Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was one of Hulk Hogan’s greatest adversaries in WWE. A serious illness robbed him of his powerful voice, and he died eight years ago today.
He was one of the greatest entertainers in the WWE wrestling league, his sharp tongue and pointed humor were legendary – making his end all the more sad.
Eight years ago today, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan died. During the first nationwide boom phase of the then WWF, he was one of the most important opponents of the crowd favorites led by superstar Hulk Hogan.
Heenan acted as manager to numerous “heels,” the villains such as Andre The Giant, King Kong Bundy, ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude, and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (all of whom have since passed away prematurely, as has Hogan himself this year). He accompanied them to the ring, intervened unfairly on their behalf, and did their talking for them.
“The Brain” shone with his intelligent and sharp-tongued wit, which also characterized his second major role—as co-commentator on numerous WWF TV shows and later on the rival WCW league. His admirers included celebrities such as legendary US late-night talk show host David Letterman.
Bobby Heenan was Hulk Hogan’s great adversary
Heenan was born Robert Louis Heenan in Chicago and had been involved in the wrestling business since the 1960s. Initially, he was also active as a show fighter himself, but his talent as a manager quickly proved to be much greater.
Over the decades, he gathered numerous legends in his “Heenan Family,” which he also established in the WWF after moving from the AWA league in 1984. At WrestleMania III in 1987, the biggest show of that era, he accompanied Andre The Giant to the ring in front of around 90,000 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome in the main event against Hogan. He had also managed a top villain at the AWA: Nick Bockwinkel, against whom Hogan had his first major feud.
Heenan regularly insulted fans and audiences as inferior “humanoids” and was in turn mocked as a “weasel”: all talk, but quick to run away when things got serious.
He ended his managerial career in 1991 after a neck injury prevented him from taking more beatings—an essential element of his performances. Heenan’s skills continued to be used to introduce the newly signed stars Ric Flair and Lex Luger, but he mainly switched to commentary.
Cancer had serious consequences
In this role, his verbal sparring with his congenial partner Gorilla Monsoon became particularly famous. The best example of Heenan’s talent for mixing his role as a villain with skillful wit was his commentary on the famous segment in which Shawn Michaels threw his ex-partner through the window of a barber shop set: “Jannetty tried to escape through the window—what cowardice!”
Behind the scenes, former wrestlers Monsoon and Heenan—whose colleagues spoke highly of his human qualities—were best friends. At Heenan’s last major rhetorical appearance, his Hall of Fame induction in 2004, he sorely missed Monsoon.
In his final years, Heenan himself was severely affected by throat cancer, which was diagnosed in 2002. His jaw had to be surgically removed, he could barely speak, and he suffered numerous health complications.
Heenan died at the age of 73 on September 17, 2017, surrounded by his family in Largo, Florida.