authentic "Superstar Scale"
- Each figure features highly detailed TrueFX technology for life-like authenticity
- Recreate signature poses and finishing moves with 25 points of articulation
- The Superstar figures come with interchangeable hands and iconic accessories, like entrance gear or WWE championships
WCW and the end of his career
Bigelow also competed in WCW, where he won tag team gold with Diamond Dallas Page as part of the Jersey Triad. WWE identifies his appearance on the final episode of Monday Nitro as his last televised match. That does not establish it as his final match of any kind: WWE’s retrospective separately records that he retired from wrestling in 2004. Across ECW and WCW, WWE describes him as a multi-time champion. WWE career retrospective
What happened to Bam Bam Bigelow?
Bigelow was found dead at his home in Hudson, Florida, on January 19, 2007. He was 45. WWE’s initial report said the cause was not known while an autopsy was pending. WWE’s January 2007 report
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- Capture the blowout action of WWE Superstars with this Elite Collection action figure!
A January 24 Los Angeles Times report said preliminary autopsy findings showed no signs of foul play and that toxicology testing was still needed to determine a cause. The newspaper attributed information about an infection and diabetes to Bigelow’s brother. Those were details reported at the time, not the later medical conclusion. Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2007
A March 2007 report by WrestlingFigs reproducing a Tampa Tribune story attributed the final determination to the Pasco-Pinellas Medical Examiner’s Office: the manner of death was accidental, toxic levels of cocaine and benzodiazepine were identified, and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease was listed as a contributing factor. The reported findings do not establish intent, and “accidental” describes the manner of death rather than reducing the findings to a single cause. WrestlingFigs report reproducing the Tampa Tribune story
Rank #4
- Relive the Monday Night War with the WWE Elite Monday Night War Bam Bam Bigelow Action Figure! Play out iconic moments from the battle for Monday Night supremacy with WWE Superstars and WCW Legends. Featuring deluxe articulation and TrueFX details, this Bam Bam Bigelow action figure comes with iconic accessories and pieces to build a figure of Vincent. Make your collection elite (each sold separately)!
How do wrestlers remember him?
Bigelow’s legacy is not only a record of titles and high-profile matches. Fellow performers remembered the athleticism that made him unusual among very large wrestlers, as well as the influence of that example. Wrestler Viscera said, “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.” WWE memorial coverage
That combination—physical power, agility and a recognizable presence—helps explain why Bigelow’s WrestleMania spectacle and ECW ring collapse remain enduring reference points. His story spans distinct promotions and kinds of visibility, while the accounts of his death are best understood in their chronological order: cause unknown in the first reports, followed by a later medical-examiner determination reported as accidental.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Funko POP WWE Bam Bam Bigelow GW Figure 68961
- A collectible Funko Pop Miniature.
- The miniature is in its original packaging and measures approximately 9cm in height.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
