R.I.P. The Beast from the East

[mr.clean]

WWE.com has learned that former WWE Superstar Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow has passed away in Florida.

Kevin Doll, the Public Information Director for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Bigelow was found dead early this morning in his home in Hudson, Fla.

"We can confirm that Scott Bigelow was found in his home this morning. At this time the cause of death is unknown," Doll told WWE.com.

Doll also confirmed that the Pasco-Pinellas Counties medical examiner has taken the body and an autopsy will be performed.

Bigelow, 45, worked for WWE, ECW and WCW extensively throughout his 20-year sports-entertainment career. A former ECW Champion, ECW Television Champion and WCW Tag Team Champion, he is perhaps best known for his rivalry with Lawrence Taylor that culminated in the main event of WrestleMania XI in 1995.

[1BadAction]

bam bam had came into my moms bar several times over the years, didnt realize who I was BS'ing with the first time untill after he left. never talked crap about what he did, never bragged. he was a cool guy, very down to earth and nice. he will be missed. RIP.

[The Big Al]

CareerBigelow was trained as a wrestler at Larry Sharpe's "Monster Factory" in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. He debuted in Memphis, Tennessee in 1985, and was named Crusher Yurkov by Fritz Von Erich so he could play the character of a Russian heel. Upon leaving Memphis, Bigelow adopted various ring names before finally settling on Bam Bam Bigelow.
In late 1987 he was hired by the World Wrestling Federation. The storyline upon his debut was that the various heel managers were all vying for Bigelow's services. The angle was thus dubbed "The Battle for Bam Bam". Bigelow in the end wound up a babyface when he denounced all the heel managers and announced that his manager was going to be Oliver Humperdink. Bigelow wrestled as a part of Hulk Hogan's team at the first Survivor Series in 1987. He wrestled in the WWF for a year before leaving to have knee surgery. He then 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 late 1992 Bigelow returned to the WWF and took on Luna Vachon as his manager a few months later. He feuded with Tatanka and Doink the Clown. In mid-1994, he joined Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation and engaged in a highly-publicised feud with American football player Lawrence Taylor. Bigelow was defeated by Taylor at WrestleMania XI in a match for which Bigelow was paid $250,000 and Taylor $1,000,000. Shortly thereafter, Bigelow quit Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation, turned babyface, and teamed with Diesel.
Bigelow left the WWF in 1995 and made a few appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling in early 1996, feuding with Taz. On November 17, 1996 Bigelow competed in a "U-Japan" mixed martial arts event against Kimo Leopoldo. Bigelow was dominated throughout the match, being mounted within the first 10 seconds. He lost to a rear naked choke in the first round. <SUP class=reference id=_ref-1>[2]</SUP>
He returned to ECW in 1997, where he eventually joined the reformed Triple Threat with Chris Candido and leader, Shane Douglas. He was a dominant force in ECW, carrying out feats of strength such as hurling Spike Dudley out of the ring and into the audience and slamming Taz through the ring. He held the ECW World Television Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship during his stay there.
On November 16, 1998 Bigelow debuted in World Championship Wrestling. He initially feuded with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg before competing in the WCW Hardcore division along with fellow ECW alumni Raven and Hardcore Hak. He formed a stable with Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon known as the Jersey Triad in May 1999. After the Triad disbanded, Bigelow began feuding with Mike Awesome, who defeated him in an ambulance match at StarrCade 2000.
Bigelow remained with WCW until the company was purchased by the WWF in March 2001, then waited until his Time Warner contract expired in June 2002. Bigelow announced his retirement in November 2002 but returned to the ring, making several appearances for USA Pro Wrestling, before retiring on November 19, 2004.
Bigelow came out of retirment in 2006 to work for ACW wrestling in Florida. In his final wrestling match he won the ACW Tag Team title with partner Ralph Mosca. After his passing the match was made available free online. <SUP class=reference id=_ref-2>[3]</SUP>
For much of his career, Bigelow was addicted to the drug OxyContin. In his most profitable years, he earned between $750,000 and $1.2 million USD. <SUP class=reference id=_ref-3>[4]</SUP>