And what a show it was.
The world lost one of its greatest entertainers today as Bobby “The Brain” Heenan passed away after courageously battling cancer throughout the last years of his life. As the cancer cruelly took away his greatest tool, his voice, it could not take his infamous wit or the fire inside him for life. He fought and fought on, unbelievably so even when anyone would have understood if he had had enough fighting. Because of that passion for life, that fire inside is why we loved him so much. That’s why he came across so strongly and through wrestling was able to reach through our TV screens and grab a hold of us creating a connection that would last a lifetime.
Anywhere Bobby went the spotlight shined bright on him, but he would be quick to direct it over to whoever he was managing at the time. Mastered his craft whether it be managing or colour commentary. The Heenan Family was like what the nWo became in its later years, if you wanted to get a guy over just put him in the Heenan Family. And it worked, anyone that was in the Heenan family was instantly a major player just by being associated with the Brain. That’s how good he was.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan character would be born in the AWA, first managing the AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens. Not bad for your first gig but despite already being established, Bobby helped get them over on another level. AWA is also where he picked up the “Weasel” name that would follow him his entire career much to his chagrin haha he would stick with managing Nick Bockwinkel as he went through multiple reigns as AWA World Champion even ending the 7 year reign of Verne Gagne/ But a bird like Bobby Heenan could only be caged for so long, he was ready to fly on the biggest stage with the WWF.
He started his career in the WWF getting right to work putting together a stable of talent, his top prize at the time being Big John Studd. Heenan had him feuding with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, leading to the famous $15,000 Bodyslam Match at the first WrestleMania vs the Giant. Andre won the match but Heenan left with the money, that’s why they call him the Brain, folks. He would then set his sights on WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, leading King Kong Bundy into the main event of WrestleMania 2. When Bundy failed to get the job done, Bobby did the smartest thing he could, he got a bigger Giant.
In what has to be his greatest accomplishment, his voice helped sell the match that brought 93,000+ out to WrestleMania 3 to see Hulk Hogan battle Andre the Giant. Bobby perfectly executed his promos using potentially real issues but still staying within kayfabe. Brilliant stuff, man. He may not have ever officially managed a WWF Champion, but can say he won a match at WrestleMania pinning Koko B Ware in the 6 man tag at WM 4. An honour Bobby Heenan was definitely deserving of. He would finally be the manager of a champion in the WWF taking matters into his own hands at WrestleMania 5, tripping the Ultimate Warrior and holding his leg helping Rick Rude become Intercontinental Champion. That’s why they call him the Weasel, folks haha wouldn’t take long for him to acquire more Gold as soon after the Brain Busters became WWF Tag Team Champions under the Brain’s watch.
He would lead Andre the Giant and Haku into WrestleMania 6 as the Tag Team Champions for what would pretty much be Andre’s last hurrah. After the match and his team lost, he did what he does best and got his guy over, berating Andre until he finally retaliated and got the crowd going crazy for him. That huge ovation Andre gets as he rides to the back is in no small part a credit to Bobby Heenan even if he wouldn’t ever accept the credit. He was just the absolute best. His final run as a manager was feuding with the Big Boss Man who was after Heenan for comments made about Bossman’s mother lol As a kid I remember not wanting to laugh to support my boy the Bossman but I couldn’t help it they were too hilarious. I believe Mr.Perfect as Intercontinental Champion was the last person he would manage but I could be wrong. Hell of a bookend to your career if he was.
During basically the entire time he was managing in WWE he was also doing colour commentary and shows like Prime Time Wrestling. That is where we really got to experience and appreciate his legendary humour and wit. The man was a comedic genius, he always knew exactly how, where and when to drop a joke. And 99% of the time they were great, nobody is perfect but Bobby Heenan was as close as you can get. And just sharp too, no matter the situation he was ready with something. You couldn’t surprise him or catch him off guard, he was always good to come back with a hilarious joke or insult or witty comment or you name it he was good to go. That’s why his team with Gorilla Monsoon was the best, Gorilla did nothing but try to surprise him or catch him off guard so Bobby always had to be on his toes, but that’s where he was at his best. They brought out the best in each other and we got come along for the ride. How blessed we were to have them.
I didn’t get to experience those Prime Time shows Live when they aired but thanks to the WWE Network I can watch some now. The fact that the humour still holds up and has me laughing my ass off in 2017 is a testament to how great Bobby Heenan was. His commentary with Monsoon created some absolutely classic tracks to some of these matches and PPV’s. The 1992 Royal Rumble was 1 of his best, his commentary put Ric Flair over so huge to an audience that may or may nor have gotten to experience Flair wrestle. As a kid I hadn’t seen any of Ric Flair but remember thinking that if Bobby Heenan was freaking out about him this much then he really must be great. The commentary over the Tatanka vs Rick Martel match at WrestleMania 8
is one of the funniest and enjoyable few minutes in WWF/E history. It’s impossible to watch that match and not become completely distracted by the commentary. I’ve tried, going in saying I’m just going to focus on the match but every time the commentary draws me in and I lose focus on the match haha ufortunately he needed a lighter sched due to neck issues and left in 1993 going to WCW. I remember being pretty upset when I saw in the magazine that he had been kicked out of the WWF haha I only loved to hate him I def didn’t want him to go. When Bobby went to WCW it gave them the credibility they needed going into battle with the WWF. People would tune in to WCW and hear that familiar voice they grew up with and go, ‘Hey that’s Bobby Heenan, ya I’ll check it out’, and boom instant credibility. He wasn’t on the same level as his WWF run but he still had a great run in the booth for WCW.
But maybe my favourite Bobby Heenan memory that I will take with me is the Weasel suit. I know he hated working with the Ultimate Warrior around this time but the deal with Bobby waking up after being put in a Weasel suit is 1 of the funniest things you will see. The only wrestling tape I had as a kid was WWF Funniest Moments, the one with the orange cover. On that tape was 1 of these Weasel suit matches and man when he would wake up in that suit and do his routine I would laugh myself absolutely silly hahahahahahaah oh man the way he would take his time before realizing he was in the suit and when he finally did, the look on his face was just priceless. And then he would get up and chase the tail, and bump all around trying to get out of the suit hahahah absolute gold. That was my go-to tape and segment when I needed a laugh so I really appreciate the lengths he went to, to entertain us humanoids. I really hope he knew how much we all loved him and how great we thought he was. Wish he has been healthy enough for Twitter, he would’ve crushed it.
It was a truly great thing when he went into the Hall of Fame and I don’t think there are higher expectations than a Bobby Heenan speech. But in typical Bobby “the Brain” Heenan fashion, he delivered and then some giving us an incredible speech to remember him with. It’s too bad there is a bias towards wrestling in Hollywood. You can’t tell me there isn’t a mountainous pile of money left on the table from missed opportunities Bobby would have gotten if he was a stand up comedian or something instead of a Pro Wrestler. That’s why I say we were lucky to have him, he should have been doing wrestling in addition to a number of other projects. But I know I’m not alone in saying we won’t ever let people forget how great Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was. He now joins Gorilla at that big commentary table in the sky, we will always miss them but we will always remember them. My strongest prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.
Thank you for the memories. Thank You for the laughter. Thank you for the entertainment. Thank you for the Heenan Family. Thank You for the Weasel suits. Thank you for being “The Brain.” We love you, we will miss you and brother we will never forget you. Much love and God Bless to you and your fam. Godspeed, Brain.
