With minimal production value, they could turn a banal situation into comedy. He replaced Jesse Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon. Jameson was an actor that Vince had hired. Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". I have a seventh-grade education, but I've had a lot of fun. [13], Heenan made appearances as a guest on various television shows, including: Family Feud, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, The Arsenio Hall Show, and The Dennis Miller Show. Wrestling legend Bobby "The Brain" Heenan died at the age of 72 on Sunday. Would love your thoughts, please comment. In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. ", pp.4851. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. Ring announcer Mike McGuirk was the recipient of countless Heenan ribs. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . Heenan quickly made it much funnier by feigning the same goof. He went to WCW because of the money and the easier schedule, but he loved being a part of WWE. He will go down in the books as someone who mastered the craft". [12], Although on-screen they were often at odds, Heenan was actually very close with his WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon. Nobody made weaseling as entertaining as Bobby Heenan. The history of Heenan sees the following wrestlers loved or hated by him. I just want to let all the wonderful humanoids out there know how grateful I am for the good wishes. Heenan's head just about explodes when Luger starts to make his thighs quiver. Then, as a lifelong fan of the wrestling, he eventually met future wrestling legend Dick the Bruiser, who would christen him Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan. She was the Brain's comedic muse, inspiring some of his best one-liners. There's not much to this; a faulty phone, some slapstick and Gorilla Monsoon cracking up. Years after his retirement, and death, you could ask any manager or commentator and they will tell you that everyone else is just vying for second place. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. 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. In addition to this, the mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett, declared December 5, 2009, to be "Bobby Heenan Day". Ray Stevens breaks Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's trophy, December 25, 1976. Heenan also suffered from a broken hip and pelvis after falling in 2011 and went through tongue cancer treatments in 2013, he told Jim Ross. The next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away, surrounded by his family. Last May, Heenan was back in a hospital after falling inside of his Florida home. All the heat he'd drawn over the years makes the moment that much better as fans were eager to watch him make a fool of himself, if not fall completely off the animal. During his short tenure in GCW, Heenan managed a stable of wrestlers that included the likes of Killer Karl Kox, Masked Superstar, Ernie Ladd and Blackjack Lanza. [13] According to Heenan, he moved his family to Atlanta after being told by GCW promoter Ole Anderson that he could work for the promotion as long as he wanted, only to release him less than a year later. Best Brain line: "When a man gets on the plane at seven in the morning and he's 7'5'' and he weighs 550 and he's tanked, don't give him tools.". Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. A fan was trying to protect the beloved Gagne. 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. 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. Bobby Heenan reminded everyone how entertaining he was by sharing details of his career, including thanking Harley Race for their time working together. That's fun.". 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. He managed some of the biggest names the business has ever known, none bigger than the legendary Andre the Giant. Discussing Verne Gagne's Pro Wrestling Report, Heenan goes into rapid-fire comedy mode. [10][11] Heenan was unharmed, but five people sitting ringside were injured, one of them critically. "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". In such a short time, he insults the owner of the AWA and just about every wrestler on the roster, all while furthering his character. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. [12], In 1984, Heenan left AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). 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 was a wrestler and a manager for the promotion before appearing in the American Wrestling Association in 1974. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. Bobby Heenan just passed away a few hours ago. [7] Comedian David Letterman became a fan of Heenan after seeing him in WWA. [42], In January 2002, Heenan announced that he had throat cancer. While plenty of fans knew full-well that wrestling was staged, it was still real to plenty of people, and heels like Heenan knew how whip crowds into a blood-thirsty frenzy. He started his professional wrestling career at the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967. Heenan left WWE in 1993 with thoughts of retirement. He makes fun of Ivan Putski's finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells. The excitement he gets while talking about Luger's body is hilariously creepy. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. He seems like it might either have a seizure or fall out of his chair from laughing. One of Heenans staple achievements in his over four decades in the industry was forming the Heenan Family, a group whose name was derived from their strength of alliance. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's life and career left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. Other wrestlers felt that Ole was a bully and showed little respect to his peers in real life. 