Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

37. 1986: Bam Bam Bigelow

Essa Rios Lita
WWE.com

The first Paul Heyman Guy, Bam Bam Bigelow was presented as the next big thing as part of an innovative marketing campaign - but Bigelow wasn't just a device with which Heyman tried to crack the industry.

He was a preposterously agile big guy, with an instantly iconic look, and could brawl to a tremendous level. For some bizarre reason, he never did click at the very top main event level in the majors, but was brilliant in ECW. He really was great, one of the most underrated wrestlers ever. Nobody worked a match as good with the Sandman (Hak) as Bam Bam did at WCW Spring Stampede 1999.

Sadly, Bigelow passed away at age 45, in 2007, of a drug overdose.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!