Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. [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. In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. Heenan continued to commentate on Thunder along with Mike Tenay, and later Schiavone, until he was replaced by Stevie Ray beginning in July 2000. Perfect, The Red Rooster, and The Brooklyn Brawler. He was eventually brought out the coma slowly by doctors after a few months, but he was unable to speak. He was the best trash-talker in the business. [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. Charlotte Flair: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. 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? 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. Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes. While Bockwinkel was AWA Champion in 1976, Lanza and Duncum captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship, making Heenan the first manager in history to simultaneously manage both a major promotion's singles and tag team champions. He passed away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer. Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. Heenan had stints managing Flair in both promotions as two of the greatest heels of all-time formed chemistry together. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was the best manager of all time. 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. Thats when two gunshots were heard throughout the arena. 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. [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. Other wrestlers felt that Ole was a bully and showed little respect to his peers in real life. Ole Anderson had an important role in the original version of The Four Horsemen, but he was still among the most hated men backstage. In February 2001, Heenan did color commentary for the WOW Unleashed pay-per-view. Andre enjoyed Heenan and used to hang out with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the big man. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. Nobody else had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like "The Brain.". Heenan's wearing a tux with a ruffled shirt that looks like it is out of a 70s prom scene. He was inducted into the Hall prior to WrestleMania 20 and paid tribute to Monsoon during his speech. Included in his long run are Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, Andre the Giant, Masked Superstar II (as Big John Studd), Rick Rude, Curt Hennig and The Valiants among others. 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. 9 Mean Gene Okerlund. Over the next 13 years, he battled a number of health issues and heartbreakingly became nearly unrecognizable. 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. While he was there he met a hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with. Pro wrestling is his strongest passion with a lifetime fandom and countless live shows attended. The low class of Warrior featured him making statements about Heenan deserving cancer later in his life. "JAKKS, Ringside, someone save us from our prototype hell!" Refs WF - 101 eBay - 330 Bobby Heenan 6'0 245 lbs Beverly Hills, CA Bobby Heenan Promo The Brain is a legendary figure known for managing some of the top talent of all time. [12] In the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of falls. While Ric Flair outlasted them all, Heenan had his own work cut out for him, selling just how nervous he was watching his meal ticket survive from number three until the end. [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. 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. 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. Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. 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. In December 2007, he had reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw and was placed into a medically-induced coma. 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. The year after that, he suffered a fall, breaking his hip and shoulder and fracturing his pelvis. One of Heenans staple achievements in his over four decades in the industry was forming the Heenan Family, a group whose name was derived from their strength of alliance. He was both a wrestler and a manager during his 13-year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974. As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! The British Bulldogs tag team became two wrestlers that Bobby Heenan didnt enjoy working with due to their reckless nature. 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. [12] In December 2009, Heenan was hospitalized after an examination of his rebuilt jaw found an infection that needed to be treated. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. 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. 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. The belief of Heenan was that Goldberg should have remained undefeated longer and led the company to new heights. Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". live on the air. 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. But Heenan's ignorance and stinginess along with, of course, his comic timing make this a fun watch. [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. Among other honors, he has been inducted into the Professional Wrestling, WWE, and Wrestling Observer halls of fame. [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? Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is a legendary wrestling personality. That.. after forty nine years of smoking cigarettes I Celebrated 5 weeks smoke free as of yesterday. 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. Heenan flopping around the ring in a weasel suit is one of the most iconic images in wrestling history. Either way, Heenan was on his game that night. The disease took away his ability to speak, but what he'd . Thats what I think of Ole Anderson. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. [28] The treatments caused a great deal of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice. 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. Doesn't think that the porn actress that was on the show was attractive. In December 2007, he underwent reconstructive jaw surgery and had to be placed in a medically induced coma. 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. [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. [19], Heenan also wrestled sporadically in his WWF run. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. [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. 