1
00:00:05,714 --> 00:00:07,633
Look at this man!
I'm telling you, ladies,
2
00:00:07,633 --> 00:00:09,051
send your kids
out of the room,
3
00:00:09,051 --> 00:00:12,971
because I want you to take
a look at Bam Bam Bigelow.
4
00:00:12,971 --> 00:00:15,265
There's no one who doesn't
know Bam Bam Bigelow.
5
00:00:15,265 --> 00:00:17,434
And, if they don't
know his name,
6
00:00:17,434 --> 00:00:20,395
if they see the face and
the head, they know it.
7
00:00:20,395 --> 00:00:22,189
His entire head was a flame.
8
00:00:22,189 --> 00:00:24,608
So, he started doing the
flames on his suits and
9
00:00:24,608 --> 00:00:26,485
his boots, and you'd look
out into the audience
10
00:00:26,485 --> 00:00:27,736
and the flame everywhere.
11
00:00:27,736 --> 00:00:29,613
Bam! Oh! Wow!
12
00:00:29,613 --> 00:00:33,158
He was just massive,
but so athletic.
13
00:00:33,158 --> 00:00:34,409
So quick.
14
00:00:34,409 --> 00:00:36,703
Bammer, he did it almost
like a ballet dancer.
15
00:00:36,703 --> 00:00:38,455
Bigelow can move
for a big man.
16
00:00:38,455 --> 00:00:40,082
He knows what
he's doing in there.
17
00:00:40,082 --> 00:00:44,002
Look at this 400-pound man
doing flips, cartwheels...
18
00:00:44,002 --> 00:00:46,630
going through the ring,
this is crazy.
19
00:00:46,630 --> 00:00:49,466
In his time in the 80s,
nobody was like him.
20
00:00:49,466 --> 00:00:50,884
Like, this isn't right.
21
00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:52,427
It wasn't just
"Rookie of the Year",
22
00:00:52,427 --> 00:00:53,720
it was "Phenomenon
of the Year."
23
00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,140
Bam Bam Bigelow!
24
00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,851
Arriving on the scene
like a force of nature,
25
00:00:59,851 --> 00:01:02,437
Bam Bam Bigelow catapulted
to the top of the
26
00:01:02,437 --> 00:01:04,856
wrestling world and
never looked back.
27
00:01:04,856 --> 00:01:06,566
You need a little excitement?
28
00:01:06,566 --> 00:01:09,736
When you've been on top in
WWE and then you've
29
00:01:09,736 --> 00:01:12,531
been on the tippety top top
in ECW, you know,
30
00:01:12,531 --> 00:01:15,867
they beat the ----
out of each other.
31
00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:19,454
Wrestling rewarded Bam Bam's
talents with money and fame,
32
00:01:19,454 --> 00:01:22,457
but those rewards came
with a heavy price.
33
00:01:22,457 --> 00:01:23,834
All the wear and tear,
34
00:01:23,834 --> 00:01:25,836
you're not gonna
feel it right away.
35
00:01:25,836 --> 00:01:27,170
But it's coming.
36
00:01:27,170 --> 00:01:29,590
And that's when
it changed.
37
00:01:29,590 --> 00:01:32,426
And everything spiralled
out of control.
38
00:01:32,426 --> 00:01:34,761
You're selling your body,
you're selling your health,
39
00:01:34,761 --> 00:01:38,765
to have fame, fortune and
everything that goes with it.
40
00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:42,060
People had mouths to feed,
so guys did
41
00:01:42,060 --> 00:01:44,438
what they had to do
to earn their living.
42
00:01:44,438 --> 00:01:48,108
He was in pain, and there
was a doctor involved that
43
00:01:48,108 --> 00:01:50,068
was willing to
take that away,
44
00:01:50,068 --> 00:01:52,904
and things went
downhill from there.
45
00:01:52,904 --> 00:01:55,782
But Bam Bam's addictions
eventually push him
46
00:01:55,782 --> 00:01:57,576
beyond the point
of redemption,
47
00:01:57,576 --> 00:02:01,121
destroying
everything he loved.
48
00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:04,875
A trusted professional
gave him the thing
49
00:02:04,875 --> 00:02:07,711
that was his
biggest demise.
50
00:02:07,711 --> 00:02:09,171
This doctor,
he could have handed
51
00:02:09,171 --> 00:02:11,256
a loaded machine
gun to our family.
52
00:02:11,256 --> 00:02:13,383
It would have
been no different.
53
00:02:13,383 --> 00:02:15,260
No different.
54
00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:17,679
♪
55
00:02:19,890 --> 00:02:23,060
♪
56
00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:25,937
So, I'm just digging
through the vast archives,
57
00:02:25,937 --> 00:02:27,522
we have Dad's calendar,
58
00:02:27,522 --> 00:02:31,777
and then if you go to
November 15, 1987,
59
00:02:31,777 --> 00:02:34,071
he got married,
and then, you know,
60
00:02:34,071 --> 00:02:35,155
not even taking
a honeymoon.
61
00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:36,448
Like,
he had a day off,
62
00:02:36,448 --> 00:02:38,075
and then he was in
Des Moines, Iowa.
63
00:02:38,075 --> 00:02:39,868
This is literally the first
four days of his career
64
00:02:39,868 --> 00:02:42,954
with the WWF in 1987.
65
00:02:42,954 --> 00:02:44,790
He definitely wanted
kids right away.
66
00:02:44,790 --> 00:02:46,833
He was like, "I just want to
stay home and raise the kids.
67
00:02:46,833 --> 00:02:48,293
You could go to work,
go to school,
68
00:02:48,293 --> 00:02:49,461
do what you want to do."
69
00:02:49,461 --> 00:02:51,838
And he was more
excited about being a dad
70
00:02:51,838 --> 00:02:54,800
than he was when he
got Wrestlemania.
71
00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,551
Hi, I'm Dana Breckenridge.
72
00:02:56,551 --> 00:02:58,303
I was married to
Bam Bam Bigelow.
73
00:02:58,303 --> 00:03:00,347
And when Ricci came,
I mean,
74
00:03:00,347 --> 00:03:02,891
that was the
best thing ever.
75
00:03:02,891 --> 00:03:05,268
'Cause alls he ever really
wanted was a daughter.
76
00:03:05,268 --> 00:03:07,604
Oh yeah, he was a
giant teddy bear.
77
00:03:07,604 --> 00:03:11,233
What fans saw in the ring
was not at all
78
00:03:11,233 --> 00:03:12,651
what we saw at home.
79
00:03:12,651 --> 00:03:14,528
It was love,
it was playing around.
80
00:03:14,528 --> 00:03:15,862
My name is Ricci Bigelow,
81
00:03:15,862 --> 00:03:17,989
and my father is
Bam Bam Bigelow.
82
00:03:17,989 --> 00:03:20,033
We had this giant,
giant bed that
83
00:03:20,033 --> 00:03:22,285
we would all cuddle up in.
Just jump around.
84
00:03:22,285 --> 00:03:24,079
Yeah, it was a great time.
85
00:03:27,666 --> 00:03:30,419
It was the last time
I saw him.
86
00:03:30,419 --> 00:03:32,003
We were just
driving in the car,
87
00:03:32,003 --> 00:03:33,505
and I was
2 or 3 years old,
88
00:03:33,505 --> 00:03:39,344
but I remember seeing his
head slowly drop to his chest
89
00:03:39,344 --> 00:03:41,221
and then come back up.
90
00:03:41,221 --> 00:03:44,683
And whenever I think back
on how I went about
91
00:03:44,683 --> 00:03:46,560
the situation I'm
always so baffled,
92
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:51,022
because I was so young, but
in some way I understood that
93
00:03:51,022 --> 00:03:53,275
we were in some
sort of danger.
94
00:03:53,275 --> 00:03:57,320
And as a toddler,
I went into panic mode.
95
00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,281
"I gotta go to the bathroom!
I gotta get out.
96
00:03:59,281 --> 00:04:00,657
Daddy, Daddy,
pull over, I can't!"
97
00:04:00,657 --> 00:04:03,368
So we pulled over on the
side of the road,
98
00:04:03,368 --> 00:04:04,745
and he looked at me
and gave me
99
00:04:04,745 --> 00:04:06,705
this big toothless smile.
100
00:04:06,705 --> 00:04:08,457
He's like, "Come on,
do you have to go?"
101
00:04:08,457 --> 00:04:09,791
Like it was just on the
side of the road.
102
00:04:09,791 --> 00:04:12,836
And I was like, "No, no."
But kind of stalling,
103
00:04:12,836 --> 00:04:14,629
and then we just got
back on the road,
104
00:04:14,629 --> 00:04:17,007
and it started
happening again.
105
00:04:17,007 --> 00:04:18,550
This time we
were by a diner,
106
00:04:18,550 --> 00:04:20,927
and we pulled
into that diner,
107
00:04:20,927 --> 00:04:25,974
and the next thing I know
my car door was opened,
108
00:04:25,974 --> 00:04:28,518
and a man just
scooped me up and
109
00:04:28,518 --> 00:04:30,854
put me in the back of
this grey car.
110
00:04:30,854 --> 00:04:33,023
And, from the backseat
I watched them
111
00:04:33,023 --> 00:04:36,568
take my dad in
handcuffs, across.
112
00:04:36,568 --> 00:04:38,111
That was it.
113
00:04:38,111 --> 00:04:39,571
My mom came and
picked me up,
114
00:04:39,571 --> 00:04:41,573
and she was real
gentle about it,
115
00:04:41,573 --> 00:04:44,242
and she told me,
"You're probably not going
116
00:04:44,242 --> 00:04:48,413
to be seeing Daddy anymore.
He needs help."
117
00:04:48,413 --> 00:04:51,208
And that was the
last time I saw him.
118
00:04:51,208 --> 00:04:52,459
He wanted to be a wrestler,
119
00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:56,046
but he wanted to be
a father more.
120
00:04:56,046 --> 00:04:58,590
And, um, everything
was taken away.
121
00:04:58,590 --> 00:05:02,135
So, was wrestling
what took it away?
122
00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:05,847
Or was Scott and all the
other outside influences
123
00:05:05,847 --> 00:05:10,852
what took it away?
Like, how did this happen?
124
00:05:10,852 --> 00:05:14,397
Oh here we go.
125
00:05:14,397 --> 00:05:18,068
This is Dad sophomore year,
in high school.
126
00:05:18,068 --> 00:05:19,736
Oh my God.
127
00:05:19,736 --> 00:05:22,489
Right? They were Class A
North champions.
128
00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:23,990
20 and 6.
129
00:05:23,990 --> 00:05:25,742
That's probably the last time
you'll see him with hair.
130
00:05:25,742 --> 00:05:27,661
[Laughing]
131
00:05:27,661 --> 00:05:30,038
Everything around Asbury
Park is Bruce Springsteen.
