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

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.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You listen to me, you go to the top.
Bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby,bobby, bobby, bobby, bobby,

(00:43):
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 inthat and it was successful and
I made money out of that.
But I wasn't in control of theplace or had any say or anything
, but I could go there and eatand drink for nothing.

(01:04):
I just signed an autograph.
It was fun.
But no, I never wanted to getin the bar business because it's
like the wrestling businessit's money coming in that I
can't control.
Someone else sees it before Ido, someone else touches it,
someone else makes it disappear.
Plus, for what hours?
A good friend of mine, joeTangaro, had a restaurant in St
Louis.
He used to wrestle with JoeBrunetti, Joe and Guy Brunetti,
the Brunetti brothers.
His real name was Joe Tangaroand I'm not sure if Joe was

(01:25):
still with us, but he hadParkinson's disease and Joe was
a wonderful guy.
He was the guy that told medon't let the bruiser make you
into an Arab boy Be a man.
That's what Joe told me.
And Joe opened up a steakhousein St Louis and I was very proud
of him.
And Joe was from WilburSnyder's age Joe would probably
be in his 70s.

(01:45):
And and Joe was from WilburSnyder's age, joe would probably
be in his 70s.
And I told Joe I said this isgreat, you've got a restaurant.
You no longer have to drive ina car and fly.
He said this is the worst thingI've ever done.
He said if the dishwasher don'tshow up, I've got to wash
dishes.
The parking lot guy said I'vegot to park cars, I've got to be
here every minute of the day,seven days a week.

(02:06):
And I didn't realize thatthat's what he wanted to do.
And when he got into it herealized that he had to stay
with it because the wrestle wasover.
And I think he made a successout of it.
That water guy, he did it.
Dick Murdoch had a body calledDick's Dive in Amarillo.
I don't know if that wassuccessful or not, but knowing
Murdoch, it had to just be aplace where other guys wouldn't

(02:26):
sit and drink.
Oh sure you know.
Oh, boy, st Marie.
Yeah, he's died, but I'm sayingI got my name originally?
Yeah, my brother was Ray Heenan, yeah, but Bruiser said he
called me Bobby Heenan becauseBiden Rogers had a manager
called Bobby Davis and they werein Chicago in the early 60s and

(02:47):
I started in the mid-60s.
So they wanted to like touch meto Bobby Davis.
You see, bobby Davis, buddyRogers was my him and Ray
Stevens were my idols.
We didn't have good businessand them naming me after Bobby
Davis was a treat for me.
So I finally got to meet BobbyDavis was a treat for me, yeah,
so I finally got to meet BobbyDavis.
He lives in, I think, sanBernardino.

(03:10):
We were doing a pay-per-view outthere 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 yearsago.
So you were at WWF, yeah, andVince had Bobby Davis sit in and
we did.
He called one match with Monsunand I and it was such a
privilege to meet him and he'sgot about 20 Wendy's hamburgers.

(03:33):
Another wrestler called BaronAntonio Leone had I don't know
how many.
I think it was shaky pieces.
And Johnny and Jack Briscoe areinto a body shop in Tampa
Florida.
They do body shop work and I'mproud of the guys that got into
the business and just theGallagher brothers.

(03:55):
Mike Gallagher used to ownShakey Pizzas too, down in
Pensacola around there.
But a lot of wrestlers didn't gooff and get into other
businesses because they justdidn't know how to.
I know most baseball players inthe 30s and 40s.
They went back to being farmersbecause they were farmers when
they got into it and with noeducation that's all they could

(04:17):
do and that's why a lot ofwrestlers just got into
something else.
But the ones that were verysuccessful in this business were
guys that were very successfulin the wrestling business.
Gallagher's weren't thatsuccessful.
The Bushwhackers had arestaurant in Tampa.

(04:39):
It wasn't that successful.
What did they call it?
It was called the Bushwhackersand they had a hell of a menu
and everything, but maybe it'slocation.
But they were wonderful guysand I was hoping that of a menu
and everything, but I admit it'slocation, yeah, but they were
wonderful guys and I was hopingthat would do good for them.
I was in a seafood business, arestaurant I owned in St Pete
called Crabby Bill's and it wasgreat.

(04:59):
It had benches and everything.
Crabby had a sign-along.
If you like home cooking, gohome.
He was good.
His whole family runs abusiness and they allowed me and
Bruce, the barber Beefcake EdLeslie, to be in on it.
The Bush electors were in on it.
We all had them in partnershipsin different stores and I didn't

(05:19):
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.
But you know, to have the AlbieHeenan's I'd have to be there
all day.
I'd have to watch somebody atthe register.
I don't want to do that.
There's too much work.
I'm lazy, I don't want to work.
So you said before you said thatsuccess in the wrestling

(05:42):
business pretty much, if you'resuccessful in wrestling, you're
going to be successful.
Or business pretty much, ifyou're successful in wrestling,
you're going to be successful.
Or even successful in yourfirst job choice you'll probably
be successful.
I don't know, matt, I don'tknow.
Sometimes you shoot your marktoo high.
What would I shoot for?
What could I possibly do?
Let's look at this.
I'm 59 years of age, I've gotcancer, I've had neck surgery

(06:08):
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, Ican'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 isa great help help-learning
thing to get to the men outthere with your wife.

(06:30):
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 theydon't like to do things that
you screw up.
So screw taking the garbage out.

(06:50):
Yeah, you watch Six out ofseven days a week.
You get the trash bag on yourback, is that okay, sir?
Oh, yeah, that's great.
I told one.
I said you beat Nick one moretime.
You get to keep him.
Put the word in the streets.