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In 1994, Lauer was in a car accident with [[Joey Marella]], which claimed Marella's life and injured Lauer.<ref name=slam/> The crash occurred as a result of Marella falling asleep at the wheel while driving on the way to [[Newark]].<ref name=moon/> Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his.<ref name=moon>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=B9F6BD0A-2627-4FE4-B3801B91D574CE58|title=Crash Claims Joey Marella|author=Mooneyham, Mike|publisher=The Wrestling Gospel|date=July 10, 1994|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer had approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.<ref name=slam/>
In 1994, Lauer was in a car accident with [[Joey Marella]], which claimed Marella's life and injured Lauer.<ref name=slam/> The crash occurred as a result of Marella falling asleep at the wheel while driving on the way to [[Newark]].<ref name=moon/> Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his.<ref name=moon>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=B9F6BD0A-2627-4FE4-B3801B91D574CE58|title=Crash Claims Joey Marella|author=Mooneyham, Mike|publisher=The Wrestling Gospel|date=July 10, 1994|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer had approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.<ref name=slam/>


He also wrote an autobiography ''Wrestling with the Truth'', which was released in 2008.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2008/08/13/6436746.html|title=Lauer's book a good glimpse at a day gone by|author=Johnson, Steven|date=August 19, 2008|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref>
He also wrote an autobiography ''Wrestling with the Truth'', which was released in 2008.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2008/08/13/6436746.html|title=Lauer's book a good glimpse at a day gone by|author=Johnson, Steven|date=August 19, 2008|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> The book received critical praise. According to Rich Tate, "Downtown' Bruno Lauer takes the reader on a thrill ride that is a mixed bag of brutal honesty, insightful self-deprecation, sincere appreciation, sad situations, and hilarious moments, which leave you feeling you know the whole story, but also wanting a sequel."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/features/recommendations/wrestlingwiththetruth.html|title=Wrestling with the Truth review|publisher=Georgia Wrestling History|accessdate=2009-05-08|author=Tate, Rich}}</ref> Mark James calls the book "highly entertaining".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marksfiles.com/bruno.html|title=A Review of Downtown Bruno's Autobiography|publisher=Memphis Wrestling History|accessdate=2009-05-08|author=James, Mark}}</ref>


==Wrestlers managed==
==Wrestlers managed==

Revision as of 22:28, 8 May 2009

Bruno Lauer
File:Wippleman20020316.jpg
Born (1965-10-27) October 27, 1965 (age 59)
Pennsylvania[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Harvey Wippleman
Hervina
Bruno
Uptown Bruno
Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky
Downtown Bruno
Billed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Billed weight155 lb (70 kg)
Trained byGeeto Mongol[1]
Debut1979[1]

Bruno Lauer (born October 27, 1965), better known by his ring name Harvey Wippleman, is a professional wrestling manager, referee, and occasional wrestler. He began his career working in professional wrestling promotions in the Southern United States, especially Memphis. In the 1990s, he debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he managed wrestlers such as Big Bully Busick, Kamala, and Bertha Faye. In 2000, he became the first and only man to win the WWF Women's Championship. He currently works backstage in World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the WWF) and occasionally performs as Downtown Bruno in Memphis Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

In 1979, Lauer attended an independent wrestling show at a circus in Pennsylvania.[1] In exchange for helping to tear down the ring after the show, he was given free admission.[1] He later joined the company and toured Ohio.[1] During this time, The Royal Kangaroos' Jonathan Boyd became his mentor.[1] Back in Pennsylvania, Geeto Mongol trained Lauer and gave him the ring name Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky.[1]

He then moved to Memphis where he performed under the name Downtown Bruno.[1] In 1986, he became the most prominent villainous manager in Memphis.[1] In addition, wrestlers like Jerry Lawler and Sid Eudy helped his career.[1] He continued to work in the Southern promotions for the rest of the late 1980s.[1] In September 1988, he won the Continental Wrestling Federation's Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship and held it until the promotion closed in 1989.[2]