132
00:05:30,038 --> 00:05:32,791
The sound of Bruce Springsteen
is everywhere and
133
00:05:32,791 --> 00:05:36,586
in everything that we did
when we grew up on The Shore.
134
00:05:36,586 --> 00:05:39,548
Scott was a street kid from
Neptune who hung out in
135
00:05:39,548 --> 00:05:41,132
the bars of Asbury,
you know,
136
00:05:41,132 --> 00:05:43,426
driving the circuit
in muscle cars.
137
00:05:43,426 --> 00:05:47,055
For our age and our crowd
he was definitely the man.
138
00:05:47,055 --> 00:05:49,641
You know what, he was
probably the kindest,
139
00:05:49,641 --> 00:05:51,893
most genuine person
of the group.
140
00:05:51,893 --> 00:05:54,354
We were friends and it
was just a progression,
141
00:05:54,354 --> 00:05:57,732
and then it was a whirlwind,
we were street kids.
142
00:05:57,732 --> 00:05:59,484
Nobody thought about
where they were going.
143
00:05:59,484 --> 00:06:01,069
I didn't go to college,
my friends didn't
144
00:06:01,069 --> 00:06:03,655
go to college,
he didn't go to college.
145
00:06:03,655 --> 00:06:09,661
God, the Jersey Shore was
like, the party place to be.
146
00:06:09,661 --> 00:06:12,539
I was running a club
called Club Xanadu
147
00:06:12,539 --> 00:06:14,583
in Asbury Park,
New Jersey.
148
00:06:14,583 --> 00:06:17,460
The club is actually one
block from The Stone Pony,
149
00:06:17,460 --> 00:06:21,298
and in the middle was this
place called Quack Quack.
150
00:06:21,298 --> 00:06:23,592
It's DDP,
Diamond Dallas Page,
151
00:06:23,592 --> 00:06:26,595
and I know Bam Bam because
I'm from the Jersey Shore.
152
00:06:26,595 --> 00:06:27,846
-DDP!
-Oh!
153
00:06:27,846 --> 00:06:29,514
We've got a new
world champion, guys.
154
00:06:29,514 --> 00:06:31,683
I roll into the
Quack Quack and
155
00:06:31,683 --> 00:06:34,519
I see this mammoth kid.
156
00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:37,022
At some point, you know,
we're doing shots and
157
00:06:37,022 --> 00:06:38,815
we just kind of clicked,
you know,
158
00:06:38,815 --> 00:06:41,735
but I think he was
17 at the time,
159
00:06:41,735 --> 00:06:43,486
but no one cared,
160
00:06:43,486 --> 00:06:45,196
'cause he looked like
a full grown man.
161
00:06:45,196 --> 00:06:46,823
He was, you know,
300 plus pounds,
162
00:06:46,823 --> 00:06:49,701
and he could obviously
be very menacing,
163
00:06:49,701 --> 00:06:52,621
but he also had that
fun side to him.
164
00:06:52,621 --> 00:06:53,747
And they were calling him
165
00:06:53,747 --> 00:06:56,416
"The Beast from
the East" back then.
166
00:06:56,416 --> 00:06:59,127
He was a football player and
he was ranked in the state
167
00:06:59,127 --> 00:07:02,547
for wrestling, and he was
feared on the mat and
168
00:07:02,547 --> 00:07:04,007
on the football field.
169
00:07:04,007 --> 00:07:06,384
This is the time when
heavyweight in
170
00:07:06,384 --> 00:07:08,261
high school wrestling
was unlimited.
171
00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:11,348
So, you're talking about a
320 pound teenager
172
00:07:11,348 --> 00:07:14,976
who can bench 500 pounds,
walking onto a mat.
173
00:07:14,976 --> 00:07:16,269
I'm Shane Bigelow.
174
00:07:16,269 --> 00:07:18,438
My father is
Bam Bam Bigelow.
175
00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:20,398
I heard a story from a high
school wrestling coach that
176
00:07:20,398 --> 00:07:22,776
my father rolled his ankle
real bad and he couldn't
177
00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:25,278
wrestle, but his coach
was just like, "Scotty,
178
00:07:25,278 --> 00:07:27,989
I need you to just go up
there and just look mean."
179
00:07:27,989 --> 00:07:30,075
So he gets up, he steps
up on the scale,
180
00:07:30,075 --> 00:07:31,618
and he turns to the kid and
he just gives him this
181
00:07:31,618 --> 00:07:34,037
big flex, just like,
"I'm coming for you!"
182
00:07:34,037 --> 00:07:37,040
Lo and behold this kid is
shitting his pants.
183
00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:38,708
So, he tells his coach,
"I'm not wrestling this guy,
184
00:07:38,708 --> 00:07:40,460
he's going to rip my
----ing head off."
185
00:07:40,460 --> 00:07:43,254
All my father had to do,
he hopped out on one leg,
186
00:07:43,254 --> 00:07:46,007
got his hand raised,
and took the win.
187
00:07:46,007 --> 00:07:47,717
Yeah, there was a group
of the boys and
188
00:07:47,717 --> 00:07:51,763
they were rough drinking,
tattooed, like old sailors,
189
00:07:51,763 --> 00:07:53,306
but not sailors,
they were roofers.
190
00:07:53,306 --> 00:07:54,474
[Laughing]
191
00:07:54,474 --> 00:07:58,103
And they were very
infamous around town.
192
00:07:58,103 --> 00:08:00,897
Him and his brothers used to
jump off of billboards
193
00:08:00,897 --> 00:08:03,108
onto mattresses on the
side of the road.
194
00:08:03,108 --> 00:08:04,776
My grandmother would drive
past, she would be like,
195
00:08:04,776 --> 00:08:06,653
"Oh look at those kids."
And then she'd realize that
196
00:08:06,653 --> 00:08:08,738
it was her three boys
jumping onto, like,
197
00:08:08,738 --> 00:08:11,032
five mattresses piled high.
198
00:08:11,032 --> 00:08:12,575
Scott was very quiet.
199
00:08:12,575 --> 00:08:14,077
You know, he was the
baby of the bunch.
200
00:08:14,077 --> 00:08:15,537
They usually only
called him in
201
00:08:15,537 --> 00:08:18,289
when they needed the
extra muscle.
202
00:08:18,289 --> 00:08:19,874
I had heard he got into a
fight and he bit
203
00:08:19,874 --> 00:08:23,044
some kid's ear off, it's
like, what? [Laughing]
204
00:08:23,044 --> 00:08:24,921
But it's part of
the legend that went with
205
00:08:24,921 --> 00:08:26,756
"The Beast from the East."
206
00:08:26,756 --> 00:08:29,426
Tough dude.
He ran with rugged people.
207
00:08:29,426 --> 00:08:31,511
He was all that and a bag
of chips, man, he was a,
208
00:08:31,511 --> 00:08:33,596
he was a bad apple
when he wanted to be.
209
00:08:33,596 --> 00:08:35,015
I am Taz.
210
00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:36,975
Former ECW World
Heavyweight Champion,
211
00:08:36,975 --> 00:08:41,146
and former opponent
of Bam Bam Bigelow.
212
00:08:41,146 --> 00:08:43,898
Bam Bam Bigelow
all over Taz.
213
00:08:43,898 --> 00:08:45,734
I've heard all the
stories about Bigelow,
214
00:08:45,734 --> 00:08:47,152
and I believe them all.
215
00:08:47,152 --> 00:08:49,779
There's a whole separate
legend before The Legend
216
00:08:49,779 --> 00:08:53,700
Bam Bam Bigelow ever
became The Legend.
217
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:55,744
My name is
Scott Colton Bigelow,
218
00:08:55,744 --> 00:08:58,204
and Bam Bam Bigelow
is my father.
219
00:08:58,204 --> 00:09:01,916
I know that he was a bounty
hunter for a short stint.
220
00:09:01,916 --> 00:09:05,128
I don't know much about
the backstory of it.
221
00:09:19,601 --> 00:09:23,021
He was supposedly
commissioned to go and
222
00:09:23,021 --> 00:09:24,647
bring back a young girl
223
00:09:24,647 --> 00:09:26,649
who was taken out
of the country.
224
00:09:26,649 --> 00:09:30,361
In the whole mayday
craziness of the thing,
225
00:09:30,361 --> 00:09:31,905
his bounty hunting partner
ends up
226
00:09:31,905 --> 00:09:33,698
getting shot in the
neck and killed.
227
00:09:33,698 --> 00:09:35,533
And that's when my dad spent
228
00:09:35,533 --> 00:09:38,119
six months in a
Mexican prison.
229
00:09:38,119 --> 00:09:39,996
I heard he ended up in jail.
230
00:09:39,996 --> 00:09:41,790
You know, in Mexico.
[Laughing]
231
00:09:41,790 --> 00:09:43,374
So you'd just hear
little bits and pieces,
232
00:09:43,374 --> 00:09:45,752
and with Scotty,
they could be exaggerated.
233
00:09:45,752 --> 00:09:48,546
The story is he befriended
the judge because he used to
234
00:09:48,546 --> 00:09:50,381
run through the walls that
were made out of, like,
235
00:09:50,381 --> 00:09:51,925
the terracotta clay.
236
00:09:51,925 --> 00:09:53,426
He used to just break through
the cells of the walls
237
00:09:53,426 --> 00:09:55,470
so they couldn't
keep him in.
238
00:09:55,470 --> 00:09:57,263
So the judge one day
apparently goes to him
239
00:09:57,263 --> 00:09:58,515
and asks him, he goes,
240
00:09:58,515 --> 00:10:02,018
"I need security from
all these cartel, mob,
241
00:10:02,018 --> 00:10:03,561
whatever guys.
242
00:10:03,561 --> 00:10:05,563
So you stand in front of me
and you stop these maniacs
243
00:10:05,563 --> 00:10:07,649
from like, lunging at me,
and trying to kill me,
244
00:10:07,649 --> 00:10:09,734
and I'll knock your
sentence down."
245
00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:12,529
So the story is that a judge
took pity on my father
246
00:10:12,529 --> 00:10:14,114
because my father
saved him from a
247
00:10:14,114 --> 00:10:16,533
bunch of guys trying
to jump over and stab him,
248
00:10:16,533 --> 00:10:18,910
and he ended up letting
him loose early.
249
00:10:18,910 --> 00:10:20,954
He's basically a
New Jersey legend.
250
00:10:20,954 --> 00:10:25,124
There's a story that, uh,
one night a house is on fire,
251
00:10:25,124 --> 00:10:27,710
he's driving by, runs in
and saves some kids.
252
00:10:27,710 --> 00:10:30,171
He pulled over, ran in the
house and saved the kids.
253
00:10:30,171 --> 00:10:32,131
That sounds like a TV movie.
254
00:10:32,131 --> 00:10:35,093
It doesn't sound like stuff
that really happens, you know?
255
00:10:35,093 --> 00:10:37,262
And, uh, there were a
lot of stories like that,
256
00:10:37,262 --> 00:10:38,888
just out there
floating around.
