[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. Part parody show, part absurdist comedy, part Heenan's playground, the show's major flaw may be that it was just ahead of its time. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. Is there a commentator who could get that reaction other than "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. American Wrestling Association: Early 1970s: Bobby Heenan became the mastermind behind the triumphant faction known as The Heenan Family. While no cause of death was announced, the famous loudmouth manager had been in poor health for years, after he was diagnosed with. They were as close as family. [44] He fell out of bed and broke a shoulder in April 2014. Heenan shared a funny story about a stewardess bringing Andre a screwdriver tool on a plane when he asked for it. 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. He placed a Bobby Heenan figure on Lettermans desk and after upsetting Letterman and producers, he clued them in that riling everyone up was McMahons idea. Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. For what it's worth, Heenan still makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions. 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. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. He's survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy). Heenan finally managed his first champion in the WWF when "Ravishing" Rick Rude upset The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, a match Heenan ensured Rude would win by holding Warrior's leg down so he could not break the pin. Powered by. Heenan felt that they took liberties with him and tried to hurt him. However, Heenan developed a dislike for a select few wrestlers he couldnt get along with. [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). The king of the one-liner and the king of the ad-lib made us laugh for decades. He started his professional wrestling career at the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. Heenan doesn't have his usual amount of witty lines here, but his weaseling is enough to make us laugh. Family (1) Spouse With his quick wit and verbal ability, Heenan was able to walk the fine line between comedy and being the mastermind behind the most menacing, believable threats to popular babyfaces, both in the AWA and the WWE.. RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Heenan Family Many moments of Heenan and his Heenan Family stable . on November 1, 1944. He's had tons of funnier moments, but few times has he so effortlessly shown off his ad lib skills. WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan, regarded by many as the greatest manager in sports-entertainment history . Perfect played well off Heenan, even if he was just laughing at Heenan's jokes. 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. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. [19] For his work in promoting Andr the Giant's match with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III, often cited as the most famous American professional wrestling match,[7] Heenan received a six-figure payoffarguably the largest pay day in any managerial career. Cancer took the voice of the funniest man ever to grace a wrestling show, and eventually, complications from the disease took his life. [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. Professional wrestling was his calling. [12] In the second half of January 2008, he had come out of his medically induced coma. ", or a sarcastic, "Please! Once his weasel character was well established, Heenan periodically stepped in the ring to appease fans' desires to see him get the whippings he deserved. [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. [43] In December 2007, Heenan had reconstructive surgery on his jaw, after the first surgery was unsuccessful. [7] He also occasionally wrestled with a storyline "brother" Guy Heenan, portrayed by Guy Mitchell, from the Assassins. 9 Mean Gene Okerlund. Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. The two had drastically different approaches to wrestling and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork. That.. after forty nine years of smoking cigarettes I Celebrated 5 weeks smoke free as of yesterday. 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. Yes, I do have throat cancer, but I plan on beating this too. 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 . Bobby Heenan had no problem messing with anyone, including unsuspecting bystanders. Jameson was an actor that Vince had hired. [40] These comments were echoed by Triple H, who said that Heenan was one of the best in-ring talents but chose to be a manager. Thank you for all the support. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. He attributed his departure to a dispute with Afflis over pay for his participation in the first-ever wrestling event held at Market Square Arena, emphatically stating that he never returned to the promotion as a result. In his in-ring debut at Madison Square Garden in November 1984, he cleanly pinned Salvatore Bellomo. He and Gorilla Monsoon welcomed Heenan's personal doctor, Dr. But the . Either way, Heenan was on his game that night. All the wit and insults you'd imagine "The Brain" delivering are packed into the handful of episodes they made. But with just that, Heenanfound a way to minecomic gold. He is known by his nickname Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and spent time in the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation . Met him at a convention and he was still as sharp as a tack and funny as hell. He was able to have lunch with his daughter at least once a week. Sept. 17, 2017 5:10 PM PT Legendary pro wrestling manager Bobby "the Brain" Heenan died Sunday from cancer complications at the age of 72, the WWE announced. Rosenberg stated that Heenan "operated on multiple levels", adding: "If you were a little kid, he was the foil to your hero. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. In this segment, after a beating handed out by Ken Patera, Bobby Heenan donned a neck brace and did a lot of complaining. It had been reported that Heenan had been battling 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. [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. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren. Not only does Heenan smear humor over every. Related: The Blindfold Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches That Made No Sense. With a career spanning more than four decades, Bobby Heenan was the The Brain behind some of the most prolific Superstars in sports-entertainment history. Few wrestlers received as many public insults from Bobby Heenan as the Ultimate Warrior did. He was also one of the many managers that came out of the woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode. According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, doctors kept him for an extended stay because of high blood pressure and he was eventually released. A cake in the face or a tree stump in the woods was an opportunity for laughs. [12], In early 1979, Heenan left the AWA (suspended one year, in storyline) to work in Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). 5 Wrestlers That Bobby Heenan Loved & 5 He Didn't, Bobby Heenan: 10 Backstage Stories About The Brain We Can't Believe, 10 Best Wrestlers Managed By Bobby Heenan Ranked. He instantly became the top interviewer for the promotion and in a lot of . 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. 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. Bobby Heenan found his knack, not as a wrestler, but as a manager, and became known as "the Brain". He was unsure at first, but accepted their offer once he found out that WCW provided lighter work schedules and health insurance. [12], Heenan's original plan was to retire, spend time with his family, and relax, but he was contacted by WCW soon after he left the WWF. Bruce Prichard, Jimmy Hart share their favorite Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan memories. And I cannot tell you how much I am suffering, LOL. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the best to ever do it. In December 2007, he underwent reconstructive jaw surgery and had to be placed in a medically induced coma. Heenan viewed Warrior as one of the most unprofessional and disrespectful people he ever encountered in the wrestling business. For the rest of the show, Heenan sat out in the crowd, accompanied by an armed security guard. Heenan, known for his sarcastic wit and . In addition to this, the mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett, declared December 5, 2009, to be "Bobby Heenan Day". ", RIP Bobby Heenan pic.twitter.com/ofqi6IJguD, Bubba Ray Dudley (@bullyray5150) September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan was great at all that he didManagerWrestlerAnnouncerHostThe BrainWeaselCelebrate his life on @WWENetwork1 of a kind pic.twitter.com/RdcVzUCmK4, Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) September 17, 2017. I suppose they wanted to balance out the heel/face ratio, but why hear Duggan and Hillbilly when you can hear "The Brain"? Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . Heenan also cited the short driving distance between WCW's home base of Atlanta and his daughter's school in Alabama. [12] In the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of falls. Evidently, McMahon instructed Heenan to create said havoc. Bobby Heenan was born Raymond Louis Heenan in Chicago, IL. Bobby Heenan was 73 years old and had been battling tongue and throat cancer since 2002. When it looks like the Rockers are going to bury the hatchet, Heenan confidently says, I told you so. Im just happy the last words I said to him were, "I love you Bobby. 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. 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. [18] A few months after that, he led Mr. 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. [34] In his last WWE appearance, he was one of the speakers for "Mr McMahon appreciation night" on the June 11, 2007 episode of Raw. We got to know each other and love each other. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. His comedic ability was praised by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who wrote that Heenan could have been a successful television actor. 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.". He seems like it might either have a seizure or fall out of his chair from laughing. RELATED: 10 Best Wrestlers Managed By Bobby Heenan Ranked. The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse The Body Ventura. [12] Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 (WWF changed its name to WWE in 2002) by Blackjack Lanza. September 19, 2017. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. Perfect, The Red Rooster, and The Brooklyn Brawler. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. Together they had a daughter, Jessica. In his later years, Heenan joined World Championship wrestling as a commentator and manager. In this promo he deftly rattles off insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the High Flyers. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. While he was always treated with great respect and reverence WWE, Bobby Heenan was looking to not only get off the road, but get insurance, and perhaps a pension plan. [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. The short stint of Bobby Heenan managing Ken Patera in WWE saw them failing to get along, even though they didnt have strong heat. Patera was one of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as his manager. Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes. Heenan is smooth here like, he was for so many years. The Ultimate Warrior - A war of words! No one ever did it better than the Wease. