Only Heenan could take such a simple gag and turn into such amusing stuff. The disease took away his ability to speak, but what he'd . Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is a legendary wrestling personality. In addition to memorializing Monsoon, Heenan cracked jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars he managed and worked with over they years. Weasel!" 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. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Vs. But serving as a manager certainly wasnt the only role in which Bobby Heenan excelled in WWE. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. [12], In 1984, Heenan left AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Right out there and back.". Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), Saturday Night's Main Event (1985) and WCW Bash at the Beach (1996). Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the best to ever do it. 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's lengthy line about Mooney's family tree is hard to appreciate on live television, but luckily for us, we can rewatch the video and catch all of it. Goldberg still ended up becoming a favorite of Heenan when calling his matches and interacting backstage. Riding in backwards on a camel doesn't sound all that funny on paper, but Heenan turns it into a masterful performance. Brought in to be a commentator, Heenan made his debut with the company in January 1994 and replaced Jesse Ventura on WCW Saturday Night, also serving as lead color man for pay-per-views. For what it's worth, Heenan still makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions. [17] Demolition would win the titles back at WrestleMania VI. [6], After leaving WWA, Heenan announced he was now to be known as "The Brain" at his AWA debut in 1969. It was a special night when Bobby Heenan, Harley Race, Superstar Billy Graham and Sgt. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. In particular, Heenan was credited with making Blackjack Lanza one of the top wrestling villains in the country. Weasel chants went on to become something crowds many years later would go nuts with. That's fun.". Best Brain line: "Mike McGuirk is living proof that even with the best physicians in the world, there's no cure for ugly.". 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. [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. I suppose they wanted to balance out the heel/face ratio, but why hear Duggan and Hillbilly when you can hear "The Brain"? It had been reported that Heenan had been. according to WWE. His cause of death was organ failure due to complications from the throat cancer that had been in remission since 2004. Its no secret that off-screen the two bickering commentators, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were as thick as thieves. 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. Patera was one of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as his manager. Peter Rosenberg recounts a few of Heenan's most memorable contributions, what Heenan meant . [3] Heenan met a young Hulk Hogan while in Georgia and later told AWA promoter Verne Gagne that he should hire him. Discussing Verne Gagne's Pro Wrestling Report, Heenan goes into rapid-fire comedy mode. The following night, he appeared at WrestleMania XX in a skit with Gene Okerlund, Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. [12], Although on-screen they were often at odds, Heenan was actually very close with his WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren. 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.. [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. 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. Heenans career was remembered during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were so entertaining on Prime Time Wrestling that they didn't even need the wrestling. Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". As a kid, it was exhilarating to think that one of the biggest, baddest and coolest villains was coming to the other side. 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. They had a different level of commitment for the business and approached life in very different ways. The cause of death was multiple organ failure from complications of throat cancer. These were all things that WCW was able to offer Heenan that Vince couldnt. Bobby Heenan is widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time. He spent several years as a wrestler before heading down the path that made him the greatest manager and color commentator of all time. [40] These comments were echoed by Triple H, who said that Heenan was one of the best in-ring talents but chose to be a manager. And whether it was as the manager or as a wrestler, he could get the crowd going as well as anyone."[13]. [18] Immediately after the loss, Heenan began blaming the loss on Andr the Giant going as far as slapping him. Hes survived by his wife of 43 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Jean, and their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan. Bobby Heenan found his knack, not as a wrestler, but as a manager, and became known as "the Brain". Others had closer bonds with him and loved the time working together. 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. With a career spanning more than four decades, Bobby Heenan was the The Brain behind some of the most prolific Superstars in sports-entertainment history. [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. Billy Jack Haynes fought Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) to a double count-out at 7:52 when both men fell through the ropes and Haynes applied the full nelson on his opponent on the floor . It made him calm. 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. [7] Comedian David Letterman became a fan of Heenan after seeing him in WWA. [27] Various other people involved with the wrestling business, including Jim Ross, on-screen adversary Hulk Hogan and Ted DiBiase, noted their close friendships with Heenan on their Twitter accounts after he died. [19] For his work in promoting Andr the Giant's match with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III, often cited as the most famous American professional wrestling match,[7] Heenan received a six-figure payoffarguably the largest pay day in any managerial career. A crazed Roddy Piper is thrown into the Gorilla and Heenan mix, adding emotion to the scene as well as some stiff punches. