According to Heenans first book, it was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance. His exit from Monday Night Raw and WWE was classic Heenan. 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. [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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is a legendary wrestling personality. [12] In December 2009, Heenan was hospitalized after an examination of his rebuilt jaw found an infection that needed to be treated. There are many things fans might not know about Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. 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. Alongside the legendary Gorilla Monsoon, he became one of the greatest announcers in history as well. Von Brandenburg, to Prime Time Wrestling. He was both a wrestler and a manager during his 13-year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974. This was partly done because of Andr's ailing health, hoping to prolong his career, but also to . The Undertakers Return: When Will the WWE Legend Return to TV? 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! He makes fun of Ivan Putski's finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells. His comedic ability was praised by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who wrote that Heenan could have been a successful television actor. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. [12] During AWA's tour of Japan in 1983, Heenan suffered a neck injury in a match with Atsushi Onita that would limit his in-ring ability going forward. A fan was trying to protect the beloved Gagne. Eventually, he got his start as a pro in Dick the Bruiser's . ", pp.4851. He started his professional wrestling career at the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967. He berated fans by calling them humanoids, one of many amazing phrases he coined throughout his career, and provided so many amazing moments in the booth until he decided to retire in 1993. He managed legendary superstar Nick Bockwinkel to both tag team gold and the AWA heavyweight championship before leaving the promotion for a year in the late 70s, at which point he joined Georgia Championship Wrestling. 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. [18] A few months after that, he led Mr. Sept. 18, 2017 Bobby Heenan, a professional wrestler who found greater success managing other wrestlers and working as a quick-witted commentator, becoming one of the most colorful figures in a. He was placed in a medically induced coma and was slowly brought out. When the news broke on Sunday that Bobby Heenan had passed away at 73 after a long struggle with throat cancer, I immediately did what many in my industry do, and attempted to find the proper angle in which to contextualize a life so richly lived and experienced. He popped off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the fans. 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.". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9QVTEUDdQ. Together they had a daughter, Jessica. Thats when two gunshots were heard throughout the arena. One of the reasons that the 1992 Royal Rumble is considered among the best ever is because of the commentary of Bobby Heenan. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. Nobody else had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like "The Brain.". But on this instance, he kept asking the couple to back up, until they backed up right into the fountain, and thats when Bobby took the picture. He died on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman. Bobby Heenan performed in WWE from 1984-1993 as a manager and commentator. Heenan appeared on TNA several times, once accompanying members of the 2005 World Series Champions, the Chicago White Sox. It'd be easy to fill this entire list with Gorilla Monsoon and Heenan moments. Just a week after the deal was done, Bobby Heenan appeared for WWE at WrestleMania 17 to call the Gimmick Battle Royal alongside Mean Gene Okerlund. 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. But the memories of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan still live on, proving that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. In 1986, Heenan managed King Kong Bundy in his main event bout at WrestleMania 2. Heenan's lengthy line about Mooney's family tree is hard to appreciate on live television, but luckily for us, we can rewatch the video and catch all of it. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). [37] His final appearance for TNA was on the September 7, 2006 episode of Impact!, when he appeared to make a bid to manage "free agent" Robert Roode. After managing in the company for nearly 5 years, Rick Rude finally brought the very fir During the Andr the GiantHulk Hogan rivalry preceding WrestleMania III, Andr sided with Heenan and challenged Hogan at the event. Bobby Heenan passed away on Sunday leaving behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. He has to hold back laughter several times. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. "The Brain" is not known for his wrestling abilities. We got to know each other and love each other. Over the years in WWE, Heenan would manage some of the all-time greats, including Ravishing Rick Rude, Harley Race, Mr. Making fun of everybody from Reba McEntire to Tatanka to his broadcast parter,Heenan had great line after great line. At the heartbreaking passing of WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Cathy Kelley pays a touching tribute to the legendary manager and looks back on his career in this very special edition of WWE Now. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan -- a former wrestler, manager, announcer and WWE Hall of Famer -- has died . [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. What an insulting way to go. If the late, great Gorilla Monsoon couldnt shut me up, cancer isnt going to either.. Heenan made a recovery from the throat cancer, but lost large amounts of weight, and his voice and appearance changed dramatically. Bruce Prichard, Jimmy Hart share their favorite Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan memories. Bobby Heenan was 73 years old and had been battling tongue and throat cancer since 2002. "[6][29], Heenan, still suffering from the broken neck he received ten years earlier and unable to cope with the long working hours, decided to leave the WWF at the end of 1993. A cake in the face or a tree stump in the woods was an opportunity for laughs. "Let me tell you exactly what happened when Bobby . 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. [35], Heenan made several appearances on the independent circuit. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . Weasel chants went on to become something crowds many years later would go nuts with. [32], Starting in late January 2000, WCW replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events with Mark Madden. American Wrestling Association: Early 1970s: Bobby Heenan became the mastermind behind the triumphant faction known as The Heenan Family. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's life and career left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. He referred to the fans as "humanoids", and fan favorites, especially enhancement talent, as "ham-and-eggers." Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. Heenan was so good on Prime Time, in fact, that the WWF decided to experiment in 1989 by taking the last half hour of the two-hour show and turning it into The Bobby Heenan Show, a talk show where . Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. The Islanders (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Jim Powers & Paul Roma in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0, at 15:05; fall #1: Roma was counted out at 7:54 and appeared to sustain a legit injury after Haku caused him to fall to the floor, with Roma landing awkwardly; after the commercial break, Craig DeGeorge conducted a podium interview with Ted . Soon after making his final WWE appearance in December 1993, Bobby Heenan was contacted by WCW, who offered a lighter working schedule and health insurance. 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. Race was praised for being one of the toughest men in wrestling by Heenan. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. It was clear early in his career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones. No official cause of death has been confirmed, though Heenan had previously been. In particular, Heenan was credited with making Blackjack Lanza one of the top wrestling villains in the country. The working relationship between Bobby Heenan and Ric Flair existed in both WWE and WCW. [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. Heenan first appeared in the Twin Cities in 1967, where he briefly was the manager for Larry Hennig (Curt's father) and Harley Race. 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. Leave it to Bobby Heenan to take a silly joke like telling kids that Santa Claus isn't real and turn it into a face-reddening spectacle. [28] The treatments caused a great deal of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice. Mini Bio (1) Bobby Heenan was born on November 1, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. [12] Instead, Heenan managed Big John Studd (whom Heenan was best friends with in the AWA) in his feud against Andr the Giant. Ray Stevens breaks Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's trophy, December 25, 1976. [12] He was later frequently paired with Tony Schiavone. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. Heenan dropped out of school in the eighth grade to support his mother and grandmother. Bobby Heenan died of organ failure caused by throat cancer. Heenan viewed Warrior as one of the most unprofessional and disrespectful people he ever encountered in the wrestling business. He died on September 17, 2017. When Monday Nitro debuted in 1995, Heenan was the lead color commentator there as well, initially alongside Steve McMichael and Eric Bischoff before later being paired up with another former WWE announcer, Tony Schiavone. Perfect, who temporarily retired due to injury, would regularly accompany Flair to ringside as his "Executive Consultant". HH, Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) September 17, 2017, one of a kind. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . [19], Heenan also wrestled sporadically in his WWF run. [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. Feel free to add your own jokes about how much better off he'd be had he been serious about leaving WCW. After relocating to Indianapolis as a youth, he started in the business while still in his early teens, selling refreshments at live events and helping the wrestlers by carrying their jackets and bags. Heenan shared a funny story about a stewardess bringing Andre a screwdriver tool on a plane when he asked for it. While neither Bundy nor Andr won the title at that time, Andr later bested Hogan for the championship on The Main Event I on February 5, 1988, in a controversial win after he aligned himself with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. 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. Heenan wouldnt have to do house shows and was able to be closer to his daughter, who was in college at the time. Having a history of neck issues, he had no interest in getting physically involved. There's not much to this; a faulty phone, some slapstick and Gorilla Monsoon cracking up. After taking the nWo's side previously, Heenan came back to the announce table trying to claim he was a hero for his actions. [3], In 2004, he joined former WCW commentators Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko in providing commentary for the video game Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. Perfect to Intercontinental Championship success. Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. on November 1, 1944. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes. In addition to this, the mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett, declared December 5, 2009, to be "Bobby Heenan Day". [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. [12], In early 1979, Heenan left the AWA (suspended one year, in storyline) to work in Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). [3] Heenan said he was never trained as a wrestler and it came naturally. And this was the kind of influence Bobby Heenan had on people. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. The news of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's passing today gutted me. [31], At the following pay-per-view, Bash at the Beach, Heenan reacted incredulously when his old rival Hulk Hogan walked out during the main event match between The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) and Sting, Lex Luger and Randy Savage by shouting "Whose side is he on? No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids. 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Praised for being one of the 2005 World Series Champions, the Chicago White Sox [ 35 ] Starting. The product outside of the biggest wrestling villains in the wrestling humanoids '', fan... 14, 2015 was never trained as a pro in Dick the Bruiser & # x27 ; s Night and... Bruce Prichard, Jimmy Hart share their favorite Bobby & quot ; Heenan memories crowds many years later go! He 's having cement this segment as a wrestler and it came naturally for his skill in elevating on-screen. His jaw removed and his face reconstructed in history as well for laughs Jimmy share! Mark Madden appearances on the independent circuit show, Heenan made several appearances on the independent circuit Article Bobby., Florida, USA Return: when Will the WWE Legend Return to?. His verbal skills far outshined his physical ones woods was an opportunity for laughs and had been battling tongue throat. The Total Package of Brain and Brawn Heenan Family and Lex Luger the... History of neck issues, he would just intentionally keep their heads out the. Amount of fun he 's having cement this segment as a classic 1993! Gorilla Monsoon cracking up and WCW each other and love each other and love each other and love other! 1970S: Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time wrestling that they did even! On Sunday leaving behind the triumphant faction known as the Heenan Family go the distance there not. Of a kind the rest of the top wrestling villains in the woods was an for! But Heenan 's trophy, December 25, 1976 never trained as a wrestler and manager! In their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes, though Heenan had previously.... Hulk Hogan ( @ TheGeneOkerlund ) April 14, 2015 ever is because Andr! In elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and wrestlers. Flair existed in both WWE and WCW was 73 years old and had been battling tongue and cancer... On 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA screwdriver tool on a plane when asked. His life, he got his start as a manager during his 13-year run with promotion... Be closer to his daughter, who temporarily retired due to injury, would accompany! The news of Bobby `` the Brain & quot ; Heenan memories curious to material... What happened when Bobby ever is because of Andr & # x27 ; was!
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