Retired American Professional Wrestling Superstar Scott “Bam Bam” Bigelow passed away January 19, 2007 in Hudson, Florida. He was found dead in his home at around 10 A.M. by his girlfriend, Janis Remiesiewicz. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed.
The Public Information Director for the Pasco County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, Kevin Doll, confirmed that Bigelow was found dead early Friday morning in his home. He said, “We can confirm that Scott Bigelow was found in his home this morning. At this time the cause of death is unknown.” He also confirmed that the Pasco-Pinellas Counties medical examiner has taken the body and an autopsy will be performed.
Bigelow was 45 years old at the time of death. He was a professional wrestler with a 20-year sports entertainment career. He worked for the WWE, ECW and WCW extensively and many other organizations. He was an ECW Champion, ECW Television Champion and WCW Tag Team Champion.
He is best known for his rivalry with football star, Lawrence Taylor. It led up to their match in the main event of WrestleMania XI in 1995.
Bam Bam Bigelow was most recognizable for his tattoo that covered his head. His ring name was from the name of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, a Flintstones character (Barney Rubble’s son). Often referred to as The Beast from The East, he was one of the most athletic “big men” in the pro wrestling performing very physical moves such as moonsaults and somersaults.
Born Scott Bigelow on September 1, 1961 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He was trained as a wrestler at Larry Sharpe’s “Monster Factory” in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. In 1985, in Memphis, Tennessee, he debuted with the name Crusher Yurkov so he could play the character of a Russian heel. After leaving Memphis, Bigelow used various ring names before settling on Bam Bam Bigelow.
In 1987, Bigelow was hired by the World Wrestling Federation with manager Oliver Humperdink. In 1987, at the first Survivor Series, he was a part of Hulk Hogan’s team. He wrestled there for a year before leaving to have knee surgery. He went to Jim Crockett Promotions briefly to challenge Barry Windham for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, and then to Japan to work for Antonio Inoki in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he formed a tag team with Big Van Vader, and won the IWGP World Tag Team Championship. In 1992 he left NJPW and wrestled for several other Japanese promotions, such as WAR.
In 1992, Bigelow returned to the WWF. In 1994, he joined Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Corporation and had a highly-publicized feud with the American football player Lawrence Taylor.
In 1995, Bigelow left the WWF and made appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling in early 1996, feuding with Taz. He returned to ECW in 1997, where he joined the reformed Triple Threat with Chris Candido and Shane Douglas. He held the ECW World Television Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
On November 16, 1998 Bigelow debuted in World Championship Wrestling against WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg. Later, he formed the Jersey Triad with Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon. He remained with WCW until its purchase by the WWF in 2001, and then waited until his contract expired in June 2002. He retired on 2004 but came out of retirement in 2006 to win the ACW Tag Team title for ACW wrestling in Florida.
In his most profitable years, he earned between $750,000 and $1.2 million USD.
In 2000, Bigelow and his wife, Dana Fisher, with whom he had several children, divorced. In 2005, Fisher sued Bigelow for non-payment of child support.
Upon his retirement, Bigelow moved to Allenhurst, Pennsylvania and opened the Bam Bam Bigelow restaurant, located in Hamlin Township, which later closed. He then relocated to Florida.
On October 2, 2005, Bigelow and girlfriend, Janis Remiesiewicz, had a motorcycle accident in Spring Hill, Florida. He was hospitalized with a broken nose and several lacerations. Remiesiewicz suffered severe injuries and was declared to be in critical condition. She made a complete recovery, and was still in a relationship with Bigelow at the time of his death.
Statistics
Ring names: Bam Bam Bigelow, Bruce Bigelow, Crusher Bigelow, Crusher Yurkof
Real Name: Scott Charles Bigelow
Height: 6 ft 3 in
Weight: 360 lb
Born: September 1, 1961 in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Died: January 19, 2007 in Hudson, Florida
Trainer: Larry Sharpe
Wrestling Debut: August 23, 1985
Wrestling Retired: November 19, 2004
Championships
Extreme Championship Wrestling
ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
ECW World Television Championship (1 time)
Mid-Southern Wrestling
Mid-Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
National Wrestling Alliance
NWA Northeast Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
IWGP World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Big Van Vader
Universal Superstars of America
USA Championship (1 time)
USA Xtreme Wrestling / USA Pro Wrestling
UXW/USA Pro Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
World Championship Wrestling
WCW Hardcore Championship (1 time)
WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Diamond Dallas Page (1), as a member of the Jersey Triad (1)
World Class Championship Wrestling
WCCW Television Championship (1 time)
Wrestle Association R
WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hiromichi Fuyuki and Youji Anjoh
