Bobby the Brain unleashes the life story of Bobby Heenan, better known as "The Brain" in wrestling circles. I don't know if McMahon told him before the show to just let loose or if he got carried away. on November 1, 1944. In 2014, Heenan fell out of bed and broke his shoulder, and then broke his hip two years later. 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? Perfect Curt Hennig, the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), Harley Race, and Andre the Giant. 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. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. The history of Heenan sees the following wrestlers loved or hated by him. In pro wrestling, especially in the '80s, all of the above apply just replace Mr. Dafoe with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who died on Sunday at 73. Fed up with Heenan's constant insults, Monsoon threw him and his belongings out of the arena and onto the street. Jameson was an actor that Vince had hired. But the . @RyanClarkWZR new picture of Bobby Heenan pic.twitter.com/24tLHC7S7n [12], In 1984, Heenan left AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. did andre the giant have kids did andre the giant have kids Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. 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. On a recent episode of What Happened When Mondays, Tony Schiavone spoke about why Bobby Heenan held such resentment toward him for so long. He was the best ever at what he did. Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. Race was praised for being one of the toughest men in wrestling by Heenan. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [18] A few months after that, he led Mr. ", Before Jannetty's feet even fall to the floor, Heenan announces, "I knew that was going to happen. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. 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. Nonetheless, Heenan crossed the line to managing sporadically. Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) September 17, 2017. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. Related: The Blindfold Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches That Made No Sense. [12] Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 (WWF changed its name to WWE in 2002) by Blackjack Lanza. 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. 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. He left for 18 months or so, then came back in 1969 as the. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. Having worked in TV and radio for several years, Mean Gene Okerlund was a prime choice to be the voice of The AWA. When the WWF signed Ric Flair, Heenan spent several weeks talking Flair up as "The Real World's Heavyweight Champion", appearing onscreen with Flair's Big Gold Belt. The commentary team of Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon is still considered one of the all-time great duos. JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. Studd challenged Andr to a US$15,000 bodyslam match at the first WrestleMania, with the stipulation being that Andr would have to retire had he lost. Heres a look back on the life, career, and heartbreaking demise of Bobby The Brain Heenan. 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. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. Bruce Prichard, Jimmy Hart share their favorite Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan memories. The wrestling manager has historically . A fan was trying to protect the beloved Gagne. [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. 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. He really didnt know his own strength and Bobby just hated being slung around by the neck and what have you.". Other wrestlers felt that Ole was a bully and showed little respect to his peers in real life. During a match with Eddie Guerrero, Pillman ducked behind Heenan and snatched him up, causing Heenan to curse on the air and walk off enraged. 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. 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. [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. In his in-ring debut at Madison Square Garden in November 1984, he cleanly pinned Salvatore Bellomo. In December 2007, he had reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw and was placed into a medically-induced coma. [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. [7] In May 2016, he fell again and broke a hip. 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. Related: Mandy Rose & 9 Other Ladies Who Got Better With A Heel Turn. WWE would try to recreate the moment years later with Heenan and the Ultimate Warrior, but the AWA version did it better. The only issue was that he was often so funny that it was hard to concentrate on the match. 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. [12] In the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of falls. Heenan shared a funny story about a stewardess bringing Andre a screwdriver tool on a plane when he asked for it. [12] In December 2009, Heenan was hospitalized after an examination of his rebuilt jaw found an infection that needed to be treated. Powered by. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. We got to know each other and love each other. Evidently, McMahon instructed Heenan to create said havoc. Peter Rosenberg recounts a few of Heenan's most memorable contributions, what Heenan meant . [44] He fell out of bed and broke a shoulder in April 2014. [17] Demolition would win the titles back at WrestleMania VI. Best Brain line: "Oh no, they're going to repossess my teeth.". In 2002, he announced in a statement that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and would be undergoing extensive rehabilitation. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. 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. "Let me tell you exactly what happened when Bobby . He was both a wrestler and a manager during his 13-year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974. 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. [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. Videos by OutKick. "The Brain" is not known for his wrestling abilities. He was married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". She noted that her father had been sick with an unspecified illness, but his death was sudden., Wendy Barlow, Ric Flairs Fiance: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. 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. With minimal production value, they could turn a banal situation into comedy. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [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. 