How bad do you guys miss Bobby Heenan?

[mrhexum]

Sorry if something like this has been done before, just don't see too much about him on the forums.

When I think back to being a kid and watching wrestling Bobby Heenan is one of the first people to pop into my head. He was the heel manager/commentator that made you laugh and couldn't wait to hear what would come out of his mouth next. Hell, I still use the term "ham n' egger" today.

Do you guys miss the Brain?
What were your thoughts?

 

[ChiefAlot]

Yea I miss him. He was a great commentator. Witty and funny. He also could cut a great Promo. Would love to hear him still call matches but will never happen again. Good thread a shame not many people posting.

 

[EastCoastFan]

Bobby Heenan was a great manager and he was hysterical on commentary. He and Gorilla Monsoon played off each other so well.

Sadly, Heenan has been battling cancer and had to have his jaw reconstructed a couple of years ago. I saw him at a convention back in April and he looked terrible.

 

[nickscarz]

prob the funniest man in wrestling... or very close to it... he made wrestling gold

 

[steinerscrewdriver]

as soon as i seen this thread i heard the brain yelling "this isnt fair to flair" damn i miss the brain i grew up listening to up call matches and i hated him for being a "bad guy" i look back now and all i can think of was how genius it was and entertaining

"what an act of cowardice he dove through that window"

 

[KoC417]

Bobby the Brain should go down as by far one of the best announcers alive. Along with his managerial career he provided Hundreds, probably even thousands of ridiculously hilarious moments on both WWF and WCW television. But he also had a legitimate and friendly side. Look at his WCW tribute to Gorilla Monsoon and if you don't feel tears forming in your eyes you have no soul.
To be honest even though they hated eachother Tony and Bobby were great together on Nitro. Tony would say something stupid, and Bobby would 1 up him.

I still remember during the Savage vs Warrior Loser Leave match when the fans were crying because Savage and Elizabeth had a very emotional reunion the fans were in tears and Bobby said "Maybe their shoes are too tight". I remember rolling on the floor laughing so hard.
Then his patented "See ya" when the nWo would arrive. Nobody will ever replace him I just wish he were still able to commentate. It's a shame to listen to such a talented man suffer as much as he has. His speech went from being great to barely audible. Such a tragedy but fortunately he was still able to leave us with as many moments and memories as he did.

 

[doorag]

I miss the Brain like a lost puppy. I just don't know what to do! Lucky for us, he's still with us, and he can do shoot interviews telling stories from the road. I was very, very fortunate to be able to watch him for so many years as a manager and announcer. The Brain is the Best. Plain and Simple, the Best!

 

[The Future Rises]

I don't miss him because I wasn't around to enjoy him in the mid-late 80's - early 90's.

But looking back at all of his fantastic work as both a manager and a commentator. I definitely wish I was there to see it. I think Heenan's breakout performance as a commentator was at Wrestlemania 8 with Gorilla Monsoon. The event was great and but the commentating made it so much better. They were entertaining from start to finish. And Heenan was so entertaining back then as a Ric Flair mark. I think it's safe to say that before there was The Miz, Alex Riley and Michael Cole there was Ric Flair, Mr.Perfect and Bobby Heenan(no comparison intended).

 

[HeenanGorilla]

As you can see from my username, I was a huge fan of The Brain, especially when he was announcing with Gorilla Monsoon. His comedic timing was brilliant. He was a credible manager, announcer and "broadcast journalist".

Michael Cole is an absolute blank and to hear him use terms like that is truly as if he read a "History of Heel Announcers" and did NOTHING to adapt to the change in times. Heenan was a wrestler. Cole wrestled a gimmick match that went on far too long and was a well-hyped fail. Cole has NO credibility and even less personality.

I don't want to make this about Cole because Heenan is an all-time great and Cole, aside from a long tenure, is a non-factor is WWE's history. I just wish today's fans could be treated to the experience of having an announcer like Bobby Heenan.

 

[RicoLen]

Cole has personality, he just doesn't know how to connect well with people as a heel. Unlike guys like Miz & Killings, and especially Heenan.

Gorilla Monsoon was great, I liked his play by play better than even JR, who obviously is great. But Monsoon with Jesse Ventura was great, honestly I think Monsoon made everyone he worked with better. Because I never much enjoyed either Ventura or Heenan as much on their own as compared with with Monsoon. Heenan was never as funny, and Ventura actually kinda got annoying.

Bobby Heenan however was quite simply the greatest voice the WWE has ever had. He had so many great lines.

Macho Man picks up Elizabeth on his shoulders to celebrate after a match and Heenan says "Oh my god he's going to suplex her! I KNEW he was no good!"

