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====Manager====
====Manager====
In 1991, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF).<ref name=slam/><ref name=rmn/> He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, a Pee-Wee Herman-like character wearing a pin-striped suit with slacks cut at his shins, a red bow-tie, and a Ben Hogan-style hat. He first managed ([[Nick Busick|Big Bully Busick]].<ref name=west>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeswv.com/wvu_sports/local_story_125232306.html|title=WVU football recruit Busick will wrestle as well|author=Hertzel, Bob|publisher=The Times West Virginian|date=May 5, 2009|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> When Busick left the company and Slick turned face, Wippleman took over managing The Warlord. However, Wippleman's greatest accusition was none other than his real-life friend, Sid Justice. When Sid turned heel and began working a program with Hulk Hogan leading into Wrestlemania, Wippleman became Sid Justice's manager.
In 1991, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF).<ref name=slam/><ref name=rmn/> He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, a Pee-Wee Herman-like character wearing a pin-striped suit with slacks cut at his shins, a red bow-tie, and a [[flat cap]]. He first managed [[Nick Busick|Big Bully Busick]].<ref name=west>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeswv.com/wvu_sports/local_story_125232306.html|title=WVU football recruit Busick will wrestle as well|author=Hertzel, Bob|publisher=The Times West Virginian|date=May 5, 2009|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> When Busick left the company and Slick turned face, Wippleman took over managing The Warlord. However, Wippleman's greatest accusition was none other than his real-life friend, Sid Justice. When Sid turned heel and began working a program with Hulk Hogan leading into Wrestlemania, Wippleman became Sid Justice's manager.


After Sid left the company, Wippleman managed [[Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala]], who was [[feud (professional wrestling)|feuding]] with [[The Undertaker]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kamala's bio|accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/kamala/bio/}}</ref> After Kamala was defeated by Undertaker in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|Coffin match]] at [[Survivor Series (1992)|Survivor Series]] in 1992, Kamala left Wippleman and [[Ken Johnson (wrestler)|Reverend Slick]] became his new manager.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kamala Matata|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=2007-05-28|first=Mike|last=McAvennie|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/wildestsuperstars/wildestsuperstars3|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=From Season to Season: Sports as American Religion|author=Price, Joseph L.|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=2005|isbn=0-86554-961-3|page=209}}</ref> Afterwards, Wippleman dropped the Dr. gimmick and went by just his original name "Harvey Wippleman". Wippleman continued to feud with the Undertaker and brought a new wrestler to the WWF, the nearly eight-foot-tall [[Jorge González (wrestler)|Giant González]], who interfered in the 1993 [[Royal Rumble (1993)|Royal Rumble]] and eliminated the Undertaker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881161/mainevent/|title=Yokozuna (spot No. 27) wins the Royal Rumble Match|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at [[WrestleMania IX]], where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a [[ether]]-soaked rag.<ref name="owwundertaker">{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: The Undertaker|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/undertaker.html|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/undertaker/wrestlemanialegacy/wrestlemaniaix/matchrecap/|title=WrestleMania IX - Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzales|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> The feud culminated in a [[No Disqualification match|Rest in Peace match]] at [[SummerSlam (1993)|SummerSlam]], which Undertaker won.<ref name=wwequizbook-pp85>{{cite book|last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron|author2=Kevin Kelly |author3=Seth Mates |author4=Brian Solomon |author5=Phil Speer |title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|page=85|isbn=0-7434-5756-0}}</ref> During this period, Wippleman also briefly managed Mr. Hughes, who also feuded with the Undertaker and took possession of the Undertaker's urn. Hughes however, left the WWF after only being with the company for a few months.
After Sid left the company, Wippleman managed [[Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala]], who was [[feud (professional wrestling)|feuding]] with [[The Undertaker]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kamala's bio|accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/kamala/bio/}}</ref> After Kamala was defeated by Undertaker in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|Coffin match]] at [[Survivor Series (1992)|Survivor Series]] in 1992, Kamala left Wippleman and [[Ken Johnson (wrestler)|Reverend Slick]] became his new manager.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kamala Matata|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=2007-05-28|first=Mike|last=McAvennie|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/wildestsuperstars/wildestsuperstars3|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=From Season to Season: Sports as American Religion|author=Price, Joseph L.|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=2005|isbn=0-86554-961-3|page=209}}</ref> Afterwards, Wippleman dropped the Dr. gimmick and went by just his original name "Harvey Wippleman". Wippleman continued to feud with the Undertaker and brought a new wrestler to the WWF, the nearly eight-foot-tall [[Jorge González (wrestler)|Giant González]], who interfered in the 1993 [[Royal Rumble (1993)|Royal Rumble]] and eliminated the Undertaker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881161/mainevent/|title=Yokozuna (spot No. 27) wins the Royal Rumble Match|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at [[WrestleMania IX]], where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a [[ether]]-soaked rag.<ref name="owwundertaker">{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: The Undertaker|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/undertaker.html|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/undertaker/wrestlemanialegacy/wrestlemaniaix/matchrecap/|title=WrestleMania IX - Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzales|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-05-07}}</ref> The feud culminated in a [[No Disqualification match|Rest in Peace match]] at [[SummerSlam (1993)|SummerSlam]], which Undertaker won.<ref name=wwequizbook-pp85>{{cite book|last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron|author2=Kevin Kelly |author3=Seth Mates |author4=Brian Solomon |author5=Phil Speer |title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|page=85|isbn=0-7434-5756-0}}</ref> During this period, Wippleman also briefly managed Mr. Hughes, who also feuded with the Undertaker and took possession of the Undertaker's urn. Hughes however, left the WWF after only being with the company for a few months.

