“Big Cat” Scott Henson, a veteran of the wrestling scene in British Columbia, has died. He was 40.
The news was broken by Canadian Apex Wrestling on Facebook early on the morning of June 16, 2024:
Canadian Apex Wrestling is deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of our Tag Team Champions and beloved friend, Scott Henson. Our hearts are heavy with grief, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Scott, your impact on the Pacific Northwest wrestling community is immeasurable. You were a driving force behind the careers of many, and your contributions often went unnoticed. We love you, Scott, and your absence leaves a void that words cannot express. You will be profoundly missed.
Henson was also an active podcaster and gamer, especially through the The Worst Year of Our Lives podcast which he did with his frequent tag team partner, Softpaws. [An archive of the podcast can be found on YouTube.]
The 6-foot-1/2 Henson was born July 13, 1983, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
He began wrestling in October 2002, and was also known as Scoot and Jimmy James. In the 3-2-1 Battle! promotion, Henson was a two-time Solid Steel Champion in 2016.
As a part of the “Big Cat” gimmick, Henson would come out to the ring wearing gloves that looked like paws, and then would squeeze his hand to look like paws … which the audience would do too.
His long-time partner Sarian Soft Paws (Drew Smith) posted to X about Henson’s death:
Today was the first day I woke up knowing I didn’t have my tag team partner, my best friend, the funniest, most outrageous and ridiculous person I’ve ever met in my life. I spent almost 24 hours straight with you and in the very few hours after we parted ways, you were gone.
Everyone always says it doesn’t feel real when they lose someone close. I now understand that. I saw you for almost a 24 hour period straight. Then in the few hours we were apart, you were gone. I don’t know how I’m going to live the rest of my life without you.
I spent all day yesterday wanting to message you and tell you all the dumb, stupid, only funny to us things going around in my head only to remember all of that is only going to stay in my brain forever.
My entire adult life has been sharing memories with you. The fact that I’m never going to get to say any of our inside jokes out loud to anyone ever again hurts me. That I won’t get to hear your laugh again when we both see or hear something that ‘tickles us just right’.
That you’re never going to get mad at me again for not wanting to do something I’ve committed to. That we’ll never eat ourselves into completely immobile food coma’s on Anton’s then try to record a 2 hour podcast again.
It may sound ridiculous to some but it feel like I’ve lost my partner, my heterosexual life partner. In the coming days I’ll say a lot more. I’m not sure when or how but I’ll go into much more detail.
For now I’m just going to keep telling myself that this is all a rib. That you’re playing a mean prank on me at which I’ll laugh very hard when you show up at my house & act like nothing happened.
I love you Scott William Henson. You were my best friend & I will love you forever.
He also teamed with Daniel Makabe in 2014-15 as Rain City Coalition, and was in the Fur Horsemen with Kaden Talbain and Sarian Soft Paws. Makabe posted to X:
There were many who offered up their condolences.
“Goodbye for now Scott. You were a wonderfully warm person to share a locker room with,” wrote Todd Quality on Facebook. “I’m glad we got share the ring briefly. Big Cat with a Big heart.”
“Words don’t even begin to express the hurt in the heart of the PNW Wrestling family,” wrote Josh Russell on Facebook. “‘Big Cat’ Scott Henson thank you for the knowledge you shared, from bringing you out as an announcer to booking you as a promoter you never disappointed. You will forever be loved and missed. Rest in paradise my brother. 10 bells and 5 stars, I love you brother.”
Henson was a part of the active Twitch channel YMSPlays, and his co-gamer YMS (Adum) posted, “You were a greater friend than I ever could have asked for, and I’m happy to have had you in my life for the past 12 years. I’m going to miss your laughs, your jokes, your companionship, your hugs, everything. You were such a significant part of my life, and it’s going to be difficult getting used to not having you around. I’ll be able to share more details about his passing next week, so please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Details on the cause of death for Henson were not immediately available.