World Wrestling Federation

In the 1990s, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[1] He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, the villainous manager of Big Bully Busick.[3] After Busick left the WWF, Wippleman managed Kamala, who was feuding with The Undertaker.[4] After Kamala was defeated by Undertaker in a Coffin match at Survivor Series in 1992, Kamala left Wippleman and Reverend Slick became his new manager.[5][6] Wippleman's continued to feud with the Undertaker and brought a new wrestler to the WWF, the nearly eight-foot-tall Giant González, who interfered in the 1993 Royal Rumble and eliminated the Undertaker.[7] Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at WrestleMania IX, where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a chloroform-soaked rag.[8][9] The feud intensified when Wippleman, Gonzalez and Mr. Hughes attacked the Undertaker and his manager, Paul Bearer; they stole the urn, the supposed source of the Undertaker's strength, and used it to assault Bearer.[10] The feud culminated in a Rest in Peace match at SummerSlam, which Undertaker won.[11]

Wippleman's next high-profile storyline was in 1995, when he managed Bertha Faye. In the storyline, he fell in love with her despite her abuses of him.[12] Faye, with Wippleman in her corner, won the WWF Women's Championship by defeating Alundra Blayze at the SummerSlam event in 1995.[13] Wippleman then began feuding with WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel.[14] Their feud culminated in a Tuxedo match on January 5, 1995.[14]

During The Attitude Era, he won the WWF Women's Championship from The Kat while he was in a disguise and used the name "Hervina" in a "Lumberjill Snow bunny" match, a match that took place in a snow filled pool surrounded by female wrestlers whose purpose was to keep the competitors from leaving the pool.[15] The win made him the first male to hold the Women's Championship.[15] He lost the title on February 3, 2000 to Jacqueline in a match that lasted under a minute.[16] Subsequently, Whippleman served as a road agent for the company.[17]

Personal life

According to Lauer, he spent his teenage years "sprawling on car hoods, smoking cigarettes, and drinking beer with no particular ambition in mind".[1] His drinking eventually caused Lauer to have jail time in Memphis.[1]

In 1994, Lauer was in a car accident with Joey Marella, which claimed Marella's life and injured Lauer.[1] The crash occurred as a result of Marella falling asleep at the wheel while driving on the way to Newark.[18] Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his.[18] Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer had approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.[1]

He also wrote an autobiography Wrestling with the Truth, which was released in 2008.[1] The book received critical praise. According to Rich Tate, "Downtown' Bruno Lauer takes the reader on a thrill ride that is a mixed bag of brutal honesty, insightful self-deprecation, sincere appreciation, sad situations, and hilarious moments, which leave you feeling you know the whole story, but also wanting a sequel."[19] Mark James calls the book "highly entertaining".[20]

Wrestlers managed

Harvey Wippleman as a manager in 1994

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Johnson, Steven (August 19, 2008). "Lauer's book a good glimpse at a day gone by". Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  2. ^ a b Duncan, Royal and Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0969816154. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b Hertzel, Bob (May 5, 2009). "WVU football recruit Busick will wrestle as well". The Times West Virginian. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  4. ^ "Kamala's bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  5. ^ McAvennie, Mike (2007-05-28). "Kamala Matata". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  6. ^ Price, Joseph L. (2005). From Season to Season: Sports as American Religion. Mercer University Press. p. 209. ISBN 0865549613.
  7. ^ "Yokozuna (spot No. 27) wins the Royal Rumble Match". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  8. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: The Undertaker". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  9. ^ "WrestleMania IX - Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzales". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  10. ^ "The Undertaker". The Wrestling Utopia. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  11. ^ Feigenbaum, Aaron. The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book. p. 85. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i McAvennie, Mike (February 15, 2007). "List This #9: Harvey's whipped". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  13. ^ "Bertha Faye's reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  14. ^ a b "Matches from the early 1990s". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  15. ^ a b c "Women's Title History: Hervina". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  16. ^ "Women's Title History: Jacqueline". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  17. ^ Gilles, Dan (July 27, 2008). "OFF THE TURNBUCKLE: Raw-ECW merger plans have been scrapped". The Morning Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  18. ^ a b Mooneyham, Mike (July 10, 1994). "Crash Claims Joey Marella". The Wrestling Gospel. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  19. ^ Tate, Rich. "Wrestling with the Truth review". Georgia Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  20. ^ James, Mark. "A Review of Downtown Bruno's Autobiography". Memphis Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
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