Piper's standing over the Hitman with the timekeeper's bell. "Remember the old saying: What the hell, use the bell!"

Heenan: "Where did those ten lumpy Indians go?"
Monsoon: "They're Lummi, not lumpy."
Heenan: "Did you say hello to their chief? Did you do it properly? Did you say Hey how are'ya Hey how are'ya?"
Heenan: "You know they don't have to go that far before they're home, only about 300 miles to Cleavland. You ever hear of the Cleavland Indians?"


You know I've always wondered if Santino Marella would be good at commentary. He reminds me of Bobby The Brain Heenan when he was a wrestler.

 

[Bigrog25]

One of the most entertaining characters in the business EVER. Bobby Heenan is as far as I'm concerned the greatest at what he did, whether it be as a manager, or as an announcer, I find it very sad that more people haven't posted on this topic and shown the respect this man deserves. Anyone who is over the age of 20 - 25 and watched wrestling anywhere from the 80's and 90's and doesn't post here and show the Brain the respect he deserves should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[LODemolition]

Greatest manager ever. Half of the greatest announcing combo ever w/ Gorilla Monsoon. Simple as that. Part of the reason I consider WrestleMania 8 one of the best ever was because of them, not because of the card. Even though it was decent, they made it so much more entertaining.

"That's Tito's sister. It's Ariba McIntyre"

"She is not!"

"Woooo!"


My favorite quote of his was at the '92 Rumble when Flair and Piper were attacking the same wrestler.

"I take back everything I ever said. It's not a skirt, it's a kilt."

Then Piper started punching Flair

"Why you no good son of a...it's a skirt!"

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I don't miss Bobby Heenan, as I did not watch wrestling when The Brain was on commentary or managing anyone.

However....I REGRET not being a fan and taking the opportunity to see Bobby Heenan in his prime. The man was hilarious, he was a phenomenal talent and the WWE is definitely a poorer place without him. He was definitely one of the all time greatest managers in wrestling history, and also was a phenomenal commentator and far better than anyone the WWE has now

It is very sad that he is no longer with us

 

[Bigrog25]

@triplenaitch, he is still with us, he hasn't passed away. Now agree wholeheartedly it would be kickass if he could still perform, not sure which you meant by no longer with us....

 

[the voice of reason]

I truly miss having Bobby Heenan in WWE or just wrestling in general. He was such a great manager for a lot of very good heels. One thing that always sticks in my head with Bobby Heenan is what he said when Shawn Michaels threw Marty Jannetty through the window of the Barber shop. When they showed the replay Heenan said that Jannetty jumped through the window to get away from Michaels. Everytime I hear it or thing about it I laugh my ass off.

 

[HollywoodLuthias]

Not only do I miss Bobby Heenan, but I also missed the roles he played.

He is the greatest Manager of all time, why wrestling has fazed out the role of a Manager is a mistake in my opinion. Lots of guys would be better off if they had someone to be their Manager. Sadly WWE fazed out the Manager and other companies followed suit. Huge mistake!!!

Another role Heenan played the heel announcer, which he did wonderfully. Many has tried, but no one was as good as Bobby Heenan. His quick witted humor at the expense of "face" Wrestlers and his announce partner was brilliant.

 

[Rowdy Robby Piper]

My favorite Heenan moment would have to be the following promo/announcement on Wrestling Challenge...

[YOUTUBE]Doh1PMsLrzE&NR=1[/YOUTUBE]


I think we all said a big "Holy S***" when this happened because it was (at the time) the match we all were dreaming for, but had never happened (or never did in the WWF except for I believe two house shows at MSG).

Also, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned The Bobby Heenan Show. That was a definite showcase of Heenan's talents and what he could do if he were the host of his own show (maybe as a nod to the old Tuesday Night Titans talk show). Too bad it only lasted a couple of episodes...

 

[Cyruscaine82]

Bobby Heenan is great. Best color commentator in my opinion. I laughed for minutes (literally) during one play by play at WrestleMania 9 during the Hogan/Beefcake vs Money Inc. Match. Shortly after Beefcake came back after facial reconstruction. I forget the exact words but it went something like this.

Heenan: (Dibiase is punching Beefcakes face) Wait can you hear that?
Gorilla: What, Brain?
Heenan: He's got so much metal in his face you can hear the screws moving.
Gorilla: That's a terrible thing to say, he's not a robot, he's a human being.

 

[longlivetheBrood]

Oh The Brain. How I used to love seeing him get tossed around when I still thought it was all real. His stable of wrestlers-unmatched. His mastery of witticism-legendary. How I'd love to see him pop up backstage and have him go off lecturing Vikki Guererro on how to properly manage a stable of wrestlers. I miss him terribly and feel for him in his struggles with his health.