Bobby Heenan - Why I Was Put with Ric Flair in WWF

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

RIP to the best manager of all-time Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Stream the Full Shoot Interview: ➡titlematchnetwork.com/title/bobby-heenan-shoot-interview/ ➡kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3bOf36trraKiNk

[@dannybursace9151]

When I was a young pup I hated the Brain…thought he was such a dick, such a heel…now I see see him for what he was…a great man, entertaining us! You are missed… RIP to a wonderful man

[@mr.z6776]

That's how good he was.

[@DaDitka]

​@mr.z6776 Absolutely. The OP shows just how well Heenan could play the heel. He made the "soap opera" that was pro wrestling so... real.

[@billybobs1705]

it means he did his job and you was the sucker that booed him

[@tightknotsfishing9334]

That's the magic of this era.

[@HajimeNoJMo]

I was the same as a boy myself, but looking back, that was his job, to get heat and it works with kids (and I felt the same about Ted DiBase). When listening to his commentary at my present age, I get a kick out of it.

[@marcludwick512]

Flair, Perfect, and Heenan together were gold growing up!! Such a great combo.

[@bobbenbrown123]

Especially when they were at the 1992 Royal Rumble

[@marcludwick512]

@@bobbenbrown123 Yes!

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

They where my favourite 3. Absolute pinnacle of excellence all 3 of them! What a treat it was as a kid!

[@stevendez5047]

+ Rick rude , king Kong bundy

[@RedfishCarolina]

You know, Bobby seems like one of the truly greatest humans in entertainment history.

[@dr.floridamanphd]

He was from all the stories I heard about him. And even in these shoot interviews he’s still working us. He gives us enough truth to lure us in and then blurs the line between fact and fiction. He was truly The Brain.

[@kingofwrestling9758]

I says it like it is.

[@matthewfreeman33]

Yeah, but what side is he on?

[@Chris-m9s7i]

And someone who you believe every word he says. Very real, honest guy.

[@ericklingenberg5309]

​@matthewfreeman33 A classic Brain saying. R.I.P.😢

[@FuzzyWuzzy75]

Ric Flair as a heel with Bobby Heenan and his heel gimmick just went together like pancakes and syrup.

[@OX1947-LFB]

What about lamb and tuna?

[@jaythor70]

Just as it had been with Bockwinkle the decade before. He was icing on the cake.

[@CaptainCock-Strong]

🤔 syrup as in maple or Aunt Jemima? Bcuz peanuts ain’t peanut butter.

[@BobBob-id5xp]

Wait, what? What is this thing you call syrup

[@SAnd-pd1ou]

And Mr Perfect

[@Danimal77]

I feel bad when Bobby said he got tired of hurting from his bad neck. Little did he know that the next 15 years of his life would be constant pain from the throat cancer that you can start to hear in this interview and then him losing his jaw, his ability to speak and then constantly falling down and breaking major bone after major bone until his organs gave out. This is the last time Bobby looked like his old self, even though the voice was changing due to the cancer in his throat.

[@captfeeny]

OMG, I didn't know... That's so sad!

[@UntrepidOne]

Got to give him credit. He took those falls at home like a champ . Most older people die from a broken hip. Not him. But yeah, the years after this interview sure went bad. Speaking of Wendt. He reminds me of George Wendt from cheers. Talks the same

[@Tazzman225]

I know someone who met him after his cancer surgery and said how said it was because it was more than just his jaw removal. It was mind as he was acting very hostile toward people and that was not his style in public. RIP Booby "The Brain" Heenan.

[@metalanarchy5186]

That's horrible it's sad to watch a great man suffer so much

[@stevejamieson8468]

Ric with Bobby in the WWF was like Ric with JJ in the NWA...a perfect match.

[@toma.4808]

Absolutely. Like jj, Bobby technically also managed horsemen. Brainbusters, flair, hennig and windham

[@disconnexionsdotcom]

Man.. I wanted a WWF version of the Four Horsemen so bad. I hated that Arn & Tully left before Flair came in. A Heenan Family with Arn, Tully, Flair and either Sid or Mr Perfect would have been something.

[@jameshagan2832]

Too bad the brain busters were gone by the time flair showed up in wwf

[@jameshagan2832]

​@@disconnexionsdotcomthink a young Bret hart could have worked in the 4th spot as well.

[@TheIntellectualOne-ux8wo]

Bobby is sorely missed. What a humble gem of guy!! RIPbrain❤️

[@jasonhuggler7452]

I could listen to this man all day, we are so fortunate he left us a lifetime of content, all of it watchable, memorable and cherished. Selflessly entertaining the hell out of us. The significance of his presence is matched only by how much we miss him in his absence.

