He was the best ever at what he did. Heenan had praised Race numerous times for having great memories together when managing the legend. He was previously married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. [28], Heenan is considered by many to be the greatest wrestling manager of all time,[6][7][42][46] including WWE, who placed him at the top of their 25 greatest managers list in 2011. Not only does Heenan smear humor over every. Bobby Heenan, a.k.a. Nobody else had us simultaneously rooting against them and loving them like "The Brain.". The two had drastically different approaches to wrestling and the unspoken heat added to Heenans heelwork. Some unintentional comedy from Bobby Heenan came about during Lex Luger's WWE debut. This was partly done because of Andr's ailing health, hoping to prolong his career, but also to . Perfect, who temporarily retired due to injury, would regularly accompany Flair to ringside as his "Executive Consultant". 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. Best Brain line: "That could be anybody's banana.". 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. [6] In 2004, he feuded with fellow manager Jim Cornette in Ring of Honor. Watching him scrounge around in the dark for his roll of toilet paper and loose socks was equally heart-rending and hilarious. As a kid, it was exhilarating to think that one of the biggest, baddest and coolest villains was coming to the other side. There are many things fans might not know about Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Related: Every Time Muhammed Ali Appeared In Pro Wrestling, Ranked. (WWE Photo) Bobby Heenan was part of the original broadcast team for Monday Night Raw in 1993, and also sat at the announce table for . The year after that, he suffered a fall, breaking his hip and shoulder and fracturing his pelvis. Despite all the health concerns, Heenan still efforts to attend scheduled independent wrestling shows, autograph sessions and conventions. Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 - September 17, 2017 ), better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (or derisively as Bobby "The Weasel" Heenan ), was an American professional wrestling manager, wrestler, comedian and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Im just happy the last words I said to him were, "I love you Bobby. as loud as they'd chant for any wrestler. "WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan, regarded by many as the greatest manager in sports-entertainment history, has passed away at age 73. Perfect Curt Hennig, the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), Harley Race, and Andre the Giant. Behind him, the crowd chants "Weasel! American Wrestling Association: Early 1970s: Bobby Heenan became the mastermind behind the triumphant faction known as The Heenan Family. Last May, Heenan was back in a hospital after falling inside of his Florida home. He was able to have lunch with his daughter at least once a week. He ended up going to WCW, mostly because they offered a lighter schedule and better insurance. Bockwinkel would hold this title 2,990 days between 1975 and 1987. Bobby Heenan was the greatest wrestling manager of all time and the funniest guy to sit at an announce table. [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. Heenan was a wrestling genius known for giving his all to help the product outside of the ring. The belief of Heenan was that Goldberg should have remained undefeated longer and led the company to new heights. [6] Broadcaster Peter Rosenberg considers Heenan a personal hero and describes him as the best commentator, manager and bad guy in WWE history. His cause of death was organ failure due to complications from the throat cancer that had been in remission since 2004. Which he sort of did, but Bobby Heenan was still able to create a little bit of havoc when he was invited to Lettermans show. JR on smoking weed with Bobby Heenan: "Heenan [was one of the nicest guys] because he's my partner. Multiple wrestling commentators have described him as the greatest professional wrestling manager of all time. Heenan's maniacal laughter at his own jokes and the amount of fun he's having cement this segment as a classic. Born November 1, 1944 Died September 17, 2017 (72) Numerous wrestling. Together they had a daughter, Jessica. 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. Feel free to add your own jokes about how much better off he'd be had he been serious about leaving WCW. 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 . He also replaced Ventura to team up with Monsoon on the syndicated All-Star Wrestling, which was replaced in the fall of 1986 with Wrestling Challenge. What an insulting way to go. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. Bruce Prichard on Bobby Heenan: "He was the perfect talent." Bobby Heenan was quick to inform viewers of his . ", pp.4851. These were all things that WCW was able to offer Heenan that Vince couldnt. Though he nominally managed Flair, Heenan's former protg Mr. [12] He also had two grandchildren. Heenan was instrumental in convincing McMichael to turn on his partner, which enabled Flair and Anderson to win the match, and fill the open spot in The Four Horsemen that Brian Pillman left behind when he departed from the company earlier in the year. 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. Heenan went under the surgical knife once again in 2015 for an undisclosed issue, his longtime friend and colleague Mean Gene Okerlund tweeted. Best Brain line: "Oh no, they're going to repossess my teeth.". [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. He died on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA. ", or a sarcastic, "Please! In 1986, Heenan managed King Kong Bundy in his main event bout at WrestleMania 2. Heenan criticized WCW on multiple occasions for doing things that harmed Goldbergs magic as the most unstoppable wrestler. [28] For instance, Heenan claimed that Marty Jannetty was trying to escape Shawn Michaels' attack on the Barber Shop after Michaels threw him through a glass window. Weasel chants went on to become something crowds many years later would go nuts with. [42], In January 2002, Heenan announced that he had throat cancer. In addition to memorializing Monsoon, Heenan cracked jokes and told numerous stories about those superstars he managed and worked with over they years. RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Bobby The Brain Heenan. Sept. 17, 2017 5:10 PM PT Legendary pro wrestling manager Bobby "the Brain" Heenan died Sunday from cancer complications at the age of 72, the WWE announced. He was booked both as a manager and wrestler after the promoters saw how well he handled the physical aspects of his managerial duties. [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. Cancer took the voice of the funniest man ever to grace a wrestling show, and eventually, complications from the disease took his life. Rosenberg stated that Heenan "operated on multiple levels", adding: "If you were a little kid, he was the foil to your hero. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. Perfect Curt Hennig, Mr. In a funny Prime Time Wrestling segment, Bobby Heenan tries to buy a horse from a shady character at the Kentucky Derby Museum. 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. [23], Heenan, calling himself a "broadcast journalist",[27] bashed fan favorites and cheered for their opponents while they cheated or did something under-handed. Heenan showed off at the WrestleMania IX opening ceremonies that he is also quite proficient at slapstick. [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. In pro wrestling, especially in the '80s, all of the above apply just replace Mr. Dafoe with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who died on Sunday at 73. Bobby Heenan's quips made the moment that much more memorable. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan managed Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 8, 1975. Anderson admitted to releasing him but denied promising him indefinite employment. [Heenan] did what every announcer should strive to do and that is to make talent bigger stars than they are and to embellish every talent's TV persona.[50]. Heenan had stints managing Flair in both promotions as two of the greatest heels of all-time formed chemistry together. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was one of the best to ever do it. He makes fun of Ivan Putski's finishing move, the 49ers and George Wells. 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. [40] WWE Hall of Fame commentator Jim Ross selected Heenan as the greatest talent in the history of the wrestling business. [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. [20] At WrestleMania IV, he teamed with The Islanders to defeat The British Bulldogs and Koko B. Heenans career changed for good when Vince McMahon pried Heenan away from AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation in 1984 as the manager of Jesse The Body Ventura. Also in 2001, Heenan worked briefly as a "sports agent" in the Xcitement Wrestling Federation with Curt Hennig under his tutelage. 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. 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