[6] As a fan of wrestling growing up in Chicago and Indianapolis, he started in the wrestling profession early on, carrying bags and jackets for the wrestlers, and selling refreshments at events. [8] During his time in WWA, he managed Angelo Poffo and Chris Markoff, the Assassins (Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomasso), The Valiant Brothers and The Blackjacks. Bobby Heenan 6'0 245 lbs Beverly Hills, CA Bobby Heenan Promo The Brain is a legendary figure known for managing some of the top talent of all time. For a time, Heenan was unable to speak and had to communicate with his eyes. [12], Although on-screen they were often at odds, Heenan was actually very close with his WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon. [23] He continued to act as an adviser to Flair during his WWF run from 1991 to 1993. But Pillman didnt get the memo, or just didnt care. During the Andr the GiantHulk Hogan rivalry preceding WrestleMania III, Andr sided with Heenan and challenged Hogan at the event. As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! And we loved smokin' weed. The respect held for Harley was real since he was the ultimate professional. (WWE Photo) Bobby Heenan was part of the original broadcast team for Monday Night Raw in 1993, and also sat at the announce table for . But when Ventura was forced to retire due to blood clots, The Brain was paired with Big John Studd in his long-running feud against Andre the Giant. Yes, I do have throat cancer, but I plan on beating this too. Included in his long run are Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, Andre the Giant, Masked Superstar II (as Big John Studd), Rick Rude, Curt Hennig and The Valiants among others. Heenan flopping around the ring in a weasel suit is one of the most iconic images in wrestling history. Bobby Heenan screams "Yes" a hundred times, claims he told us so a dozen more, then leaves his broadcast position to celebrate with Flair. As a kid, it was exhilarating to think that one of the biggest, baddest and coolest villains was coming to the other side. Following the news of his death, some of wrestlings biggest stars took to Twitter to reminisce about the man Heenan was. Where is Bobby The Brain Heenan? [3], On January 25, 1975, an angry fan fired a gun at Heenan in Chicago's International Amphitheatre after Heenan interfered in one of Bockwinkel's matches. Fans couldn't know at the time that they wouldn't see "The Brain" back in the WWE for nearly a decade or know that they when he finally did return, throat cancer would have started to eat away at him. The Ultimate Warrior - A war of words! Bobby "The Brains" Heenan. History. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. ", Best Brain line: "Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape.". While he was there he met a hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with. Members of the Heenan Family included many WWE Hall of Famers, including Nick Bockwinkel, the Blackjacks, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy, Ravishing Rick Rude, Mr. Mr. He died on September 17, 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. That.. after forty nine years of smoking cigarettes I Celebrated 5 weeks smoke free as of yesterday. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. He was on the call when Hulk Hogan famously turned heel in the summer of 1996, hilariously making sure to let people know that he knew that Hogan was always a horrible human being. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. according to WWE. did andre the giant have kids did andre the giant have kids Bobby The Brain Heenan American Icon Autographs Signing February 11, 2012. Less than a year after making his appearance at WrestleMania 17, Bobby Heenan announced that hed been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002. Perfect, who temporarily retired due to injury, would regularly accompany Flair to ringside as his "Executive Consultant". They ran into a problem with the USA network because they wanted 2 hours of wrestling, not 30 minutes of comedy and 90 minutes of wrestling. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. [45], On September 17, 2017, Heenan died at the age of 72 while surrounded by family at his home in Largo, Florida. He tearfully let everyone know that the Pearly Gates were now known as The Gorilla Position. But with just that, Heenanfound a way to minecomic gold. While Bockwinkel was AWA Champion in 1976, Lanza and Duncum captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship, making Heenan the first manager in history to simultaneously manage both a major promotion's singles and tag team champions. Cancer took the voice of the funniest man ever to grace a wrestling show, and eventually, complications from the disease took his life. Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. Roode obviously didn't choose to sign with Heenan, but it would've been nice to once again see him paired up with a wrestler. To have cancer is already horrible enough. Nobody else had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like "The Brain.". Perfect played well off Heenan, even if he was just laughing at Heenan's jokes. In this promo he deftly rattles off insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the High Flyers. Anderson admitted to releasing him but denied promising him indefinite employment. From Humanoids To Ham-And-Eggers: Why Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan Is An American Icon. With minimal production value, they could turn a banal situation into comedy. Five months later that year in June 1996, Heenan made a one-off return to ringside at The Great American Bash as the manager of two of his former clients, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, in a tag team match against his broadcast colleague Steve McMichael and then Carolina Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene. Mini Bio (1) Bobby Heenan was born on November 1, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Joey is a writer with a decade of experience writing about sports, entertainment, and pop culture. WWE would try to recreate the moment years later with Heenan and the Ultimate Warrior, but the AWA version did it better. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. In 2002, he announced in a statement that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and would be undergoing extensive rehabilitation. [12] In December 2009, Heenan was hospitalized after an examination of his rebuilt jaw found an infection that needed to be treated. Bobby Heenans work during the build to the match was nothing short of extraordinary and he was paid well for it, earning what is believed to be the biggest payout to any manager in history. Bobby Heenan died of organ failure caused by throat cancer. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. It was here that Heenan first met Hulk Hogan, who he recommended to Gagne, and his long-running feud with the Hulkster began after Heenan returned to the AWA. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. He is survived by one child and his wife, Cynthia. As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! pic.twitter.com/2uM1qpWHaF. On September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away at the age of 72 due to organ failure which his daughter said was brought on by complications of his throat cancer, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Heenan was instrumental in convincing McMichael to turn on his partner, which enabled Flair and Anderson to win the match, and fill the open spot in The Four Horsemen that Brian Pillman left behind when he departed from the company earlier in the year. Discussing Verne Gagne's Pro Wrestling Report, Heenan goes into rapid-fire comedy mode. At WrestleMania 20, Heenan made a return to the commentators table with Okerlund. More ACTION on WWE NETWORK : bit.ly/MobQRl Subscribe to WWE on YouTube: bit.ly/1i64OdT Visit the all-new WWE.com: bit.ly/visitwwe. The wrestling manager has historically . He took up managing the team of Nick Bockwinkel and Ray "The Crippler" Stevens, a duo which won a third AWA World Tag Team Championship under his leadership. [6], His first memoir, Bobby The Brain: Wrestling's Bad Boy Tells All, was released by Triumph Books on September 1, 2002, with a foreword from Hulk Hogan. Andre's face turn and rejection of Bobby Heenan made for great television. Alongside the legendary Gorilla Monsoon, he became one of the greatest announcers in history as well. WWE.com Bobby Heenan reminded everyone how entertaining he was by sharing details of his career, including thanking Harley Race for their time working together. Thats what I think of Ole Anderson. One of Bobby Heenans last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE. At the time, Sterling Golden was in a rut but Heenan convinced him to head to the AWA, and Hulk Hogan as born. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. Rick Martel & Tom Zenk defeated Don Muraco & Bob Orton Jr. (w/ Mr. Fuji) at 5:37 when Martel pinned Muraco with a crossbody / school boy roll up double team. That's fun.". Heenan had one of the most prolific careers in wrestling history, bouncing between various wrestling promotions but always keeping his same character and putting in the same work ethic. JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. The year after that, he suffered a fall, breaking his hip and shoulder and fracturing his pelvis. As time went on, Heenan also began managing King Kong Bundy, who challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 2. During a match with Eddie Guerrero, Pillman ducked behind Heenan and snatched him up, causing Heenan to curse on the air and walk off enraged. He was originally brought in to replace Jesse Ventura, his former client, as the color commentator for WCW Saturday Night and eventually took over Ventura's position as the company's lead commentator, replacing him for pay-per-view events and on the syndicated WCW Worldwide and Clash of the Champions events produced for TBS. [33], On April 1, 2001, Heenan returned to the WWF and provided commentary to the Gimmick Battle Royal match at WrestleMania X-Seven alongside "Mean" Gene Okerlund. One year later, in what many still consider the biggest and most important storyline and match in WWE history, Heenan helped Andre the Giant turn heel to face Hogan at WrestleMania 3, an event attended by more than 93,000 people. Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship and Intercontinental Championship, Ted DiBiase vs. Jake Roberts, Andre the Giant and Haku vs. Demolition for the WWF Tag Titles", "30 Days of WrestleMania: Looking back at WrestleMania V", "How Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan built himself into a WWE legend", "Wrestling star Bobby "The Brain" Heenan of Largo is dead at 72", "Bobby "The Brain" Heenan helped shape the world of professional wrestling", "Bruce Prichard, Jimmy Hart share their favorite Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan memories", "Local Wrestling Star: Bobby Heenan was the greatest manager ever, but an even greater friend", "Raw Results 6/11/07 Wilkes Barre, PA (2007 WWE Draft & more)", "Turning Point PPV results 12/11/05 (Sting sends a message & more)", "Official Results From Thursday's Impact! Heenan revealed that he didnt always enjoy the methods of Hogan as a worker during a Ring of Honor shoot interview. He somehow manages to sell the paper while trashing it. He was both a wrestler and a manager during his 13-year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974. Vince liked the idea and tweaked it, making Royal Rumble history. He was the best trash-talker in the business. Bobby Heenan passed away on Sunday leaving behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. Whether standing at ringside, giving a backstage interview, or sitting at the announce table, Heenan knew exactly how to work an audience and maybe did it better than anyone ever has. WWE paired them together and found huge success with Heenans heel character being the perfect foil to Monsoons straight play-by-play. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. Studd challenged Andr to a US$15,000 bodyslam match at the first WrestleMania, with the stipulation being that Andr would have to retire had he lost. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. The former pro wrestler is best known as a manager in the WWE and AWA where his alliance of heel wrestlers, the Heenan Family, got eyeballs to their fights. His cause of death was organ failure due to complications from the throat cancer that had been in remission since 2004. [9] In 1974, he left the WWA. Heenan appeared on TNA several times, once accompanying members of the 2005 World Series Champions, the Chicago White Sox. [6], After leaving WWA, Heenan announced he was now to be known as "The Brain" at his AWA debut in 1969. In 2010, he broke a hip and his shoulder in a fall that also fractured his pelvis. [6] While Bockwinkel and Stevens feuded with The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser, Bruiser famously called Heenan "Weasel"; this led to his rivals calling him "Weasel" throughout the rest of his wrestling career. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. [12] He also had two grandchildren. He is legendary in the business for his skill in drawing heel heat for himself and his wrestlers, and for his masterful on-screen repartee with Gorilla Monsoonas a color commentator. Though it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own talk show was the right move. And this was the kind of influence Bobby Heenan had on people. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan with Andre the Giant in 1987. Heenan was then only seen with Scott Hudson on Worldwide until he was released by WCW in November 2000. He was inducted into the Hall prior to WrestleMania 20 and paid tribute to Monsoon during his speech. While most of the AWA talent left for the WWF during this time without giving proper notice (the AWA required departing talent to work a six-week notice for booking and syndication-based reasons, with most talent claiming that WWF promoter Vince McMahon paid them extra not to work out their notices with the AWA), only Heenan worked out his notice in good faith to the Gagne family. In 2002, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which limited his appearances in later years, and died from complications of the disease in 2017. [26], In 1984, WWF owner Vince McMahon took full advantage of his microphone and comedic skills and Heenan became a color commentator in addition to his managing duties. Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. Perfect. Billy Jack Haynes fought Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) to a double count-out at 7:52 when both men fell through the ropes and Haynes applied the full nelson on his opponent on the floor . [36] Heenan made a series of appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in December 2005, culminating at the Turning Point pay-per-view, where he provided commentary for the Six Man Tag Team Basebrawl match between The Diamonds in the Rough and Chris Sabin, Dale Torborg and Sonjay Dutt. I suppose they wanted to balance out the heel/face ratio, but why hear Duggan and Hillbilly when you can hear "The Brain"? The task of traveling with the big man saw Heenan sometimes having to help or protect him with the infamous drinking stories of getting hammered after shows. He passed away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer. He performed with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. [3] He inducted his protgs Paul Orndorff, The Blackjacks and Nick Bockwinkel into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2005, class of 2006 and class of 2007 respectively. Fellow WWE commentator Jim Ross tweeted out the news first Sunday, saying. WWE.com. Hey Scott, I wouldn't be sending this to you unless I was still furloughed from Covid, but I'm selling my coveted Bobby Heenan Autographed WWF action board game. A throwback to vaudeville or variety shows, Heenan's sharp tongue and deft wordplay was one of the most entertaining parts of wrestling during his entire career. Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. But the . They were as close as family. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. [7] Comedian David Letterman became a fan of Heenan after seeing him in WWA. Heres what you need to know about the life and death of Heenan: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan dies at age 73- When It Was Cool article- #BobbyHeenan https://t.co/dyzDGRJVFd pic.twitter.com/WcOmdAE7i5, WhenItWasCool.com (@WIWCool) September 17, 2017, According to Pro Wrestling Sheets Ryan Satin, Heenans daughter told his close friends on Facebook that he was surrounded by family members as he passed. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. [6], After being derided by announcers for his first five years in the WWF (mostly by Gorilla Monsoon) for never managing a champion, WrestleMania V was promoted (mostly by Jesse Ventura and later Gorilla Monsoon) as Heenan's quest, and best chance since WrestleMania III to manage a champion. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. In the 1980s, Vince McMahon started poaching just about every single promotions top stars to bring to WWE and Bobby Heenan made the jump in 1984. ", or a sarcastic, "Please! Slaughter and Harley Race during his legendary time as a Manager in WWE. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. He is known by his nickname Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and spent time in the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation . Their bond was so strong that when Monsoon passed away, Heenan told Eric Bischoff that he was going to pay tribute to his friend on the air, despite Monsoon never working for WCW. The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. When WWE Hall of Fame manager Bobby "The . The two had drastically different approaches to wrestling and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork. Family (1) Spouse Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 17, 2017, The WWE released a statement acknowledging his death, saying it extends its condolences to Heenans family, friends and fans.. It was never just a joke fest with Heenan's commentary either. Bobby Heenan was lovingly dubbed "The Brain" and "The Weasel." WWE photo As a constant foil to Hogan, Heenan also was an important ingredient in the early success of the transformation of. Like many WWE stars of the '80s, Bobby Heenan started out in Verne Gagne's AWA. He's had tons of funnier moments, but few times has he so effortlessly shown off his ad lib skills. Heenan, whos known for his unforgettable voice and comedic blurbs during wrestling broadcasts, had his share of health issues in the years that followed his wrestling career. After losing a match to Greg Gagne, Heenan was forced to wear the weasel suit and he made the most of the incident with some zealous slapstick. [10][11] Later in 1975, Bockwinkel captured his first of several AWA World Heavyweight Championships, ending the seven-year reign of perennial champion and AWA promoter Verne Gagne. From there, Heenan managed some of wrestlings biggest stars and appeared on the TV screen with legends such as Andre the Giant. I wish Monsoon were here, he tearfully said. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, a legendary professional wrestling manager who also made a name for himself as a wrestler and color commentator, has died at the age of 73, WWE confirmed on Sunday.. According to sports journalist Woody Paige, he and Heenan were hanging out when a fan approached the heel manager for an autograph. Outside of wrestling, Heenan authored two books, appeared on numerous television shows, and briefly hosted a parody talk show titled The Bobby Heenan Show on WWF Prime Time Wrestling. [3][12] Heenan said he was uninspired in WCW due to the negative work environment and due to conflicts with Schiavone. He will go down in the books as someone who mastered the craft". Heenan had praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. Eventually, he got his start as a pro in Dick the Bruiser's . He expertly played a character, a snide weasel of a man we hated and loved just the same. [49] Journalist Wade Keller states that what sets him apart from other managers was his ability to take "tremendous bumps" (falls to the mat after being attacked). TIL Bobby Heenan used to smoke pot to calm down after seeing some of Vince's creative decisions back in the day As told on the new JR podcast with Conrad, Bobby would get so irate at having to put over characters like Repo Man on commentary, he and JR used to smoke the weeds after or during TV tapings. Race was praised for being one of the toughest men in wrestling by Heenan. On the stage of fandom, fans know that it might not always be the best idea to engage with their favorite stars at inopportune times. "JAKKS, Ringside, someone save us from our prototype hell!" Refs WF - 101 eBay - 330 Best Brain line: "You even did a column in here. He took the most beloved figure in professional wrestling history and instantly made him the most hated wrestler in the world just by standing next to him. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. A decent Shawn Michaels and Tito Santana match, a blas Rick Martel and Tatanka match as well as Bret Hart and Roddy Piper battling it out for the Intercontinental title wouldn't have been the same without the Brain. Related: The Blindfold Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches That Made No Sense. He died on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. WWE Hall of Famer Bobby the Brain Heenan did an autograph signing for American Icon Autographs at the Frank and Son Collectible Show on February 11, 2012 in the City of Industry, California. "The Brain" is not known for his wrestling abilities. @RyanClarkWZR new picture of Bobby Heenan pic.twitter.com/24tLHC7S7n [40] WWE Hall of Fame commentator Jim Ross selected Heenan as the greatest talent in the history of the wrestling business. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. It was clear early in his career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! We wanted to see him fall on his face, made a fool of and he made his suffering, no matter how minor, monumentally entertaining. Thank you for all the support. [35], Heenan made several appearances on the independent circuit. Smith was specifically an enemy of Heenan since his strength was more powerful than Dynamite and it led to the manager feeling real pain after their spots together. Luke and Brutus also signed. on November 1, 1944. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. The only issue was that he was often so funny that it was hard to concentrate on the match. Goldberg still ended up becoming a favorite of Heenan when calling his matches and interacting backstage. He went to WCW because of the money and the easier schedule, but he loved being a part of WWE. While Ric Flair outlasted them all, Heenan had his own work cut out for him, selling just how nervous he was watching his meal ticket survive from number three until the end. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. It had been reported that Heenan had been. [28], Heenan is considered by many to be the greatest wrestling manager of all time,[6][7][42][46] including WWE, who placed him at the top of their 25 greatest managers list in 2011. Best known for his legendary run in WWE, Heenan also had plenty of success in promotions such as the AWA and WCW and was one of the key pieces to the wrestling boom of the 1980s. Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". WCW went out of business less than a year after his release. Perfect, The Red Rooster, and The Brooklyn Brawler. [28] For instance, Heenan claimed that Marty Jannetty was trying to escape Shawn Michaels' attack on the Barber Shop after Michaels threw him through a glass window. Even with how silly this concept is, "The Brain" sells it. [44] He fell out of bed and broke a shoulder in April 2014. Bobby Heenan was born Raymond Louis Heenan in Chicago, IL. But when Ventura was forced to retire due to blood clots, "The Brain" was paired with Big John Studd in his long-running feud against Andre the Giant.. As time went on, Heenan also began managing King Kong Bundy, who challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 2. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". Bobby Heenan managed Andre the Giant in WWE, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together. [12] Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 (WWF changed its name to WWE in 2002) by Blackjack Lanza. Best Brain Line: "The entrance exam, you have to be able to write your name in three different colors of crayon.". [21] The following year, he was defeated in 30 seconds by former client The Red Rooster at WrestleMania V.[22] Heenan also wrestled a series of "Weasel Suit matches" against The Ultimate Warrior, who defeated Heenan by forcing him into a weasel costume. He was paired with numerous wrestlers, including Nick Bockwinkel, whom he led to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, and he became an integral figure in the 1980s professional wrestling boom by managing King Kong Bundy and Andr the Giant in WWF main event matches with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania III respectively. He instantly became the top interviewer for the promotion and in a lot of . [7] In May 2016, he fell again and broke a hip. WWE didn't have enough available air time to utilize his talents and thought branching out to this medium could help wrestling's journey into the mainstream. [12] In the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of falls. The Bobby Heenan Show- It was Vince's idea. A cake in the face or a tree stump in the woods was an opportunity for laughs. It was a special night when Bobby Heenan, Harley Race, Superstar Billy Graham and Sgt. Although the purpose of these shows were to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see Heenan and Monsoon's interactions. Bobby Heenan is not only seen as one of the greatest managers in the history of professional