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Is Heyman greater than Heenan?

7K views 93 replies 56 participants last post by  Culebra75 
#1 ·
JBL seems to think Paul Heyman is better than Bobby Heenan.

I can see that.

I know its 2 different eras, and Heenan had a couple more years in than Heyman currently does, but Paul kills the Brain on promos and in crowd participation.

What will be the deciding factor on who is better, when its all said and done?
 
#71 ·
Heyman is great at serious promos but Heenan was on another level when it came to commentating and promos.

It's already been mentioned but his performance at the 92 royal rumble was brilliant and actually elevated Flair's win. Some of his quotes whilst commentating were so funny and unforgettable, especially when bouncing off gorilla.
 
#73 ·
I think this thread really shows the clash between old and new, as well as how what you're exposed to can influence your opinions so highly. For me, Heenan's glory years were way past when I started watching, and as such I have no emotional connection to him. I recognize his talent, yes, but its not the commentary I grew up hearing, and so I can't look back at him in terms of nostalgia and really appreciate his work to the degree that other people can. Same goes for his managing. As I said before, the Heenan I got to see was WCW Heenan, which, while very good in some circumstances, really paled in comparison overall to his WWF run. His general attitude felt like he really wasn't into a lot of what was going on, and was the comic relief on the broadcast table.

Just figured I'd point that out. For me, Bobby Heenan doesn't hold that much importance because he's before my time and since I never grew up with that, I can't appreciate it as much. For others, he's one of the most important figures in history.
 
#75 ·
You and I are a different breed of people, brother.

Ask yourself this: Are you really a fan of professional wrestling or are you a fan of your own opinions on professional wrestling? There 'is' a difference.

How am I, as a long-time 'student of the game', supposed to take your opinions on the industry seriously when you're only concerned with your own personal window with no appreciation for the 'history' or 'evolution' of the business?

Not that your opinion is necessarily wrong, but disregarding things because they were 'before your time' seems like a foolish notion indeed.
 
#76 ·
Fan of both but Heenan was the best. Not only were his promos great but the reactions out of him while his talent was in the ring, pure gold. On top of that you have Monsoon and him as the all time great commentary team. Heenan for sure.
 
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#88 ·
Ok .. from my previous thread (which hopefully will get locked/deleted) .. as requested, posting this here ... I just hope it doesn't get lost in the midst.

Ok, I really wanted to put this thread up, simply because the Heyman Vs Heenan thread could go on forever, and of course, people are incredibly entitled to their own thoughts and opinions (this is what the forum is all about), but some things are said out of either lack of knowledge or being more aware than the other, in regards to where their preference goes, which I feel has been a BIG case with this whole Bobby Heenan/Paul Heyman situation.

Now, Heyman is without any single hesitation of a doubt one of the BEST things to happen in the wrestling world (Personally, I'd love to see Heyman heavily involved in creative, this would SO spice up the WWE more than ever!) .... however I can't help but feel that those people who are saying that Heyman is above Heenan is a little ludicrous, and I think it comes from lack of knowledge about Heenan and his career, or they simply don't know enough about Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan, and are comparing this against Heyman's work (which is phenomenal!), which then shoots Heenan down, but the truth of the matter is ... Heenan really is the GOAT in that sense, even if you're in no way a fan of Bobby Heenan, saying anything difference in regards to him being something amazingly special within the business, that really can't be touched or compared with is silly.

I LOVE Paul Heyman, I really do (not in the same way he seems to love Punk and Ryback right now though lol), but I just really feel the need to say to people, who may not be aware of Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan enough, say in his WWF/E days (Pre WCW) and even way back before that to SERIOUSLY check out this DVD if you can, then come back and talk about the whole Heyman Vs Heenan situation.

Where as Heyman is obviously very much up there, and definitely in the same circle as Heenan in regards to one of the GOAT's already, there still is something special about Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan that even Paul Heyman can;t really touch, they're both unique in their own way and both probably the top two guys to ever grace this company in that sense.

From what I hear, this Bobby Heenan DVD is on the US Netflix, so if you're in the US here and you have Netflix, search this title ... or if you can, find some other way to watch it, because honestly, it will be one of the best things you could ever have sat and watched, even if Heenan is way before your time .... you will find this DVD incredibly educating, entertaining and vital for wrestling knowledge also.

This isn't a diss to those who are uneducated in regards to Heenan (if he was before your time, it's expected ... or if you haven't looked back at history in WWE, as I do just as much as I watch the current product, then this is totally understandable) ... but seriously, educate yourselves people on bobby Heenan, for those who aren't fully aware in regards to Heenan on a whole, rather than just the gist or bit of his work ... you need to know/see the whole Heenan story, as well as see the full potential that this guy very very clearly had ... and still has to this day (Hall Of Fame speech!).

So yeah, I just wanted to mention this because that whole Heenan Vs Heyman thread could go on forever ... and the majority of the replies in there, that favour Heyman ... seem to be from those who don't seem to be aware of Heenan's work to come up with this (notice I said majority, not all!).

So yeah .. enjoy ... and leave your thoughts if you like! :)



 
#91 ·
If Heenan was managing today, he'd be GOAT still. The fact that he was able to accomplish what he did, in terms of drawing interest, imagine putting him in front of a weekly live crowd and giving him 5-10 minutes to draw heat?

On the flip side, I don't think Heyman would have had as much success. Disregarding the fact that Heyman was already managing in the late 80s, in that WWF environment that Heenan reached greatness in, I don't know if Heyman could have easily succeeded.



Another question: as far as what a manager does, is post-Ruthless Aggression era Heyman better than pre-1995 Paul E Dangerously? Again, as far as what a manager does.
 
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