One of the most influential managers of all time, the Heenan Family's legend doesn't need all that much explanation. It's Bobby Heenan leading a stable full of his clients to victory - what more do you need to hear?
Old members? Significant story beats? Major events that I should definitely remember more of than I do? Okay. Well. You've got me on that one. Apologies, but I don't have a record of every member of the Heenan Family, so I'm going to try my best to give as much detail as I can remember. Join me for the history of the Heenan Family as best as I can remember it below the break.
In early 1989, World Championship Wrestling was facing a great stroke of luck. Word had gotten out that a number of significant contracts at the World Wrestling Federation were running up, and Arnold's close associates had already sent out feelers to multiple talent to try and convince them to jump over to the other side. In a boon for the company, and one of their first major victories over their rival promotion, WCW would soon have a whole host of new talent on their roster. From established main eventers like the "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Harley Race, to tag team stars like Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, & Demolition (the latter team's contract also containing the rights to their character, due to a surprising oversight on part of the WWF). Despite the name value brought to the promotion, there is one man who would arguably make a greater and more constant impact than anyone else.
An early 1989 episode of World Championship Wrestling would find an extra, empty seat at the table next to then-commentators Jim Ross and Bob Caudle. While the camera focused on the chair, it was pulled out and a very familiar face took his seat - Bobby "The Brain" Heenan had made his debut. Instantly, a completely new dimension had been brought to WCW. Gone were the days of a completely objective booth, or the dynamic of one objective sportscaster and his eager companion hoping for the heroes to win. The snark and wittiness that Heenan brought to the table was a refreshing take for the company, and fans quickly grew to hate him.
So, of course, he made sure to give them plenty of good reasons to.
The first version of the Heenan Family in WCW formed after Harley Race made his on-screen debut, betraying the Funks after being brought in as a friend of the family. Quickly, Harley made sure that everyone knew that he was the best around, both by beating the best and by associating himself with the best. Race would have Bobby Heenan at his side before long, and not much later would the heavies of the family debut - the war-paint-and-leather-clad team of Demolition.
(Note: This is where my best memory cuts off, so I'm going to give a briefer rundown and cliff notes from here)
As more fresh competitors found their way to WCW and needed a manager, the Heenan Family increased in number. If you were a run-of-the-mill up-and-comer, you might find yourself with Jim Cornette's services, but if you had special potential or if you were already a made man? It was a guarantee that The Brain would come knocking. Over the years, the ranks of the Heenan Family would grow to include:
- The Midnight Express (of Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)
- Davey Boy Smith
- Davey Boy would find his way to the family after turning on Owen Hart, in an effort to stake out a singles career rather than be hitched to the smaller and less experienced Hart forever.
- Canadian Earthquake
- Dynamite Kid
- Curt Hennig
- Konnan
- Paul Orndorff
- Paul Roma
- Bob Orton, Jr.
- Don Muraco
- The Great Muta
- Steve Austin
- Austin was brought into WCW by Magnum T.A. as his protege, with the explanation that Magnum scouted him while filming a movie and introduced him to WCW executives as someone who had a lot of potential. Eddie Gilbert, looking to get one up on Magnum, got into Austin's good graces and made him realize that Magnum was getting perks that he wasn't - a much cushier contract and better transportation that Austin was seeing none of. Eventually, Austin became dissatisfied with Magnum's reluctance to let him enjoy the benefits of Magnum's top star status and turned on him during a tag match against Gilbert and Buzz Sawyer. When everyone thought Austin would ally with Gilbert and Sawyer, he instead found the managerial services of Bobby Heenan.
- Terry Funk
Unfortunately, as all great things do, the Heenan Family would come to an end. In 1994, Harley Race had long been off television. He retired at Starrcade 1992 and only had occasional experiences since then, making it all the more shocking when he appeared on WCW programming to issue a statement. During his retirement, he had been able to think about the kind of legacy he'd like to leave, and when he was watching the Heenan Family continue to run roughshod over the company, he knew that he wanted to be remembered for something more honorable. Race would issue the most shocking challenge possible - at Starrcade, he wanted Heenan's top guy. If Heenan's guy lost, the Heenan Family would be forced to disband immediately. Browsing through his ranks, Bobby Heenan knew there was only one proper opponent for Harley. The Heenan Family would face its final challenge as it began - with Terry Funk taking on Harley Race.
To keep such a monumental match without interference, the WCW officials knew that something would have to be done. Since there would be no mind that would be able to match one like Heenan's, they opted to go a different direction.
Enter Mike Tyson. The menace and strength of the boxing legend would prove enough to deter Heenan from interfering, and Harley and Terry would be allowed to settle their differences once and for all. Come Starrcade, Harley would plant Terry with a piledriver and score the victory in the middle of the ring, with a furious Heenan looking on helplessly. As the King celebrated in the ring, the legend of the Heenan Family came to its end. After the event, Heenan would be on commentary full-time until his departure from WCW, retiring from his position as a manager after the match (only to return one time to back up Magnum T.A. in his feud against Vader leading into and at Starrcade 1995, after Vader injured Gorilla Monsoon).
However, the story doesn't quite end here. Years later, in 2001, Bobby Heenan would make a surprise return to the company as a part of the power struggle between Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff. While at first he was just on commentary, it quickly became clear that Heenan was in the market to reform his stable. Over a period of weeks, Heenan would tease the return of the Family before he found the perfect person to be the new star of the group - Kanyon. Soon after Heenan began managing Kanyon, he started appearing with two tall masked security guards, the identities of whom are still a secret as of July 2001. The new bodies added menace to the group, but they were far from the last addition. Rounding out the Heenan Family for now would be the only member of the original Heenan Family besides Bobby himself to join the stable - Curt Hennig. Hennig is on the search for a Perfect apprentice to carry on his legacy, and he figured that no one has an eye for talent quite like Bobby Heenan does - and Heenan is perfectly happy to be allied with the legendary Hennig once more. The current incarnation of the Heenan Family stands as such:
With this revival, it's more than clear that the long and storied history of the Heenan Family is far from over. Only time will tell if this incarnation will find as much championship gold as lies in the past of the stable.
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