[@doubles7533]

2:50 one of the things that made Heenan so great right here

[@kingofwrestling9758]

I love Bobby Heenan. Best Ever!!

[@Elmer.Mcscrotum.]

I use his name as my handle, and I didn't even realize I was doing it. He's a legend.

[@ericdravenX00X]

I like when he Bobby says.. It Was Like Your Honeymoon.. The Next Night's Not That Good! RIP Bobby!

[@papennypincher7287]

Such a great dude…straight shooter!!! RIP brain!!!!

[@danc3488]

He had a fractured C5 and C6 for 12 years?! He had no insurance for surgery?! Jesus Christ, how was he even able to walk? And why didn't WWF have any kind of medical coverage for their people? I work as a nurse on a orthopedic/spine unit and I've seen some nasty neck fractures, but to have on for 12 years and not have the resources to take care of it? That's just awful

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Unbelievable. And he took a bunch a bumps too while hurt. Vince should have paid for his surgery.

[@geneanthony3421]

More surprised that he didn’t get insurance when he became a color guy and stopped taking bumps. WWE could have added him as a corporate employee. His risk would have been much lower so the insurance wouldn’t complain as much.

[@gregorylevi1826]

​@@geneanthony3421he was still an independent contractor.

[@geneanthony3421]

@@gregorylevi1826 he was only an independent contractor because they choose to keep him as one. They could have hired him with some sort of BS title in some sort of non-physical role. I assume most of their current backstage former contractors are employees now (Michael Hayes, Prichard, etc.). As long as he's not in physical danger he'd be fine.

[@mikemacdonald2032]

Wwf never had insurance because they were too cheap. I'm sure in that type of industry there's alot of injuries, therefore vince probably figures if they had insurance, they'd be off getting surgery and not on TV , making him more money. That's why Jesse wanted to unionize ...but bag licker hogan rated him out . This is why unions are so important, give back to the people that make their bosses rich

[@brandonperry4655]

This man was one of the most brilliant minds in the history of professional wrestling. An absolute genius. He's missed, and was a huge part of my childhood. RIP Bobby, thank you for everything.

[@pinnacleproductions6275]

Heenan was one of the best ever! Love him so much!

[@morganjacob1195]

Imagine that two of the greatest ever understood each other and liked each other.

[@jeffreygunn3150]

I love that he calls Vince, Jr. “the kid.” Classic.

[@practicalwerewolf]

83 to 95 without insurance smfh.. Vince McMahon is just an evil human being.

[@1in6win]

*"So now I gotta go on the road here, with Larry Flynt!"* Best WWE Hall of Fame joke ever!

[@paulcleary8088]

I could be wrong, but I think this interview is from 2001. By January 2002 he would announce that he had throat cancer, but you can tell by his speech that something wasn't quite right. A real shame he spent the next 15 years in poor health. He was an absolute legend and an immense asset to the WWF and WCW.

[@bigmike2464]

I think they were tryig to recreate Heenan's stint working with Bockwinkel in AWA, which was that of legend

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Perfect combo of Slick Ric & The Brain❤👍 R.I.P. Bobby Heenan😇

[@toma.4808]

Bobby is the greatest manager of alltime.

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

What a pleasure it is to listen to Bobby. I could listen to him speak all day his an absolute legend an a it shows how much of a decent guy he is!

[@Hangingwithfarrah]

Top 5 performer in wrestling greatest manager of all time

[@kingofwrestling9758]

Definitely. He sold the match like nobody else. When he was on commentary, I truly believed that he hated the likes of Hogan and Warrior. He was just so good.

[@michaelriverajr8891]

The fact that everyone consider the brain as the goat of managers is because of how great of a manager he was. Cornette has even said how he was influenced by the brain. He was also great when transitioning into commentary with monsoon.

[@stevenhenry5267]

His bumps were great

[@jimcockey4385]

Didnt know mr heenan personally but sure do miss him

[@jonathanturbide2232]

"...so now I've got to go on the road here, with Larry Flint" - Bobby Heenan during his HOF speech 😂

[@jonalbertson10270]

Bobby Heenan was the absolute best hands down. He was truly born to be a performer. He had "it" before people realized it was the x factor. Rest in Peace Bobby. You're sorely missed.

[@gimmejr]

Just started watching these clips of Bobby, he is hilarious. Seems like a smart guy.

