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Post by Swarm on Sept 18, 2017 8:27:41 GMT -5
Pro Wrestling has never been the same without guys like Bobby, Gorilla and Ventura helping tell the stories from ringside. In my opinion, the biggest thing missing from the magic are these guys.
Best manager and for my money, best voice the WWF/E ever had.
RIP
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Post by lucifer on Sept 18, 2017 11:03:06 GMT -5
Pro Wrestling has never been the same without guys like Bobby, Gorilla and Ventura helping tell the stories from ringside. In my opinion, the biggest thing missing from the magic are these guys. Best manager and for my money, best voice the WWF/E ever had. RIP Exactly |
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Post by Sam Fain on Sept 18, 2017 11:25:58 GMT -5
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is one of my favorite entertainers of all time. Period. His work in the ring, on the apron, in the corner, on the mic, as a manager, as a color commentator is unparalleled. He goes down as one of the finest all around performers in the history of pro wrestling.
Though we mostly only have clips, I'll take Nick Bockwinkel's word for it when he said Bobby was just as good, if not a better worker than he and Ray Stevens, but he could do things Nick and Ray couldn't. Luckily we have all the proof we'll ever need of his work as a manager and commentator. There are few that could even come close to the work he did on a day to day basis and when he was at his best, no one could touch him. His influence will be felt in the business for decades to come and Corey Graves said it best in his tweet "Without him there is no me".
Growing up, I loved Hogan like many others. As an adult, I can say without Heenan there would likely be no 5 year glory period of Hulkamania running wild. They could put him with anyone and immediately they were a threat to the Hulkster's title. And he was never shy to bump for anyone. If it made sense and meant good business, he'd do it, even when he hated the guy. Just look at the way he bumped for Warrior. Weasel Suit, anyone?
His work on the early days of Raw put over so many folks and angles, and even on his way out, he didn't mind looking the fool. His last bit with Monsoon and the gimmick with the toilet paper were priceless.
There's little doubt he helped to bring legitimacy to WCW with his recognizable voice and antics. It's only fitting that a man who helped wrestling attain new heights during Rock N Wrestling would continue to be a big part of the 90's boom period with the NWO angle.
His sense of humor, quick wit, and love for the business were keys to his longevity and success.
I never got the chance to meet the man, but my mother did multiple times when she was working at a bar in Minneapolis in the late 70s. She said he was a gentleman and a great tipper. He played a gag on her one time by having Andre the Giant deliver he flowers at work. She never forgot that.
I will never forget him. I doubt any of us will.
Rest in Power, Bobby. Gino is waiting at Gorilla for you...
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Post by TTX on Sept 18, 2017 11:37:56 GMT -5
I had known about the weasel suit matches in the WWF but didn't know until later it was just borrowing from the AWA where he wrestled Greg Gagne in a series with the same stipulation.
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Post by topdollar on Sept 18, 2017 12:25:23 GMT -5
There will never ever be another manager or commentator like Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. He wasn't the first heel manager. He wasn't even the first heel commentator--I mean broadcast journalist. He was simply the best at both. He knew how to draw a fine line between getting heat and making people laugh. Now he's reunited with his Heenan Family: Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, Andre The Giant, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, and many others. I wish we had more people in the business today like Bobby Heenan. RIP Brain.
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Post by Crimson Cross on Sept 18, 2017 15:01:34 GMT -5
Pro Wrestling has never been the same without guys like Bobby, Gorilla and Ventura helping tell the stories from ringside. In my opinion, the biggest thing missing from the magic are these guys. Best manager and for my money, best voice the WWF/E ever had. RIP I agree. What is great, is the WWE Network to rewatch that era with greats like Heenan... RIP Bobby Heenan |
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Post by wayne on Oct 2, 2017 13:23:14 GMT -5
So sad to hear about Heenan. I don’t watch modern wrestling but am a big fan of the late 80s, early 90s. Heenan was a great heel manager and even better commentator. So funny at times. It’s terrible that my two favourite cards of all time were wrestlemania 6 and 7 and probably over half the performers are dead. It doesn’t feel that long ago!
There were so many great Heenan moments. I remember at WM7 when Heenan was ridiculing Tenryu and Kitao calling them all sorts. Monsoon chimes at Bobby over his insulting Kitao’s name and says “you’d have trouble if his name was Fred”, Heenan “what? His name’s Fred Kitao? That’s a stupid name for a Japanese guy!” Guess it’s funnier to watch / hear it than to read it but it made me chuckle. The guy was a legend on the mic.
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Post by Gunslinger on Oct 3, 2017 8:48:04 GMT -5
 I saw on twitter that Lance Russell died. I'll see if I can find a link. |
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Post by Gunslinger on Oct 3, 2017 8:49:57 GMT -5
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Post by throwingtoasters on Oct 3, 2017 8:52:17 GMT -5
Talk about wrestling royalty. I didn’t get Memphis wrestling out here in California but Lance was well known. RIP
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