He and Gorilla Monsoon welcomed Heenan's personal doctor, Dr. Heenan managed wrestlers under the Heenan Family name in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the National Wrestling Alliance 's (NWA) Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. The legacy of Bobby Heenan sees him as arguably the greatest manager and color commentator in wrestling history. On the stage of fandom, fans know that it might not always be the best idea to engage with their favorite stars at inopportune times. A cake in the face or a tree stump in the woods was an opportunity for laughs. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. 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 . WWE.com. He was known for having many comedic moments on TV broadcasts and pay-per-views alongside Gorilla Monsson and Okerlund. 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 . His comedic ability was praised by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, who wrote that Heenan could have been a successful television actor. But the memories of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan still live on, proving that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. 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. [12] Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 (WWF changed its name to WWE in 2002) by Blackjack Lanza. But Pillman didnt get the memo, or just didnt care. But the . This video is from an anniversary show with highlights from various episodes. The cause of death was multiple organ failure from complications of throat cancer. Powered by. WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan, regarded by many as the greatest manager in sports-entertainment history . 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. The disease took away his ability to speak, but what he'd . on November 1, 1944. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. [17] Demolition would win the titles back at WrestleMania VI. 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. Bobby Heenan performed in WWE from 1984-1993 as a manager and commentator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9QVTEUDdQ. During a big showdown between Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel, Heenan hopped onto the apron to interfere on Bockwinkels behalf. Perfect, who temporarily retired due to injury, would regularly accompany Flair to ringside as his "Executive Consultant". I just want to let all the wonderful humanoids out there know how grateful I am for the good wishes. The night ultimately belonged to Heenan, whose induction speech stole the show. He is survived by one child and his wife, Cynthia. [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. 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. Pro wrestling is his strongest passion with a lifetime fandom and countless live shows attended. 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. When WWE Hall of Fame manager Bobby "The . 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. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). There are many things fans might not know about Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. In particular, Heenan was credited with making Blackjack Lanza one of the top wrestling villains in the country. Best Brain line: "Two ugly people looking at each other. [18] A few months after that, he led Mr. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan(born Raymond Louis Heenanon November 1, 1943 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager and color commentator. Its no secret that off-screen the two bickering commentators, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were as thick as thieves. Several times during his career, Heenan ended up nearly giving fans blood. Best Brain line: "That guy you sit on his lap at the discount store, just out of detox.". While no cause of death was announced, the famous loudmouth manager had been in poor health for years, after he was diagnosed with. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". Riding in backwards on a camel doesn't sound all that funny on paper, but Heenan turns it into a masterful performance. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, King Kong Bundy, Andr the Giant, High Chief Sivi Afi, the Brain Busters (former Four Horsemen members Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), "Ravishing" Rick Rude, "King" Harley Race, the Islanders (Haku and Tama), Hercules, The Barbarian, Mr. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. Professional wrestling was his calling. [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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 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. The Islanders (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Jim Powers & Paul Roma in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0, at 15:05; fall #1: Roma was counted out at 7:54 and appeared to sustain a legit injury after Haku caused him to fall to the floor, with Roma landing awkwardly; after the commercial break, Craig DeGeorge conducted a podium interview with Ted . In October 2008, he started to speak again and slowly was able to form sentences. 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. Best Brain line: "Oh no, they're going to repossess my teeth.". News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. 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? Heenan's speech at the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame was perfect Bobby. 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. [8] During his time in WWA, he managed Angelo Poffo and Chris Markoff, the Assassins (Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomasso), The Valiant Brothers and The Blackjacks. Heenan thrilled pro wrestling audiences for four decades before retiring in 2001 and his life took a drastic turn soon after as he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 and battled a number of health issues for the next 15 years before passing away in 2017. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . 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. 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. When the news broke on Sunday that Bobby Heenan had passed away at 73 after a long struggle with throat cancer, I immediately did what many in my industry do, and attempted to find the proper angle in which to contextualize a life so richly lived and experienced. One of Bobby Heenans last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE. 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. American professional wrestling commentator and manager (19442017), American Wrestling Association (19691979). [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. Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman. Met him at a convention and he was still as sharp as a tack and funny as hell. 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. [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. Heenan was then only seen with Scott Hudson on Worldwide until he was released by WCW in November 2000. Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid were known for working rough in the ring and trying to scare non-wrestlers. He has to hold back laughter several times. 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. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. His cause of death was organ failure due to complications from the throat cancer that had been in remission since 2004. Luke and Brutus also signed. [12], In 1984, Heenan left AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Give Bobby Heenan a single minute to work with and he will have it bursting with one liners. Family (1) Spouse Heenan continued to commentate on Thunder along with Mike Tenay, and later Schiavone, until he was replaced by Stevie Ray beginning in July 2000. Watching him scrounge around in the dark for his roll of toilet paper and loose socks was equally heart-rending and hilarious. The news of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's passing today gutted me. The belief of Heenan was that Goldberg should have remained undefeated longer and led the company to new heights. [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. did andre the giant have kids did andre the giant have kids Right out there and back.". He showed that even weakened by cancer, he was still the same guyquick-witted, sardonic, brilliant. Patera was one of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as his manager. He died on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. Most wrestlers voiced support of Heenan over Warrior who had more than enough reasons to dislike the controversial figure. The next year, on September 17, 2017, Bobby Heenan passed away, surrounded by his family. I have a seventh-grade education, but I've had a lot of fun. Simply put, the man was an absolute genius, not only as a manager but as a wrestler and color commentator as well. Andre enjoyed Heenan and used to hang out with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the big man. Roode obviously didn't choose to sign with Heenan, but it would've been nice to once again see him paired up with a wrestler. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. It was never just a joke fest with Heenan's commentary either. [32], Starting in late January 2000, WCW replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events with Mark Madden. He expertly played a character, a snide weasel of a man we hated and loved just the same. Bobby Heenan passed away on Sunday leaving behind the legacy as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history. 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.". Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. Others had closer bonds with him and loved the time working together. [12] He also had two grandchildren. Perfect. [7] By 2004, the cancer had gone into remission. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. In 2014, Heenan fell out of bed and broke his shoulder, and then broke his hip two years later. He was unsure at first, but accepted their offer once he found out that WCW provided lighter work schedules and health insurance. . 5th December 2020 by Scott Keith. 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. [3] He inducted his protgs Paul Orndorff, The Blackjacks and Nick Bockwinkel into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2005, class of 2006 and class of 2007 respectively. The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse The Body Ventura. 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. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. Heenan also suffered from a broken hip and pelvis after falling in 2011 and went through tongue cancer treatments in 2013, he told Jim Ross. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. [13], On the January 23, 1996 episode of Clash of the Champions XXXII, during a match between Eddie Guerrero and Brian Pillman, Pillman left the ring and grabbed Heenan, (who had a history of neck problems,) by the collar, causing him to blurt out: "What the fuck are you doing?" 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. 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 screams "Yes" a hundred times, claims he told us so a dozen more, then leaves his broadcast position to celebrate with Flair. 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. Two years later, he was hospitalized when his rebuilt jaw became infected. There's not much to this; a faulty phone, some slapstick and Gorilla Monsoon cracking up. But Heenan's ignorance and stinginess along with, of course, his comic timing make this a fun watch. WWE Hall of Famer Bobby the Brain Heenan did an autograph signing for American Icon Autographs at the Frank and Son Collectible Show on February 11, 2012 in the City of Industry, California. One of the reasons that the 1992 Royal Rumble is considered among the best ever is because of the commentary of Bobby Heenan. Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. 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. ", Best Brain line: "Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape.". 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. [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. [30][6], On January 27, 1994, Heenan made his debut in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). [24], Heenan retired from managing in 1991 to become a full-time commentator. He was a wrestler and a manager for the promotion before appearing in the American Wrestling Association in 1974. Yes, I do have throat cancer, but I plan on beating this too. At WrestleMania 20, Heenan made a return to the commentators table with Okerlund. In December 2007, he underwent reconstructive jaw surgery and had to be placed in a medically induced coma. Fooling everybody is pretty funny, but really his own reaction to the prank that makes this so priceless. [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. The history of Heenan sees the following wrestlers loved or hated by him. Slaughter were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Though he nominally managed Flair, Heenan's former protg Mr. 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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. Bobby The Brain Heenan, one of the most prolific managers and commentators in wrestling history, died at the age of 73 on Sunday. [19], Heenan also wrestled sporadically in his WWF run. Though it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own talk show was the right move. It made him calm. American Wrestling Association: Early 1970s: Bobby Heenan became the mastermind behind the triumphant faction known as The Heenan Family. [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. Throughout his entire career, Bobby Heenan was quick-witted, as he acted flummoxed in the face of his enemies. The Tragic Death of WWE Hall of Famer Sensational Sherri Martel. Wrestling villains in the dark for his home in WWE was for him to manage Jesse the Ventura! Last televised appearances actually wasnt for his home in WWE from 1984-1993 as a wrestler color. 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