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. Heenan had stints managing Flair in both promotions as two of the greatest heels of all-time formed chemistry together. They had a different level of commitment for the business and approached life in very different ways. His presence made any wrestler, any gimmick seem more important. [12] In December 2009, Heenan was hospitalized after an examination of his rebuilt jaw found an infection that needed to be treated. He also made an appearance in the 1995 film Timemaster. He was known for having many comedic moments on TV broadcasts and pay-per-views alongside Gorilla Monsson and Okerlund. Even with how silly this concept is, "The Brain" sells it. But serving as a manager certainly wasnt the only role in which Bobby Heenan excelled in WWE. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Andre had Heenan roll around in a tub of grapes and Heenan denied that it was indicative of a failing relationship. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. [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. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was the best manager of all time. In addition to memorializing Monsoon, Heenan cracked jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars he managed and worked with over they years. 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. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. The disease took away his ability to speak, but what he'd . Numerous wrestling. Bobby The Brain Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. [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. 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. He managed some of the biggest names the business has ever known, none bigger than the legendary Andre the Giant. Give Bobby Heenan a single minute to work with and he will have it bursting with one liners. In an interview during WrestleMania V, Mean Gene comes ever so close to saying "balls" on live TV. Raymond Louis Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 1, 1944. 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. [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. Bobby Heenan was the greatest wrestling manager of all time and the funniest guy to sit at an announce table. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Vs. 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. The Tragic Death of WWE Hall of Famer Sensational Sherri Martel. During his time with WWA, Heenan also appeared in a number of other promotions in the Midwest, one of them being Verne Gagnes American Wrestling Association (AWA) in Minnesota, which is where he first used The Brain nickname in 1969. It was clear early in his career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones. Best Brain line: "Rolling around in grapes is very therapeutic.". 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. After the show, Heenan stated that he and Monsoon embraced each other and wept for over an hour in the hotel where they both were staying. 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. Doesn't think that the porn actress that was on the show was attractive. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. Best Brain line: "That guy you sit on his lap at the discount store, just out of detox.". Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. From there, Heenan managed some of wrestlings biggest stars and appeared on the TV screen with legends such as Andre the Giant. that he was the best manager of all time. WWE.com Another simple gag had Heenan allude to it being his last night on Nitro early in the show and then begin to shake his colleagues' hands in farewell. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [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. Fellow WWE commentator Jim Ross tweeted out the news first Sunday, saying. 5th December 2020 by Scott Keith. Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. 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. Throat cancer has tried to take away one of wrestling's great voices, but it can never touch these clips and these memories. Feel free to add your own jokes about how much better off he'd be had he been serious about leaving WCW. 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.. He was eventually brought out the coma slowly by doctors after a few months, but he was unable to speak. Just like his career, this tell-all has no holds barred. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. He was given an on-air farewell by Gorilla Monsoon on the December 6, 1993 edition of Monday Night Raw, broadcast from the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. [24], Heenan retired from managing in 1991 to become a full-time commentator. AWA All Star Wrestling, "Classic Moment of the Week" March 22, 2011, Video related to bobby the brain heenan dead: 5 fast facts you need to know, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan recalls the Superstars he managed during his 2004 Hall of Fame Speech, "The Brain" recalls managing "Superstar" Billy Graham, Sgt. He also replaced Ventura to team up with Monsoon on the syndicated All-Star Wrestling, which was replaced in the fall of 1986 with Wrestling Challenge. Heenan helped usher in a fresh perspective on storytelling that . He was the best ever at what he did. Heenan's line when Iron Sheik was slowly going to the ring was a classic: "By the time Iron Sheik gets to the ring it will be WrestleMania 38.". 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. Known for his quick wit and comedic ability, Heenan also served as a color commentator and is remembered for his on-screen repartee with Gorilla Monsoon. , Heenan sat out in the last few years of smoking cigarettes Celebrated! Your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies chemistry together way minecomic... Evidently, McMahon instructed Heenan to create said havoc but serving as a commentator and manager as hell pay-per-views. His career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones they made for an extended stay of... Should hire him moments, but they didnt have a seizure or fall out of the few who... 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Heenan was one of the few wrestlers he couldnt get along with so many years did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke had roll! An armed security guard either have a close relationship backstage either after nine! Offer once he found out that WCW provided lighter work schedules and insurance!