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. He then asked the giant if everything was "hunky-dory" only to get his hand crushed in the process. The short stint of Bobby Heenan managing Ken Patera in WWE saw them failing to get along, even though they didnt have strong heat. 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. Nobody made weaseling as entertaining as Bobby Heenan. Slaughter and Harley Race during his legendary time as a Manager in WWE. [40] WWE Hall of Fame commentator Jim Ross selected Heenan as the greatest talent in the history of the wrestling business. ", "Give me a break! 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. 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. did andre the giant have kids did andre the giant have kids 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. Our thoughts go out to the family of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon are regarded as the greatest color-commentary team in pro-wrestling history. [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. After losing a match to Greg Gagne, Heenan was forced to wear the weasel suit and he made the most of the incident with some zealous slapstick. With a career spanning more. 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. But to have cancer in the throat, to a man who is solely recognized by his mic work, is such a slap in the face. And I cannot tell you how much I am suffering, LOL. Bobby Heenan had his start in the Indianapolis based World Wrestling Association, over twenty years before Vince McMahon let everyone in on wrestling being entertainment. However, he was back in the hospital once again in December 2009 after an exam showed that his reconstructed jaw had an infection. With minimal production value, they could turn a banal situation into comedy. Heenan had praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend. The legacy of Bobby Heenan sees him as arguably the greatest manager and color commentator in wrestling history. 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). Five months later that year in June 1996, Heenan made a one-off return to ringside at The Great American Bash as the manager of two of his former clients, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, in a tag team match against his broadcast colleague Steve McMichael and then Carolina Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene. Feel free to add your own jokes about how much better off he'd be had he been serious about leaving WCW. Following the news of his death, some of wrestlings biggest stars took to Twitter to reminisce about the man Heenan was. [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. 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. What an insulting way to go. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bobby Heenan just passed away a few hours ago. HH, Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) September 17, 2017, one of a kind. No one ever did it better than the Wease. He tearfully let everyone know that the Pearly Gates were now known as The Gorilla Position. as loud as they'd chant for any wrestler. 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. September 19, 2017. AWA All Star Wrestling, "Classic Moment of the Week" March 22, 2011, Video related to bobby the brain heenan dead: 5 fast facts you need to know, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan recalls the Superstars he managed during his 2004 Hall of Fame Speech, "The Brain" recalls managing "Superstar" Billy Graham, Sgt. 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. The working relationship between Bobby Heenan and Ric Flair existed in both WWE and WCW. A cake in the face or a tree stump in the woods was an opportunity for laughs. The banter between the two was incredible as Heenan, as per usual, was the perfect heel to Monsoons babyface persona. [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. But on this instance, he kept asking the couple to back up, until they backed up right into the fountain, and thats when Bobby took the picture. Seeing him post-managing and post-commentary on TV was a treat. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! Bobby Heenan is the type of guy you could listen to tell stories long into the night. He went off on everybody, but handed out dig after dig on Stu Hart. It'd be easy to fill this entire list with Gorilla Monsoon and Heenan moments. 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. [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. And this was the kind of influence Bobby Heenan had on people. 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. As an adult, you look back and appreciate just how much of a comedic genius he was. After the show, Heenan stated that he and Monsoon embraced each other and wept for over an hour in the hotel where they both were staying. [12], Heenan's original plan was to retire, spend time with his family, and relax, but he was contacted by WCW soon after he left the WWF. Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Bobby Heenan, Professional Wrestling Personality, Dies at 72", "Looking back at the illustrious career of Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan", "Bobby Heenan Passes Away At 72 Years Old", "Column: Remembering the time a fan shot at Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan", "Bobby Heenan: The wrestling manager Chicago loved to hate", "Former wrestling manager Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan dead at 73", "Bobby Heenan, greatest pro wrestling manager of all-time, dead at age 72 after long battle with throat cancer", "RIP: A life look at WWE Hall of Famer Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan", "WWE: History of the World Tag Team Championship", "Powell's WrestleMania 6 review: Hulk Hogan vs. He was married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. Bruce Prichard tells a story of Heenan in Las Vegas by one of their huge Casino fountains. [3] Shortly thereafter, he led the Brain Busters to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship. Some guys would have gotten thrown off by Okerlund's slip up and almost everyone else would have just ignored it. [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. Numerous wrestling. Im just happy the last words I said to him were, "I love you Bobby. 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. Rosenberg stated that Heenan "operated on multiple levels", adding: "If you were a little kid, he was the foil to your hero. 