Professional
wrestler,
manager and
commentator.
Raymond Heenan was born in Chicago, IL on November 1st 1944.
Starting off as a towel carrier and errand boy for local Chicago promotions, Heenan made his ring debut in the early 60's as "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. However, by 1965, Bobby has found a new niche as a manager for
Verne Gagne's
AWA promotion.
By the early '70s, Heenan had become the mastermind behind the triumphant tag team of
Nick Bockwinkel and
Ray 'The Crippler' Stevens, adopting '
The Brain' moniker in 1974. On November 8, 1975, Heenan was in Bockwinkel's corner as he captured his first AWA World title. Heenan led Bockwinkel to three AWA title reigns.
But Bobby's managing success did not limit itself to singles wrestlers. Heenan managed
Blackjack Lanza and
Bobby Duncum to the
AWA World Tag Team title. Lanza and Duncum defeated
Dick the Bruiser and
The Crusher on July 23, 1976 in Chicago, IL for the tag team titles. Over his time in the AWA, Heenan mamanaged the likes of
Pat Patterson,
'Superstar' Billy Graham,
Angelo Poffo (father of
Randy Savage), the
Valiant Brothers, and
Ken Patera.
Leaving the AWA in 1979, Heenan turned up in the
NWA Georgia promotion. His protegés in Georgia included Blackjack Lanza (who followed Heenan from the AWA), The
Masked Superstar (
Bill Eadie, better known as
Demolition Ax) and
'Killer' Karl Kox.
After returning to the AWA in 1982, Heenan broke his neck in a match in Japan. He opted to hold off having surgery until 1995 when he had two discs removed from his neck.
In 1985, the call from Stanford, CT came.
Vince McMahon hired Heenan to manage
Jesse 'The Body' Ventura. However, due to an injury suffered by Ventura, the
WWF decided to have Heenan manage
Big John Studd. Heenan also became a member of the WWF announcing team. Heenan was partnered with the late
Gorilla Monsoon. The duo commented each week on the
USA Network's '
Prime Time Wrestling', and on the syndicated
'Wrestling Challenge' shows, with Heenan famously dubbing himself a "broadcast journalist."
In August 1986, Heenan guided
Harley Race to winning the
King of the Ring tournament, but his biggest moment came at
Wrestlemania III in the
Pontiac Silverdome. Heenan managed
Andre the Giant against
Hulk Hogan before the largest crowd assembled for a wrestling event in North America.
Heenan teamed with his
Islanders at
Wrestlemania IV in a six-man tag match against the
British Bulldogs and
Koko B. Ware. The match ended when Heenan pinned Ware. After forging further succesful associations with
Haku and
The Brain Busters, Heenan's charge
'Ravishing' Rick Rude captured the
WWF Intercontinental title from The
Ultimate Warrior at
Wrestlemania V.
Heenan became the "Perfect Manager" with the arrival of '
Mr Perfect'
Curt Hennig into the Heenan family. On April 23, 1990, Heenan guided
Mr. Perfect to the Intercontinental title. Hennig won an eight-man tournament to capture the championship.
In 1991, World Championship Wrestling fired
Ric Flair. Upon his arrival in the WWF, Heenan became the '
Nature Boy's' manager. It was to bring with it the taste of the
WWF Championship, but also would be the last management job 'The Brain' would have.
Opting to cut down on travel, Heenan signed with
WCW in 1994. Heenan decided to end his career as a manager, and focus on
color commentary. Bobby was the regular color man on
WCW Saturday Night,
WCW Nitro and
WCW Thunder, however as time went on and
Eric Bischoff fell out of favour, Heenan found himself being gradually phased out. On November 2, 2000, Heenan was informed that he had been released by WCW.
After working dates as an announcer for several indy events, Heenan made an emotional return to the WWF at
Wrestlemania XVII in Houston, TX. Heenan provided commentary with 'Mean'
Gene Okerlund during the
Gimmick Battle Royal.
Bobby will be remembered for many things, not least of which would be the
heat he generated as the man the fans loved to hate (Heenan would hear packed arenas chanting "
Weasel!" at him wherever he went). His Family's feud with the
Big Boss Man was another high point, as was managing champion after champion, culminating in his run with Andre The Giant and later Ric Flair. However, Bobby's finest moments were in the commentary booth, with the legendary Gorilla Monsoon. For more details on their partnership, see
Gorilla Monsoon vs. Bobby Heenan.