Don't really see much talk about this guy on here, which to be honest, I'd probably like to hear more of as the guy was a true talent.
When I first started looking back on the earlier era's of wrestling and Bam Bam was there I didn't really realise at the time just how good his talent was, it's hindsight for me that showcases just how great and such a phenomenal worker he was for his size, I've never seen anyone at his size so agile and I find that seriously impressive when it comes to Bam Bam.
From what I know, he was never really involved in any substantial feuds, not in the WWE anyway, though correct me if I'm wrong in regards to this, however I think he's often over looked because he probably could have been really great in some more substantial feuds I feel, he had a presence that was scary which is what I got the first time round from him, but he also had an amazing in ring work ethic and his agility really was unreal.
So what are your thoughts and vibes in regards to Bam Bam Bigelow and looking back on him in hindsight and what are your favourite moments/matches from him, should he be inducted into the Hall Of Fame at some point?
Thoughts, I'd love to hear your vibes and thoughts in regards to the guy we know as the beast from the East.
A great wrestler who was underused by WWE. The Doink angle in 1993/1994 plus losing to Lawrence Taylor are both unfortunate, but agree that he was one of the best big men.
He was the most athletic big man with the agility of a cruiserweight. In the first Survivor Series I remember very clear how he showed his class against his opponents. Cool stuff. He never booked very good in any company he was but his ECW run is the most memorable. The matches against Vader in Japan or their tag team together against Keiji Mutoh and Hirosi Hase / Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami are my faves. As Vader he was full respected in Japan and in my opinion he was made for real puro. His stuffed body by old school tattoos made him look total bad ass. Forever in my heart.
He's one of my favourite heavyweight wrestlers alongside Vader and Mike Awesome. He was badass, looked intimidating, and could move around like a lightweight. He wasn't used to his full potential in the WWF but he had some good matches and moments there like his performance on the very first Survivor Series, his King Of The Ring Finals with Bret, his match with Tatanka at the Royal Rumble 1994 and, yes, even his match with Lawrence Taylor at Wrestleamania 11. LT held his own in that match & didn't look like he needed carrying and Bam Bam was selling his shots like a boss, that was good enough for me. He should've been in the WWF Title picture in 1995 but it just wasn't meant to be. I enjoyed his ECW run more, his World Title match with Shane Douglas at November To Remember 97, his Television Title match with Rob Van Dam, and his feud with Taz. Actually, his feud with Taz is my favourite feud of Bam Bam's. It was David vs. Goliath, two badasses just going at it, and they provided us with two of the most epic spots in ECW history.
his feud with Taz is my favourite feud of Bam Bam's. It was David vs. Goliath, two badasses just going at it, and they provided us with two of the most epic spots in ECW history.
Although I love that feud, I wouldn't say Taz v.s. Bigelow was "David v.s. Goliath". Taz was booked like a Goliath, and routinely destroyed genuinely huge guys like 9-1-1, Brakkus, Mike Awesome, and Pitbull #2.
Bam Bam was a great talent and a great worker but he could also be lazy and didn't always work up to his potential.
His matches with Bret Hart, in particular the KotR 1993 bout were fantastic.
He was also part of a "dream" tag team in Japan with Vader. Check out their match vs the Steiners, it's unbelievable.
Vader is the best super heavyweight of all time, hands down no questions asked. He was the best athlete, the best worker, and his matches smoke Bam Bams by a huge, huge margin. That said, Bam Bam is a distant second or third on that list depending on where you rank Mark Henry (I personally put Henry above Bam Bam but it's close).
Bam Bam vs. Shane Douglas at November to Remember is the best match I've seen from Douglas. It's Lesnar/Cena style, and Douglas sells Bam Bam like a beast. Great psychology.
On a side note, Bigelow once ran into a burning house and saved a family irl.
if I had to grade how he was used...I'd say B-. He was never going to be a heavyweight champion or really ever a part of the main event picture, but I DO think he could have been used more than he did. In 1993, he was basically Raw. If you watch, he's on literally at least 3/4 times a month. He had a great look, his matches were more than fine, and he played the "goonish big guy" very well. Pairing him with Luna was a match made in heaven too.
The entire Money Inc was so stale (which shouldn't surprise anyone when you mention 93-95, so he really had no where to go with that.
He never won the IC belt right? That's where they blew it. He should have easily been feuding with Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels, and the British Bulldog, and Owen Hart at this time.
if I had to grade how he was used...I'd say B-. He was never going to be a heavyweight champion or really ever a part of the main event picture, but I DO think he could have been used more than he did. In 1993, he was basically Raw. If you watch, he's on literally at least 3/4 times a month. He had a great look, his matches were more than fine, and he played the "goonish big guy" very well. Pairing him with Luna was a match made in heaven too.
The entire Money Inc was so stale (which shouldn't surprise anyone when you mention 93-95, so he really had no where to go with that.
He never won the IC belt right? That's where they blew it. He should have easily been feuding with Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels, and the British Bulldog, and Owen Hart at this time.
I do see Bam Bam as the most agile big man in the business, closely followed by Vader I feel, who also was unreal with his agility for his size, the things Bam Bam would do off the top ropes, even his cartwheels it's like, this is a lot for this guy here and he did it effortlessly.
I thought the Boss Man, Akeem etc.. were all agile too, but Bam Bam, for me personally, is just the most impressive in that sense
Anyway I love Bam Bam! I would say he has “the look” more so than any other wrestler ever. I mean, just look at this dude and his tattooed cranium. Becoming a professional wrestler was his only option in life. He most certainly could have been a librarian, bellhop or optometrist.
My favorite moment has to be his valiant effort against Andre’s team at the first Survivor Series. I don’t think anyone else can say that they pinned King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang in the same night, so that’s pretty special. I also like that he took out Hacksaw in the 1993 King of the Ring tournament.
He was brilliant, seriously brilliant. I mean forget his size - he was a good, solid wrestler regardless. Add his size and it makes him even more amazing.
Another guy that should've been a world champion during one of the "down periods" in wrestling - I always used to enjoy seeing him get it on with other athletic heavies like Earthquake and top guys like Hulk and Goldberg. I would've loved a big program with Vader in the US - I think they only ever really properly feuded in Japan in the late 80s.
Another big guy with a big heart that died way too soon.
A distant second behind Vader. Bam Bam was big, Vader was bigger. Bam Bam did a sort-of moonsault, Vader did a full moonsault. Still a great worker, though and very fast and well co-ordinated in the ring. Their tag match against the Steiners is a classic.
I like Bam Bam a lot, but I think the fact he was so agile worked against him in some ways. Instead of being treated like a big man monster heel like Vader (my pick for best big man worker ever), he was just a mean heel who happened to be larger than most, and there is a difference. I also don't think he has those excellent matches as consistently as Vader did.
But he was very talented. Worth seeking out his Texas Death match with Jerry Lawler in Memphis, such incredible stuff, and always enjoyed his matches with Bret Hart, their chemistry was on point. But his agility and ability to make others look good was to his detriment on some ways, sadly ironic that his biggest strength anchored him from getting to the top level and staying there.
I loved playing as Bigelow in Smackdown vs. Raw 2007, Vader and himself were a good tag team and worked well as opponents. Come to think of it, Bam Bam being fast on his feet to take flight for moves that cruiserweights could pull off was impressive enough.
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