Bam Bam Bigelow on Steroids & Heavy Drug Use in Pro Wrestling

Bam Bam Bigelow talks about steroids & drugs in pro wrestling. Also how Paul Heyman ran ECW in the 1990s. Full Shoot ➡ TitleMatchNetwork.com
This Bam Bam Bigelow Shoot Interview was conducted in April 1998 while he was still working for ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling).
Bigelow (RIP) talks about what role drugs and steroids play in pro wrestling. Bam Bam mentions names like Brian Pillman who's final run was cut short due to heavy drug use.
Bam Bam reveals that coke was a major problem behind the scenes. It was such an issue that drug testing became the norm especially in the WWF (World Wrestling Federation).
We also discuss what Paul Heyman was like as a booker and why ECW was the hottest promotion in the 90s. Remember this shoot interview was conducted while ECW and WCW (World Championship Wrestling) were still in business.
Licensed/distributed by Title Match Network.
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[@TitleMatchWrestling]

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[@Thundarr995]

I met Bam Bam Bigelow on a flight to Hawaii back in 89. He was a nice guy. He had a black eye,I didn't ask him about it. I remember he said that he was gonna kick someone's butt,when he got back from vacation. He was in first class. We were in coach. We were kids back then, I was 12 & my brothers were younger. My younger brother must have been about 10 back then. He recognized Bam Bam. Bam Bam had the flight attendant come ask us if we wanted to meet him,he said it was ok if we came up to meet him. Yeah,he was a really nice guy. RIP BamBam Bigelow.

[@Sonic6412]

That’s freaking awesome bro pro wrestlers are the nicest people you’ll ever meet too. Viceland dark side of the ring bam bam bigelow the beast from the East episode is on tonight at 8/7 central on vice tv. Someone usually puts it on KZbin

[@Sms8668]

You met him or you just seen him on the flight ????

[@scottcastle3709]

I had the privilege of meeting Bam Bam around the end of December 2006 at a bar my band was playing. At first I was nervous as hell, but he was a very cool guy. He loved our band and wanted a demo and promised us it would get sent to Vince McMahon. Unfortunately he passed away in January, and I’m so glad I had the privilege of meeting this Legend. RIP

[@ITz_Enigma]

Such a cool dude Rest in peace Bam Bam Bigelow

[@broissey]

how many pieces?

[@ITz_Enigma]

baby Oh shoot I just noticed that, ha ha ha thanks for that did’nt realise lol

[@clarakirby1039]

Hogan is the greatest

[@musicffan1863]

I wish he would have taken his own advice on drugs. He would be with us today

[@charlieknockout]

My thoughts exactly. He was reaching out in a way he probably needed someone to reach out to him. Ironic.

[@coycoberly4162]

@@charlieknockout Yeah...

[@coycoberly4162]

Yes Sir..

[@uwgbfella]

Dark side of the ring talked about his oxy addiction and how he couldn't get it under control

[@brasidas33]

Dude smoked with Borne and then went and called Vince, and ratted on Borne - and got him fired. F$ck Bam Bam

[@msoi215]

When Bam Bam Bigelow said ECW had the best fan clientele, he wasn't exaggerating. IT'S ALL TRUE!!!

[@levigarrett8674]

Im 75 years old & saw wrestling become huge in the 1970s with Bulldog Don Kent,BoBo Brazil ,Superfly Snooka etc,then the WWF became an absolute monster in the 1980s,i stood in a sea of 92 ,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome knowing i was seeing a historical event it was unlikely to be topped in pro wrestling ,the attendance has been questioned forever but i believe the 92,000 figure from holding season tickets for the Detroit Lions who played at that feild,saturdays the WWF had millions of viewers on NBC when now even the top rated sitcoms on tv cant pull numbers like the 1980s wwf with Bam Bam Andre the Giant,George the Animal Steele , Macho Man & Ms Elizabeth,sorry to burst wrestling fans hopes but not even the UFC can pull the numbers of the Hulk Hogan era of the WWF.