257
00:10:38,888 --> 00:10:41,224
I'm Shane Douglas and I
had the pleasure of being
258
00:10:41,224 --> 00:10:44,811
partners in The Triple Threat
with Bam Bam Bigelow.
259
00:10:44,811 --> 00:10:47,689
Who's the [Beep]
world champion?
260
00:10:47,689 --> 00:10:49,524
You know, as I had heard
that he got arrested,
261
00:10:49,524 --> 00:10:50,984
I guess in Mexico.
262
00:10:50,984 --> 00:10:53,027
You know, that
sounds implausible.
263
00:10:53,027 --> 00:10:55,280
But then, like, over years
you'd hear other people
264
00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,906
repeating these
stories and I'm just,
265
00:10:56,906 --> 00:10:58,950
elevating that legend
that was Bam Bam.
266
00:11:06,207 --> 00:11:08,751
Here comes Bam Bam
in the club,
267
00:11:08,751 --> 00:11:12,755
and this is like '81-ish,
and it's packed.
268
00:11:12,755 --> 00:11:14,132
My club was nice.
269
00:11:14,132 --> 00:11:16,092
And I see Bam roll in with
like three of his
270
00:11:16,092 --> 00:11:18,636
biker buddies, and I come
rolling up behind him,
271
00:11:18,636 --> 00:11:21,848
put my arm around his back,
I'm like, "Yo, Bammer.
272
00:11:21,848 --> 00:11:24,684
No trouble in here tonight,
right bro?"
273
00:11:24,684 --> 00:11:27,478
"Aw come on Page,
I wouldn't do that to you."
274
00:11:27,478 --> 00:11:29,689
And at some point
we're at the bar and
275
00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:31,024
I bought, you know,
got the guys a shot,
276
00:11:31,024 --> 00:11:33,193
and uh,
wrestling comes up.
277
00:11:33,193 --> 00:11:36,070
And, you know, I said,
"You know, I tried that,
278
00:11:36,070 --> 00:11:39,866
in '79." He goes,
"You tried wrestling?"
279
00:11:39,866 --> 00:11:41,284
And I said, "But I had
three matches.
280
00:11:41,284 --> 00:11:43,494
My third match I hurt
my knee, and I kind of
281
00:11:43,494 --> 00:11:46,414
got swept away by the booze,
the broads, and the party."
282
00:11:46,414 --> 00:11:48,166
But talking to him about it,
you know, I'm like,
283
00:11:48,166 --> 00:11:50,001
"Dude, you're a natural."
He goes, "I've, I,
284
00:11:50,001 --> 00:11:51,711
that would, that would be a,
that would be a
285
00:11:51,711 --> 00:11:53,129
pie in the sky
dream for me."
286
00:12:08,645 --> 00:12:10,939
So, Larry Sharpe was a
former amateur wrestler...
287
00:12:10,939 --> 00:12:12,857
Who opened up the
Monster Factory.
288
00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:14,275
My name is Dave Meltzer.
289
00:12:14,275 --> 00:12:15,693
I'm the editor of The
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
290
00:12:15,693 --> 00:12:18,321
and I've been covering
pro wrestling since 1971.
291
00:12:18,321 --> 00:12:21,366
And, one day I guess Bam
Bam walked in the door,
292
00:12:21,366 --> 00:12:25,244
and Larry saw, like
everyone did, money!
293
00:12:25,244 --> 00:12:27,747
And he became
Scott's "manager".
294
00:12:27,747 --> 00:12:30,249
Set him up on a couch,
threw him in the ring,
295
00:12:30,249 --> 00:12:31,251
and trained him.
296
00:12:39,050 --> 00:12:41,886
I saw footage of him coming
out of the Monster Factory.
297
00:12:41,886 --> 00:12:44,472
You could tell, like,
his aptitude to learn
298
00:12:44,472 --> 00:12:47,475
how to do this and get better
at this, his athleticism,
299
00:12:47,475 --> 00:12:49,352
it jumped out to me
right away.
300
00:12:49,352 --> 00:12:51,437
I mean, seeing a guy
like that, you know,
301
00:12:51,437 --> 00:12:54,399
a guy that big, you know,
do a cartwheel, I was like,
302
00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:56,609
"Wow." I mean,
he's super impressive.
303
00:12:56,609 --> 00:12:58,319
For Scott,
professional wrestling,
304
00:12:58,319 --> 00:13:00,154
it's like a double
edged sword.
305
00:13:00,154 --> 00:13:02,532
It gave him life and
it took his life.
306
00:13:02,532 --> 00:13:04,659
That's the ultimate
double edge, isn't it?
307
00:13:11,291 --> 00:13:15,211
In 1985, Scott Bigelow was
on the brink of stardom,
308
00:13:15,211 --> 00:13:18,006
having made a clean break
from a troubled past.
309
00:13:18,006 --> 00:13:19,841
When he went to the
Monster Factory
310
00:13:19,841 --> 00:13:21,259
with Larry Sharpe,
311
00:13:21,259 --> 00:13:24,303
Larry really developed the
name Bam Bam.
312
00:13:24,303 --> 00:13:26,848
With Scott, Bam Bam.
The strong babyface.
313
00:13:26,848 --> 00:13:29,267
You're like, "Bam Bam,
from the Flintstones."
314
00:13:29,267 --> 00:13:31,394
So, he became
Bam Bam Bigelow.
315
00:13:31,394 --> 00:13:33,229
Probably the most
handsome wrestler
316
00:13:33,229 --> 00:13:34,689
on the face of the earth.
317
00:13:34,689 --> 00:13:36,482
The massive
head of Bam Bam,
318
00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:38,943
and that big flame
bowl on that head.
319
00:13:38,943 --> 00:13:40,236
That tattoo.
320
00:13:40,236 --> 00:13:42,030
Who gets ink on their head
has gotta be crazy.
321
00:13:42,030 --> 00:13:43,489
Nevertheless their whole head.
322
00:13:43,489 --> 00:13:44,949
For those that
never got a tattoo,
323
00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:47,201
they hurt as much as they
think, okay? [Laughing]
324
00:13:47,201 --> 00:13:49,037
This guy got his
skull tattooed.
325
00:13:49,037 --> 00:13:50,538
Just imagine how much pain,
326
00:13:50,538 --> 00:13:53,124
and how many hours
that took to do.
327
00:13:53,124 --> 00:13:56,294
This was the branding
of Bam Bam Bigelow.
328
00:13:56,294 --> 00:13:58,379
See people love to hate,
and as long as
329
00:13:58,379 --> 00:14:01,257
they wanna hate me,
I know I'm doing my job.
330
00:14:01,257 --> 00:14:04,844
And it kind of just sent
that message to the fans and
331
00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,430
to other wrestlers,
that's a bad dude right there.
332
00:14:07,430 --> 00:14:08,556
And Bammer, do you have
anything to say about
333
00:14:08,556 --> 00:14:10,183
all of this?
-I'm hungry.
334
00:14:10,183 --> 00:14:13,019
Despite being a rookie
to the wrestling scene,
335
00:14:13,019 --> 00:14:15,021
those with an eye for the
business see
336
00:14:15,021 --> 00:14:17,440
Bam Bam's incredible
potential.
337
00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,942
Especially soon-to-be
industry pioneer,
338
00:14:19,942 --> 00:14:21,360
Paul Heyman.
339
00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,280
Paul was doing wrestling
magazines at the time.
340
00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,491
This was before he was
actually running around
341
00:14:26,491 --> 00:14:28,076
the business as a manager.
342
00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:29,452
And in his magazines he was
always promoting
343
00:14:29,452 --> 00:14:31,996
Bam Bam Bigelow like this,
this phenomenon.
344
00:14:31,996 --> 00:14:33,581
And the guy had never
even had a match.
345
00:14:33,581 --> 00:14:36,209
Paul worked at Studio 54,
he was doing publicity
346
00:14:36,209 --> 00:14:39,462
at the time, and he got this,
you know, gig.
347
00:14:39,462 --> 00:14:41,756
Bam Bam Bigelow's
first match.
348
00:14:41,756 --> 00:14:45,051
And I looked at it, and I
was just like, "Oh my God.
349
00:14:45,051 --> 00:14:47,136
This guy is like 380 pounds,
350
00:14:47,136 --> 00:14:48,763
and he's coming
off the top rope."
351
00:14:48,763 --> 00:14:50,348
At that point, you know,
I'm going, like,
352
00:14:50,348 --> 00:14:52,058
"This guy is
gonna be like, it."
353
00:14:52,058 --> 00:14:53,684
[Crowd cheering]
354
00:14:53,684 --> 00:14:55,395
In wrestling, like, he's gonna
be the biggest thing.
355
00:14:55,395 --> 00:14:58,147
I was like 19 when
we started dating,
356
00:14:58,147 --> 00:15:00,942
and I was with his brother
and a couple other friends,
357
00:15:00,942 --> 00:15:03,486
and we went to his show,
and he got up there and
358
00:15:03,486 --> 00:15:06,864
he wrestled, and they were just
in awe of what it all was.
359
00:15:06,864 --> 00:15:09,242
I just was like, "Oh
you know, he's at work."
360
00:15:09,242 --> 00:15:10,827
I didn't really know
too much about it
361
00:15:10,827 --> 00:15:13,871
until the WWF came back.
362
00:15:13,871 --> 00:15:16,541
At some point I'm running
another really big club
363
00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:19,794
in '86-ish, and I'm
flicking the channels,
364
00:15:19,794 --> 00:15:22,130
and all of a sudden
I see him wrestling.
365
00:15:22,130 --> 00:15:25,174
I'm like, "Oh my God!
That's Bigelow!"
366
00:15:25,174 --> 00:15:27,718
Take a good look,
because we're bringing him
367
00:15:27,718 --> 00:15:30,054
from one end of the
world to the other.
368
00:15:30,054 --> 00:15:31,848
Next thing I know,
he's with Hulk Hogan,
369
00:15:31,848 --> 00:15:35,977
he's in the WWF, and I'm like,
"Oh my God."
370
00:15:35,977 --> 00:15:39,355
From Asbury Park,
New Jersey!
371
00:15:39,355 --> 00:15:40,815
He made it.
372
00:15:40,815 --> 00:15:44,569
-Bam Bam Bigelow.
-[Cheering]
373
00:15:44,569 --> 00:15:47,697
Not only is Bam Bam
headed to the WWF,
374
00:15:47,697 --> 00:15:49,907
but he's coming in with
the full support of
375
00:15:49,907 --> 00:15:52,326
company owner,
Vince McMahon.
376
00:15:52,326 --> 00:15:54,078
WWF brought him in,
and, you know,
377
00:15:54,078 --> 00:15:56,956
they tried to make him
into the next big thing.
378
00:15:56,956 --> 00:15:58,875
You know, they did the thing
where all the managers were
379
00:15:58,875 --> 00:16:01,878
bidding on him to make
him extra special.
