Whether you remember him from his days in the AWA, as the manager of legends like Mr. This was the first world tilte won by a protg of Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. In February 2001, Heenan did color commentary for the WOW Unleashed pay-per-view. 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. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. Nonetheless, Heenan crossed the line to managing sporadically. Had he done it years later during the Attitude Era, it would have gone unnoticed. Im just happy the last words I said to him were, "I love you Bobby. In 2010, he broke a hip and his shoulder in a fall that also fractured his pelvis. 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. Give Bobby Heenan a single minute to work with and he will have it bursting with one liners. [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. In December 2007, he had reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw and was placed into a medically-induced coma. 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? [30][6], On January 27, 1994, Heenan made his debut in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). [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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . 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. [7] In May 2016, he fell again and broke a hip. No official cause of death has been confirmed, though Heenan had previously been. Their banter and comic chemistry is sorely missed. The Weasel tore up the paper and spat on the kid. Andre enjoyed Heenan and used to hang out with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the big man. [6], After leaving WWA, Heenan announced he was now to be known as "The Brain" at his AWA debut in 1969. Born November 1, 1944 Died September 17, 2017 (72) Anderson admitted to releasing him but denied promising him indefinite employment. WWE WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan died on Sunday, the WWE confirmed, at the age of 73. Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. His comedic ability was praised by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who wrote that Heenan could have been a successful television actor. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bobby Heenan had his start in the Indianapolis based World Wrestling Association, over twenty years before Vince McMahon let everyone in on wrestling being entertainment. In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. Andre had Heenan roll around in a tub of grapes and Heenan denied that it was indicative of a failing relationship. 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. He was placed in a medically induced coma and was slowly brought out. Race was praised for being one of the toughest men in wrestling by Heenan. Best Brain line: "You sit like this on the little leather thing and these are called hoof holders.". Bobby Heenan managed Andre the Giant in WWE, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together. Brought in to be a commentator, Heenan made his debut with the company in January 1994 and replaced Jesse Ventura on WCW Saturday Night, also serving as lead color man for pay-per-views. Slaughter were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 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. One of Bobby Heenans last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE. 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. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. "[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. Our thoughts go out to the family of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. [12], In 1984, Heenan left AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Hogan complained for years about Heenan ruining his WCW heel turn by questioning which side Hulk was on when he walked to the ring to form the New World Order. From Humanoids To Ham-And-Eggers: Why Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan Is An American Icon. Heenan left WWE in 1993 with thoughts of retirement. The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. Simply put, the man was an absolute genius, not only as a manager but as a wrestler and color commentator as well. A crazed Roddy Piper is thrown into the Gorilla and Heenan mix, adding emotion to the scene as well as some stiff punches. September 19, 2017. But the memories of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan still live on, proving that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. Is there a commentator who could get that reaction other than "The Brain"? He is survived by one child and his wife, Cynthia. 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. Heenan went under the surgical knife once again in 2015 for an undisclosed issue, his longtime friend and colleague Mean Gene Okerlund tweeted. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. The legacy of Bobby Heenan sees him as arguably the greatest manager and color commentator in wrestling history. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). He passed away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer. 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. 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. To have cancer is already horrible enough. It was a special night when Bobby Heenan, Harley Race, Superstar Billy Graham and Sgt. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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. Ric Flair wins the Royal Rumble. Ray Stevens breaks Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's trophy, December 25, 1976. [10][11] Heenan was unharmed, but five people sitting ringside were injured, one of them critically. They had a different level of commitment for the business and approached life in very different ways. live on the air. [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], Heenan reformed the Heenan Family,[3] which over the years in the WWF would include Studd, "Olympic Strong Man" Ken Patera, "Playboy" Buddy Rose, "Mr. Warrior was stiff in the ring whenever working spots with Heenan and injured him on a few occasions. He was also one of the many managers that came out of the woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode. Heenan quickly made it much funnier by feigning the same goof. 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. American professional wrestling commentator and manager (19442017), American Wrestling Association (19691979). Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. I suppose they wanted to balance out the heel/face ratio, but why hear Duggan and Hillbilly when you can hear "The Brain"? Fooling everybody is pretty funny, but really his own reaction to the prank that makes this so priceless. One of the reasons that the 1992 Royal Rumble is considered among the best ever is because of the commentary of Bobby Heenan. Pro wrestling historian George Schire praised his in-ring ability, commenting: "Bobby was a good athlete flipping over the ropes, he could do it all. Dean Mitchell sent us this new photo of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Bobby Heenan was born Raymond Louis Heenan in Chicago, IL. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. Though it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own talk show was the right move. 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. Two guys walking around a museum and looking at horses, how's that entertainment? His cause of death was organ failure due to complications from the throat cancer that had been in remission since 2004. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. 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. Both books were co-written by Steve Anderson. Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. After taking the nWo's side previously, Heenan came back to the announce table trying to claim he was a hero for his actions. [12] He was later frequently paired with Tony Schiavone. Heenan had a preference for wrestlers like Flair who would work longer matches in the ring and talk even louder than him on the microphone. ", or a sarcastic, "Please! [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. Bobby Heenan reminded everyone how entertaining he was by sharing details of his career, including thanking Harley Race for their time working together. [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. 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. HH, Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) September 17, 2017, one of a kind. Bobby Heenan is widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time. If someone were to describe the scene to you, it'd sound boring. Perfect played well off Heenan, even if he was just laughing at Heenan's jokes. Bobby The Brain Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. [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. Luke and Brutus also signed. 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. He died on September 17, 2017. Like many WWE stars of the '80s, Bobby Heenan started out in Verne Gagne's AWA. His presence made any wrestler, any gimmick seem more important. Ole Anderson had an important role in the original version of The Four Horsemen, but he was still among the most hated men backstage. [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]. [7] In 1966, he wrestled his first match against Calvin "Prince" Pullins. 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. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! 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. on November 1, 1944. He replaced Jesse Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon. [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. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. [3], In 2004, he joined former WCW commentators Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko in providing commentary for the video game Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. RELATED: 10 Best Wrestlers Managed By Bobby Heenan Ranked. Just like his career, this tell-all has no holds barred. [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. [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. He died on September 17, 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. But with just that, Heenanfound a way to minecomic gold. [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? 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