[@axljonsson1716]

"You were in the heyday of the WWF, do you think wrestling will ever be that hot again?" - March 1998. Shortly after this it would be the hottest it would be in the history of the industry.

[@stevanaldape3424]

I honestly thought Wrestling was hot in 1997. It’s also crazy to hear them talk about the heyday Of WWF in the 90s.

[@axljonsson1716]

@@stevanaldape3424 The WWF at least was way hotter in 98. I would guess they tripled the audience from 97 to 98.

[@rooneye]

Ohh this is from 1998? Ahh I thought it was from later so when he said the ECW shit would take off huge I thought that was a bit strange lol

[@clayp6415]

What a crazy interview, when WCW was on top and WWF was just starting to pull ahead. This is the definition of a time capsule. Awesome interview and Bam Bam was a great guy.

[@VeinySausage]

This interview was in April 1998 right before the HUGE boom so he was kind of right when he said ECW is gonna help the business boom again... cause WCW and WWF took a lot of ideas from that little company in philly

[@austinmalby1110]

He’s prophetic in every interview I’ve seen with him so far

[@partyboyyoutube4513]

Bam bam came off like a guy who you could have a few drinks and it’s it’s really sad that he passed away gone too soon but not forgotten

[@cardboardempire]

BAM BAM is only one of the many big men greats. Haystacks Calhoun, Andre, Undertaker, Vader, Yoko, and Bam Bam. BAM did business and mad respect to him. RIP

[@john_woo]

When I was an elementary school student at Wayside in Ocean Township NJ 87-88 , Bam Bam Bigelow pulled up on multiple occasions to the school on his motorcycle to great all the kids.

[@_RK3_]

Bam Bam was right about the NWO angle

[@Dakatari]

Rest In Peace Bam Bam one of the best big men ever in wrestling

[@clarakirby1039]

Hogan is king

[@alaistairhamilton8838]

I couldn't agree more. His agility, speed, selling, and moveset stood out from so many. One of the best big men to ever lace up the boots.

[@ciarantreacy7721]

Absolutely love these old school shoot interviews! Very insightful

[@NobesBLO13]

“With Paul E you’re his family.” And you don’t have to pay family. 😂

[@jamesralph6460]

He wrestled in a world of giants

[@notkevinfinnerty4959]

Could listen to Bam Bam talk forever, funny tho how when they take the calls he goes from shoot to kayfabin.

[@brianprivitera4012]

Love the old posters in the background. Rip BBB !

[@lucheloonie225]

I wonder if Paul screwin bam bam changed him I hate how they did him I wish he was still here rip

[@derricksmith1140]

May the great beast from the east rest easy. Great guy

[@roberthakchin8520]

Great mind, super believable, one of my favorite of all times

[@inuenndo_]

he knew the landscape incredibly, really deserved to be wwe champ

[@royalzak2670]

He mentioned the prevalence of cocaine use in the business. He would end up of dying of a cocaine overdose. Rip.

[@ACDCfreak50]

It's really cool to see interviews from this time period. Right at the height of the Monday Night Wars.

[@jamesralph6460]

Bam Bam 1 of my all-time favorites..The man man moves like Rey Mesterio...did he play NFL??

[@Mr_Santi907]

I dont think he was in the NFL

[@thejmc4074]

He did not. I guess he wrestled in HS

[@josephmiller9424]

It takes a special person to run into a burning building and save strangers 3 kids most run, from fire , i heard he made a hole in the wall to get out , but he is a hero

[@0089nyyankees]

It sucks. I feel really bad for him and his family. I fall in the same thing. What i mean is he has all the best advice about not doing drugs but didnt take the advice himself. Im not throwing stones. Im clean now but when i was into pills i could give ya the best advice but eventually my demons would catch up to me. Too bad he wasnt able to get it together at the end of his life.

[@FreneticZetetic]

Bam Bam was always solid!

[@dtogo4286]

I miss these old characters in wrestling. These guys were legit tough, had overthetop personalities, real athletes, and had natural charisma. The guys coming up today never did the ++++ these men did athletically or personally. Wrestling sucks today SJW ++++.

