10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Bam Bam Bigelow

6. The Hidden Impact Of Those Flame Tattoos

Bam Bam Bigelow Dark Side Of The Ring
WWE.com

Countless kids around the globe feared Bam Bam Bigelow during his peak 1992-1995 heel run, but they weren't the only ones. Taz stopped by to tell VICE that the striking flame tattoos Bammer had on his head acted like a physical message to other wrestlers not to mess with Bigelow.

Clearly, some didn't get the message. More on that to come!

It's amazing to find out that those inside the pro wrestling biz sidestepped Bam Bam for a while too though. Larry Sharpe from the Monster Factory training school was the one who coined the Bam Bam name (inspired by The Flintstones), but that ink work was all Bigelow's idea.

Looking back, the fact Vince McMahon decided to sign Bam Bam in 1987 and book him as a breakout babyface is surprising. The flame-heavy, menacing look didn't exactly scream "good guy", after all. However, that isn't why Bigelow's first run ultimately failed in the end...

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.