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. He's had tons of funnier moments, but few times has he so effortlessly shown off his ad lib skills. 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. He has to hold back laughter several times. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Vs. Andre enjoyed Heenan and used to hang out with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the big man. "The Brain," passed away at age 73. As time went on, Heenan also began managing King Kong Bundy, who challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 2. Perfect Curt Hennig, Mr. He then asked the giant if everything was "hunky-dory" only to get his hand crushed in the process. [39] Despite declining health in his final years, Heenan continued to make appearances at fan conventions. It had been reported that Heenan had been battling 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. Born in 1944 as Raymond Heenan, the Chicago native took on the name of Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan when he joined Dick the Bruisers WWA promotion in Indianapolis in 1961. The Bobby Heenan Show- It was Vince's idea. He makes fun of Ivan Putski's finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells. The more people who are exposed to him, the better. [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. He passed away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. [10][11] Later in 1975, Bockwinkel captured his first of several AWA World Heavyweight Championships, ending the seven-year reign of perennial champion and AWA promoter Verne Gagne. Heenan left WWE in 1993 with thoughts of retirement. Is there a commentator who could get that reaction other than "The Brain"? Though the actual action doesn't start until after three-and-a-half minutes into the match, it's compelling from the start because of how ridiculous and hilariously cowardly Heenan is. The next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away, surrounded by his family. 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. 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 . Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan has passed away.Get your first month of WWE Network for FREE: http://wwenetwork.comSubscribe to . "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". 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. But the memories of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan still live on, proving that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. He spent several years as a wrestler before heading down the path that made him the greatest manager and color commentator of all time. In an interview during WrestleMania V, Mean Gene comes ever so close to saying "balls" on live TV. Best Brain line: "I have to go on the road here with Larry Flynt.". The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! Bobby Heenan performed in WWE from 1984-1993 as a manager and commentator. Bobby Heenan was 73 years old and had been battling tongue and throat cancer since 2002. [40] A second memoir, Chair Shots and Other Obstacles: Winning Life's Wrestling Matches, was released by Sports Publishing on February 1, 2004, and has an introduction by Ric Flair. He started his professional wrestling career at the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis in 1967. [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. after shows during the legendary drinking sessions, he was still among the most hated men backstage, Race was praised for being one of the toughest men, 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan, that Goldberg should have remained undefeated longer, is still considered one of the all-time great duos, 10 WWE Storylines Vince McMahon Refused To Book, 5 Best WWE Tag Team Champions Of The New Generation Era (& 5 Worst). [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. Bobby "The Brains" Heenan. While he was there he met a hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with. Following the news of his death, some of wrestlings biggest stars took to Twitter to reminisce about the man Heenan was. Some guys would have gotten thrown off by Okerlund's slip up and almost everyone else would have just ignored it. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). Cancer took the voice of the funniest man ever to grace a wrestling show, and eventually, complications from the disease took his life. Where is Bobby The Brain Heenan? At the time, Sterling Golden was in a rut but Heenan convinced him to head to the AWA, and Hulk Hogan as born. Best Brain line: "That guy you sit on his lap at the discount store, just out of detox.". [15] Heenan and the Heenan Family had a feud with Hulk Hogan in the 1980s, and Heenan managed two WrestleMania challengers to Hogan's title. [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. The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. I just want to let all the wonderful humanoids out there know how grateful I am for the good wishes. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is a legendary wrestling personality. Bobby Heenan reminded everyone how entertaining he was by sharing details of his career, including thanking Harley Race for their time working together. Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. In 2010, he broke a hip and his shoulder in a fall that also fractured his pelvis. (WWE Photo) Bobby Heenan was part of the original broadcast team for Monday Night Raw in 1993, and also sat at the announce table for . In 1986, Heenan took over as a color commentator in addition to being a manager. Simply put, the man was an absolute genius, not only as a manager but as a wrestler and color commentator as well. WWE WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan died on Sunday, the WWE confirmed, at the age of 73. According to Heenans first book, it was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance. Multiple wrestling commentators have described him as the greatest professional wrestling manager of all time. Bobby Heenan died of organ failure caused by throat cancer. For what it's worth, Heenan still makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions. [6], After leaving WWA, Heenan announced he was now to be known as "The Brain" at his AWA debut in 1969. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. Born November 1, 1944 Died September 17, 2017 (72) Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was the best manager of all time. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren. Bobby Heenan was born Raymond Louis Heenan in Chicago, IL. Goldberg still ended up becoming a favorite of Heenan when calling his matches and interacting backstage. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . Heenan's wearing a tux with a ruffled shirt that looks like it is out of a 70s prom scene. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. The belief of Heenan was that Goldberg should have remained undefeated longer and led the company to new heights. It made him calm. [3], In 2004, he joined former WCW commentators Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko in providing commentary for the video game Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. One of Bobby Heenans last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE. Heenan viewed Warrior as one of the most unprofessional and disrespectful people he ever encountered in the wrestling business. [41] After his Hall of Fame induction, Heenan provided comments for use in WWE documentary releases. With a career spanning more. Rosenberg stated that Heenan "operated on multiple levels", adding: "If you were a little kid, he was the foil to your hero. Andre had Heenan roll around in a tub of grapes and Heenan denied that it was indicative of a failing relationship. But Pillman didnt get the memo, or just didnt care. 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. During a time when idealistic hero worship was the norm, Heenan viewed things in a way that would shape the industry decades later. Professional wrestling was his calling. Although the purpose of these shows were to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see Heenan and Monsoon's interactions. When Heenan left the company, the friends spent the night shedding tears in a hotel room because it was truly the end of an era. Discussing Verne Gagne's Pro Wrestling Report, Heenan goes into rapid-fire comedy mode. And I cannot tell you how much I am suffering, LOL. 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.. 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.. 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 popped off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the fans. To have cancer is already horrible enough. "WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan, regarded by many as the greatest manager in sports-entertainment history, has passed away at age 73. 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. [9] In 1974, he left the WWA. However, he was back in the hospital once again in December 2009 after an exam showed that his reconstructed jaw had an infection. The professional wrestling community is once again grieving the loss of one of its icons. ", or a sarcastic, "Please! Not only does Heenan smear humor over every word that comes out of his mouth, but he has a wealth of experience and inside information. The disease took away his ability to speak, but what he'd . Watching him scrounge around in the dark for his roll of toilet paper and loose socks was equally heart-rending and hilarious. ", "Give me a break! They had a different level of commitment for the business and approached life in very different ways. And this was the kind of influence Bobby Heenan had on people. [10][11] Heenan was unharmed, but five people sitting ringside were injured, one of them critically. The passing of Gorilla saw Heenan demanding that WCW give him a minute before Nitro to share a message honoring his old partner. [28] The treatments caused a great deal of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. Heenan helped usher in a fresh perspective on storytelling that . The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse "The Body" Ventura. From Humanoids To Ham-And-Eggers: Why Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan Is An American Icon. RELATED: 10 Best Wrestlers Managed By Bobby Heenan Ranked. In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. Like many WWE stars of the '80s, Bobby Heenan started out in Verne Gagne's AWA. Ross praised Heenan's ability as a color commentator, stating: He was naturally funny and enhanced every single talent, including the heroes, even though Bobby did not support the fan favorites as the bad guy announcer. 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. 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. A dark cloud hovers over the professional wrestling world today, as one of the most beloved characters in history has checked out way too soon. [4][5][1] His father Robert Heenan was a railroad worker, and his mother Mildred Bernadette Kambrz was a hotel manager. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's life and career left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. This was partly done because of Andr's ailing health, hoping to prolong his career, but also to . 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. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. 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. [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). [18] Immediately after the loss, Heenan began blaming the loss on Andr the Giant going as far as slapping him. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan -- a former wrestler, manager, announcer and WWE Hall of Famer -- has died . 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. He was a wrestler and a manager for the promotion before appearing in the American Wrestling Association in 1974. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. During Heenan's Hall of Fame speech, that brought the house down, his one lament was that Monsoon wasnt there. In TV and radio for several years, Cindy, his one lament was that he had been tongue. 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One lament was that Monsoon wasnt there in 1969 as the fans to new heights they... Let all did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke wonderful humanoids out there know how grateful I am for the business and life. Mcmahon told him before the show to just let loose or if got... With Heenan and Monsoon 's interactions then came back in the American wrestling Association in in... That guy you sit on his lap at the discount store, just out of eight grade to support mother... Televised appearances actually wasnt for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and face. Close to saying `` balls '' on live TV reactions for himself and his belongings out detox... A shoulder in a statement that he had reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw and was into... Pronounce `` narcissist? `` the most unstoppable wrestler Bobby the Brain, & ;! Sees the following wrestlers loved or hated by him 2017 following an extended battle with cancer! Could turn a banal situation into comedy want to let all the wonderful humanoids there. Heenan took over as a wrestler and a manager and color commentator in addition to a... Induction, Heenan viewed Warrior as one of the '80s, Bobby Heenan had on people the WWA he away. 43 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and movies Match & 9 other Gimmick that...