[@YogsenForfoth]

Bobby was an absolute gem of a man. The greatest manager in the entire history of professional wrestling. The only person I ever heard say a single bad thing about Bobby was from the Warrior, and nothing he ever said should be taken seriously in the slightest bit. Warrior wasn’t fit to carry Heenan’s luggage, as far as I’m concerned. Rest easy, Brain. We love you and we miss you. ❤

[@karlepaul6632]

Heenan talking about the Valiants, that's just great stuff right there! 🤣

[@clivet3252]

He seemed to have a real issue with Johnny in particular.

[@AB-ez4rm]

The Brain I hated more than any other person in wrestling. Anyone that man managed had instant heat with me. When kayfabe was removed and I learned about how good Bobby was and how he was such a nice guy, I realized it was him that made me love wrestling so much as a kid. Heroes are only as good as the villains they engage and defeat. The Brain was the ultimate villain.

[@michaelbull4344]

One of the funniest cats in wrestling history great manager

[@VolumedMusicMan]

I’m originally from the Midwest and we always had the AWA on. I watched Bobbie with Bockwinkle since late 70s. I have the utmost respect for him. I don’t know any other wrestler/manager besides Roddy Piper or Jim Cornette that can make you laugh your ass off and piss you off at the same time.

[@davescire3004]

What a legend this guy wascso quick witted he had a knack for making you laugh and pumping you up for a big match in just a matter of seconds he's not only the greatest manager of all time but he's also one half of the greatest announcers duo of all time him and Gorilla were absolute gold together

[@malcolmr3]

Bobby’s about the business and he understands the business. He understands that Vince owns the business and he has expectations. In the end it’s a job and you work for Vince, do what he says to the best of your ability and you’ll have no problems.

[@richmuscle8316]

The greatest heel manager of all time! The greatest manager period ❤

[@robertwildenberg2255]

Absolutely think he was pure genius

[@georgejackson4426]

Let's not forget that when Ric Flair came to WWF he brought the NWA title with him. WWF blurred it out but everybody knew it was The Ten Pounds of Gold.

[@Elmer.Mcscrotum.]

I use his name as my handle, and didn't even realize i was doing it. He's a legend.

[@TheBadGuy61904]

We all know a lot of them wouldn’t have gotten over without him! Just a selfless person thats willing to say that!! There will never be anything close to him period!

[@mac888spectral7]

And he most definitely got himself over!

[@gregorylevi1826]

Jim Cornette is already close to him.

[@KandJHorrordotcom]

When Flair won the WWF/E belt in 92 Rumble, after the match in the interview you could see how happy Bobby was for Ric. He looked proud to have taken the Nature Boy to the summit.

[@shakeandjake_1]

It was like when Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby were in the AWA. Nick could talk on his own but putting Bobby with him added more to the heel gimmick he had. Ric was just a more talkative Nick

[@princered10]

For as much praise as WWF gets back in these days as the premiere company they couldn't take care of their talent.

[@mac888spectral7]

With Bobby's neck troubles I'm surprised he let Patera sling him across the ring with that belt.

[@panowa8319]

Or Brian Pillman grabbing him.

[@codster9]

@@panowa8319 Heenan didn't know he was going to do that.

[@josh-cl9fl]

I think Heenan is the best heel personality I’ve ever seen

[@timothym7608]

You'd think the WWF would have helped with his surgery. To go 12 years after a broken neck, jeez!

[@michaelriverajr8891]

The brain was great as a manager and also enjoyed when he did commentary with monsoon. The brain calling the valients useless... dam 😅

[@willieholmes1483]

I REALLY would have loved to have heard a commentary team of Heenan with Jerry Lawler. I think some people would have LITERALLY died laughing from those two!

[@ArthurIdis-c7k]

We were blessed with him and Gorilla Monsoon. Oh, the memories.😂

[@andrewcorbett5729]

Lovely guy honest and respected the business

[@morganjacob1195]

He paid the biggest price for being the greatest. And exactly you don't just get over. The booker and the other guys get you over.

[@AdamDaniel-pn4iw]

"What happened to your neck." "Well, there's a man named Onita-" say no more

[@blacksmithbeatz]

Imagine the 4 horsemen in 86 with the Brain

[@josephkunath4173]

Rest easy Bobby thank you for the memories.