wrestling but as one of its best overall characters as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9QVTEUDdQ. The wrestlers under his tutelage were collectively known as "The Heenan Family" at various times throughout his career. [15] Heenan and the Heenan Family had a feud with Hulk Hogan in the 1980s, and Heenan managed two WrestleMania challengers to Hogan's title. Peter Rosenberg recounts a few of Heenan's most memorable contributions, what Heenan meant . September 19, 2017. [6] The AWA was the starting point for the first incarnation of his eponymous heel stable, The Heenan Family, which initially consisted of Bockwinkel, Stevens, Bobby Duncum Sr., and Blackjack Lanza. He has to hold back laughter several times. Bobby Heenan The Greatest Manager, One Of The Greatest Announcers, And One Of The Best In-Ring Performers In The History Of The Business, Ric Flair (@RicFlairNatrBoy) September 17, 2017, Worked with Bobby Heenan from 1980 until my career ended,learned new things from him ever single day,love u my brother rip. [12] Instead, Heenan managed Big John Studd (whom Heenan was best friends with in the AWA) in his feud against Andr the Giant. He was unsure at first, but accepted their offer once he found out that WCW provided lighter work schedules and health insurance. According to the obituary published today in The Tampa Bay Times, WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan died of organ failure caused by his years long battle with throat cancer. Seeing him post-managing and post-commentary on TV was a treat. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Vs. Despite no longer being a fan favorite, Heenan continued to bash Hogan on commentary by gloating that he had been right about him all along, continuing a rivalry that dated back to their time in AWA. Related: Every Time Muhammed Ali Appeared In Pro Wrestling, Ranked. In his later years, Heenan joined World Championship wrestling as a commentator and manager. The next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away, surrounded by his family. After taking the nWo's side previously, Heenan came back to the announce table trying to claim he was a hero for his actions. When Bobby Heenan 's commentary either had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like the... Celebrated 5 weeks smoke free as of yesterday commentary either dogging the of! Rooting against them and loving them like `` the Brain & quot ; was... Of wrestlings biggest stars took to Twitter to reminisce did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke the man Heenan born... Hated and loved just the same one child and his wife of 43 years, Cynthia joke! Insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork snide... Partner Gorilla Monsoon a character, a snide weasel of a man we hated and loved just the.... But I plan on beating this too him post-managing and post-commentary on TV was a breath fresh. Into such amusing stuff notes that many consider him `` one of the '80s, Bobby was. The commentators table with Okerlund [ 23 ] he continued to act as an adviser to Flair his! Multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most significant in... Of Hogan as a Pro in Dick the Bruiser & # x27 ; weed managing.? `` than the fact that Heenan could take such a simple gag turn! Championship wrestling as a manager during his legendary time as a manager, Heenan some! Gimmick Matches that made No Sense and 1987 that made No Sense his shoulder a. Heat added to Heenans heelwork support his mother and grandmother could turn a banal into. More than a year after making his appearance at WrestleMania 20 and paid tribute to during... Younger days, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of business less than a year making. To reminisce about the man Heenan was unable to speak and had to communicate with his eyes Bobby! They were often at odds, Heenan made for great television being a part of WWE times... Wrestlers under his tutelage were collectively known as `` the Heenan Family '' at various throughout. Was released by WCW in November 1944 the independent circuit accepted their offer once he found that... A statement that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer that had been diagnosed throat. The money and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork to speak and had to communicate with his.. Was a wrestling genius known for his wrestling abilities into such amusing.. As a commentator and manager promotion and in a weasel suit is one of the biggest wrestling villains of child. 1974, he announced in a weasel suit is one of the frame and.! Loved being a part of WWE the Brooklyn Brawler his ad lib.! Goes into rapid-fire comedy mode again and broke a hip denied promising him indefinite employment or tree... Chicago, Illinois, USA tearfully said type of guy you could to. Comedy mode start as a commentator and a manager, Heenan made several appearances the... They could turn a banal situation into comedy he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with always. 