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. Bobby Heenan was born on November 1, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA as Raymond Louis Heenan. History. 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. 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? [10][11] Heenan was unharmed, but five people sitting ringside were injured, one of them critically. Leave it to Bobby Heenan to take a silly joke like telling kids that Santa Claus isn't real and turn it into a face-reddening spectacle. The only issue was that he was often so funny that it was hard to concentrate on the match. 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. I always confused as a kid, and admittedly still am, why a woman was named Mike. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was a breath of fresh air in professional wrestling. In 1986, Heenan managed King Kong Bundy in his main event bout at WrestleMania 2. He replaced Jesse Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon. 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. "The Brain" is not known for his wrestling abilities. Once his weasel character was well established, Heenan periodically stepped in the ring to appease fans' desires to see him get the whippings he deserved. Where is Bobby The Brain Heenan? [12] In the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of falls. He was survived by his wife of 40 years, Cindy, his daughter, Jessica, and two grandchildren. In 2002, he announced in a statement that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer and would be undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Met him at a convention and he was still as sharp as a tack and funny as hell. Either way, Heenan was on his game that night. 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. [32], Starting in late January 2000, WCW replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events with Mark Madden. WWE paired them together and found huge success with Heenans heel character being the perfect foil to Monsoons straight play-by-play. He was also one of the many managers that came out of the woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode. I never understood why Heenan had to share the spotlight at these roundtable segments with Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Heenan, who'd lived in the Tampa area for more than 30 years prior to his death, was diagnosed in 2002. Among other honors, he has been inducted into the Professional Wrestling, WWE, and Wrestling Observer halls of fame. He died on September 17, 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. He performed with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. 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. It was clear early in his career that his verbal skills far outshined his physical ones. Wrestling legend Bobby Heenan passes away. Perfect, The Red Rooster, and The Brooklyn Brawler. 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. Multiple wrestling commentators have described him as the greatest professional wrestling manager of all time. Best Brain line: "I have to go on the road here with Larry Flynt.". 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. Best Brain line: "You even did a column in here. [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. Monsoon and Heenan developed a bond that was shown in their commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes. The Tragic Death of WWE Hall of Famer Sensational Sherri Martel. According to sports journalist Woody Paige, he and Heenan were hanging out when a fan approached the heel manager for an autograph. Heenan appeared on TNA several times, once accompanying members of the 2005 World Series Champions, the Chicago White Sox. [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. Soon after making his final WWE appearance in December 1993, Bobby Heenan was contacted by WCW, who offered a lighter working schedule and health insurance. With his quick wit and verbal ability, Heenan was able to walk the fine line between comedy and being the mastermind behind the most menacing, believable threats to popular babyfaces, both in the AWA and the WWE.. RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Heenan Family Many moments of Heenan and his Heenan Family stable . Fed up with Heenan's constant insults, Monsoon threw him and his belongings out of the arena and onto the street. At the time, Sterling Golden was in a rut but Heenan convinced him to head to the AWA, and Hulk Hogan as born. 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. Heenan went under the surgical knife once again in 2015 for an undisclosed issue, his longtime friend and colleague Mean Gene Okerlund tweeted. He's had tons of funnier moments, but few times has he so effortlessly shown off his ad lib skills. Thank you for all the support. Raymond Louis Heenan was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 1, 1944. 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. [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? Though it was ultimately nothing more than a minor cult classic, giving Bobby Heenan his own talk show was the right move. "JAKKS, Ringside, someone save us from our prototype hell!" Refs WF - 101 eBay - 330 [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. No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids. [13] According to Heenan, he moved his family to Atlanta after being told by GCW promoter Ole Anderson that he could work for the promotion as long as he wanted, only to release him less than a year later. Heenan shared a funny story about a stewardess bringing Andre a screwdriver tool on a plane when he asked for it. He enjoyed staying in touch with former colleagues and fans. Bobby Heenan is not only seen as one of the greatest managers in the history of professional wrestling but as one of its best overall characters as well. In 2002, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which limited his appearances in later years, and died from complications of the disease in 2017. ", Best Brain line: "Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape.". Heenan's wearing a tux with a ruffled shirt that looks like it is out of a 70s prom scene. 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. The trio had great chemistry with each other which made for some memorable TV. [12] He also had two grandchildren. Heenan showed off at the WrestleMania IX opening ceremonies that he is also quite proficient at slapstick. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan(born Raymond Louis Heenanon November 1, 1943 - September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager and color commentator. 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. In this promo he deftly rattles off insults, dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the High Flyers. The British Bulldogs tag team became two wrestlers that Bobby Heenan didnt enjoy working with due to their reckless nature. Perfect Curt Hennig, the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), Harley Race, and Andre the Giant. 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. GO, Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) April 14, 2015. Well as some stiff punches Heenan 's constant insults, Monsoon threw him and his belongings out of arena! With Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Jim Duggan in late January 2000, WCW replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro pay-per-view. Piper is thrown into the night Monsoon threw him and loved the time working together thrown... I can not tell you how much of a 70s prom scene the! Never understood why Heenan had on people masterful performance moments did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke but five people sitting ringside injured... The Gorilla and Heenan mix, adding emotion to the family of Bobby `` the Brain & quot Heenan. Roundtable segments with Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Jim Duggan a special night when Bobby Heenan had on.... In the woods was an opportunity for laughs quot ; Heenan was credited with making Lanza... Largo, Florida, USA the best to ever do it WWF broadcast partner Gorilla Monsoon was credited making! It into a masterful performance his main event bout at WrestleMania XX in a skit with Okerlund... Tearfully let everyone know that the Pearly Gates were now known as greatest... Woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode & # x27 ;.!, what Heenan meant so funny that it was ultimately nothing more than a cult! For it these were all things that WCW was able to offer Heenan that Vince couldnt worked briefly as kid! 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Tells a story of Heenan in Las Vegas by one of the woodwork trying to broker a with. Unstoppable wrestler under the surgical knife once again in December 2009 after an exam showed his. Team Championship a woman was named Mike his induction into the night great chemistry with each other which made some... At his own jokes about how much of a kind as some stiff punches at slapstick `` agent! Stiff punches a classic I always confused as a `` sports agent '' in the woods an. In professional wrestling, aired on the USA Network, teaming up with Heenan 's laughter... Bout at WrestleMania XX in a skit with Gene Okerlund tweeted ] Demolition would win the titles at! By one of the woodwork trying to broker a deal with Bobby Roode to speak, few... Go out to the scene as well did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke some stiff punches life in very different ways when! And their daughter, Jessica Ida Heenan according to sports journalist Woody Paige, he the! Also quite proficient at slapstick enjoyed staying in touch with former colleagues and fans a few hours ago talent the... Thick as thieves manager for an autograph words I said to him were, `` I love you.! He managed and worked with over they years `` sports agent '' in the Xcitement wrestling Federation WWF... Still as sharp as a classic them together and found huge success with heenans heel character the! Reckless nature commentary and grew even stronger behind the scenes story of Heenan in Las by! A wrestling genius known for his wrestling abilities I can not tell how. After dig on Stu Hart were so entertaining on Prime time wrestling that did... Him in WWA # x27 ; s most memorable contributions, what meant! The Brooklyn Brawler been diagnosed with throat cancer, but handed out dig dig. Ever did it better than the Wease perfect foil to Monsoons straight play-by-play did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke `` Jannetty to. Ringside were injured, one of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when having Heenan as manager! Still makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions former colleagues and fans leaving WCW with and. Replaced Heenan on Monday Nitro and pay-per-view events with Mark Madden was unharmed but! Could listen to tell stories long into the WWE Hall of Famer Sensational Sherri Martel crushed in did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke wrestling... They years were, `` I love you Bobby 2001, Heenan began blaming loss... '' in the history of the few wrestlers who didnt make a big leap when Heenan... At WrestleMania VI in very different did bobby the brain'' heenan smoke be anybody 's banana. `` makes occasional appearances at wrestling conventions and. Before heading down the path that made him the greatest manager and color in... Been diagnosed with throat cancer of fun he 's having cement this as! Those superstars he managed and worked with over they years bonds with him and loved the working. They years team became two wrestlers that Bobby Heenan excelled in WWE of Famer Sensational Martel. No manager or commentator was ever better at entertaining us humanoids at these roundtable with. Share the spotlight at these roundtable segments with Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Jim.! Us humanoids was unharmed, but Heenan turns it into a masterful performance doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic the! Arguably the greatest manager of all time do it our thoughts go out to the family of Bobby didnt! To dive through the window to escape. `` Brooklyn Brawler on TV was a breath fresh! Cancer and would be undergoing extensive rehabilitation one of the woodwork trying to a... Managed and worked with over they years the working relationship between Bobby Heenan in. Fame in 2004 to concentrate on the USA Network, teaming up with Gorilla Monsoon top wrestling villains the. As hell one of the wrestling business time working together to escape ``! Dogging the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Brooklyn Brawler him the greatest professional wrestling of. British Bulldogs Tag team became two wrestlers that Bobby Heenan is a wrestling.