[@ttjesus4959]

They were CARNIES and proud of it, to the point where they would fight you for making a joke out of their "carny-ism"

[@bodhi8297]

Magnum PI lmao that’s awesome

[@brettbanta2100]

LOL, i caught that too

[@theofficialgreenkane9645]

Beast said he thinks he's ECW for life. And he was. RiP

[@terrenceh77]

Really enjoy bam bam interviews, seems lay back

[@stephendriscoll9240]

Saw him wrestle in high school Neptune vs Manalapan,My friend Fred Bowers wrestled for Manalapan,Bam was a beast,just as cool out of the ring

[@RyanParreno]

What an interesting interview. When I saw clips from this blasting the Kliq I wasn't sure when it happened. I guess it was his ECW days before he went back to WCW. Very smart guy, unfortunately that isn't enough to get you far in the business

[@Nitronerd]

Don't we all regret the demise of ECW.

[@nickspears6862]

Yes ECW was a good show

[@adambedard8641]

The Whole F'N Show!

[@jeffmoran9075]

Wow he called back in 98 what was going to happen with the wrestling business and with nwo

[@bluntamainia444]

Dude literally jumped to WCW months after this interview

[@michaelabbazia428]

Rest in power Scott

[@HOODIZM3]

R.I.P. Beast from da East Bam Bam. Could you guys do a piece on Sweet Brown Sugar Skip Young?

[@DFW817]

RIP BEAST FROM THE EAST

[@juncruz6266]

paulie is the man

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

Wish he had followed his own advice. He was so bad at the end. I saw him weekly on the shows I worked and he was a wreck. Was so sad to see.

[@fromasnackertoasnack587]

When was this?

[@mike2462]

A wreck on drugs?

[@noname-yt7uf]

What is it about wrestlers and dip? I saw ric flair and Shawn Michael's. Chewing their bacca in interviews. Pre 2000s version of vaping maybe?

[@billshamrock449]

He was right about ECW the WWF just took the product and polished it up real nice

[@davidadams3499]

Hall of famer

[@michaelpaiva9924]

Yea but in the end of ECW right before WWE bought it, Paul E. Hayman ended up screwing alot of wrestlers over and not paying them the rest of their money, Jus ask Shane Douglass, according to him Paul owes him 100,000 and has been ducking him for years and years. Shane keeps takin Paul to.court and filed civil suits but Hayman jus don't show up or blows it off. Idk if he got paid by now but as of 5 years ago he was still tryin to get that money since 2002!

[@OGTrollTroll8]

Michael Paiva Paul is a conman

[@royalzak2670]

@@OGTrollTroll8 the slimy back stabbing Jew persona turns out to be his actual irl persona lol

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

*Michael Paiva* Vince was part owner in ECW when it was just being broadcast out of Paul's Basement. That is why I didn't watch it anymore when I found that out.

[@jasonhuntley4203]

r.i.p scotty you gve us some of the best matches whethr it was in independent wrestling, ecw and mos def wwf/wwe you were an awesome person dwn to earth miss you hope your resting peacefuly to hell w/springsteen your the real boss of asbury park..

[@icey32]

Crazy how bam bam talked up Paul E only for Paul to end up screwing everybody in ecw at the end...sad

[@kingsports1113]

Slow mind slow career damn now that was deep

[@billshamrock449]

I wonder if Heyman bought in the lucha guys after hearing this interview

[@keithdavis4140]

He cooked me a giant 2 pound burger at his burger joint in Hamlin. Good burger!

[@starkreactor82]

ECW for life!! Fast forward after this video Bammer was in WCW and getting squashed. Bam Bam was a great big man,. Unfortunate Paul Heyman worked his own locker room and was on the take from WWE.. ECW was great. I loved the triple threat. I always say this WWE stole the "Attitude" and WCW stole the talent from ECW.

[@noname-yt7uf]

Abdullah the butcher talking about the "wheel comin' around" oh the fucking irony.

[@jus3278]

RIP Bam Bam

[@NLaBar]

Was this video from 1997 or so, when Bigelow was in original ECW?