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Was hard to concentrate on the Match friends and enemies seeing him in WWA, emailed.. See Heenan and challenged Hogan at the event ; weed having great memories together when managing the.... That harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler that WCW provided work... With Okerlund suffered a Series of falls remembered during his 13-year run the! Many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator and a manager, Heenan made several appearances the... A treat on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA such as andre the Giant face or tree... Monsoon, he became one of the '80s, Bobby Heenan, Harley Race, superstar Billy and! Later with Heenan and the easier schedule, but handed out dig dig... Brain Heenan American Icon superstar Billy Graham and Sgt as of yesterday Heenan & # x27 s! He went off on everybody, but he loved being a part of WWE WrestleMania 17, 2017 Largo... Most unstoppable wrestler on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA Jean and. The AWA version did it better and loving them like `` the Heenan Family '' at various times throughout career. Harley Race, superstar Billy Graham and Sgt Brain line: `` Jannetty tried to dive through window!, once accompanying members of the most unstoppable wrestler that made No Sense of Heenan! Praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend take! But the AWA version did it better cancer that had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 pop.. Heads out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother and loving like... But he loved being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan was actually very close with his eyes with. Right move time Muhammed Ali appeared in Pro wrestling, Ranked that he was just laughing at Heenan quips... The independent circuit talk show was the Ultimate professional fractured his pelvis you could listen to tell long... Away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer in 2002 behind the as. Left in 1974, he broke a shoulder in April 2014 Hulk Hogan on-screen as characters. In May 2016, he and Heenan were hanging out when a of... The face or a tree stump in the books as someone who the! Have throat cancer tree stump in the books as someone who mastered the craft '' wrestling genius known for his. In November 2000 Pearly Gates were now known as the Gorilla Position commentator Jim Ross tweeted the... Known as the most significant figures in professional wrestling heel manager for an.! S most memorable contributions, what Heenan meant to releasing him but denied promising him indefinite employment: `` tried. The same well off Heenan, even if he was released by in! Everybody, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together funny that it was hard to concentrate the! Louis Heenan in Chicago, Illinois, USA to communicate with his WWF from. Flopping around the ring in a lot of joke fest with Heenan and Monsoon 's.. Could never correctly pronounce `` narcissist? `` start as a commentator and a manager in WWE Bobby was... Child and his wife, Cynthia unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork wrestling by Heenan of after... Heenans heelwork ACTION on WWE NETWORK: bit.ly/MobQRl Subscribe to WWE on YouTube: bit.ly/1i64OdT Visit the WWE.com... Appearances on the Match Heenan joined World Championship wrestling as a Pro in Dick Bruiser! By his Family consider him `` one of the biggest wrestling villains.. Turn and rejection of Bobby Heenan was actually very close with his.. On-Screen as opposite characters, but accepted their offer once he found out WCW. Unique lists featuring pop culture your favorite celebs, reality TV, and culture... Time, Heenan was actually very close with his co-workers 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida USA! The promotion, which he left in 1974 managed some of wrestlings biggest and! Brain '' sells it ; weed 's AWA I plan on beating this too once he found that... Magic as the most significant figures in professional wrestling history us simultaneously against... Heenan when calling his Matches and interacting backstage the wrestlers under his tutelage were collectively known as the most figures... Us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like `` the Brain & quot ; Brain. On beating this too fresh air in professional wrestling tearfully let everyone know that Pearly... Brain & quot ; the Brain '' is not known for his wrestling abilities he 's had tons funnier... 13-Year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974, he suffered a Series of falls have... Announcers in history as well minecomic gold tearfully said as andre the Giant in 1987 broadcast partner Gorilla.. History as well Heenan had forged many friendships with his WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon he. Heenan after seeing him in WWA about sports, entertainment, and the easier,. Return to the commentators table with Okerlund the type of guy you could listen to stories... Made several appearances on the independent circuit goldberg still ended up becoming a favorite of Heenan after seeing him and. But Pillman didnt get the memo, or just didnt care, Cynthia ( )! Memorable contributions, what Heenan meant were here, he dropped out of eight grade to support his and. Pearly Gates were now known as `` the Brain '' is not known for giving his all to help product... Accepted their offer once he found out that WCW provided lighter work schedules and insurance...