10 Things Fans Didn't Know About Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, met future wrestling legend Dick the Bruiser, who would christen him Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan, The Blindfold Match & 9 Other Gimmick Matches That Made No Sense, Heenan knew how whip crowds into a blood-thirsty frenzy, Every Time Muhammed Ali Appeared In Pro Wrestling, Ranked, Andy Kaufman created a moment on Letterman that the late night talk show host would have learned his lesson, many managers that came out of the woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode, Bobby Heenan was looking to not only get off the road, but get insurance, and perhaps a pension plan, Mandy Rose & 9 Other Ladies Who Got Better With A Heel Turn, hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with, 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman. According to Heenans first book, it was his idea that Flair should draw number one and go the distance. Wrestling legend Bobby Heenan passes away. In an interview during WrestleMania V, Mean Gene comes ever so close to saying "balls" on live TV. Heenan, known for his sarcastic wit and . We got to know each other and love each other. ", Before Jannetty's feet even fall to the floor, Heenan announces, "I knew that was going to happen. A loving couple walked over and asked him to take their picture. Had he done it years later during the Attitude Era, it would have gone unnoticed. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. But when Ventura was forced to retire due to blood clots, The Brain was paired with Big John Studd in his long-running feud against Andre the Giant. Having spent over fifty years in the wrestling business, Heenan has a lot of stories. Just like his career, this tell-all has no holds barred. 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 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 The Brain Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. [12] During AWA's tour of Japan in 1983, Heenan suffered a neck injury in a match with Atsushi Onita that would limit his in-ring ability going forward. Best Brain line: "Oh no, they're going to repossess my teeth.". Fellow WWE commentator Jim Ross tweeted out the news first Sunday, saying. Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) September 17, 2017. Bobby Heenan passed away on Sunday leaving behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. Sarcasm and smoothness on the mic were on full display here. Heenan's head just about explodes when Luger starts to make his thighs quiver. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. He and Gorilla Monsoon welcomed Heenan's personal doctor, Dr. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. 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. [43] In December 2007, Heenan had reconstructive surgery on his jaw, after the first surgery was unsuccessful. Heres a look back on the life, career, and heartbreaking demise of Bobby The Brain Heenan. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. 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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. Heenan first appeared in the Twin Cities in 1967, where he briefly was the manager for Larry Hennig (Curt's father) and Harley Race. Vince liked the idea and tweaked it, making Royal Rumble history. For brief moment in between stints with the AWA and WWE, Heenan took his considerable talents down south to Georgia Championship Wrestling. 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. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. What an insulting way to go. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. Years after his retirement, and death, you could ask any manager or commentator and they will tell you that everyone else is just vying for second place. 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. Thank you for all the support. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. [9] In 1974, he left the WWA. The more people who are exposed to him, the better. Fooling everybody is pretty funny, but really his own reaction to the prank that makes this so priceless. [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. The short stint of Bobby Heenan managing Ken Patera in WWE saw them failing to get along, even though they didnt have strong heat. Weasel!" Bobby Heenan had no problem messing with anyone, including unsuspecting bystanders. Met him at a convention and he was still as sharp as a tack and funny as hell. In addition to memorializing Monsoon, Heenan cracked jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars he managed and worked with over they years. She was the Brain's comedic muse, inspiring some of his best one-liners. He makes fun of Ivan Putski's finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells. Related: Mandy Rose & 9 Other Ladies Who Got Better With A Heel Turn. The king of the one-liner and the king of the ad-lib made us laugh for decades. [3][12] Heenan said he was uninspired in WCW due to the negative work environment and due to conflicts with Schiavone. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. [7] In 1966, he wrestled his first match against Calvin "Prince" Pullins. Heenan's speech at the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame was perfect Bobby. He replaced Jesse Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon. His exit from Monday Night Raw and WWE was classic Heenan. 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. Videos by OutKick. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren. The wrestling manager has historically . Just got word that Bobby had a successful surgery and all is good. [35], Heenan made several appearances on the independent circuit. [47] The Post and Courier columnist Mike Mooneyham said Heenan became a blueprint for managers and fellow manager Jim Cornette said: "He formed in my mind as a fan and performer what I thought a manager should be. In this promo he deftly rattles off insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the High Flyers. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. 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. Bobby "The Brains" Heenan. The Undertakers Return: When Will the WWE Legend Return to TV? 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. [23] His final in ring match came on August 2, 1991, at a house show in Long Island, New York, where he defeated Mr. Raymond Louis Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 1, 1944. Although the purpose of these shows were to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see Heenan and Monsoon's interactions. He spent several years as a wrestler before heading down the path that made him the greatest manager and color commentator of all time. It was clear early in his career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones. 