Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, a WWE icon who made a living as a heel, regardless if he was commentating, managing, or wrestling, passed away. He was 73.
Heenan had his share of health struggles which started in 2002. That included dealing with throat cancer and many other physical hardships that included reconstructive jaw surgery and falls, according to CBS Sports. Also known as “The Weasel," Heenan made key appearances at special events. Regardless, his contributions are well-documented and will always be remembered.
Catalyst for WWE heels
Knowing that the WWE is a form of entertainment, the stage just wouldn’t be complete without heel wrestlers to complete feuds and storylines.
Heenan is best remembered for managing and even donning tights on certain occasions.
Heenan managed plenty of stars who got a big boost from the dark side, including the likes of Andre The Giant, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy and Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff, to name a few. His fame radiates past the WWE/WWF, having contributed to other wrestling organizations like the AWA, NWA, and the World Wrestling Association.
During his prime, he was the most hated character in wrestling entertainment, a testament to how good he acted out his role. Many have tried to follow in his footsteps, though, perhaps, not meeting the level and stature “The Brain” managed to build.
A tough act to follow
Heenan was unsurprisingly inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
He left the WWF in 1993, a scripted segment that had the late Gorilla Monsoon throwing him out of the arena. The whole scene was reportedly the WWE Hall of Famer’s idea, struggling to cope with the long working hours.
Since then, various WWE personalities have tried to duplicate what Heenan did. Among the most notable WWE heel managers who have tried include “Slick," Paul Bearer, Jimmy Hart, and Paul Heyman.
Of the mix, Heyman is the one currently active managing WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.
Of those names, Heyman may be the one who comes close to being the best heel manager the WWE has seen. He has garnered the ire of wrestling fans, mostly talking and setting the stage for his client (Brock Lesnar). But as far as duplicating what Heenan did, Heyman lacks a bit of flare and wrestling action to measure up to what “The Weasel” accomplished.
Regardless, there is no denying that Bobby Heenan is the benchmark for current and future managers the WWE will have to offer. He will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest managers in wrestling history with most recalling his famous lines such as "Will you stop?" "Give me a break!," and sarcastic "Please!"
