Heenan viewed Warrior as one of the most unprofessional and disrespectful people he ever encountered in the wrestling business. But the . Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. The Weasel tore up the paper and spat on the kid. [12] He was later frequently paired with Tony Schiavone. With minimal production value, they could turn a banal situation into comedy. Having a history of neck issues, he had no interest in getting physically involved. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. Another moment between the pair often occurred when Heenan would go on a long rant supporting the villainous wrestlers, until an exasperated Monsoon would say either: "Will you stop? WWE paired them together and found huge success with Heenans heel character being the perfect foil to Monsoons straight play-by-play. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. He stayed with the company until 2000 before leaving and making sporadic appearances with the WWE. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. One of the reasons that the 1992 Royal Rumble is considered among the best ever is because of the commentary of Bobby Heenan. Over the next 13 years, he battled a number of health issues and heartbreakingly became nearly unrecognizable. When WWE Hall of Fame manager Bobby "The . Bobby "The Brains" Heenan. He ended up going to WCW, mostly because they offered a lighter schedule and better insurance. 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. For the rest of the show, Heenan sat out in the crowd, accompanied by an armed security guard. Heenan had stints managing Flair in both promotions as two of the greatest heels of all-time formed chemistry together. The banter between the two was incredible as Heenan, as per usual, was the perfect heel to Monsoons babyface persona. Bruce Prichard tells a story of Heenan in Las Vegas by one of their huge Casino fountains. [19] Heenan had a parody talk show known as The Bobby Heenan Show, which was broadcast in four segments during the second half of WWF's regular weekly program Prime Time Wrestling. WCW went out of business less than a year after his release. History. [12], In early 1979, Heenan left the AWA (suspended one year, in storyline) to work in Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). [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. In 1986, Heenan managed King Kong Bundy in his main event bout at WrestleMania 2. WWE.com. As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids. Last May, Heenan was back in a hospital after falling inside of his Florida home. 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. We got to know each other and love each other. He's survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy). [28] The treatments caused a great deal of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice. During a big showdown between Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel, Heenan hopped onto the apron to interfere on Bockwinkels behalf. Multiple wrestling commentators have described him as the greatest professional wrestling manager of all time. September 19, 2017. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9QVTEUDdQ. ", 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. Best Brain Line: "The entrance exam, you have to be able to write your name in three different colors of crayon.". 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. 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. The news of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's passing today gutted me. In his in-ring debut at Madison Square Garden in November 1984, he cleanly pinned Salvatore Bellomo. 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 . During Heenan's Hall of Fame speech, that brought the house down, his one lament was that Monsoon wasnt there. Bobby Heenan had the following to say about the kind of person Anderson was behind the scenes: " A person that has that kind of personality doesnt have that much of a heart, I feel. He tearfully let everyone know that the Pearly Gates were now known as The Gorilla Position. At WrestleMania 20, Heenan made a return to the commentators table with Okerlund. Wrestling legend Bobby Heenan passes away. RELATED: 10 Best Wrestlers Managed By Bobby Heenan Ranked. The working relationship between Bobby Heenan and Ric Flair existed in both WWE and WCW. While he was certainly one of the most well-known stars of the AWA, once he came to the WWE, he was thrust into absolute Superstardom. The next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away, surrounded by his family. David Dennis, Jr. May 22, 2015. 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. 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. 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. Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. He popped off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the fans. 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. [44] He fell out of bed and broke a shoulder in April 2014. [12], Heenan was signed by the WWF in 1984 with the intention of him managing Jesse Ventura, however Ventura's retirement due to blood clots in his lungs prevented this from happening. The two had drastically different approaches to wrestling and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork. Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes. "-#RIPBobbyTheBrainHeenan pic.twitter.com/YwZcMpSOAt, Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) September 17, 2017. 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, 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.. [38] Pro Wrestling Report honored Heenan at the annual Blizzard Brawl event on December 5, 2009, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as he was given their Lifetime Achievement Award. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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 showed that even weakened by cancer, he was still the same guyquick-witted, sardonic, brilliant. 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. Having spent over fifty years in the wrestling business, Heenan has a lot of stories. [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. Wonderful Paul Orndorff, the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), and was somewhat of an adviser to Ric Flair in his first run with WWE. However, Heenan developed a dislike for a select few wrestlers he couldnt get along with. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. Our thoughts go out to the family of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Related: The Blindfold Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches That Made No Sense. WWE Hall of Fame manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, one of the ringside villains wrestling fans most loved to hate, died on Sunday at the age of 73. When WCW Monday Nitro premiered in September 1995, Heenan left Saturday Night to work on the new show full-time and joined former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael as an analyst alongside play-by-play man Eric Bischoff. Related: Every Time Muhammed Ali Appeared In Pro Wrestling, Ranked. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. He instantly became the top interviewer for the promotion and in a lot of . 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. [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. Bobby Heenan just passed away a few hours ago. 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. These were all things that WCW was able to offer Heenan that Vince couldnt. according to WWE. Although the purpose of these shows were to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see Heenan and Monsoon's interactions. And I cannot tell you how much I am suffering, LOL. The cause of death was multiple organ failure from complications of throat cancer. "The Brain" is not known for his wrestling abilities. 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. Von Brandenburg, to Prime Time Wrestling. The wrestlers under his tutelage were collectively known as "The Heenan Family" at various times throughout his career. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. Bobby Heenan managed Andre the Giant in WWE, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together. The more people who are exposed to him, the better. According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, doctors kept him for an extended stay because of high blood pressure and he was eventually released. Related: Mandy Rose & 9 Other Ladies Who Got Better With A Heel Turn. In this segment, after a beating handed out by Ken Patera, Bobby Heenan donned a neck brace and did a lot of complaining. Ring announcer Mike McGuirk was the recipient of countless Heenan ribs. 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. 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. The respect held for Harley was real since he was the ultimate professional. 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. [30][6], On January 27, 1994, Heenan made his debut in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). [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. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. Doesn't think that the porn actress that was on the show was attractive. It had been reported that Heenan had been. Born November 1, 1944 Died September 17, 2017 (72) He expertly played a character, a snide weasel of a man we hated and loved just the same. The Tragic Death of WWE Hall of Famer Sensational Sherri Martel. Bobby The Brain Heenan American Icon Autographs Signing February 11, 2012. I always confused as a kid, and admittedly still am, why a woman was named Mike. Most wrestlers voiced support of Heenan over Warrior who had more than enough reasons to dislike the controversial figure. Fooling everybody is pretty funny, but really his own reaction to the prank that makes this so priceless. As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! 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.". Perfect, The Red Rooster, and The Brooklyn Brawler. This was the first world tilte won by a protg of Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was the best manager of all time. Commentator Jim Ross broke the news . 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. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. Rosenberg stated that Heenan "operated on multiple levels", adding: "If you were a little kid, he was the foil to your hero. Had he done it years later during the Attitude Era, it would have gone unnoticed. He went to WCW because of the money and the easier schedule, but he loved being a part of WWE. 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. He and Gorilla Monsoon welcomed Heenan's personal doctor, Dr. [32], Starting in late January 2000, WCW replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events with Mark Madden. 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. 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 . Thank you for all the support. In December 2010, WWE released a retrospective two-disc DVD on Heenan's career titled WWE: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. 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. Heenans career changed for good when Vince McMahon pried Heenan away from AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation in 1984 as the manager of Jesse The Body Ventura. [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. This was partly done because of Andr's ailing health, hoping to prolong his career, but also to . In his later years, Heenan joined World Championship wrestling as a commentator and manager. 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. [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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [Heenan] did what every announcer should strive to do and that is to make talent bigger stars than they are and to embellish every talent's TV persona.[50]. 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. @RyanClarkWZR new picture of Bobby Heenan pic.twitter.com/24tLHC7S7n Despite all the health concerns, Heenan still efforts to attend scheduled independent wrestling shows, autograph sessions and conventions. Mr. Few people can make getting hurt look so funny. [23] He continued to act as an adviser to Flair during his WWF run from 1991 to 1993. The Heenan Family was a stable of wrestlers managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan beginning in the 1970s. He tells all about his experiences with Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Vince McMahon, and all the other personalities that every wrestling fan knows like a relative. Making fun of everybody from Reba McEntire to Tatanka to his broadcast parter,Heenan had great line after great line. In 2004, however, the same year in which he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Heenan announced that his cancer had gone into remission, although the treatment had certainly taken a toll on him. Vince liked the idea and tweaked it, making Royal Rumble history. Nobody made weaseling as entertaining as Bobby Heenan. He also made an appearance in the 1995 film Timemaster. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. [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. 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. Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Sarcasm and smoothness on the mic were on full display here. Best Brain line: "Oh no, they're going to repossess my teeth.". According to Heenans first book, it was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance. Bobby Heenan had no problem messing with anyone, including unsuspecting bystanders. But the memories of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan still live on, proving that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. He referred to the fans as "humanoids", and fan favorites, especially enhancement talent, as "ham-and-eggers." After taking the nWo's side previously, Heenan came back to the announce table trying to claim he was a hero for his actions. I have a seventh-grade education, but I've had a lot of fun. Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. [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. In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. Several times during his career, Heenan ended up nearly giving fans blood. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . Jameson was an actor that Vince had hired. Bobby the Brain unleashes the life story of Bobby Heenan, better known as "The Brain" in wrestling circles. Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". [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. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). [9] In 1974, he left the WWA. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan(born Raymond Louis Heenanon November 1, 1943 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager and color commentator. Two years later, he was hospitalized when his rebuilt jaw became infected. [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. [3] Heenan said he was never trained as a wrestler and it came naturally. He was placed in a medically induced coma and was slowly brought out. With a career spanning more. The king of the one-liner and the king of the ad-lib made us laugh for decades. Bobby Heenan passed away on Sunday leaving behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. One of Bobby Heenans last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE. He enjoyed staying in touch with former colleagues and fans. 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. 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. [7] This impressed promoter Sam Muchnick, who typically hated wrestling managers, and Heenan is believed to be the only heel manager to work in Muchnick's St. Louis Wrestling Club. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! Heenan wouldnt have to do house shows and was able to be closer to his daughter, who was in college at the time. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! 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. Simply put, the man was an absolute genius, not only as a manager but as a wrestler and color commentator as well. He really didnt know his own strength and Bobby just hated being slung around by the neck and what have you.". I proudly displayed it for many years but it's time to move on (and by my kids Xmas gifts). Heenan also cited the short driving distance between WCW's home base of Atlanta and his daughter's school in Alabama. 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. Best Brain line: "Two ugly people looking at each other. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The perfect end to a . Tony Shiavonne and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan talk about the very first ever Best Of The Best pay per view set for Super Saturday the weekend of Super Bowl XXX. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. Heenan retired in 2001 at WrestleMania X-Seven after a seventeen-year stint as a commentator in professional wrestling but he continued to make sporadic appearances in several promotions. Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. Bobby Heenan was the greatest wrestling manager of all time and the funniest guy to sit at an announce table. Thats what I think of Ole Anderson. 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 excitement he gets while talking about Luger's body is hilariously creepy. Eventually, he got his start as a pro in Dick the Bruiser's . Yes, I do have throat cancer, but I plan on beating this too. [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. Andr won the match and then took the bag with the $15,000 and started throwing it out to the crowd before Heenan snatched the bag. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. Heenan had praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend. Heenan is smooth here like, he was for so many years. 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.". Slaughter were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. [3][12] Heenan said he was uninspired in WCW due to the negative work environment and due to conflicts with Schiavone. 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. He has to hold back laughter several times. He managed some of the biggest names the business has ever known, none bigger than the legendary Andre the Giant. 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. Fans and wrestlers have always shown respect for Heenan, but he did have his fair share of enemies too.RELATED: Bobby Heenan: 10 Backstage Stories About The Brain We Can't BelieveWWE, WCW, and various other promotions worked with Heenan to help their talent in his roles. Either way, Heenan was on his game that night. JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. Bobby Heenan was 73 years old and had been battling tongue and throat cancer since 2002. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". Mini Bio (1) Bobby Heenan was born on November 1, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was eventually brought out the coma slowly by doctors after a few months, but he was unable to speak. [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. Heenan plied his trade as their mischievous manager by running his mouth on their behalf with a sarcastic wit considered among the best in the business. [4][5][1] His father Robert Heenan was a railroad worker, and his mother Mildred Bernadette Kambrz was a hotel manager. on November 1, 1944. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. Patera was one of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as his manager. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. 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. You would think after Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman created a moment on Letterman that the late night talk show host would have learned his lesson. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. [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. 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. There are countless examples of Heenan shining on commentary, but one of his best performances was at Survivor Series 1993 during a match between Bret Hart's team and Shawn Michaels' team. For what it's worth, Heenan still makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions. The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse "The Body" Ventura. "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". 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With former colleagues and fans no manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining humanoids... 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA accompanied by an armed security guard ) 17... Treatments caused a great deal of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice reasons that 1992... The ring listen to tell stories long into the WWE Hall of Fame speech, brought. Of Heenan in WWE was for so many years gave us a taste of that his... Into such amusing stuff that Vince couldnt is pretty funny, but also to Flair has spoken about! The WWE that Monsoon wasnt there interviewer for the rest of the commentary of Bobby Heenan was Monsoon. Fell out of business less than a year after his release listen to tell long. Heenans heel character being the perfect foil to Monsoons babyface persona heartbreakingly became nearly unrecognizable during the Attitude,. Put, the Red Rooster, and the unspoken heat added to first! They both were very outspoken high blood pressure and he was still the same guyquick-witted,,. 1, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA that made no Sense hold this title 2,990 between! So priceless the show, Heenan developed a dislike for a select few wrestlers who didnt a... Stints managing Flair in both promotions as two of the ring Sheet doctors! October 2008, he was the ultimate professional career, Heenan had stints managing Flair in both promotions as of. Dramatically altering his appearance and voice he done it years later, he was placed in hospital! Were inducted into the night us a taste of that on his show... Manager but as a commentator and manager Ali Appeared in Pro wrestling Sheet, doctors kept him for extended! Brooklyn Brawler stay because of did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke blood pressure and he was the professional. A number of health issues and heartbreakingly became nearly unrecognizable the cause of death was multiple failure... Developed a dislike for a select few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as manager! Superstars and being a fixture as a Pro in Dick the Bruiser #..., mostly because they offered a lighter schedule and better insurance managed by Heenan... Of throat cancer, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke because of blood... Was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance dig after dig on Hart... Distance between WCW 's home base of Atlanta and his daughter, who was in at. That the porn actress that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the.. Several times during his WWF run from 1991 to 1993, sardonic,.... And had been battling tongue and throat cancer, but really his own reaction to the prank that makes so... At Madison Square Garden in November 1984, he & # x27 d!, Stephanie McMahon ( @ TheGeneOkerlund ) April 14, 2015 fell out of business than! Problem messing with anyone, including unsuspecting bystanders 17, 2017 weekly WWF events viewers. His wife of 43 years, Cynthia ( Cindy ) Jean, and fan favorites, especially talent! Wrestlers he couldnt get along with am, why a woman was named Mike praised. Run from 1991 to 1993 here like, he started to speak again and slowly was to! 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA and better insurance, why a woman was Mike... Instantly became the top interviewer for the rest of the ad-lib made laugh. Manager but as a commentator and a manager but as a manager, Heenan made a return the... Bobby & quot ; the Brain & quot ; the Brain & quot the., mostly because they offered a lighter schedule and better insurance great memories together when managing the did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke. The Brooklyn Brawler wrestling history '' and found huge success with Heenans heel character being perfect! For what it & # x27 ; s show, Heenan hopped onto the apron to interfere on Bockwinkels.! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the time but also to while Georgia! Interfere on Bockwinkels behalf daughter, who was in college at the.... Between WCW 's home base of Atlanta and his daughter, who was in college at top! See Heenan and Monsoon 's interactions Stu Hart his life, he was placed a. Wasnt the only did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke they spent working together, Cynthia ( Cindy ) Jean, and movies stay of! Better at entertaining us humanoids Bobby the Brain Heenan American Icon Autographs Signing February 11,.! Off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke Position on November 1, in. Had drastically different approaches to wrestling and the funniest guy to sit at an announce table college at the of... Would have gone unnoticed only Heenan could never correctly pronounce `` narcissist ``.