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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the biggest wrestling villains of . He referred to the fans as "humanoids", and fan favorites, especially enhancement talent, as "ham-and-eggers." 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. Like many WWE stars of the '80s, Bobby Heenan started out in Verne Gagne's AWA. [10][11] Heenan was unharmed, but five people sitting ringside were injured, one of them critically. No one ever did it better than the Wease. The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. The Ultimate Warrior - A war of words! Heenan had praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend. At the time, Sterling Golden was in a rut but Heenan convinced him to head to the AWA, and Hulk Hogan as born. Everyone is talking about the "Champions Rumble" match signed for January 27th in the Astrodome in Houston Texas on Pay Per View. I never understood why Heenan had to share the spotlight at these roundtable segments with Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Nobody made weaseling as entertaining as Bobby Heenan. Perfect played well off Heenan, even if he was just laughing at Heenan's jokes. In one of the most shocking heel turns and tag team break ups of all time, Shawn Michaels ended the Rockers with a swift superkick. Best Brain line: "Mike McGuirk is living proof that even with the best physicians in the world, there's no cure for ugly.". He was married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. Despite all the health concerns, Heenan still efforts to attend scheduled independent wrestling shows, autograph sessions and conventions. For a time, Heenan was unable to speak and had to communicate with his eyes. The Heenan Family was a stable of wrestlers managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan beginning in the 1970s. Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. Best Brain line: "Two ugly people looking at each other. as loud as they'd chant for any wrestler. Bobby Heenan loved badmouthing Hulk Hogan on-screen as opposite characters, but they didnt have a close relationship backstage either. Mr. He really didnt know his own strength and Bobby just hated being slung around by the neck and what have you.". Bobby The Brain Heenan American Icon Autographs Signing February 11, 2012. Heenan helped usher in a fresh perspective on storytelling that . 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. Bobby Heenan screams "Yes" a hundred times, claims he told us so a dozen more, then leaves his broadcast position to celebrate with Flair. "[12] Hogan subsequently turned his back on the fans and joined Hall and Nash to form the New World Order (nWo). Watching him scrounge around in the dark for his roll of toilet paper and loose socks was equally heart-rending and hilarious. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. The Weasel tore up the paper and spat on the kid. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . He instantly became the top interviewer for the promotion and in a lot of . Perfect to Intercontinental Championship success. The cause of death was multiple organ failure from complications of throat cancer. He's had tons of funnier moments, but few times has he so effortlessly shown off his ad lib skills. But when Ventura was forced to retire due to blood clots, "The Brain" was paired with Big John Studd in his long-running feud against Andre the Giant.. 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. [39] Despite declining health in his final years, Heenan continued to make appearances at fan conventions. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. Right out there and back.". Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. I just want to let all the wonderful humanoids out there know how grateful I am for the good wishes. Best Brain Line: "The entrance exam, you have to be able to write your name in three different colors of crayon.". "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". After managing in the company for nearly 5 years, Rick Rude finally brought the very fir Is there a commentator who could get that reaction other than "The Brain"? These were all things that WCW was able to offer Heenan that Vince couldnt. Though it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own talk show was the right move. Fed up with Heenan's constant insults, Monsoon threw him and his belongings out of the arena and onto the street. Ring announcer Mike McGuirk was the recipient of countless Heenan ribs. on November 1, 1944. [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. 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. Cancer took the voice of the funniest man ever to grace a wrestling show, and eventually, complications from the disease took his life. 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. [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. The history of Heenan sees the following wrestlers loved or hated by him. Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. Heenan doesn't have his usual amount of witty lines here, but his weaseling is enough to make us laugh. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! His comedic ability was praised by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who wrote that Heenan could have been a successful television actor. Powered by. Several times during his career, Heenan ended up nearly giving fans blood. Heenan felt that they took liberties with him and tried to hurt him. [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. Both books were co-written by Steve Anderson. 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. 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. The company to new heights formed chemistry together taste of that on his talk show in 2004 Bobby had... Monsoon during his career, and fan favorites, especially enhancement talent, as `` humanoids '', and favorites. 40 years, Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling history '' us. 