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Old-School Sundays - Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

For anyone who grew up watching pro wrestling in the 80s, this man really needs no introduction — but for those who may be a tad younger, here’s a lesson in Pro Wrestling 101 for you: by any definition, when you think of a pro wrestling manager, surely, you can find no better template to define this role than Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, our focus today here on Old-School Sundays (our regular weekly feature here at WrestlersRamblings with your host, Mr. Mal Occhio). Here’s our bio on “The Brain” for everyone’s enjoyment, complete with snippets of video interspliced between that begin to tell only a sampling of this man’s career. Best of luck to Bobby in his health battles as well, detailed below. Mr. Mal will always regard Heenan as the best pro wrestling manager of all-time, and that’s no easy feat when considering such other greats as “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. That being said, for those not-in-the-know, let’s show (and tell) you why Bobby Heenan earned such a distinguished honor from Mr. Mal (one, I’m sure, that “The Brain” would cherish above all other accolades received in his illustrious career).

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan biography

Raymond Louis Heenan was born far removed from his announced home of Beverly Hills, namely Chicago, ILL on Nov. 1, 1940. He began his pro wrestling career at local events carrying bags and jackets for the wrestlers, eventually becoming a worker himself both inside the ring and at ringside, where he would go on to truly make his name as one of the most-famous pro wrestling managers of all-time. Equally adept at taking a big, crowd-popping bump to conclude a babyface comeback or unleash a quick-witted quip with the skill of a Wild West gunslinger while calling the action for television, few men have even had half the career of the great Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Joining the old American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1969, Heenan guided The Blackjacks (Mulligan and Lanza) before moving on to the team of Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens — earning AWA tag team gold in the process, and eventually, AWA World Championship gold for Bockwinkel. It was in the AWA where Dick “The Bruiser” would first dub Heenan a “weasel”. It would be a nickname he would carry the remainder of his career. Check out this classic with Heenan teaming with the Original Sheik against Bobo Brazil and Dick the Bruiser:

It would be in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), however, where Heenan would leave his largest legacy as leader of the Heenan family, a group of heels that, at one time or another, consisted of the following luminaries: Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff; Hercules Hernandez; King Kong Bundy; Big John Studd; The Brainbusters (Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson); Ken Patera; Rick Rude; Harley Race; The Islanders (King Tonga aka Haku and Toma aka The Tonga Kid); The Barbarian; Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig; Lex Luger; Ric Flair; Red Rooster aka Terry Taylor and Steve Lombardi aka The Brooklyn Brawler. Heenan’s biggest coup, literally and figuratively, would be securing the services of the legendary Andre the Giant in an effort to snag the WWF World Championship off Hulk Hogan in the epic WrestleMania III match. He failed, but the match is one of the most-famous of all-time, earning all participants pro wrestling immortality. Interestingly, the coupling of Andre-Heenan would come after years of feuding, including breaking Andre’s sternum and cutting the Giant’s hair:

Heenan would also make his mark behind the microphone as well, partnered with Gorilla Monsoon. Their on-air squabbling was the antithesis of their off-air friendship, with both men playing off each other with the skill, at times, of a vaudevillian comedic duo. Heenan, the self-dubbed “broadcast journalist” would commonly refer to the viewing audience as “ham and eggers” or “humanoids” all the while earning the “scorn” of Monsoon, often times ending with Gorilla’s famous, “Gimme a break!” So close were the two that, despite having never worked for the company, Monsoon’s death in 1999 was announced on live WCW TV — at the insistence of Heenan, who broke down in tears revealing the news to fans. Check out this great compilation of Heenan-Monsoon interaction!

Speaking of WCW, it woudl the mid-90s when Heenan would leave the WWF for the Ted Turner’s World Championshiop Wrestling, citing a lighter schedule as well as their offer to pay for health insurace. The Brain still legitamately suffered from a broken neck suffered years earlier. After finally having surgery on the neck, Heenan had an infamous on-air incident with the late Brian Pillman during the grappler’s “Loose Cannon” gimmick. Pillman, unaware of Heenan’s neck problems, grabbed Heenan on-air in an unplanned episode, leading to Heenan dropping an F-bomb on live TV — for which he later apologized. Pillman, in turn, also reportedly apologized to Heenan. Eventually, with WCW, citing a need for a younger personality, replaced Heenan on WCW Nitro. See (and hear) for yourself! CAUTION – cursin’s a comin’!!

In recent years, Heenan has battled several health problems, chief among them throat cancer that has dramatically altered the tone of his voice and left him a physcial shell of his former stocky self. Of note, just this past week, Heenan had successful mandible reconstructive surgery using part of his innomiate bone. Or, to keep it simple for the humanoids, he had to have his jaw redone using parts of his hip. He has written two books on his wrestling days, Bobby The Brain: Wrestling’s Bad Boy Tells All, and Chair Shots & Other Obstacles: Winning Life’s Wrestling Matches. Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. All of us here at WrestlersRamblings.com wish Bobby a speedy recovery and a long, healthy life. You’re the best, Brain!

CLICK HERE for a great interview with “The Brain”
VISIT Bobby’s OFFICIAL site!

- Mr. Mal