'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Bam Bam Bigelow was rumoured to go into the WWE Hall of Fame this year but WWE has now reportedly dropped the plans.
According to Brad Shepard of BodySlam.net, his source in the WWE has claimed that Bigelow's name hasn't cropped up after the final list of inductees was issued backstage in December itself.
However, it was also revealed when WWE intends on giving Bigelow the prestigious honour.
In case you didn't know...
Known as one of the agilest big men of his generation, Bigelow was found dead in his home in Florida in 2007 at the age of 45.
The autopsy revealed traces cocaine and anti-anxiety pills in his system that aggravated his already troublesome issues with his heart.
Bigelow's first run with the WWE started in 1987 and ended within a year before he went on to wrestle for NJPW and WCW.
He returned to WWE in 1992 before departing the company yet again in 1995 to join ECW. The former ECW World Champion's post-wrestling life was marred by controversy as he failed at kickstarting countless business ventures while also getting into a bike accident along with his girlfriend.
Bigelow even tried his hand at MMA and lost his one and only bout in Japan.
The heart of the matter
Brad Shepard revealed that WWE made a host of changes to the original list in recent weeks by adding Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim, and Mark Henry to the class of 2018.
Additionally, RingSideNews restate that WWE plans on immortalizing Bigelow among the great of business next year. The reason behind the delay is because next year's WrestleMania is scheduled to take place in Bigelow's hometown in New Jersey.
What's next?
WWE has yet to announce a posthumous inductee for this year's class and there is a possibility that Bigelow gets the nod.
Goldberg will headline this year's ceremony the Friday before WrestleMania in New Orleans that would also include The Dudley Boyz, Ivory, Jeff Jarrett, Jarrius 'JJ' Robertson, Hillbilly Jim, Kid Rock and Mark Henry being inducted alongside some of the biggest names in pro wrestling history.
Author's take
While the WWE Universe may argue that Owen Hart and Chyna deserve the accolade more than Bigelow, the 6'2" giant is a pioneer in his own right who validates a strong case for an induction.
Whether it happens this year or the next, Bam Bam Bigelow is a sure-shot future Hall of Famer.