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

Yes I believe it was shot April 98

[@bmorefinest5965]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@dondamon4669]

Can’t stop rubbing his head! He’s high here

[@russie.russell]

Yeah, those luchadors are def to CHOREO-AM

[@HashTwoYes]

Someone off camera is snorting coke, you can hear it.

[@erickennedy4480]

Probably with wresting the new Fedration, or Allaince , and Indies trying to be next ECW ,or tried to canter towards those fans. Instead find their nince and fan base to canter towards too.

[@1829scott]

bam bam narced on doink for smoking a joint

[@jamiepreston1490]

I wished Bam Bam was still here to see what's happening with Vince McMahon. From the most powerful wrestling promoter to lawsuits over sexual assault and women trafficking. Wow, what a disgraceful downfall but if it's true he's getting what he deserves.

[@kingsports1113]

Wish Bam Bam stayed in Japan wrestling

[@chrisgreen4579]

How old is this

[@arp3259]

Has to be 1998 or 1999

[@Fnoel98356]

I remember buying this on mid 1998. Because he talked about Austin- Miachels- Tyson at Wrestlemania. & that was in 1998.

[@JSchaffer214]

It says 1998 at the very beginning.

[@kingsports1113]

What about uswa SMH don't ever forget uswa was getting talent took by wwf n wcw too Jerry the king Lawler vs WWF smw ecw wccw

[@keving5178]

Magnum T.A.

[@FernandoMartinez-pv1id]

Kevin Nash is clowning himself. Young men see guys like The Rock and end up with body dismorphia because they cant grow like him. He needs to admit to PEDs.

[@sammyriggs7111]

Triple Threat would have been over in wwe attitude area

[@dannysavagedraftguru]

Bam bam only did Grape 🍇 Juice

[@ricodane7567]

Why was he talking about everyone else doing drugs and not talking about himself when he OD himself. 😞

[@909cool-oagents4]

Paul e had bam bam drinking the kool aid

[@MrWoodMan23]

Had Paulie got a good TV deal. ECW could have thrived for years after April of 2001.

[@mojorisin7317]

Ironic that Bam Bam didn't take his own advice and died from acute cocaine intoxication at the tender age of 45 😳

[@pinnacleproductions6275]

If only Paul Heyman could’ve brought in a good business manager ECW really could’ve taken off to the heights of WCW/WWF but I know eventually McMahon would’ve ended up buying it but maybe not until 5-6 years after he did.

[@hrbie84]

Paul robbed Peter to pay Paul the whole time he owned it ...I am agreeing with you- BUT a smart money man would either not work with Paul E or would have never dealt with ECW after "the night the line was crossed".

[@Bigasstbone]

Didn't he later die of a drug overdose?

[@borys444]

In 2007

[@HardheadedG32]

Heart attack

[@robertlustmord1636]

@@HardheadedG32 No. Overdose.

[@Jarl3169]

​@@robertlustmord1636Its believed he died from a heart attack induced by an overdose of cocaine and benzodiazepines, so you both are right. I know I'm late but just thought I'd clear the air. RIP Bam Bam

[@riverpiggsaquatics95]

Didnt bam bam die from an over dose?

[@Batman-wv5ng]

River Piggs Aquatics Yes he did.

[@kingsports1113]

Magnum pi

[@elijahrobinson2362]

He was so spot on about WCW falling off due to the nWo controlling the show. Overexposure and only caring about themselves. I never followed ECW (quit following after Owen’s death), but it’s too bad they had to fold and Vince got his hooks on their assets.

[@brasidas33]

Dude ratted on Borne.

[@dannywallis5302]

Was he brain washed or just stupid about ecw

[@clarakirby1039]

There is only one Hulk Hogan the greatest of all time

[@clarakirby1039]

Hulk Hogan is a god

[@gamblingguru2235]

Bam bam was a junk bag but a good junk bag miss tht guy

[@kevinhawley8724]

All spoken by the man who eventually died of a cocaine overdose.

[@jaycash8a]

Bam was right about ECW