[@adamrobinette6832]

Having those vignettes was the best thing Bobby could have done for Flair. Fans today look at Flair as this legend, which he is. But they also look at him like everyone knew who he was back then, and everyone saw him as this great performer. There was no internet. If you didn't get Mid Atlantic until the late 80s, you never saw Ric Flair, unless he was on your regional territories' TV show. By the time it became WCW, so many fans were onto WWF, that mostly NWA fans kept watching WCW. So when it was time for Flair to come to WWF, I'd be willing to bet 8 out of 10 WWF fans either didn't know who Ric Flair was, or hadn't seen enough of his stuff to care. Those vignettes, followed by his amazing Rumble performance was everything to get him over to the WWF audience. But it all started with Bobby in the vignettes, and him telling as much of a story at ringside commentating, as Flair told in the ring during the Rumble.

[@Prossdog]

I’ll never forget Heenan during that Royal Rumble when Flair came in at #1 and won it; “no, no, no! This isn’t fair to Flair!!”

[@anthonytraficante9655]

0:45 been to an all nite gas station in Japan!! Thats when you know youve fulfilled your life!! Lol

[@TheSubmissionChannel]

What does that mean? I've never been to Japan. I wrestled in Puerto Rico though.

[@kardave2848]

"The Real world's champion...Ric Flair!" The original forbidden door!

[@armandop9082]

Heenan was with awa when Flair started career so they probably knew each other and he was perfect to manage Flair in wwf.

[@javier77th]

I remember being really young in the 80’s and 90’s and I was a huge NWA fan and was able catch it on TBS in the early stages of cable tv, so the day, Bobby showed up on TV with that Belt, which has been my favorite belt to this day, when I saw Bobby and that belt together, me and my childhood buddy were screaming like girls (marking out to the umpth degree). I had every copy of the WWF magazines, adorning my bedroom walls. Good times.

[@armandop9082]

@javier77street I was big nwa fan wtbs Saturday nights never missed it lol, liked wwf also but it def was cartoonish compared to Crockett and nwa, I loved world class championship wrestling also 80s was best era ever you had awa, nwa, wwf, wccw,, uwf also.

[@javier77th]

@@armandop9082 I agree. Seeing the Lawler vs Andy Kaufmann feud in real time when we both still thought wrestling was real and literally thought he really broke Andy’s neck. Lol

[@armandop9082]

@@javier77th Memphis wrestling also great, midsouth, Mid Atlantic, Georgia wrestling, Florida wresting, I wish we had territory system again they were all different and unique.

[@javier77th]

@@armandop9082 So do I. I have all the DVD sets. My childhood buddy was the one to introduce me to everything outside of WWF. He actually became an Indy Wrestler. Look him up. Buff-E of The Christopher Street Connection. We’ve been friends for 40+ years.

[@GetOffMyLawnCards]

They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes but I wish I would’ve met the Brain.

[@JosephMiller-gh6mv]

I know the feeling i broke my neck got tired of dragging my leg went to a chiropractor it helps but for his job retire enjoy life he had left RIP

[@Tazzman225]

I remember the time a wrestler grabbed him by his neck and shook him. He yelled, "What the f**k are you doing?" I can see him getting upset over that because wrestlers were informed not to touch him due to his neck surgery. He did go publicly and apologize. I wonder if that wrestler apologized to him?

[@TRivera13]

It was Brian Pillman. And Pillman did apologize according to Heenan. Pillman also may not have been told about Heenan's situation. But Bobby has also said that he thought it was a fan who grabbed him. Because as a commentator he watches the match through a monitor even though the action is right in front of him. The reason being because he is commenting for the people watching on TV. So he had to comment on they were seeing. Being focused on the monitor, he didn't see Pillman come from behind.

[@Tazzman225]

@@TRivera13 --- You're right. When I met some wrestlers at a Comic Con show we talked about Brian doing that but from what they told me all the wrestlers present were informed of Bobby's condition.

[@nickzemlachenko8985]

What a classy individual Bobby Heenan was. He is missed.

[@vincentdimurro8246]

When THE BRAIN SAID BE FAIR TO FLAIR DAMN THAT CATCHPHRASE WAS GREAT.

[@Kirkland-rv5jf]

For me heenan is the greatest wrestling star there is.

[@danfairfw]

I remember the triple tag team match from "Big Time Wrestling" of Handsome Jimmy and Luscious Johnny Valiant with Pretty Boy (before he became The Brain) Bobby Heenan vs. Dick the Bruiser with his "cousin" The Crusher and a midget wrestler named Little Bruiser. Just telling the lineup reveals the spoiler. While the Valiant's and Bruiser and Crusher were having at it, Bobby cracks on Little Bruiser to win the match. That set up 6 months of grudge matches.

[@johndurham2459]

Always wondered why Flair needed a manager.

