Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
The ‘If Factor’ are a series of articles that takes a look at real scenarios in pro wrestling that at one point or another were suggested, planned, considered…but did not get the green light to continue. What would the landscape of professional wrestling look like if these ideas came to fruition?
The If: Bruce Prichard Becomes Bobby Heenan Jr.
Longtime WWE employee Bruce Prichard recalled back in 1991 when the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair debuted for the company. Bobby ‘ The Brain’ Heenan was paired with Flair to get him extra attention for casual fans who didn’t really know who he was. The problem was, Bobby Heenan had previously retired as a manager and just wanted to focus on being a broadcaster.
Add to the fact, that Heenan was now Ric Flair’s traveling partner and simply couldn’t stay out late and party to all hours of the night as Flair was notorious for. An idea came to mind to switch Bobby Heenan with Bruce Prichard as Flair’s WWF representative. The thing was, Prichard wouldn’t be himself or his previous incarnation of ‘Brother Love’, but as the kayfabe son of Bobby Heenan aka Bobby Heenan Jr.
Prichard was all set to die his hair bleach blonde and begin wearing patented glittery ring jackets like ‘The Brain’ did. Prichard was a good friend of Heenan’s, who was also a mentor to Prichard. In fact, the idea really spawned from a woman seeing the two together at an airport and mistaking them for father and son. Heenan and Prichard kept up the charade by calling each other “Dad” and “Son.” The idea was ultimately scrapped at the last minute and Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig was eventually added to Flair’s entourage instead. Would the idea have worked? Would it have bombed? If so, could it have hurt Ric Flair’s WWF career at the time?
Neandercarl
Prichard wasn’t with the WWF when Flair came in. I’ve heard the Bobby Heenan Jr character mentioned before, from Bruce himself on his podcast I think, but the timeline doesn’t add up. He had been fired earlier in the year and wouldn’t return until late summer 1992. I know that doesn’t make it impossible but it does make it unlikely.
I’m guessing the Heenan Jr character may have been discussed in 1993 but not in association with Flair who was gone in January.