380
00:16:01,878 --> 00:16:06,257
I'm here to introduce
Bam Bam Bigelow.
381
00:16:06,257 --> 00:16:09,177
Vince loved big guys, and now
you've got the most agile
382
00:16:09,177 --> 00:16:13,514
380 pound guy that
anyone has ever seen.
383
00:16:13,514 --> 00:16:14,849
I mean, they brought him in
to be Hulk Hogan's
384
00:16:14,849 --> 00:16:17,226
tag team partner, to be
right there with Hogan,
385
00:16:17,226 --> 00:16:18,603
and he was gonna
main event there,
386
00:16:18,603 --> 00:16:20,146
and he was gonna work
with the top guys.
387
00:16:28,946 --> 00:16:31,574
He signed the WWE contract
and we got married
388
00:16:31,574 --> 00:16:33,784
November 15th, 1987.
389
00:16:33,784 --> 00:16:36,913
And he went on the road
November 16th, 1987.
390
00:16:39,207 --> 00:16:42,293
We were watching TV,
and he was like...
391
00:16:42,293 --> 00:16:43,753
[Laughing]
392
00:16:43,753 --> 00:16:45,463
"Wanna get married?"
[Laughing]
393
00:16:45,463 --> 00:16:47,340
And I was like,
"Okay!" [Laughing]
394
00:16:47,340 --> 00:16:48,382
And that was
basically it,
395
00:16:48,382 --> 00:16:49,675
there was no fanfare.
396
00:16:49,675 --> 00:16:53,012
I saw him ten times a year,
I don't even know.
397
00:16:53,012 --> 00:16:54,931
Maybe that's why our
marriage lasted so long,
398
00:16:54,931 --> 00:16:56,849
maybe that's why I don't
have anything bad to say.
399
00:16:56,849 --> 00:16:59,393
He was on the road and
hit the ground running,
400
00:16:59,393 --> 00:17:01,270
and it was on from there.
401
00:17:14,659 --> 00:17:18,246
When he was home, you know,
he did regular things.
402
00:17:18,246 --> 00:17:20,790
So he remained
very humble.
403
00:17:20,790 --> 00:17:22,583
Scott was who he
was around here.
404
00:17:22,583 --> 00:17:25,753
But you know, it was
cool to see him on TV.
405
00:17:25,753 --> 00:17:27,421
He was in the first
Nintendo game.
406
00:17:27,421 --> 00:17:29,632
Like I said, he was just
breaking into the business
407
00:17:29,632 --> 00:17:32,301
and he worked,
and he provided.
408
00:17:32,301 --> 00:17:35,638
He knew to take advantage of
that situation and to take
409
00:17:35,638 --> 00:17:38,349
advantage of everything
that was given to him.
410
00:17:38,349 --> 00:17:40,184
What a monster!
411
00:17:40,184 --> 00:17:41,686
Everybody that gets a
pair of boots and tights
412
00:17:41,686 --> 00:17:42,895
wants to be the world
champion, right?
413
00:17:42,895 --> 00:17:44,605
And they think they're
ready for it yesterday.
414
00:17:44,605 --> 00:17:48,317
For me it was 11 years
before I saw a world title.
415
00:17:48,317 --> 00:17:51,445
So, when I did get that
belt I understood
416
00:17:51,445 --> 00:17:53,447
the responsibility
that went with it.
417
00:17:53,447 --> 00:17:55,157
So I would think that
Bam Bam being thrown
418
00:17:55,157 --> 00:17:58,202
that quickly into main
events with, you know,
419
00:17:58,202 --> 00:18:00,496
Hulk Hogan or one of
these massive names,
420
00:18:00,496 --> 00:18:02,081
it would have
been intimidating.
421
00:18:02,081 --> 00:18:04,041
He never had to
crawl his way up.
422
00:18:04,041 --> 00:18:06,127
There's always going to be
jealousy especially when
423
00:18:06,127 --> 00:18:07,670
you've been in the
business 15 years,
424
00:18:07,670 --> 00:18:09,922
and he's been in the
business for two, or one,
425
00:18:09,922 --> 00:18:11,882
and he's on the
top of the card.
426
00:18:11,882 --> 00:18:14,635
He was young and these
guys were big and it was
427
00:18:14,635 --> 00:18:17,013
George "The Animal" Steele,
and King Kong Bundy.
428
00:18:17,013 --> 00:18:20,057
And it was just people that
he always saw on TV and now
429
00:18:20,057 --> 00:18:21,851
all of a sudden he's standing
in the middle of the ring
430
00:18:21,851 --> 00:18:24,687
in the Survivor Series, and
the older guys were like,
431
00:18:24,687 --> 00:18:26,605
"You know what,
you need to step in line."
432
00:18:26,605 --> 00:18:28,774
The eighth wonder
of the world.
433
00:18:28,774 --> 00:18:30,526
I remember, there was
an André match,
434
00:18:30,526 --> 00:18:32,695
of course André the Giant
was the biggest man
435
00:18:32,695 --> 00:18:34,071
you'll ever see.
436
00:18:34,071 --> 00:18:37,408
André got him in the ring
up against the ropes,
437
00:18:37,408 --> 00:18:39,994
and wrapped the rope
around his neck.
438
00:18:39,994 --> 00:18:42,330
Scott was like,
"He's gonna ----ing kill me.
439
00:18:42,330 --> 00:18:44,332
Yeah, he's gonna kill me."
440
00:18:56,344 --> 00:18:58,095
♪
441
00:19:02,641 --> 00:19:03,809
Look out!
442
00:19:03,809 --> 00:19:06,270
Even Bam Bam looks
small next to this guy.
443
00:19:13,527 --> 00:19:15,071
So, you know André,
he was on top of him and
444
00:19:15,071 --> 00:19:18,240
he was pounding on him.
I mean, hard.
445
00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:19,325
It was a bad night
at the office
446
00:19:19,325 --> 00:19:20,701
for Bam Bam Bigelow.
447
00:19:20,701 --> 00:19:23,329
And André said something
to him, like, "Young boy."
448
00:19:23,329 --> 00:19:25,122
You know, "'You're a little
green for us."
449
00:19:25,122 --> 00:19:26,582
Like, "This is how
it works."
450
00:19:26,582 --> 00:19:29,960
Like, "You're gonna learn."
And André really just
451
00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,755
stuck it to him, but,
you know, they were just
452
00:19:32,755 --> 00:19:34,799
letting him know he had
to pay his dues.
453
00:19:34,799 --> 00:19:37,343
He was green, and you
need to wait your turn,
454
00:19:37,343 --> 00:19:38,969
'cause it's not right now.
455
00:19:38,969 --> 00:19:40,221
[Laughing]
456
00:19:40,221 --> 00:19:42,431
After only a year
in the big leagues,
457
00:19:42,431 --> 00:19:45,101
Bam Bam Bigelow's match
with André the Giant
458
00:19:45,101 --> 00:19:48,813
marks his exit
from the WWF.
459
00:19:48,813 --> 00:19:50,231
He had gotten
such a big push,
460
00:19:50,231 --> 00:19:53,734
but at a certain point
they did sour on him.
461
00:19:53,734 --> 00:19:56,320
Bam Bam Bigelow
paid the price here.
462
00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:57,738
And it may have been,
ego-wise,
463
00:19:57,738 --> 00:19:59,281
the other guys
not liking him.
464
00:19:59,281 --> 00:20:02,493
My father, just knowing when
things get a little too thick
465
00:20:02,493 --> 00:20:04,870
and it's not his time,
he moved on.
466
00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:08,290
Now on his own, Bam Bam
travels the country
467
00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:11,627
working for various US
promotions before receiving
468
00:20:11,627 --> 00:20:15,131
a lucrative offer to
wrestle in Japan.
469
00:20:15,131 --> 00:20:16,924
I don't even know
what years these are,
470
00:20:16,924 --> 00:20:20,219
but judging by the suit,
probably early '90s.
471
00:20:20,219 --> 00:20:22,805
This is one of his
original Japanese suits.
472
00:20:22,805 --> 00:20:25,933
There was more money for
him to be had overseas.
473
00:20:33,649 --> 00:20:35,234
When he went to Japan
he was on for two weeks
474
00:20:35,234 --> 00:20:36,694
and then home
for two weeks.
475
00:20:36,694 --> 00:20:39,321
So he had longer
stretches of time home.
476
00:20:42,491 --> 00:20:43,826
The contract.
477
00:20:43,826 --> 00:20:45,286
And it was time for him to
come back to the States.
478
00:20:45,286 --> 00:20:47,872
I guess in his meeting
with Vince, you know,
479
00:20:47,872 --> 00:20:49,582
they worked a deal.
480
00:20:49,582 --> 00:20:51,250
That he felt comfortable,
and he was a little bit
481
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:52,918
more mature, and he was
ready to come back.
482
00:20:57,965 --> 00:21:01,719
So this is his, uh,
coming out to the ring attire
483
00:21:01,719 --> 00:21:05,181
when he was in his
second run in the WWF.
484
00:21:05,181 --> 00:21:08,017
He would have pyrotechnics
underneath here,
485
00:21:08,017 --> 00:21:10,895
and they would shoot,
like, fireworks out.
486
00:21:10,895 --> 00:21:12,438
Oh, wow!
487
00:21:15,149 --> 00:21:18,277
I don't fill it out as much
as, as much as he did.
488
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:20,821
♪
489
00:21:20,821 --> 00:21:24,450
He said he used to look
like a tulip in it.
490
00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:29,538
In 1992 as the WWF struggles
with declining popularity,
491
00:21:29,538 --> 00:21:33,501
Vince McMahon brings
Bam Bam back to the roster.
492
00:21:33,501 --> 00:21:36,587
Once again proving to
be a top level star,
493
00:21:36,587 --> 00:21:38,839
Bam Bam gets thrust
into the main event
494
00:21:38,839 --> 00:21:40,466
of WrestleMania XI...
495
00:21:40,466 --> 00:21:42,343
Wrestlemania 11!
496
00:21:42,343 --> 00:21:44,887
When McMahon books him
against of the NFL's
497
00:21:44,887 --> 00:21:48,057
most celebrated players.
498
00:21:48,057 --> 00:21:49,433
Lawrence Taylor.
499
00:21:49,433 --> 00:21:51,560
Probably the most
500
00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:55,022
media frenzied time of
my father's career.
501
00:21:55,022 --> 00:21:58,317
That was Scott's idol,
like, LT and the Giants.
502
00:21:58,317 --> 00:22:00,152
Like, "Now I'm gonna
wrestle him." You know?
503
00:22:00,152 --> 00:22:01,529
"I'm gonna
wrestle with him."
504
00:22:01,529 --> 00:22:07,451
That build up and that whole
pomp and circumstance of
505
00:22:07,451 --> 00:22:09,703
being the main event
at Wrestlemania.