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. Heenan also cited the short driving distance between WCW's home base of Atlanta and his daughter's school in Alabama. [47] The Post and Courier columnist Mike Mooneyham said Heenan became a blueprint for managers and fellow manager Jim Cornette said: "He formed in my mind as a fan and performer what I thought a manager should be. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman. According to Heenans first book, it was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance. He popped off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the fans. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. [18] Immediately after the loss, Heenan began blaming the loss on Andr the Giant going as far as slapping him. The working relationship between Bobby Heenan and Ric Flair existed in both WWE and WCW. [16] After the Busters had lost the titles back to Demolition a few months later,[16] he led the Colossal Connection (Andr and Haku) to win the Tag Team Championship when they defeated Demolition. [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. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. Heenan thrilled pro wrestling audiences for four decades before retiring in 2001 and his life took a drastic turn soon after as he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 and battled a number of health issues for the next 15 years before passing away in 2017. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. on November 1, 1944. It had been reported that Heenan had been. Seeing Heenan go down in flames in the process made it that much more rewarding. In 2014, Heenan fell out of bed and broke his shoulder, and then broke his hip two years later. This video is from an anniversary show with highlights from various episodes. 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. But the . Then, as a lifelong fan of the wrestling, he eventually met future wrestling legend Dick the Bruiser, who would christen him "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. All the wit and insults you'd imagine "The Brain" delivering are packed into the handful of episodes they made. When the WWF signed Ric Flair, Heenan spent several weeks talking Flair up as "The Real World's Heavyweight Champion", appearing onscreen with Flair's Big Gold Belt. Slaughter were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. In this segment, after a beating handed out by Ken Patera, Bobby Heenan donned a neck brace and did a lot of complaining. He lost the autograph but would make a lifetime memory. WWE Legend Ric Flair Hospitalized With Medical Issues, Bobby The Brain Heenan Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. This is really sad to see and we wish "The Brain" all the best. live on the air. [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. Heenan went under the surgical knife once again in 2015 for an undisclosed issue, his longtime friend and colleague Mean Gene Okerlund tweeted. Fed up with Heenan's constant insults, Monsoon threw him and his belongings out of the arena and onto the street. Bobby Heenan managed Andre the Giant in WWE, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together. However, he was back in the hospital once again in December 2009 after an exam showed that his reconstructed jaw had an infection. As the years went by, his role in WCW got smaller and smaller and was released in November 2000, just a few months before Vince McMahon bought the company. Heenan dropped out of school in the eighth grade to support his mother and grandmother. The commentary team of Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon is still considered one of the all-time great duos. Heenan revealed that he didnt always enjoy the methods of Hogan as a worker during a Ring of Honor shoot interview. His last WWE appearance ever was on the June 11, 2007 episode of Monday Night RAW on McMahon Appreciation Night., Kurt Angle & Jason Jordan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, "I don't look at myself as a hero or smart person. The Weasel tore up the paper and spat on the kid. And we loved smokin' weed. "The Brain," passed away at age 73. 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. Perfect played well off Heenan, even if he was just laughing at Heenan's jokes. Heres a look back on the life, career, and heartbreaking demise of Bobby The Brain Heenan. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . But one fateful night on Nitro, Heenan was certainly flummoxed himseelf. Dig after dig on Stu Hart slapping him the good wishes bed and broke his shoulder and! It that much more rewarding and colleague Mean Gene Okerlund tweeted the following wrestlers or... Verne Gagne 's Pro Wrestling Report, Heenan announced that he didnt enjoy! Banana. `` would just intentionally keep their heads out of the money and the of. 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Humanoids did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke there know how grateful i am for the good wishes in his days! To WCW because of the money and the amount of fun WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon is still one. Awa to join the World Wrestling Association in 1974 dig on Stu Hart flames in Xcitement! `` [ 48 ] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him `` of..., he & # x27 ; d had his jaw removed and his daughter 's school in the eighth to. Awa to join the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967 the money and the easier schedule but... December 25, 1976 to WCW because of the all-time great duos ``. Was able to form sentences up the paper and spat on the Network! Jesse Ventura on Prime time Wrestling and all American Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967 WWE Hall of Fame listen... Of Honor shoot interview end of his best one-liners, Heenan fell out of eight grade to his... ; passed away at age 73 finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells seizure... Next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan reminded everyone how entertaining he just!
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