WWE: Bobby “The Brain” Heenan DVD review

Bobby Heenan is considered by his peers and his bosses to be the greatest professional wrestling manager, one of the funniest personalities to ever wrestle in the squared circle, and a brilliant colour commentator. Almost getting shot by a fan did not stop Heenan from being his ‘weasel-like’ character.

The last World Wrestling Entertainment DVD release of 2010, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, is a fun look back for WWE fans of the 80's growing up hating Heenan and his wealth of talented wrestlers in his stable known as ‘The Heenan Family.’ Disc one contains a standard WWE documentary on Heenan’s career, memorable moments from his days managing, hilarious segments with Gorilla Monsoon, and the display of his sharp wit while commentating in WWE and World Championship Wrestling. Disc two features a couple of Heenan’s matches, commentary along with Gorilla Monsoon for the Royal Rumble ’92, and the commentary work he did at WrestleMania 17 for the Gimmick Battle Royal.

WWE did not put a lot of time into Heenan’s biography as 50 minutes is far too short for such an amazing talent. However, Heenan has lived an amazing life where he influenced a lot of wrestlers to become champions and is considered by Vincent Kennedy McMahon Jr. to be the best ever. The bio explains how he made his difficult route into pro wrestling and how he only went to WWE with the blessing of former World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel.

Throughout every organization Heenan showed that he put the business over his own image, as every evil deed he started ended up with him losing in the end. The clips of The Bobby Heenan Show are neat to see, but it’s disappointing there are no highlights from his show in the extras. His entire wCw run is considered a miserable time, although many fans of the 90's best remember Heenan from wCw. His commentary there was comedy gold, but WWE almost completely ignores it.

Heenan is not interviewed for the biography, although he does have some comments in the extras. Heenan’s jokes about women can easily be taken the wrong way, especially by women who are sensitive about their weight. Heenan’s wife and sobbing daughter show how he is far from a sexist person in real life. Heenan’s partnership with Monsoon is showcased as arguably the greatest commentating duo ever in WWE, even Jerry Lawler admits Heenan and Monsoon are better than Jim Ross and Lawler.

The Heenan DVD set is one that will leaving you wanting more and hopefully this is only one of many Heenan DVDs to be released. If you’re a fan of WWE’s The World’s Greatest Wrestling Managers or preferred wrestling when there was no Monday Night RAW, Heenan was one of the best reasons to watch wrestling in that era.

WWE: Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Rated: PG

Entertainment One

Released on Dec. 28, 2010

Disc 1 Documentary Chapters:

Chicago Root

Manage like a Wrestler

Orange Fire

Weasel Suit

Remembering AWA

Bright Lights, Big City

Heenan Family

WrestleMania

I Am Not a Weasel

Manager of Champions

Primetime

The Bobby Heenan Show

Commentating with Gorilla

Leaving WWE

WCW

Health Issues

Hall of Fame

Disc 1 Extras:

The Executioners

AWA Manager of the Year 1976
AWA All-Star Wrestling – 25th December, 1976

The Wrestling Bear

Centerfold

“Honey, I’m Home!”

The Other Weasel Suit

“I Am Not A Weasel”
Tuesday Night Titans – 2nd October, 1984

Bobby Heenan & Gorilla Monsoon go to Busch Gardens
Prime Time Wrestling – 12th December, 1988

Get Your Popcorn Ready

Golfing Tips with Bobby Heenan & “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Sterling Farms Golf Course – October 1991

Bobby’s Big Entrance
WrestleMania IX – 4th April, 1993

Gorilla Monsoon Fires Bobby Heenan
RAW – 6th December, 1993

The Humor of Bobby Heenan

A Farewell to Gorilla
Nitro – 11th October, 1999

The Wedding Eulogy

“Freakish Noises”
WrestleMania XX – 14th March, 2004

Bobby Heenan’s Induction into the WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame – 13th March, 2004

Disc 2:

Battle of the Managers
Bobby Heenan vs. Lord Alfred Hayes
AWA St. Paul, MN – 13th January, 1980

Weasel Suit Match
Bobby Heenan vs. Greg Gagne
AWA St. Paul, MN – 17th August, 1980

Handicap Match
Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby Heenan
AWA – St. Paul, MN – 2nd May, 1981

Bobby Heenan vs. Salvatore Bellomo
Madison Square Garden – 26th November, 1984

Weasel Suit Match
Bobby Heenan vs. Ultimate Warrior
WrestleFest `88 – 31st July, 1988

The Royal Rumble Match
Royal Rumble – 19th January, 1992
Commentary By: Bobby Heenan & Gorilla Monsoon

Gimmick Battle Royal
WrestleMania X7 – 1st April, 2001
Commentary By: Bobby Heenan & Gene Okerlund

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Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else book review

Patrick Roy was the heart and soul of the Montreal Canadiens throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s—he made spectacular saves almost every game and gave the impression of a hockey warrior in the nets.

In October, his father Michel did his own tribute to his son, a biography entitled Patrick Roy: Winning. Nothing Else.

This is as close as one is going to get to a true Patrick Roy biography. For years Roy refused the help of ghostwriters wanting to publish his life story. His father, a full-time musician, writer and journalist, obviously has a lot of bias towards his son.

However, this bias doesn’t ruin the exciting style exhibited in this new biography. He clearly showcases a passion for hockey when he tells of his son’s games. Michel Roy also displays a great knowledge of history and how young hockey players are brought up in Canada.

The book is as much a biography of Roy as it is Michel Roy, who fills the reader in on his own life during the rises and falls of his son. Patrick Roy was not an instant success—he was seen as different due to his butterfly style of goaltending. But his determination and love for playing hockey kept him motivated and focused on his destined career.

His father fills the reader in on almost every detail of Patrick Roy’s NHL career, from a brief overview of each season to a detailed playoff run, including all of his Stanley Cup wins.

When it comes to conversational topics, such as Roy’s departure from Montreal, Michel Roy does not hold back his own opinion of the disgraceful night against the Detroit Red Wings. However, Michel Roy backs up his argument with many quotes from Habs players on the team and former Habs greats like The Rocket and Ken Dryden. Regardless what side you take, the picture of a dark day in Habs history was perfectly illustrated.

If you’re looking for the juicy gossip about Patrick Roy’s domestic disturbance, that eventually saw him in divorce court, you’re out of luck. Although his ability to decipher what his son was thinking at the time of certain events is questionable, it is apparent that he had a profound influence on his son’s life.

Whether you’re a fan of Roy or not, Patrick Roy: Winning. Nothing Else, is a great hockey book and explains the origins of a Habs hero.

Patrick Roy: Winning. Nothing Else
Michel Roy
John Wiley & Sons Canada
October 2010
528 pp.

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