506
00:22:09,703 --> 00:22:12,039
Lawrence Taylor,
it's just me and you!
507
00:22:12,039 --> 00:22:14,583
This was a match not
for wrestling fans.
508
00:22:14,583 --> 00:22:16,335
The media hype
around this match
509
00:22:16,335 --> 00:22:18,254
has been absolutely huge.
510
00:22:18,254 --> 00:22:20,089
This was a match for
the general public.
511
00:22:20,089 --> 00:22:24,093
And the idea was by being in
the match all the exposure
512
00:22:24,093 --> 00:22:26,220
from the football press,
and the mainstream press,
513
00:22:26,220 --> 00:22:28,722
would then make
Bam Bam's name bigger,
514
00:22:28,722 --> 00:22:32,434
so then he could be
the big star that
515
00:22:32,434 --> 00:22:33,894
they wanted him to be.
516
00:22:33,894 --> 00:22:35,896
That means I'm here,
I did it.
517
00:22:35,896 --> 00:22:37,815
I am the 1%.
518
00:22:37,815 --> 00:22:42,987
Every little boy wants
to be a WWE wrestler.
519
00:22:42,987 --> 00:22:46,115
Almost every little boy.
And he was main event.
520
00:22:46,115 --> 00:22:47,908
It was a paycheque
bigger than
521
00:22:47,908 --> 00:22:50,202
a lot of people
make in one year.
522
00:22:50,202 --> 00:22:51,954
I see a lot of videos online.
523
00:22:51,954 --> 00:22:54,456
People all, "Oh, it's the
worst Wrestlemania."
524
00:22:54,456 --> 00:22:55,833
You know what?
525
00:22:55,833 --> 00:22:58,502
There's not another person
that could have carried
526
00:22:58,502 --> 00:23:00,963
Lawrence Taylor
to do that show.
527
00:23:10,598 --> 00:23:12,224
You know, Vince trusted
my father enough to be the
528
00:23:12,224 --> 00:23:14,435
person to pull that off.
529
00:23:14,435 --> 00:23:17,813
Bam Bam soon learns that
being the company's go-to
530
00:23:17,813 --> 00:23:20,399
big man comes with
certain sacrifices.
531
00:23:31,910 --> 00:23:34,371
It definitely took
a toll on his body.
532
00:23:34,371 --> 00:23:37,416
I mean every time he sits
in a chair and stands up,
533
00:23:37,416 --> 00:23:39,752
he just squatted 400 pounds.
534
00:23:39,752 --> 00:23:41,754
A lot of wear and tear
on your knees.
535
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:45,507
Your back, your neck,
your shoulders.
536
00:23:45,507 --> 00:23:48,344
I mean the thing that made
him so great was,
537
00:23:48,344 --> 00:23:50,095
you know,
an agile big guy.
538
00:23:50,095 --> 00:23:52,348
The problem with the agile
big guys is that by doing
539
00:23:52,348 --> 00:23:55,434
that stuff, a smaller guy
can take that stuff longer,
540
00:23:55,434 --> 00:23:58,103
and the big guy it starts
wearing down on you, a lot.
541
00:23:58,103 --> 00:24:00,773
He definitely had some
knee surgeries and
542
00:24:00,773 --> 00:24:03,567
an elbow surgery or
sholder surgery.
543
00:24:03,567 --> 00:24:05,569
You know his body was
starting to take
544
00:24:05,569 --> 00:24:07,947
a little bit of a lickin'.
545
00:24:07,947 --> 00:24:09,323
That's one thing I didn't do.
546
00:24:09,323 --> 00:24:11,450
I didn't worry and
I didn't stress out.
547
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:14,370
It was his job and he was
an entertainer and
548
00:24:14,370 --> 00:24:18,040
he was an athlete, and I was
too young to think about
549
00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,251
the lifelong lasting effects
of wrestling and
550
00:24:21,251 --> 00:24:23,796
what it would have on
his body and his mind.
551
00:24:23,796 --> 00:24:26,674
But I do know that he
knew if he was out
552
00:24:26,674 --> 00:24:28,801
and he was injured too long,
somebody was going to
553
00:24:28,801 --> 00:24:31,720
step up and replace him.
So, that was a no-no.
554
00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,390
I'm not letting the
opportunity walk by me.
555
00:24:34,390 --> 00:24:36,517
That heavyweight championship
is gonna be mine!
556
00:24:40,270 --> 00:24:42,189
[Sighing] Probably pain pills
like everybody else.
557
00:24:42,189 --> 00:24:44,274
But I do remember, you know,
that was so commonplace
558
00:24:44,274 --> 00:24:45,734
among wrestlers then.
559
00:24:45,734 --> 00:24:48,195
It was such a part
of the scene that
560
00:24:48,195 --> 00:24:49,822
it wasn't like,
a big deal.
561
00:24:49,822 --> 00:24:52,116
And it was like, "Hey D,
you got any Vikes?"
562
00:24:52,116 --> 00:24:53,617
So you just gave em'
to your boy.
563
00:24:53,617 --> 00:24:56,120
You know, because he
needed em' right there.
564
00:24:56,120 --> 00:24:58,997
When you see this symbol
you can be assured of
565
00:24:58,997 --> 00:25:02,710
drug free entertainment
you can be proud of.
566
00:25:02,710 --> 00:25:05,546
Vince tested for marijuana
and performance
567
00:25:05,546 --> 00:25:08,549
enhancing drugs, but you've
got a prescription,
568
00:25:08,549 --> 00:25:09,800
you're good.
569
00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,885
Through that 80s and
then into the 90s,
570
00:25:11,885 --> 00:25:13,095
there were two things
that coincided.
571
00:25:13,095 --> 00:25:14,638
Running, if this is
the wrestling industry,
572
00:25:14,638 --> 00:25:17,266
running right next to that is
the pharmaceutical industry.
573
00:25:17,266 --> 00:25:19,059
And the pharmaceutical
industry is now coming up
574
00:25:19,059 --> 00:25:22,855
with better, more accessible
opiates, OxyContin,
575
00:25:22,855 --> 00:25:24,898
which I did have
a problem with.
576
00:25:24,898 --> 00:25:27,526
I've seen it, uh,
so much in my career,
577
00:25:27,526 --> 00:25:30,904
so many of my peers during
that time just left us
578
00:25:30,904 --> 00:25:32,990
way too early because
of addiction,
579
00:25:32,990 --> 00:25:34,825
and especially pain pills.
580
00:25:34,825 --> 00:25:38,162
He um, was diabetic and he
had an endocrinologist.
581
00:25:38,162 --> 00:25:42,416
Not a pain management
doctor, and he would call,
582
00:25:42,416 --> 00:25:46,211
and, "I need Percs,
I need Vikes, I need Oxys,
583
00:25:46,211 --> 00:25:48,046
I need something
to keep me going."
584
00:25:48,046 --> 00:25:51,008
If you were at the pool
party and ol' Doc came by,
585
00:25:51,008 --> 00:25:53,427
it was well, "I happen to
have a refillable script of
586
00:25:53,427 --> 00:25:57,806
OxyContins in return for
autographs." Or, you know,
587
00:25:57,806 --> 00:25:59,892
tickets to local shows
here and there.
588
00:25:59,892 --> 00:26:02,603
It's a pretty powerful thing
to have over someone.
589
00:26:02,603 --> 00:26:06,190
They might as well have just
put heroine in a bottle and
590
00:26:06,190 --> 00:26:09,485
called it OxyContin. I can
guarantee you before that
591
00:26:09,485 --> 00:26:12,613
prescription was done,
he was probably addicted.
592
00:26:12,613 --> 00:26:14,448
♪
593
00:26:20,412 --> 00:26:24,708
In 1995 after a three-year
run with the WWF,
594
00:26:24,708 --> 00:26:27,503
Bam Bam Bigelow leaves the
company to sign with the
595
00:26:27,503 --> 00:26:31,381
notorious hardcore
wrestling promotion ECW,
596
00:26:31,381 --> 00:26:34,551
run by his old friend,
Paul Heyman.
597
00:26:34,551 --> 00:26:37,846
I mean, one reason he went
to ECW was because
598
00:26:37,846 --> 00:26:39,389
he liked how it was local.
599
00:26:39,389 --> 00:26:41,016
Obviously, if he was in
Asbury the whole family
600
00:26:41,016 --> 00:26:43,060
would get together,
we'd all go.
601
00:26:43,060 --> 00:26:44,978
He knew he had
a commodity.
602
00:26:44,978 --> 00:26:46,772
You know, he didn't
take his character off.
603
00:26:46,772 --> 00:26:49,441
It was tattooed on his head,
so, wherever he went,
604
00:26:49,441 --> 00:26:51,068
Bam Bam Bigelow was going.
605
00:26:51,068 --> 00:26:54,863
There is only one
Bam Bam Bigelow!
606
00:26:54,863 --> 00:26:58,867
I think it was a little
too hardcore for me,
607
00:26:58,867 --> 00:27:01,370
being so young.
608
00:27:01,370 --> 00:27:03,330
♪
609
00:27:03,330 --> 00:27:05,123
Our fans were riding with us.
610
00:27:05,123 --> 00:27:06,542
That was the whole gimmick.
611
00:27:06,542 --> 00:27:08,043
We were renegades,
well dammit,
612
00:27:08,043 --> 00:27:10,754
we, the fans,
we're renegades too.
613
00:27:10,754 --> 00:27:15,509
From fit to finish
those shows were chaos.
614
00:27:15,509 --> 00:27:18,095
I remember this crowd
just like a mosh pit.
615
00:27:18,095 --> 00:27:21,515
And this dude who
is drunk as a skunk,
616
00:27:21,515 --> 00:27:24,184
comes barrelling and just
absolutely face punches me,
617
00:27:24,184 --> 00:27:26,228
and chucks me
right into the ground.
618
00:27:26,228 --> 00:27:27,771
You know, like
10, 11 years old.
619
00:27:27,771 --> 00:27:29,565
Like I've never been
hit by a grown man,
620
00:27:29,565 --> 00:27:32,693
and it's that type of, like,
where you're like- [Gasping]
621
00:27:32,693 --> 00:27:33,986
You can't catch your breath.
622
00:27:33,986 --> 00:27:35,571
So I remember
going backstage,
623
00:27:35,571 --> 00:27:38,532
and I don't even think I
told my father anything,
624
00:27:38,532 --> 00:27:40,075
he just like saw it.
And he's like,
625
00:27:40,075 --> 00:27:41,952
"What happened?"
And I'm like,
626
00:27:41,952 --> 00:27:44,454
"I don't know,
this guy punched me,"
627
00:27:44,454 --> 00:27:46,999
like went through the crowd,
he's like, "Find him."
628
00:27:46,999 --> 00:27:49,668
The gentleman who did that
was escorted to the back
629
00:27:49,668 --> 00:27:51,712
for a conversation.
