5 things you didn't know about Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan passed away on September 17th, 2017 at the age of 72 years. Even though he's gone, his impact on the pro wrestling business will be felt forever.

But some of his most lasting memories are held by those who knew him best. Heenan was an outstanding personality in and out of the ring and anyone who knew him remembers him fondly for his uncanny ability to capitalize on unexpected moments.

His antics outside the ring were sometimes even more entertaining than what he pulled off in front of the camera. He brought joy to all those around him with his sharp wit and never ending desire to make people laugh.

He might be gone, but he will never be forgotten. So let's explore some sides of Bobby Heenan's legendary life that some fans might not remember.

#5- He was afraid of the fans

If you were a fan, he might have been afraid of you

Heenan might have been a fan favorite but he was actually terrified of his adoring (and often times angry) public. He was a heat machine in the days of kayfabe and feared the wrath of his words from the general public.

Tony Schiavone once spoke about Heenan's phobia of the fans on his podcast What Happened When.Thanks to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

"Bobby was also very afraid of fans because fans, as you know, as a heel back in the old days, could really get on you."

Schiavone went on to tell a story about going to the next town with Heenan on time but the car got there late and they were stormed by fans.

"We got the car late. We got in the car and I think [Mike] Tenay may have driven the car this time or maybe I was driving and the fans came out and they saw Heenan and started banging on the car [...] And they were banging on the car and Heenan was in full panic mode. He was like, 'you guys don't understand! These fans are crazy!'"

Fans would scream "WEASEL!" at Heenan which was his world-famous moniker. It scared Bobby to no end and he was legitimately afraid of their ferocious fandom.

#4- He wrestled quite a bit early on

From 1967 to 1974, Bobby Heenan was a regular worker for Indianapolis-based WWA as a wrestler and a manager. He was managed by Randy Savage's father Angelo Poffo and Chris Markoff.

Therefore back in the day, it was Heenan who needed a manager. He would later be paired with other wrestlers for the same reason. Only he was the manager with the magic tongue.

In later years Heenan didn't wrestle much but it did happen from time to time. He also took some bumps in the ring, when a babyface would win the chance to get some time alone with Heenan in the ring.

Sometimes the stipulation would even involve putting The Brain in a Weasel suit. When Bobby Heenan went to WWE, he brought The Weasel suit with him because it was actually his.

#3- Bobby Heenan knew how to hold a grudge

Bobby Heenan and Tony Schiavone formed a really great relationship while working together in WCW. But after Heenan was fired from WCW, it caused a rift in the relationship that lasted for years.

Tony Schiavone revealed on his episode dedicated to Bobby Heenan that he received a call from WCW director Craig Leathers telling him they had made the decision to fire Bobby. Schiavone offered to call and break the news to The Brain but he was informed it had already taken place.

Apparently, Heenan was very upset and threatened to sue. Tony Schiavone said he was told not to call Bobby due to his threat to take legal action. Heenan was furious.

It didn't happen the way Schiavone would have hoped. Thanks to Still Real To Us for the transcription.

"I didn't know it was coming, I didn't call him because Craig told me not to and I should have because we had been very close. And we had been very good friends and we had traveled up and down on the road together. So that was my mistake and I'm sorry for it, I really am and that's why he was angry at me."

#2- His favorite people to prank were outside the wrestling business

Bobby Heenan was one of the best pranksters in the locker room. But some of his favorite targets were unsuspecting civilians who had nothing to do with professional wrestling.

He would often trip on purpose in public to entertain his traveling buddies who were making towns with him. Some of his favorite pranks would involve him tripping on purpose and acting like he couldn't get up while knocking over store displays and bringing laughter to anyone's faces who understood what was really going on.

Tony Schiavone told several stories about Heenan's pranks on the public during his episode dedicated to The Brain on What Happened When. Thanks to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

"That happened more than once. That happened in Maryland, that happened in New Jersey where he would do a prat fall like that to make us all laugh. And of course we would have to run out trying not to laugh but it was just Heenan being Heenan."

Bruce Prichard also told a story about Heenan on an episode of Something To Wrestle With were Heenan would love to offer to take pictures for tourists and intentionally ruin the photo by messing up the picture or saying "go back further" again and again until he backed someone into a fountain or some other obstacle.

#1- He didn't care much for The Ultimate Warrior

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan might have softened his stance on The Ultimate Warrior in the years since Warrior's unexpected passing. But The Brain's comments on the man from Parts Unknown was a highlight during "The Self-Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior" DVD.

He remarked how Warrior didn't respect the pro wrestling business and was only in it for the money. He also hated his time in the ring with Ultimate Warrior because he said Warrior was way too rough with him.

In the days of the musclemen, Heenan regarded Warrior as nothing but a physique with no wrestling ability.

He spoke very candidly about Warrior and his distrust and disdain for everything Ultimate.

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Edited by Riju Dasgupta