Former WWE star Ray Apollo recently recalled helping Bam Bam Bigelow’s family. He also shared an unexpected tax issue involving WWE.
The incident happened after Vince McMahon agreed to cover the funeral expenses. Bam Bam Bigelow passed away in January 2007 at age 45. After his death, Ray Apollo stepped in to help arrange the funeral.
Former WWE star Ray Apollo recalls W-2 mix-up after Bam Bam Bigelow’s funeral
Speaking with Monte & The Pharaoh, Apollo recalled receiving the heartbreaking phone call. “I was working a construction job, and I got the phone call he said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this.’ I said, ‘Well, tell me the only f***ing way you know how.’ He goes, ‘Big man’s gone.'”
Apollo said Bigelow’s body needed to be brought back to New Jersey. With little help available at first, he reached out to friends and fellow wrestlers. “Everybody started throwing money in. I said, ‘What’s it gonna cost to get this rolling?’ He said, ‘Probably around $10,000 or $11,000.’ I said, ‘Well, it’s five grand, get it rolling.'”
Apollo also recalled what Bigelow’s father told him after the service. “If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have had a nice service for our son.” Later, Apollo received a call from Johnny Laurinaitis saying Vince McMahon wanted to cover the costs. “Vince wants to pay for the funeral because Scott made a lot of money for the office. Just send us what it cost.”
Apollo sent WWE the funeral expenses as requested. However, he received an unexpected W-2 tax form at the end of the year. “At the end of the year, I get a W-2 from the WWF for that money.” He then contacted former WWE talent relations executive Anne Russo to fix the problem. “I called her up, and she says, ‘Right, I’ll take care of it.'”
Apollo said the process took more than a year to complete. “It took a year or two. They sent me the money back that I owed the government… and ultimately, Vince did pay.”
Read More: Janel Grant Opens Up About Personal Struggles After Vince McMahon WWE Lawsuit Update
If you use these quotes, please credit the original source and link back to WrestleZone with an h/t for the transcription.