630
00:27:51,712 --> 00:27:54,673
I witnessed this
quasi conversation,
631
00:27:54,673 --> 00:27:56,049
I'll never forget it.
632
00:27:56,049 --> 00:27:58,343
And all you hear is, "So,
you wanna hit kids?"
633
00:27:58,343 --> 00:27:59,595
And you know that like,
634
00:27:59,595 --> 00:28:02,639
this dude is getting the
life smacked out of him.
635
00:28:02,639 --> 00:28:05,809
I don't know how else to
put it, it was very bad.
636
00:28:05,809 --> 00:28:09,021
[Laughing] I'm sure
everybody's OK now.
637
00:28:09,021 --> 00:28:13,066
But the fans in turn are
fuelled by ECW's over the top
638
00:28:13,066 --> 00:28:16,695
ultra-violent brand
of extreme wrestling.
639
00:28:16,695 --> 00:28:20,574
In ECW, we were a
bunch of wrestlers
640
00:28:20,574 --> 00:28:23,035
that most of the
bigger promotions,
641
00:28:23,035 --> 00:28:24,620
they didn't want us, kinda.
642
00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:27,122
And we were like the
land of misfit toys.
643
00:28:27,122 --> 00:28:29,999
And it incorporated a lot of
new stuff into pro wrestling
644
00:28:29,999 --> 00:28:32,252
in a revolutionary way.
645
00:28:32,252 --> 00:28:34,588
I mean, you had to be tough
to be in our company,
646
00:28:34,588 --> 00:28:37,174
and Bigelow was a very
tough guy, a legitimate guy.
647
00:28:37,174 --> 00:28:39,593
And he really started to
come into his own,
648
00:28:39,593 --> 00:28:41,428
the months that
we were doing.
649
00:28:41,428 --> 00:28:43,597
The stuff that these
guys were doing,
650
00:28:43,597 --> 00:28:47,142
jumping off the rafters,
through tables,
651
00:28:47,142 --> 00:28:49,144
getting thrown
into the stands-
652
00:28:49,144 --> 00:28:51,897
It's just as hardcore
as hardcore can get.
653
00:28:51,897 --> 00:28:53,440
Belly suplex!
654
00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,233
We weren't just trying
to hurt each other,
655
00:28:55,233 --> 00:28:56,526
we were professionals.
656
00:28:56,526 --> 00:28:58,654
What happens in that
ring is built on trust.
657
00:28:58,654 --> 00:29:02,032
So, the infamous
Taz and Bigelow
658
00:29:02,032 --> 00:29:05,202
go through the ring
in Asbury Park.
659
00:29:05,202 --> 00:29:09,164
So I get this phone call from
Paul Heyman, and um, he says,
660
00:29:09,164 --> 00:29:12,084
"You and Bigelow, he's
gonna beat you for the belt,
661
00:29:12,084 --> 00:29:14,169
and he's gonna put you
through the ring to do it."
662
00:29:14,169 --> 00:29:15,712
He goes,
"What do you think?"
663
00:29:15,712 --> 00:29:18,131
And the first thing I thought
is, "I'm gonna die."
664
00:29:18,131 --> 00:29:20,175
So, the way a ring
is constructed,
665
00:29:20,175 --> 00:29:22,928
it's a steel frame,
and then there's these
666
00:29:22,928 --> 00:29:24,805
thick wood boards,
667
00:29:24,805 --> 00:29:27,391
and then there's
kind of like a, uh, cushion.
668
00:29:27,391 --> 00:29:28,976
It's not as big as a mat.
669
00:29:28,976 --> 00:29:30,394
And then a canvas.
670
00:29:30,394 --> 00:29:32,771
So these wood boards
were cut first.
671
00:29:32,771 --> 00:29:35,315
So then the boards were just
moved out of the way,
672
00:29:35,315 --> 00:29:36,942
then opened a trap door.
673
00:29:36,942 --> 00:29:38,819
And Bam Bam
was concerned.
674
00:29:38,819 --> 00:29:40,278
"What about Taz's head?"
675
00:29:40,278 --> 00:29:42,280
Like, "His heads gonna hit
the frame of this thing.
676
00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:44,199
How are we going to
clear this hole?"
677
00:29:44,199 --> 00:29:46,368
I almost feel dirty
explaining this on here.
678
00:29:46,368 --> 00:29:47,703
[Off-screen]
[Laughing]
679
00:29:47,703 --> 00:29:50,163
I'm so old school,
it's ----ing like, unbelievable.
680
00:29:50,163 --> 00:29:53,583
So, basically, we fought,
fought, fought.
681
00:29:53,583 --> 00:29:56,169
We were outside the ring
for quite some time fighting
682
00:29:56,169 --> 00:30:00,882
until we get the signal
that this door is open.
683
00:30:00,882 --> 00:30:03,427
It's got both champion and
challenger back in the ring.
684
00:30:03,427 --> 00:30:05,470
So, if you watch closely...
685
00:30:05,470 --> 00:30:07,597
He's got it!
He's got it locked up!
686
00:30:07,597 --> 00:30:10,434
When I have the choke on him-
and I'm really pulling it
687
00:30:10,434 --> 00:30:11,977
back this curtain all
the way here, right?
688
00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:14,813
So, Bam Bam,
he's tapping first.
689
00:30:14,813 --> 00:30:16,815
Then he puts his hand
on the top rope.
690
00:30:16,815 --> 00:30:20,318
Under his hand is a little
piece of white tape.
691
00:30:20,318 --> 00:30:25,157
That white tape was the
measurement to clear my head.
692
00:30:25,157 --> 00:30:29,411
[Cheering]
693
00:30:29,411 --> 00:30:31,580
We hit that crash mat
hard as hell.
694
00:30:31,580 --> 00:30:34,291
[Chanting]
ECW! ECW!
695
00:30:34,291 --> 00:30:37,377
The ring engulfs us.
And we heard the people.
696
00:30:37,377 --> 00:30:39,379
[Cheering]
697
00:30:39,379 --> 00:30:41,256
My eyes lit up,
I was so happy.
698
00:30:41,256 --> 00:30:43,842
And the first thing
he says to me,
699
00:30:43,842 --> 00:30:47,220
"Are you okay?"
That's Bam Bam Bigelow.
700
00:30:47,220 --> 00:30:49,598
And he goes,
"We ----in' did it!"
701
00:30:49,598 --> 00:30:51,058
And we were laughing,
702
00:30:51,058 --> 00:30:53,185
because the place
was rumbling.
703
00:30:53,185 --> 00:30:55,187
He waited for the people
to come down a teeny bit,
704
00:30:55,187 --> 00:30:57,773
and then once they
saw him come out first,
705
00:30:57,773 --> 00:30:59,566
we knew the pop would be
loud but I don't know
706
00:30:59,566 --> 00:31:00,650
if we knew it was
gonna be that loud.
707
00:31:00,650 --> 00:31:02,152
I mean, i was just...
708
00:31:02,152 --> 00:31:03,779
I'll never forget it
as long as I live.
709
00:31:03,779 --> 00:31:05,405
And we've got a new...
710
00:31:05,405 --> 00:31:06,448
I get goosebumps.
711
00:31:06,448 --> 00:31:08,367
...World Television
Champion!
712
00:31:08,367 --> 00:31:09,993
There are so many things
that could have gone wrong.
713
00:31:09,993 --> 00:31:12,079
You could break your back,
you could break your neck.
714
00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:15,207
Uh, but Scotty never
ever said no to anything.
715
00:31:15,207 --> 00:31:17,918
It's a small miracle
that Bigelow is moving.
716
00:31:25,425 --> 00:31:27,594
You would see him come out,
he'd have, you know,
717
00:31:27,594 --> 00:31:29,846
giant gashes on his head,
and he would just put some
718
00:31:29,846 --> 00:31:31,389
superglue on it,
close it up,
719
00:31:31,389 --> 00:31:32,974
and then we would go
have a cheesesteak.
720
00:31:32,974 --> 00:31:34,392
I can't tell you how many
times he's been
721
00:31:34,392 --> 00:31:35,727
sewed up in our living room.
722
00:31:35,727 --> 00:31:37,562
Doctor just would come over
and just sew him up
723
00:31:37,562 --> 00:31:39,398
in the middle of the night
while he was half asleep.
724
00:31:39,398 --> 00:31:43,401
So the injuries were the
beginning of the end.
725
00:31:43,401 --> 00:31:47,405
He had stenosis in the
entirety of his spine.
726
00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,241
He had crushed discs.
727
00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:52,661
He had sections fused of
his back at that time.
728
00:31:52,661 --> 00:31:54,621
You could run your finger
down his spine and
729
00:31:54,621 --> 00:31:57,249
you could feel,
almost like brail.
730
00:31:57,249 --> 00:32:00,335
Pills just allowed him
to move.
731
00:32:00,335 --> 00:32:03,380
If you didn't go out and
you didn't put on a show,
732
00:32:03,380 --> 00:32:05,132
you weren't getting paid.
733
00:32:05,132 --> 00:32:09,010
So, I understand the aspect
of having to take something
734
00:32:09,010 --> 00:32:12,430
to basically push
you through that.
735
00:32:12,430 --> 00:32:15,642
I did see Bigelow struggling
a little bit physically,
736
00:32:15,642 --> 00:32:17,435
but he, he hid it well.
737
00:32:17,435 --> 00:32:19,646
He wouldn't tell you, if you
had to go over a match,
738
00:32:19,646 --> 00:32:21,815
"Hey dude, I'm hurting here,
my shoulder hurts,
739
00:32:21,815 --> 00:32:23,525
my neck hurts,
my back hurts."
740
00:32:23,525 --> 00:32:26,236
He was just, "Let's go."
You know, "Let's do it."
741
00:32:26,236 --> 00:32:29,489
You know,
whatever it was.
742
00:32:29,489 --> 00:32:32,909
The pain pills Bam Bam
Bigelow consumes allow him
743
00:32:32,909 --> 00:32:35,579
to continue performing
at the highest level,
744
00:32:35,579 --> 00:32:38,874
but they also take a toll on
his life away from the ring.
745
00:32:38,874 --> 00:32:41,626
He was never, never,
never aggressive.
746
00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:43,545
And he was always
very respectful.
747
00:32:43,545 --> 00:32:45,338
And he became angry.
748
00:32:45,338 --> 00:32:47,299
He would, at times,
be very coherent,
749
00:32:47,299 --> 00:32:49,426
and at times be
very incoherent.
750
00:32:49,426 --> 00:32:51,470
And he would be like,
"You are just crazy and
751
00:32:51,470 --> 00:32:52,846
you're making things up.
752
00:32:52,846 --> 00:32:55,307
I'm under a doctor's care,
and this is, you know,
753
00:32:55,307 --> 00:32:56,766
what I have to do to be
in the business."
754
00:32:56,766 --> 00:32:58,393
It was a doctor.
