Weasel Tales, Feat. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Weasel Tales: The Bobby Heenan Archives - A Triumvirate Feat. Tipping, Chair Battles, and WCW

• Steve Anderson

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Text Me, Ya Ham And Egger

Ever wondered what it's like to build a legendary career in wrestling while juggling—and sometimes struggling with—life outside the ring? Join us as we sit down with the iconic Bobby Heenan, who opens up about his early days in the wrestling business, the invaluable advice from mentors like Joe Tangaro, and his surprising foray into the bar and restaurant industry. Hear firsthand why Heenan believes the hospitality business can be as unforgiving as wrestling, and how he navigated those demanding waters. From humorous tales to heartfelt moments, Bobby's insights paint a vivid portrait of the man behind the persona.

But that's not all! Discover how wrestling greats like Bobby Davis and Buddy Rogers helped shape Bobby Heenan’s career, and relish in the behind-the-scenes stories from the mid-60s wrestling scene. Whether recounting his awe upon meeting his idols or sharing the camaraderie and friendships that defined his journey, Bobby’s storytelling brilliance will captivate you. Perfect for wrestling enthusiasts and newcomers alike, this episode promises a rich blend of nostalgia, perseverance, and industry wisdom straight from one of wrestling's most beloved figures.

Speaker 1:

You listen to me, you go to the top. Bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, Bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby. I was a normal stock partner in that and it was successful and I made money out of that. But I wasn't in control of the place or had any say or anything, but I could go there and eat and drink for nothing. I just signed an autograph. It was fun. But no, I never wanted to get in the bar business because it's like the wrestling business it's money coming in that I can't control. Someone else sees it before I do, someone else touches it, someone else makes it disappear. Plus, for what hours?

Speaker 1:

A good friend of mine, joe Tangaro, had a restaurant in St Louis. He used to wrestle with Joe Brunetti, Joe and Guy Brunetti, the Brunetti brothers. His real name was Joe Tangaro and I'm not sure if Joe was still with us, but he had Parkinson's disease and Joe was a wonderful guy. He was the guy that told me don't let the bruiser make you into an Arab boy Be a man. That's what Joe told me. And Joe opened up a steakhouse in St Louis and I was very proud of him. And Joe was from Wilbur Snyder's age Joe would probably be in his 70s. And and Joe was from Wilbur Snyder's age, joe would probably be in his 70s. And I told Joe I said this is great, you've got a restaurant. You no longer have to drive in a car and fly. He said this is the worst thing I've ever done. He said if the dishwasher don't show up, I've got to wash dishes. The parking lot guy said I've got to park cars, I've got to be here every minute of the day, seven days a week. And I didn't realize that that's what he wanted to do. And when he got into it he realized that he had to stay with it because the wrestle was over. And I think he made a success out of it. That water guy, he did it.

Speaker 1:

Dick Murdoch had a body called Dick's Dive in Amarillo. I don't know if that was successful or not, but knowing Murdoch, it had to just be a place where other guys wouldn't sit and drink. Oh sure you know. Oh, boy, st Marie. Yeah, he's died, but I'm saying I got my name originally? Yeah, my brother was Ray Heenan, yeah, but Bruiser said he called me Bobby Heenan because Biden Rogers had a manager called Bobby Davis and they were in Chicago in the early 60s and I started in the mid-60s.

Speaker 1:

So they wanted to like touch me to Bobby Davis. You see, bobby Davis, buddy Rogers was my him and Ray Stevens were my idols. We didn't have good business and them naming me after Bobby Davis was a treat for me. So I finally got to meet Bobby Davis was a treat for me, yeah, so I finally got to meet Bobby Davis. He lives in, I think, san Bernardino.

Speaker 1:

We were doing a pay-per-view out there or some kind of a show I was doing announcing and Well, it wasn't until many years later. No, this was like 10, 15 years ago. So you were at WWF, yeah, and Vince had Bobby Davis sit in and we did. He called one match with Monsun and I and it was such a privilege to meet him and he's got about 20 Wendy's hamburgers. Another wrestler called Baron Antonio Leone had I don't know how many. I think it was shaky pieces. And Johnny and Jack Briscoe are into a body shop in Tampa Florida. They do body shop work and I'm proud of the guys that got into the business and just the Gallagher brothers. Mike Gallagher used to own Shakey Pizzas too, down in Pensacola around there.

Speaker 1:

But a lot of wrestlers didn't go off and get into other businesses because they just didn't know how to. I know most baseball players in the 30s and 40s. They went back to being farmers because they were farmers when they got into it and with no education that's all they could do and that's why a lot of wrestlers just got into something else. But the ones that were very successful in this business were guys that were very successful in the wrestling business. Gallagher's weren't that successful. The Bushwhackers had a restaurant in Tampa. It wasn't that successful. What did they call it? It was called the Bushwhackers and they had a hell of a menu and everything, but maybe it's location. But they were wonderful guys and I was hoping that of a menu and everything, but I admit it's location, yeah, but they were wonderful guys and I was hoping that would do good for them.

Speaker 1:

I was in a seafood business, a restaurant I owned in St Pete called Crabby Bill's and it was great. It had benches and everything. Crabby had a sign-along. If you like home cooking, go home. He was good. His whole family runs a business and they allowed me and Bruce, the barber Beefcake Ed Leslie, to be in on it. The Bush electors were in on it.

Speaker 1:

We all had them in partnerships in different stores and I didn't make money. Oh, you had a chain on there. I had a chain. Yeah, I made money with it. It was fun, but I was lucky.

Speaker 1:

But you know, to have the Albie Heenan's I'd have to be there all day. I'd have to watch somebody at the register. I don't want to do that. There's too much work. I'm lazy, I don't want to work.

Speaker 1:

So you said before you said that success in the wrestling business pretty much, if you're successful in wrestling, you're going to be successful. Or business pretty much, if you're successful in wrestling, you're going to be successful. Or even successful in your first job choice you'll probably be successful. I don't know, matt, I don't know. Sometimes you shoot your mark too high. What would I shoot for? What could I possibly do?

Speaker 1:

Let's look at this. I'm 59 years of age, I've got cancer, I've had neck surgery and I've broken neck. I have atrophy in my hand there, this finger's numb. I don't have much of a grip. I can't do manual labor, I can't do cerebral labor because I'm not educated enough. I don't know how to do computer, but everybody has to know how to do computer right and this is a great help help-learning thing to get to the men out there with your wife. Remember, the more you know, the more they'll make you do Screw everything up. They'll never make you do it. Writers like to do things. They like you to help, but they don't like to do things that you screw up. So screw taking the garbage out. Yeah, you watch Six out of seven days a week. You get the trash bag on your back, is that okay, sir? Oh, yeah, that's great. I told one. I said you beat Nick one more time. You get to keep him. Put the word in the streets.