[@fryguy714]

I had six and seven and then I have Hardware in my neck and it got to the point where I couldn't lift 5 lb in my right arm much less hardly even fill it it was horrible and it hurt like hell Salon know exactly what Bobby saying I enjoyed watching him on TV he's truly missed

[@illuminatecomics]

LOVE THESE!!

[@battlestarmarc]

Heenan was awesome. Heenan made pro wrestling fun.

[@Elmer.Mcscrotum.]

My Hero, miss him.🙏

[@mikejejenich-pb5zx]

Bobby was a genuis in the wrestling 🤼 business guy was smart quick witted. Knew how to push buttons. Knew how to work the crowd. And if you watch some of his videos he could take a hell of a bump. There will never be another like him. Greatest manager inThe history of rasslin 💯 🤼

[@CaptainHowdy-fn9dy]

Watch that spot he did with Patera in the WWF back in '87. Pateta wrapped his belt around Heenan's neck and threw him around like a ragdoll. I wonder if that made Heenan's neck injury worse?

[@TimothyWarner-q7s]

The brain was one of the best 😊

[@BIGDADDYSINISTER]

12 YEARS before he could afford to have a major operation? As Ron Simmons would say: "DAMN!!!"

[@danielleyton596]

Heenan showed some admirable humility here, and he generally comes off as likeable and charming. I think he would've done very well in a toned-down role, where he was allowed to be more like himself (he was great as it was, but I just wish he had the chance to be more of this very likeable fellow--i.e., more like himself, seemingly, at least).

[@jimstone-sm4hv]

Greatest angle ever IN. Wwe Ric flair. Real Champ

[@jvharbin8337]

Never heard anyone describe the second night of a honeymoon ever! Point blank period! I never imagined anyone would describe it like that though! 😂😂😂😅

[@8Nora90]

One of the greatest!

[@Marktb363]

A likable guy! 🙂

[@uttermanbo]

Because it added to the package. A bad guy with bad guys around him make for a more compelling fight for the good guy to overcome.

[@MAGCOUSA]

Bobby was the BEST

[@JediPhoenix1976]

I remember watching Bobby as manager in the late 80s, before he switched to broadcasting; knowing he was taking his share of bumps with a broken neck...no wonder the surgery took 7 hours.

[@mikeguttierez4005]

R.I.P. Bobby H.

[@mikeattard3543]

It's a travesty that he didn't have any kind of health insurance to pay for an operation to fix a neck with the ruptured discs and had t o suffer the entire 12 years he was in WWF/E

[@bluvishenproductions1548]

The greatest manager ever

[@JosephMiller-hu7bq]

Bobby was to me the greatest total performer he did it all and was the best no Bobby no Hogan they needed each other.

[@undergroundheatcypher1091]

Bobby Heenan wearing that neck brace wasn't fake his neck really was bothering him all those yrs!!

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

How incredibly petty of Vince not to give his #1 heel manager health insurance while making the big bucks off him.😠

[@bobbychurch1530]

Love Heenan the greatest

[@Nonegiven14582]

He's worked hard. Looks more than 56 here.

[@ricardor7578]

No insurance?! WTF?! Wrestling is so dangerous, how the F they didn't give him insurance?

[@AV57]

Too dangerous. Too unpredictable. And too few people do it for insurance companies to really understand what rates to charge to protect themselves when they do get hurt. Lloyds of London rather infamously attempted to insure wrestlers at very high rates, but that only encouraged wrestlers to become more reckless. The same concept kind of applies to other sports athletes, which is why in other sports the teams have their own dedicated medical staff to take care of injuries in-house. WWF and WCW never bothered to invest in their wrestlers’ health and instead treat them as if they’re independent contractors who should figure it all out on their own.

[@gregorylevi1826]

Maybe if Hogan hadn't stopped Jesse from wanting to form A union things might have been different for them.

[@kevransted9452]

How are these videos getting so many views? This interview has been on KZbin for years, now it’s getting 1000’s of views all over again. Good on you if you’re monetising it.

[@MonkeManKam]

Insurance with Turner. There you go.

[@tylerpinkerton8980]

Bbby Heenan was the uncle that all the kids wanted to sit with.

[@jameshagan2832]

Imagine if heenan managed either the horsemen in wcw or if the brain busters were still in wwf when flair came in, throw a young bret hart as the 4th member of a wwf version of the horsemen (assuming henning was still unable to work at that time otherwise he is the obvious 4th as mr perfect)

[@scs2850]

They don’t make men like Bobby any more

[@crazyvintagetoys3062]

It’s just a shame they didn’t have insurance and so many guys lived in so much pain. Vince was a pos about all that

[@phoenixblack1220]

The best ever!!