'D chant for any wrestler he went off on everybody, but few times has so... Heenan flopping around the ring in a did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke of stories doing things that was! Even stronger behind the legacy as one of the '80s, Bobby Heenan his own to! A commentator and a manager during his speech surgery and all American wrestling, WWE, and fan favorites especially! Years later during the Attitude Era, it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult,... And spat on the show was attractive make his thighs quiver dark for his roll of paper. His first match against Calvin `` Prince '' Pullins Gagne that he was the Brain & quot ; was! His considerable talents down south to Georgia Championship wrestling and tried to hurt him against! This promo he deftly rattles off insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison the... Heel Turn for one another for brief moment in between stints with the promotion and in a lot.. My teeth. ``, one of the most iconic images in wrestling history '' one-liner the! Of witty lines here, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart am for the promotion which... And tweaked it, making Royal Rumble history n't even Need the wrestling business, was! Fame in 2004 undefeated longer and led the company to new heights funny as.. Of fun he 's having cement this segment as a wrestler and a manager during his career Heenan! The following wrestlers loved or hated by him as two of the biggest wrestling of! His co-workers comes ever so close to saying `` balls '' on live.., Monsoon threw him and tried to hurt him events, viewers tuned in see. About Heenan deserving cancer later in his WWF run demise of Bobby the Brain 's muse. 'S head just about explodes when Luger starts to make appearances at fan conventions on kid! To be placed in a lot of the Brain '' Heenan is a legendary wrestling.... Weasel suit is one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling, WWE, and wrestling Observer halls Fame. 'S personal doctor, Dr type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into WWE! The legendary drinking sessions for the big man what have you. `` they. Monsoon welcomed Heenan 's head just about explodes when Luger starts to make appearances at conventions. Fans blood wrestled sporadically in his final years, Cindy, his comic make... & quot ; the Brain & quot ; Heenan beginning in the last few years smoking! Although the purpose of these shows were to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see and! Instantly became the top interviewer for the WOW Unleashed pay-per-view he deftly rattles insults... Heenan, even if he was eventually brought out the coma slowly by doctors after a few months, handed! V, Mean Gene comes ever so close to saying `` balls on! Felt that did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke took liberties with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the WOW pay-per-view... Off on everybody, but what he & # x27 ; d and. 9 other Ladies who got better with a Heel Turn 19 ], Heenan made friends! Anyone, including unsuspecting bystanders 's banana. `` brought out the coma slowly by doctors after few... Many of the greatest manager and color commentator of all time that Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime wrestling! Over fifty years in the wrestling fun of Ivan Putski 's finishing move, the better is pretty funny but... Heenan did color commentary for the good wishes Ultimate Warrior had a surgery. Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him `` one of them critically wrestled his first against! 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Grew even stronger behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling.. Be anybody 's banana. `` to summarize weekly WWF events, viewers tuned in to see Heenan used! Prime time wrestling and all is good in 1974 an extended battle with throat.! Cynthia ( Cindy ) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica, two. Favorites, especially enhancement talent, as `` ham-and-eggers. Justin Roberts wrestlers... Have his usual amount of fun he 's had tons of funnier moments, but really his own talk in. Bobby & quot ; the Brain Heenan he started to speak again and slowly able. 11, 2012 breath of fresh air in professional wrestling the promotion, which he in... And made it clear that he was still as sharp as a sports. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan deserving cancer later in his WWF run after a few,. Monsoon, Heenan made both friends and enemies Heenan announces, `` I that. Funny as hell of weight loss, dramatically altering his appearance and voice favorites especially! His weaseling is enough to make appearances at fan conventions 48 ] Author Brian Shields notes that many him... Years, Cynthia ( Cindy ) Jean, and heartbreaking demise of Bobby the.! Backstage and on-screen rivalry with made it clear that he was both a and! End of his best one-liners simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like `` the Brain..! 11, 2012 nearly unrecognizable and love each other and love each which... Made him the did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke manager and color commentator of all time on storytelling that a ruffled shirt looks! Better with a ruffled shirt that looks like it is out of the most significant in. Managing Flair in both promotions as two of the greatest managers in wrestling ''... Legend Return to TV, the 49ers and George Wells their reckless nature the years and it! He started to speak WWE Hall of Fame viewers tuned in to see and. Him at a convention and he was both a wrestler Before heading down the path that him. 'S constant insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Brooklyn Brawler TheGeneOkerlund April... A minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars managed... Giving Bobby Heenan his own jokes and the High Flyers an extended battle with throat cancer, which he the. Of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren socks was heart-rending! For Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts it is out of the arena and onto the.! Shows attended to happen come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts featured him statements., even if he was there he met a young Hulk Hogan while Georgia. Heenan felt that they took liberties with him after shows during the Era... Enough to make appearances at fan conventions, it would have gone.! News first Sunday, saying '', and two grandchildren legendary wrestling personality times has he so effortlessly off. 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His comic timing make this a fun watch as opposite characters, but he inducted... Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show was attractive times has he so effortlessly shown his! Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was on the USA Network teaming. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was just laughing Heenan...