755
00:32:58,393 --> 00:33:01,021
An MD, who get paid
a lot of money,
756
00:33:01,021 --> 00:33:03,148
to treat him for
one disease,
757
00:33:03,148 --> 00:33:06,484
and gave him another,
a whole other one.
758
00:33:06,484 --> 00:33:09,070
The pill bottles
from that doctor,
759
00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:11,323
I've never seen pill bottles
of that size
760
00:33:11,323 --> 00:33:12,824
in my life before.
761
00:33:12,824 --> 00:33:14,910
100 pills?
300 pills?
762
00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:16,536
His doctor was a fan,
763
00:33:16,536 --> 00:33:19,414
and he would have done
anything that Scott wanted,
764
00:33:19,414 --> 00:33:22,417
regardless of his license,
and he did.
765
00:33:22,417 --> 00:33:25,754
Scott was in denial
and so was the doctor,
766
00:33:25,754 --> 00:33:27,130
because I would
call him and say,
767
00:33:27,130 --> 00:33:28,840
"Stop writing these
prescriptions.
768
00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,593
You're destroying our lives.
You're ruining our family."
769
00:33:31,593 --> 00:33:33,553
And that doctor's response,
770
00:33:33,553 --> 00:33:35,138
he would call my
father and say that,
771
00:33:35,138 --> 00:33:37,766
"The warden's calling me
telling me not to come over."
772
00:33:37,766 --> 00:33:41,353
Undermining my mother
to my father
773
00:33:41,353 --> 00:33:44,272
in an already
weakened state.
774
00:33:44,272 --> 00:33:46,900
Nobody's paying attention
to these doctors.
775
00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:48,902
You're a drug dealer.
776
00:33:48,902 --> 00:33:51,029
'Cause he was not
a pain doctor.
777
00:33:51,029 --> 00:33:52,197
It's a tragedy.
778
00:33:52,197 --> 00:33:56,660
Scott sold his soul
for OxyContins.
779
00:33:56,660 --> 00:33:58,411
And he would have stepped
over us in the street
780
00:33:58,411 --> 00:34:00,080
to get them.
781
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:01,790
♪
782
00:34:05,794 --> 00:34:09,089
Bam Bam Bigelow's addiction
continues to get worse,
783
00:34:09,089 --> 00:34:13,051
fuelled by an endless supply
of OxyContin from his doctor.
784
00:34:13,051 --> 00:34:16,263
OxyContin is one of
America's new wonder drugs.
785
00:34:16,263 --> 00:34:18,640
Since the drug came on the
market the number of annual
786
00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,810
prescriptions has risen
to nearly 6 million.
787
00:34:21,810 --> 00:34:23,937
Contributing to the
problem are pill mills,
788
00:34:23,937 --> 00:34:25,689
where doctors write
prescriptions for
789
00:34:25,689 --> 00:34:27,274
non-medical reasons.
790
00:34:27,274 --> 00:34:30,068
He wasn't going to buy
drugs off the street.
791
00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:33,113
He was home
taking OxyContins.
792
00:34:33,113 --> 00:34:36,741
And then I got pregnant with
Ricci, and then the promises,
793
00:34:36,741 --> 00:34:38,493
you know, "This is
gonna be different.
794
00:34:38,493 --> 00:34:41,037
We're gonna get
through this."
795
00:34:41,037 --> 00:34:42,998
I think he tried to pull
himself together because
796
00:34:42,998 --> 00:34:44,666
he said he always wanted a
daughter his whole life.
797
00:34:44,666 --> 00:34:48,169
It was like beyond anything
to have this daughter,
798
00:34:48,169 --> 00:34:50,213
and when she was little he
used to put her to bed
799
00:34:50,213 --> 00:34:52,549
every single night, and he
would get a pillow and
800
00:34:52,549 --> 00:34:54,050
he would lay on
the floor next to her,
801
00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:55,719
and he would sing her songs,
and hold her hands.
802
00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,680
And he was in her room
on her floor every night.
803
00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,140
Wednesdays.
804
00:35:00,140 --> 00:35:03,643
Every Wednesday my dad would
pick me up from preschool.
805
00:35:03,643 --> 00:35:05,061
Big red truck.
806
00:35:05,061 --> 00:35:06,771
Eat all the Doritos
you could imagine.
807
00:35:06,771 --> 00:35:08,064
Paint pictures.
808
00:35:08,064 --> 00:35:11,484
Just, normal father-
daughter relationship.
809
00:35:11,484 --> 00:35:14,779
When he was around he was
focused on being with us and
810
00:35:14,779 --> 00:35:16,448
spending time with us.
811
00:35:16,448 --> 00:35:18,950
How you doing, boy?
[Laughing]
812
00:35:18,950 --> 00:35:20,410
His body was a
little hindered,
813
00:35:20,410 --> 00:35:22,370
and he was starting
to feel the pain.
814
00:35:22,370 --> 00:35:25,790
But, you know that didn't
stop us from going to
815
00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:27,709
every opening day
for fishing.
816
00:35:27,709 --> 00:35:29,419
Every opening day
for hunting.
817
00:35:29,419 --> 00:35:30,837
He got to be a dad.
818
00:35:30,837 --> 00:35:33,631
So with Dad being on the road
300 plus days a year.
819
00:35:33,631 --> 00:35:36,092
Those are the
fondest memories.
820
00:35:36,092 --> 00:35:38,053
There's no pension in
professional wrestling.
821
00:35:38,053 --> 00:35:41,139
So, he needed to make as
822
00:35:41,139 --> 00:35:43,224
much money as he
could with the
823
00:35:43,224 --> 00:35:46,061
body that he had, 'cause he
knew it was deteriorating.
824
00:35:46,061 --> 00:35:48,104
He even says that he's
the highest paid loser
825
00:35:48,104 --> 00:35:49,773
in the world, because
he'll take a loss
826
00:35:49,773 --> 00:35:51,816
as long as that loss pays.
827
00:35:51,816 --> 00:35:55,945
I'm the guy who helped
bring Bam Bam in to WCW.
828
00:35:55,945 --> 00:35:58,740
When he heard that
I was wrestling,
829
00:35:58,740 --> 00:36:00,867
somehow he got my number,
he's like,
830
00:36:00,867 --> 00:36:02,494
"Dude, you're doing it."
831
00:36:02,494 --> 00:36:06,039
Like, we grew up maybe
7 miles from each other.
832
00:36:06,039 --> 00:36:07,832
These two Jersey Shore boys.
833
00:36:07,832 --> 00:36:09,876
But now we're
tag team champions.
834
00:36:09,876 --> 00:36:12,253
I never felt like he was
under the influence
835
00:36:12,253 --> 00:36:14,172
in the ring but, you know,
eventually, you know,
836
00:36:14,172 --> 00:36:16,132
people start to go back to
their old habits and
837
00:36:16,132 --> 00:36:18,093
that's why so
many guys died.
838
00:36:18,093 --> 00:36:21,054
Over consumption of pills.
839
00:36:21,054 --> 00:36:24,057
Because when you're
taking five at a time,
840
00:36:24,057 --> 00:36:26,226
'cause three
stopped working.
841
00:36:26,226 --> 00:36:28,353
[Sighing] I'm not,
you can't remember
842
00:36:28,353 --> 00:36:30,980
if you took them or not,
so you take five more.
843
00:36:30,980 --> 00:36:32,690
You know, and before
you know it-
844
00:36:32,690 --> 00:36:34,984
[Gagging]-
you're that guy.
845
00:36:34,984 --> 00:36:36,653
He went on the road and
846
00:36:36,653 --> 00:36:39,989
he would not show up to
shows or tapings.
847
00:36:39,989 --> 00:36:43,535
He was in Arizona, and, um,
friends of ours were there,
848
00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:46,371
and he didn't make it to the
show and they called home.
849
00:36:46,371 --> 00:36:47,580
And I was like,
"What do you mean?
850
00:36:47,580 --> 00:36:49,916
He's there." It got to
the point where
851
00:36:49,916 --> 00:36:53,837
he was a liability, and
that's what they said.
852
00:36:53,837 --> 00:36:56,131
And they paid him the rest
of his contract to stay home
853
00:36:56,131 --> 00:36:59,050
because he could
not function.
854
00:36:59,050 --> 00:37:01,177
I saw a man broken.
855
00:37:01,177 --> 00:37:04,639
He's away from his family,
and he's not in the best
856
00:37:04,639 --> 00:37:07,559
physical shape because
he's in constant pain.
857
00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:09,936
You know, having to take a
pill just to get up.
858
00:37:09,936 --> 00:37:12,230
And not just a pill,
multiple pills.
859
00:37:12,230 --> 00:37:13,982
But the trade off
of that is
860
00:37:13,982 --> 00:37:15,692
it completely
dulls your senses,
861
00:37:15,692 --> 00:37:19,070
it completely just destroys
your sense of person.
862
00:37:21,281 --> 00:37:24,492
15, 20 OxyContins, easily.
863
00:37:24,492 --> 00:37:25,827
Yeah.
864
00:37:25,827 --> 00:37:26,995
It was dangerous.
865
00:37:26,995 --> 00:37:28,913
And a situation happened
with the youngest
866
00:37:28,913 --> 00:37:31,458
where it became
very dangerous.
867
00:37:31,458 --> 00:37:33,710
I had wrote a paper about it
868
00:37:33,710 --> 00:37:35,587
when I was in 8th grade.
869
00:37:35,587 --> 00:37:38,214
And I went back and read it
last night understanding that
870
00:37:38,214 --> 00:37:39,966
what was happening was,
I'm writing about
871
00:37:39,966 --> 00:37:43,052
my father nodding out,
driving.
872
00:37:43,052 --> 00:37:44,512
And when I wrote that
in 8th grade
873
00:37:44,512 --> 00:37:47,182
I had no idea that's
what was going on.
874
00:37:47,182 --> 00:37:49,684
And I remember the officers
were asking me
875
00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:51,227
all these questions,
like, I mean,
876
00:37:51,227 --> 00:37:52,187
for a three-year-old,
they're asking me
877
00:37:52,187 --> 00:37:53,813
my address,
my phone number,
878
00:37:53,813 --> 00:37:55,773
my mom's phone number,
like all this information,
879
00:37:55,773 --> 00:37:59,235
and I'm just like, "I don't
know. Where's my dad?"
880
00:37:59,235 --> 00:38:01,488
So when I went back
last night and read it,
881
00:38:01,488 --> 00:38:03,364
really knowing
what was going on,
882
00:38:03,364 --> 00:38:07,952
what was in his system,
it just hits ten times harder.
883
00:38:07,952 --> 00:38:10,580
As Bam Bam Bigelow's
addiction sends him
884
00:38:10,580 --> 00:38:13,333
crashing to rock bottom,
he's charged with
885
00:38:13,333 --> 00:38:15,793
endangering the welfare
of his daughter.
