MiamiHerald.com | 01/22/2007 | No signs of foul play in Bigelow death

No signs of foul play in Bigelow death

HUDSON, Fla. - (AP) -- Former pro wrestler Scott Bam Bam Bigelow was found dead in his home on Friday, Jan. 19.  He was 45.

Preliminary autopsy results did not show signs of foul play, but a cause of death will not be known until toxicology tests are completed in a few weeks, Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said.

Bigelow had been struggling with a persistent infection and diabetes, his brother, Todd, said.

Nicknamed the Beast from the East, Bigelow wrestled with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant during his two decades as a wrestler. His flame-tattooed scalp and 6-foot-2, 400-pound frame made him recognizable in and out of the ring.

Bigelow made quite an impact as one of the first big men to move like a cruiserweight.

He competed for WWE and WCW. He was also part of one of the best factions in wrestling history -- The Triple Threat -- with Shane Douglas and the late Chris Candido in ECW.

His ring named was derived from the name of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, a Flintstones character. He retired in 2004.

A service is planned for Friday, January 26 in his hometown of Neptune, NJ.  (We should have funeral information very soon.  They are working on the details now.)

Thanks to Mike Informer and Jeff Sheridan for this link to NY article on Bam Bam:  New York Daily News - Sports - 'Bam Bam' dead at 45

Howie Finkel Remembering the New Haven Coliseum:   WWE: Inside WWE > News > Coliseum Remembered - Part 2

Here is link for some wrestling stuff on eBay by my friend Bob:  eBay Seller: bobmul345: Autographs-Original, Fan Apparel Souvenirs items on eBay.com

Thanks to John Pantozzi for this article:   PWHF to host grand reopening Saturday

By JAMES A. ELLIS, The Leader-Herald

AMSTERDAM — After a year of being open only for special occasions, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is now ready for its grand reopening.

The 5,000-square-foot facility located at 30 E. Main St., Amsterdam, will open its doors to the public Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.

“We opened last year on a temporary basis,” PWHF president Tony Vellano said. “When we had an event we had to apply for a temporary permit because we weren’t fully up to code. Now we are up to code and ready to be open on a regular basis.”

After Saturday’s event, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame will be open for its regular hours Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

“Hall of Famer George “The Animal” Steele will be here to sign autographs and greet people,” Vellano said. “Legendary manager J.J. Dillon will also be here and I have been contacted by Terry Gunn, Hillbilly Cousin Luke and Manny Soto about coming on that day.”

The PWHF features a variety of displays featuring memorabilia dating from 1886 to the present.

“We have two floors of memorabilia like robes, belts, posters, pictures and articles about the sport,” Vellano said. “We have a library upstairs where you can sit and read books about the sport and we have tapes of events for people to watch.”

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame will host its Sixth Annual Induction Weekend May 18 and 19.

The 2007 induction class includes Gus Sonnenberg, Earl Caddock, Karl Gotch, The Tolos Brothers, Danny Hodge, Pat O’Connor, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Jack Pfefer, Cora Combs, Ted DiBiase and Billy Darnell.

The weekend events open with a collector’s convention at the Best Western Motel in Amsterdam from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 19 followed by a meet and greet from 3 to 4 p.m.

The induction ceremony will be conducted at 7 p.m. May 19 at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown.

Tickets for the banquet are $50 per person or a deluxe banquet package, which includes a commemorative program and two different commemorative posters, is available at $75 per person.

For further information, contact Vellano at 842-0022 or [email protected] or Mike Capano at 725-5272 or [email protected].   Information is also available on the Web site www.pwhf.org.