Reflecting on the life and career of Bobby Heenan, Jim Ross had high praise for the talents of "The Brain", referring to him as arguably the greatest color commentator and manager in wrestling history.
Ross dedicated the bulk of the latest episode of his Ross Report podcast to Heenan, bringing on two more of Heenan's broadcast partners, Mean Gene Okerlund and Tony Schiavone, as guests.
Heenan passed away September 17 due to organ failure which occurred because of complications related to throat cancer.
“No wrestling death has struck me harder than this one, in recent memory, for sure," JR said. "There's been a lot of these passings, transitions, that many of our peers have made but this one really hit home.”
Ross, who previously has referred to Heenan as one of the best all-around talents in wrestling, reiterated those claims on several occasions during the podcast.
"I've just never been around anybody ... that did everything," JR said. "That could wrestle, a main event-level wrestler, the best manager, arguably, ever—ever!—as good a color commentator as there has ever been. Ever! He's got all those tools, and the most amazing timing."
JR also praised Heenan's ability to elevate talent, whether it be behind the desk as a commentator or at ringside as a manager.
"Everybody he managed got over, to some degree, and some to amazing degrees that drew big money as main eventers," Ross said. "Because Bobby had the ability to talk people into the seats and create an environment that's so ideal, where people will pay money to come see me get my ass whipped."
