As a commentator and a manager, Heenan made both friends and enemies! 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. Bobby Heenan was lovingly dubbed "The Brain" and "The Weasel." WWE photo As a constant foil to Hogan, Heenan also was an important ingredient in the early success of the transformation of. 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. In addition to this, the mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett, declared December 5, 2009, to be "Bobby Heenan Day". Weasel chants went on to become something crowds many years later would go nuts with. 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. Goldberg still ended up becoming a favorite of Heenan when calling his matches and interacting backstage. Bobby "The Brains" Heenan. [12], Although on-screen they were often at odds, Heenan was actually very close with his WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. [43] In December 2007, Heenan had reconstructive surgery on his jaw, after the first surgery was unsuccessful. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). [35], Heenan made several appearances on the independent circuit. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. Had he done it years later during the Attitude Era, it would have gone unnoticed. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. He was placed in a medically induced coma and was slowly brought out. Heenan continued to commentate on Thunder along with Mike Tenay, and later Schiavone, until he was replaced by Stevie Ray beginning in July 2000. "[48] Author Brian Shields notes that many consider him "one of the most significant figures in professional wrestling history". did andre the giant have kids did andre the giant have kids 5th December 2020 by Scott Keith. Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. Mr. Perfect, who temporarily retired due to injury, would regularly accompany Flair to ringside as his "Executive Consultant". Is there a commentator who could get that reaction other than "The Brain"? 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. Heenan also cited the short driving distance between WCW's home base of Atlanta and his daughter's school in Alabama. While he was there he met a hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with. Multiple wrestling commentators have described him as the greatest professional wrestling manager of all time. [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. 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. Having worked in TV and radio for several years, Mean Gene Okerlund was a prime choice to be the voice of The AWA. He enjoyed staying in touch with former colleagues and fans. In his in-ring debut at Madison Square Garden in November 1984, he cleanly pinned Salvatore Bellomo. Ray Stevens breaks Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's trophy, December 25, 1976. Over the years in WWE, Heenan would manage some of the all-time greats, including Ravishing Rick Rude, Harley Race, Mr. Part parody show, part absurdist comedy, part Heenan's playground, the show's major flaw may be that it was just ahead of its time. 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. The wrestling manager has historically . Dennis Miller gave us a taste of that on his talk show in 2004. But Heenan's ignorance and stinginess along with, of course, his comic timing make this a fun watch. Two years later, he was hospitalized when his rebuilt jaw became infected. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Evidently, McMahon instructed Heenan to create said havoc. 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. 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. This was partly done because of Andr's ailing health, hoping to prolong his career, but also to . The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. 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. In 2014, Heenan fell out of bed and broke his shoulder, and then broke his hip two years later. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. [7] In May 2016, he fell again and broke a hip. He managed some of the biggest names the business has ever known, none bigger than the legendary Andre the Giant. David Dennis, Jr. May 22, 2015. [39] Despite declining health in his final years, Heenan continued to make appearances at fan conventions. 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. [17] Demolition would win the titles back at WrestleMania VI. Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Wrestling 93: Rulebreaker, Spring 1993 Issue, Article "Bobby Heenan and Lex Luger: The Total Package of Brain and Brawn! Two guys walking around a museum and looking at horses, how's that entertainment? Bobby Heenan managed Andre the Giant in WWE, but that wasnt the only time they spent working together. From there, Heenan managed some of wrestlings biggest stars and appeared on the TV screen with legends such as Andre the Giant. I have a seventh-grade education, but I've had a lot of fun. 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. Just like his career, this tell-all has no holds barred. We got to know each other and love each other. 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). His exit from Monday Night Raw and WWE was classic Heenan. Commentator Jim Ross broke the news . Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, legendary professional wrestling manager and commentator, has died at the age of 73, according to multiple news sources. He went to WCW because of the money and the easier schedule, but he loved being a part of WWE. [6], After leaving WWA, Heenan announced he was now to be known as "The Brain" at his AWA debut in 1969. Best Brain Line: "The entrance exam, you have to be able to write your name in three different colors of crayon.". Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". 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. Best Brain line: "You even did a column in here. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. He popped off joke after joke, having almost as much fun as the fans. 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. The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Race was praised for being one of the toughest men in wrestling by Heenan. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). He was both a wrestler and a manager during his 13-year run with the promotion, which he left in 1974. One year later, in what many still consider the biggest and most important storyline and match in WWE history, Heenan helped Andre the Giant turn heel to face Hogan at WrestleMania 3, an event attended by more than 93,000 people. He passed away in 2017 following an extended battle with throat cancer. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . 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. 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. [21] The following year, he was defeated in 30 seconds by former client The Red Rooster at WrestleMania V.[22] Heenan also wrestled a series of "Weasel Suit matches" against The Ultimate Warrior, who defeated Heenan by forcing him into a weasel costume. Heenan, known for his sarcastic wit and . Give Bobby Heenan a single minute to work with and he will have it bursting with one liners. 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. This tell-all has no holds barred Spring 1993 Issue, Article `` Heenan. 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