Weasel Tales: The Bobby Heenan Archives - Investments & Other Gastronimical Pursuits

Text Me, Ya Ham And Egger

Imagine stepping into the world of professional wrestling, not just as a fan, but as someone who lived it, breathed it, and then transitioned into a completely different arena—business. On this episode, we sit down with a wrestling legend who shares his colorful journey from the ring to running a restaurant. You'll get to hear about his early wrestling days, the brotherly bond with Bruiser, and the invaluable advice from his mentor, Joe Tangaro. The conversation also highlights the unexpected challenges of managing a restaurant, proving that life after wrestling can be just as demanding as the sport itself.

But that's not all. Our guest opens up about his wrestling idols, Buddy Rogers and Bobby Davis, offering a nostalgic look at the heroes who shaped his career. We also explore the post-wrestling ventures of his colleagues like Dick Murdoch and the Briscoe brothers, each carving their own path in various industries. Whether it's the heartfelt story behind his name or the gritty realities of day-to-day business management, this episode promises a rich tapestry of stories, lessons, and humor. Tune in to gain an insider's perspective on the multifaceted lives of wrestling icons beyond the spotlight.

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

(01:03):
, but I could go there and eatand drink for nothing.
I just started out of that.
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.
Their 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 in acar 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 that.
But that's what he wanted to do.
And when he got into it herealized that he had to stay
with it.
The wrestle was over and Ithink he made a success out of
it.
That water guy, he did it.
Dick Murdoch had a bar 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'sdied.
But I was saying you know I gotmy name originally.
Yeah, my brother was Ray Heenan.
Yeah, but Bruiser said hecalled me Bobby Heenan because
Biden Rogers had a managercalled Bobby Davis.
Yeah, because Buddy Rogers hada manager called Bobby Davis and
they were in Chicago in theearly 60s and I started in the

(02:48):
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 any business andthem 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 meetBobby Davis.
He lives in, I think, sanBernardino.

(03:09):
We were doing a pay-per-viewout there or some kind of a show
while we're doing announcingand Well, it wasn't until many
years later.
No, this was like 10, 15 yearsago, yeah, and this had Bobby
Davis sit in and he called onematch with Monsuni and I and it
was such a privilege to meet him.

(03:29):
And he's got about 20 Wendy'shamburgers.
Another restaurant called BaronAntonio Leone had I don't know
how many I think it was shakypizzas.
And Jerry and Jack Briscoe areinto a body shop in Tampa
Florida.
They do body shop work and I'mproud of guys that got into the

(03:52):
business and just some theGallagher brothers.
Mike Gallagher used to ownShakey Pizza's 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.
Yeah, I know most baseballplayers in the 30s and 40s.
They went back to being farmersBecause they were farmers when

(04:13):
they got into it and with noeducation that's all they could
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.
The Albers weren't thatsuccessful.

(04:33):
The Bushwhackers had arestaurant in Tampa.
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 I admit it's location.
But they were wonderful guys.
I was hoping that would do goodfor them.
I was in a seafood business, arestaurant I owned in St Pete

(04:56):
called Crabby Bill's and it wasgreat, had benches and
everything.
Crabby had a sign-along.
If you like home cooking, gohome.
He was a good guy.
His whole family runs abusiness and they allowed me and
Bruce the Barber BeefcakeCake,ed Leslie to be in on it, the
Bush-Lackers were in on it.
We all had them in partnershipsin different stores and I made

(05:19):
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 a BobbyHeenan's I'd have to be there
all day.
I'd have to watch somebody atthe register.
I don't want to do all 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 evensuccessful in your first job
choice.
You'll probably be successful.
I don't know, man.
I don't know.
If sometimes you shoot yourmark too high, what would I
shoot for?
What could I possibly got?
Let's look at this.
I'm 59 years of age.
I've got cancer.
Uh, I've had neck surgery andI've broken neck.

(06:06):
Uh, I have atrophy in my handthere, this finger's numb.
I don't have much of a grip.
I can't do manual labor.
I can't do cerebral laborbecause I'm not educated enough.
I don't know how to do computer.
Everybody has to know how to docomputer right and this is a

(06:26):
great help learning thing to getto 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 theydon't like to do things that
you screw up.
So screw taking the garbage out.

(06:50):
You watch Six out of seven daysa week.
You get the trash bag on yourback, is that okay, sir?
Oh, yeah, that's great.
I told one I said you beat Nickone more time.
You get to keep him Put theword in the streets.