886
00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:17,295
He was given an
ultimatum. I'm like,
887
00:38:17,295 --> 00:38:18,838
"You've either
gotta go get help,
888
00:38:18,838 --> 00:38:20,465
or you have to go."
889
00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:23,343
He wouldn't get help,
and he went.
890
00:38:23,343 --> 00:38:26,137
He didn't see that he had a
problem the way that he did,
891
00:38:26,137 --> 00:38:28,473
and the way
that addicts do.
892
00:38:28,473 --> 00:38:30,391
And you know, Dad's not
gonna be home anymore,
893
00:38:30,391 --> 00:38:32,310
they're getting a divorce.
894
00:38:32,310 --> 00:38:35,271
That's when he picked up and
basically went to Florida.
895
00:38:35,271 --> 00:38:37,482
He was married to a drug.
896
00:38:37,482 --> 00:38:39,234
So to watch a man who
would choose that
897
00:38:39,234 --> 00:38:41,528
over his children, when I
knew that that was
898
00:38:41,528 --> 00:38:42,612
the most important thing,
899
00:38:42,612 --> 00:38:44,113
was just the
worst thing ever.
900
00:38:44,113 --> 00:38:46,950
And I got to talk to him on
the phone, but it would be,
901
00:38:46,950 --> 00:38:49,577
like, spans of where it
would be really quiet,
902
00:38:49,577 --> 00:38:52,121
because I could
hear him crying.
903
00:38:52,121 --> 00:38:57,627
He was struggling to
form the words, "Hi."
904
00:38:57,627 --> 00:39:01,130
I went down to Tampa,
spring break my senior year.
905
00:39:01,130 --> 00:39:03,550
I wanted to go down there to
see my friends but I really
906
00:39:03,550 --> 00:39:05,343
just wanted to go down
there to find my dad.
907
00:39:05,343 --> 00:39:09,222
And um-
[Sighing]-
908
00:39:09,222 --> 00:39:11,182
His girlfriend
answered the phone,
909
00:39:11,182 --> 00:39:14,394
said he wasn't available at
that point in time,
910
00:39:14,394 --> 00:39:17,564
and then I got a phone call
when I landed back in
911
00:39:17,564 --> 00:39:20,567
New Jersey from my
father, apologizing.
912
00:39:20,567 --> 00:39:23,528
And uh, you know I kind of
aired him out a little bit,
913
00:39:23,528 --> 00:39:27,240
told him how I felt,
um...
914
00:39:27,240 --> 00:39:29,075
and then he died.
915
00:39:29,075 --> 00:39:33,079
Three weeks later.
916
00:39:33,079 --> 00:39:35,373
I was in school,
teaching,
917
00:39:35,373 --> 00:39:37,709
and a phone call got
patched to my classroom,
918
00:39:37,709 --> 00:39:39,794
and it was his
brother, Todd.
919
00:39:39,794 --> 00:39:42,922
And Todd said,
"He's gone."
920
00:39:42,922 --> 00:39:44,215
I was like,
"What do you mean?"
921
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:45,550
He's like, "He's gone."
922
00:39:45,550 --> 00:39:47,051
And he was
crying hysterically,
923
00:39:47,051 --> 00:39:49,637
and I just hung up the phone
and ran out of the building,
924
00:39:49,637 --> 00:39:52,056
and Shane was in college.
925
00:39:52,056 --> 00:39:55,143
Yeah, I got that call.
I'll never forget it.
926
00:39:55,143 --> 00:39:57,478
I'm walking back
through the quad,
927
00:39:57,478 --> 00:40:00,106
there's kids going to class,
and I got a phone call
928
00:40:00,106 --> 00:40:02,692
from my father's
childhood friend.
929
00:40:02,692 --> 00:40:05,528
"Your father died
last night."
930
00:40:05,528 --> 00:40:07,530
And it just like...
everybody around you is
931
00:40:07,530 --> 00:40:11,200
moving fast and
you're just still.
932
00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:13,620
I just remember being numb.
933
00:40:13,620 --> 00:40:16,247
[Exhaling sharply]
It rocked me.
934
00:40:16,247 --> 00:40:21,711
What I heard, um,
at that time, he was, uh,
935
00:40:21,711 --> 00:40:24,380
you know, going through
a tough time.
936
00:40:24,380 --> 00:40:26,174
I thought of his
family instantly,
937
00:40:26,174 --> 00:40:28,051
because I know how much
he loved his family and
938
00:40:28,051 --> 00:40:30,803
his wife, you know,
I just felt for them.
939
00:40:30,803 --> 00:40:32,930
He died of an overdose.
940
00:40:32,930 --> 00:40:35,058
Accidental overdose, but...
941
00:40:35,058 --> 00:40:36,476
you know the word
accidental and overdose
942
00:40:36,476 --> 00:40:38,019
should just not be in
the same sentence.
943
00:40:38,019 --> 00:40:41,147
How do you accidentally,
"Oops!" Took one too many?
944
00:40:41,147 --> 00:40:43,107
He took one too many
for a long time.
945
00:40:43,107 --> 00:40:45,401
♪
946
00:40:49,697 --> 00:40:52,909
On January 19th, 2007,
947
00:40:52,909 --> 00:40:55,244
at just 45 years of age,
948
00:40:55,244 --> 00:40:58,247
Bam Bam Bigelow dies by
what authorities call an
949
00:40:58,247 --> 00:41:01,042
accidental overdose,
from a cocktail of
950
00:41:01,042 --> 00:41:03,044
illicit and
prescription drugs.
951
00:41:03,044 --> 00:41:04,712
I didn't grieve.
952
00:41:04,712 --> 00:41:07,882
There was none for me,
because I was scrambling.
953
00:41:07,882 --> 00:41:09,717
I had kids, they couldn't
see me break down.
954
00:41:09,717 --> 00:41:12,220
They couldn't see me weak.
955
00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:14,138
And that's all I became,
was a provider.
956
00:41:14,138 --> 00:41:17,392
Like, I didn't have time
to coddle and nurture.
957
00:41:17,392 --> 00:41:19,644
That's the hardest
part on me now.
958
00:41:19,644 --> 00:41:23,356
Towards the end it was very
difficult with my mother.
959
00:41:23,356 --> 00:41:26,275
Just because, that was
my dad, that was my hero.
960
00:41:26,275 --> 00:41:28,986
My mom had to make a
really tough decision.
961
00:41:28,986 --> 00:41:30,947
You know, for a while I
never understood
962
00:41:30,947 --> 00:41:33,908
why we couldn't
just go see dad.
963
00:41:33,908 --> 00:41:36,160
And when you don't
understand
964
00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:38,162
you just think it's selfish.
965
00:41:38,162 --> 00:41:40,039
But then when you do,
966
00:41:40,039 --> 00:41:43,418
you become appreciative
that you weren't
967
00:41:43,418 --> 00:41:45,795
exposed to something
that would've been
968
00:41:45,795 --> 00:41:48,005
just so heart breaking.
969
00:41:48,005 --> 00:41:51,175
As a father I think it just
digs into you that
970
00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:55,304
when you think, if there was
no compunction for
971
00:41:55,304 --> 00:41:57,223
Bammer to reach out for
some kind of help,
972
00:41:57,223 --> 00:42:00,268
that he must have thought
that he had it under control.
973
00:42:00,268 --> 00:42:02,645
He must have figured this is
not really a problem.
974
00:42:02,645 --> 00:42:04,814
Because of how much he
talked about his kids.
975
00:42:04,814 --> 00:42:07,316
It's been just-
[Sighing]-
976
00:42:07,316 --> 00:42:09,610
honouring the
legacy of Bam Bam.
977
00:42:09,610 --> 00:42:11,070
Now collision course!
978
00:42:11,070 --> 00:42:14,115
I never really got to stop
and acknowledge my own pain.
979
00:42:14,115 --> 00:42:18,077
You always think about if
you had one last chance
980
00:42:18,077 --> 00:42:21,706
what you would say.
I think there's more ask.
981
00:42:21,706 --> 00:42:23,666
Just why?
982
00:42:23,666 --> 00:42:26,502
His kids lost their dad
at a young age.
983
00:42:26,502 --> 00:42:29,380
It's sad, you know, because
Bigelow like so many of us
984
00:42:29,380 --> 00:42:31,716
wrestlers during that time,
was on the road a lot.
985
00:42:31,716 --> 00:42:33,259
You know,
you're not around.
986
00:42:33,259 --> 00:42:34,844
You're making a living
for your family.
987
00:42:38,306 --> 00:42:39,932
You mother----er.
988
00:42:39,932 --> 00:42:42,477
But, through
years of therapy,
989
00:42:42,477 --> 00:42:44,395
I know you had no control.
990
00:42:44,395 --> 00:42:46,397
It's not your fault.
I don't blame you.
991
00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:48,649
♪
992
00:42:48,649 --> 00:42:50,651
You know nobody wakes up
in the morning and says,
993
00:42:50,651 --> 00:42:52,570
"I'm gonna be
a drug addict today."
994
00:42:52,570 --> 00:42:53,988
You wake up every morning
and you're like,
995
00:42:53,988 --> 00:42:55,740
"Today is gonna
be a change."
996
00:42:55,740 --> 00:42:57,992
But I would call him a
mother----er first.
997
00:42:57,992 --> 00:43:00,995
Just 'cause he
would expect that.
998
00:43:00,995 --> 00:43:04,123
I can't fault him
for what happened.
999
00:43:04,123 --> 00:43:05,917
You had to keep going.
1000
00:43:05,917 --> 00:43:07,543
That's how you put the
bread on the table.
1001
00:43:07,543 --> 00:43:09,128
I signed all the rights
over to the kids,
1002
00:43:09,128 --> 00:43:10,838
so they got all the
royalty cheques.
1003
00:43:10,838 --> 00:43:13,883
So he, in his death,
still supported them.
1004
00:43:16,928 --> 00:43:19,680
Nobody.
There's nobody.
1005
00:43:30,775 --> 00:43:33,528
When I think of pro wrestling
I think of power,
1006
00:43:33,528 --> 00:43:36,322
I think of size,
I think of my father.
1007
00:43:36,322 --> 00:43:39,575
World heavyweight champion,
1008
00:43:39,575 --> 00:43:44,080
The Beast from the East,
Bam Bam Bigelow!
1009
00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:46,874
He was a great person,
and how he lived and
1010
00:43:46,874 --> 00:43:48,918
all the wonderful things
that he did for people,
1011
00:43:48,918 --> 00:43:50,920
and the great father
that he was,
1012
00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:52,505
should be what
is remembered.
1013
00:43:52,505 --> 00:43:55,883
Not how he died, because
that's a terrible story,
1014
00:43:55,883 --> 00:43:57,802
but he left such a legacy.
1015
00:43:57,802 --> 00:43:59,929
Bam Bam!
Look at that maneuver!
1016
00:43:59,929 --> 00:44:01,222
[Laughing]
1017
00:44:01,222 --> 00:44:02,974
He was that 1%.