[6][3], In 1965, Heenan became a regular in William Afflis' (known by his in-ring persona Dick the Bruiser) Indianapolis-based WWA promotion under the moniker "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. Bobby Heenan just passed away a few hours ago. It had been reported that Heenan had been. [6] He was written out of AWA television when Wally Karbo announced on the September 28 AWA broadcast that Heenan had been suspended indefinitely by AWA President Stanley Blackburn for initiating a brawl with The Fabulous Ones. [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. To have cancer is already horrible enough. [7] In 1966, he wrestled his first match against Calvin "Prince" Pullins. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's life and career left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. 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. Seeing Heenan go down in flames in the process made it that much more rewarding. The original plan for Bobby Heenan in WWE was for him to manage Jesse The Body Ventura. He instantly became the top interviewer for the promotion and in a lot of . Whether standing at ringside, giving a backstage interview, or sitting at the announce table, Heenan knew exactly how to work an audience and maybe did it better than anyone ever has. Andre had Heenan roll around in a tub of grapes and Heenan denied that it was indicative of a failing relationship. During a big showdown between Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel, Heenan hopped onto the apron to interfere on Bockwinkels behalf. 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. WWE would try to recreate the moment years later with Heenan and the Ultimate Warrior, but the AWA version did it better. 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. Over the next 13 years, he battled a number of health issues and heartbreakingly became nearly unrecognizable. In addition to memorializing Monsoon, Heenan cracked jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars he managed and worked with over they years. Professional wrestling was his calling. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. Heres what you need to know about the life and death of Heenan: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan dies at age 73- When It Was Cool article- #BobbyHeenan https://t.co/dyzDGRJVFd pic.twitter.com/WcOmdAE7i5, WhenItWasCool.com (@WIWCool) September 17, 2017, According to Pro Wrestling Sheets Ryan Satin, Heenans daughter told his close friends on Facebook that he was surrounded by family members as he passed. Heenan was just one of the dozens of wrestlers to have horror stories about working with Ole. He expertly played a character, a snide weasel of a man we hated and loved just the same. Best Brain line: "Two ugly people looking at each other. 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. Ware. [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? [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. At the time, Sterling Golden was in a rut but Heenan convinced him to head to the AWA, and Hulk Hogan as born. In his younger days, he dropped out of eight grade to support his mother and grandmother. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids. For brief moment in between stints with the AWA and WWE, Heenan took his considerable talents down south to Georgia Championship Wrestling. Dean Mitchell sent us this new photo of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. He is known by his nickname Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and spent time in the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Federation . He managed some of the biggest names the business has ever known, none bigger than the legendary Andre the Giant. Flair has spoken glowingly about Heenan throughout the years and made it clear that he was the best manager of all time. No one ever did it better than the Wease. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. But with just that, Heenanfound a way to minecomic gold. Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid were known for working rough in the ring and trying to scare non-wrestlers. [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. If someone were to describe the scene to you, it'd sound boring. The passing of Gorilla saw Heenan demanding that WCW give him a minute before Nitro to share a message honoring his old partner. Most times, he would just intentionally keep their heads out of the frame. Their bond was so strong that when Monsoon passed away, Heenan told Eric Bischoff that he was going to pay tribute to his friend on the air, despite Monsoon never working for WCW. Heres a look back on the life, career, and heartbreaking demise of Bobby The Brain Heenan. 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. Best Brain Line: "The entrance exam, you have to be able to write your name in three different colors of crayon.". Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Brian Pillman. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Either way, Heenan was on his game that night. Heenan's wearing a tux with a ruffled shirt that looks like it is out of a 70s prom scene. Wrestling 93: Rulebreaker, Spring 1993 Issue, Article "Bobby Heenan and Lex Luger: The Total Package of Brain and Brawn! He replaced Jesse Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon. Slaughter and Harley Race during his legendary time as a Manager in WWE. Bobby Heenan was born Raymond Louis Heenan in Chicago, IL. Throughout his entire career, Bobby Heenan was quick-witted, as he acted flummoxed in the face of his enemies. American Wrestling Association: Early 1970s: Bobby Heenan became the mastermind behind the triumphant faction known as The Heenan Family. At the heartbreaking passing of WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Cathy Kelley pays a touching tribute to the legendary manager and looks back on his career in this very special edition of WWE Now. Hearing Heenan berate McGuirk makes me curious to the material he could have come up with for Lilian Garcia or Justin Roberts. He stayed with the company until 2000 before leaving and making sporadic appearances with the WWE. 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. 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. 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 criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. Bobby Heenan screams "Yes" a hundred times, claims he told us so a dozen more, then leaves his broadcast position to celebrate with Flair. Having worked in TV and radio for several years, Mean Gene Okerlund was a prime choice to be the voice of The AWA. There are many things fans might not know about Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. American professional wrestling commentator and manager (19442017), American Wrestling Association (19691979). Doesn't think that the porn actress that was on the show was attractive. Mr. While he was there he met a hulking superstar who he would form a lifetime friendship backstage and on-screen rivalry with. By the end of his life, he'd had his jaw removed and his face reconstructed. This is really sad to see and we wish "The Brain" all the best. 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. 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. The legacy of Bobby Heenan sees him as arguably the greatest manager and color commentator in wrestling history. Heenan was then only seen with Scott Hudson on Worldwide until he was released by WCW in November 2000. The wrestling manager has historically . News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. But is that funnier than the fact that Heenan could never correctly pronounce "narcissist?". One of the more subdued promos in Heenan's career saw him calmly rattle off a number of choice insults. Nobody else had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like "The Brain.". Andre enjoyed Heenan and used to hang out with him after shows during the legendary drinking sessions for the big man. 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. 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. 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. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . [41] After his Hall of Fame induction, Heenan provided comments for use in WWE documentary releases. [45], On September 17, 2017, Heenan died at the age of 72 while surrounded by family at his home in Largo, Florida. Heenan, whos known for his unforgettable voice and comedic blurbs during wrestling broadcasts, had his share of health issues in the years that followed his wrestling career. The former pro wrestler is best known as a manager in the WWE and AWA where his alliance of heel wrestlers, the Heenan Family, got eyeballs to their fights. Managing so many of the superstars and being a fixture as a commentator, Heenan had forged many friendships with his co-workers. Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. After taking the nWo's side previously, Heenan came back to the announce table trying to claim he was a hero for his actions. 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). It was never just a joke fest with Heenan's commentary either. Bobby Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois in November 1944. Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. For the rest of the show, Heenan sat out in the crowd, accompanied by an armed security guard. 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 Heenan, a.k.a. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. [39] Despite declining health in his final years, Heenan continued to make appearances at fan conventions. 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. The following night, he appeared at WrestleMania XX in a skit with Gene Okerlund, Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah. I have a seventh-grade education, but I've had a lot of fun. 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. 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. 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. [12] He also had two grandchildren. [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. Despite all the health concerns, Heenan still efforts to attend scheduled independent wrestling shows, autograph sessions and conventions. 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. Thats what I think of Ole Anderson. I proudly displayed it for many years but it's time to move on (and by my kids Xmas gifts). The 2004 WWE Hall of Fame induction wasnt put out there in the same way as future classes, but it featured an all-time great speech. And I cannot tell you how much I am suffering, LOL. [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. "The Brain," passed away at age 73. Bobby Heenan is widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time. [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. Can not tell you how much I am suffering, LOL later with Heenan 's quips made the moment much. 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