Is there a reason Bam Bam never got some sort of generic six-month feud with Hogan (or Savage, or later on Bret or Nash) during his initial run? A big intimidating heel, athletic, always seemed to have pretty good heat, etc. Certainly Vince has made more with less. What gives!!
Thanks, and love the blog!
Bigelow coming in as a babyface in 87 was always kind of puzzling to me, because really why would you need a #3 babyface behind Hogan and Savage anyway? Hogan headlines one run of shows, Savage headlines the other, boom, no one else needed. A role as the #1 heel doing a run with either one would have made way more sense and made either guy way more money. Unless it was something like Vince knowing that Hogan was taking time off in 88 and looking for a replacement besides Savage. Kind of a moot point because they had their falling out early in 88 anyway and Bigelow jumped to the NWA.
As for the second WWF run, I think it was really just a case of Bigelow's star fading quickly and him just not being a guy that Vince was interested in pushing to the top anymore. Clearly he wasn't terribly inspired to greatness working with the likes of Doink and Tatanka, although who would be at that point? I'm sure he could have had a decent run with Nash, but he just that midcarder stink on him and it's hard to get that off without a total reinvention of the character.
I wonder what would have happened if Bam Bam had his resurgence in WWE in 98 instead of ECW? Austin and Bigelow brawling all over the place would have rocked.
ReplyDeleteBBB was MADE for New york and leaving after WM4 was the dumbest choice made.
ReplyDeleteHe could have been a good house show opponent for Savage. That could have been his 6 months right there. Savage/Bigelow... $$$$
Dude, the crowd at Survivor Series 1987 thought he had a chance against Andre!
ReplyDeleteBam Bam was crazy over as a face and there just wasn't any room for him.
Yes! He would have been a great McMahon henchman for those wild brawls after the Foley feud
ReplyDeleteIf you have time to kill etc listen to the bam bam shoot on youtube. It's one of the best I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is Bam Bam's look just screamed heel. Part of the fun of cheering for Bam Bam was waiting for him to betray Hulk Hogan just like his other major allies (I was not a Hulkamanic when I was a kid). Unfortunately that inevitable turn never happened.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is that the Hogan's friend turns on him angle is playing out in real life with Bubba the Love Sponge (the perfect example of with friends like these who needs enemies).
Hey, some of those Bam Bam-Tatanka matches were good.
ReplyDeleteIt was awful timing for him to leave. However he claims it was because he got hurt and vkm expected him to work through his injury so they could continue his push. He felt like he physically couldn't and left. At least that's bigelows side of the story.
ReplyDeleteBam bam is definitely in my top 10 all time faves
ReplyDeleteBam bam was a really good worker. Some prefer vader and he does have the sting and flair matches to back it up but to me bam bam is the best "big fat heel" worker ever.
ReplyDeleteUmm, Hogan did sleep with Bubba's wife. Even if Bubba knew said wife wanted to do that and agreed to it, a friend doesn't do that. He really is Scum Hogan.
ReplyDeleteDidn't he have some sort of attitude or ego problem during his first run? Bret mentions it in his book. Something along the lines of "Bam Bam Bigelow, who on more than one occasional told me I was the best wrestler he's ever seen and that I should be WWF Champion, started to get a big head."
ReplyDeleteAs a kid who believed it to be real, I was relieved that Bam Bam seemed to lose just enough to not get title shots. He frightened me. They should re-package Brodus Clay in a flame covered bodysuit.
Didn't Bam Bam & Vader team in Japan?
ReplyDeleteThey did, apparently it was put on bam bam to teach vader to work.
ReplyDeleteBam bam could have been a big star post wm11 but left the company before hbk and nash could bury him politically.
ReplyDelete