Revision as of 19:48, 15 July 2014

Harvey Wippleman
File:Wippleman20020316.jpg
Harvey Wippleman in March 2002.
Birth nameBruno Lauer
Born (1965-10-27) October 27, 1965 (age 58)
Pennsylvania, United States[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bruno
Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky
Downtown Bruno
Harvey Wippleman
Hervina
Uptown Bruno
Billed fromWalls, Mississippi[2]
Trained byGeeto Mongol[1]
Debut1979[1]

Bruno Lauer (born October 27, 1965) is an American professional wrestling manager, referee, and occasional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Harvey Wippleman.

Wippleman 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 Sid Justice, Big Bully Busick, Kamala, and Bertha Faye. In 2000, he became the first and only man to win the WWF Women's Championship. Wippleman works backstage in WWE (formerly the WWF) and occasionally performs in Memphis Wrestling as "Downtown Bruno".

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][3] 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 1989, he won the Continental Wrestling Federation's Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship and held it until the promotion closed in November. It was in Continental in 1987 that he first teamed with Eudy, while Eudy was under a mask as an incarnation of Lord Humongous.[4]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1991-present)

Manager

In 1991, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[1][3] He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, a Pee-Wee Herman-like character wearing a pin-striped suit with slacks cut at his shins, a red bow-tie, and a flat cap. He first managed Big Bully Busick.[5] When Busick left the company and Slick turned face, Wippleman took over managing The Warlord. However, Wippleman's greatest accusition was none other than his real-life friend, Sid Justice. When Sid turned heel and began working a program with Hulk Hogan leading into Wrestlemania, Wippleman became Sid Justice's manager.

After Sid left the company, Wippleman managed Kamala, who was feuding with The Undertaker.[6] 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.[7][8] Afterwards, Wippleman dropped the Dr. gimmick and went by just his original name "Harvey Wippleman". Wippleman 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.[9] Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at WrestleMania IX, where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a ether-soaked rag.[10][11] The feud culminated in a Rest in Peace match at SummerSlam, which Undertaker won.[12] During this period, Wippleman also briefly managed Mr. Hughes, who also feuded with the Undertaker and took possession of the Undertaker's urn. Hughes however, left the WWF after only being with the company for a few months.

Wippleman was also the manager of Adam Bomb from October 1993 until June 1994 when Bomb turned face.

Since debuting in the WWF, Wippleman was always at odds with ring announcer Howard Finkel, whom Wippleman believed introduced him in a condescending manner. At WrestleMania X, Wippleman tore up Finkel's tuxedo, who responded by shoving Harvey to the mat. The feud culminated in a Tuxedo match on the January 5, 1995 edition of Monday Night RAW..[13] Wippleman's next high-profile storyline was later in 1995, when he managed his on-screen girlfriend Bertha Faye.[2][14] Faye, with Wippleman in her corner, won the WWF Women's Championship by defeating Alundra Blayze at SummerSlam 1995.[15][16] After the WWF Women's Championship was abandoned in late 1995, Faye was dropped from the WWF roster and Wippleman disappeared from television. According to Lauer, he and Bertha didn't get along.

At WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, 2001, Wippleman managed Kamala during the gimmick battle royal.[17]

Referee and road agent

By spring 1996, Wippleman began making appearances on WWF Superstars, critiquing the referees during the matches in preparation to make a full report to WWF President Gorilla Monsoon about the apparent lack of consistency amongst the officials. Monsoon rewarded Wippleman for his efforts by making him an official referee. One of Wippleman's last appearances as a regular WWF referee during this time came on the March 10, 1997 episode of Raw when Chyna gorilla pressed him into a group of referees. Wippelman also appeared as "Handsome Harvey," introducing D-Generation-X on Raw on November 24, 1997. This was to make fun of Rick Rude. Rude had been a member of DX and had just left the company a week earlier to go to WCW. This resulted in Rude being on both Raw and WCW Monday Nitro on the same night. (At the time, Raw was live every other week while Nitro was live every week).

In June 1999, after another period of absence from television broadcasts, Wippleman resurfaced on the June 13 episode of Sunday Night Heat as a referee in a match between then-Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett and Test. Test won the match after outside interference, thus being named the new champion, but he was persuaded by Jarrett's valet Debra to overturn the result and return the belt. He also served as a scab official during the WWF referee strike in September 1999, including at the Unforgiven PPV, again refereeing a match with Jarrett defending the Intercontinental title against Chyna.

On January 31, 2000, Wippleman 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.[2][18] The win made him the first male to hold the Women's Championship.[18] He lost the title the following day (but broadcast on February 3) to Jacqueline in a match that lasted under a minute,[19] thus ending the shortest reign in the title's history. Through the remainder of 2000, Wippleman appeared in backstage and non-match segments of the WWF's television programming, including a segment on the April 23, 2000 episode of Sunday Night Heat where he appeared dressed up as a rabbit as part of a segment with Al Snow and Steve Blackman. By the time the Invasion storyline began in 2001, he had disappeared from WWF programming once again and transitioned to a road agent role with the company.[20]

On November 15, 2010, for WWE's old school episode of Raw, Wippleman returned to WWE, managing the Brooklyn Brawler in a squash loss to Ezekiel Jackson.

As of 2011, Lauer continues to work with the WWE in backstage roles at television and pay-per-view events. In an interview with Jim Korderas, Lauer described his role as "concierge", taking care of details such as food, rental cars and the like.[21]

Personal life

Lauer grew up impoverished in Memphis, Tenn.[3] 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 serve 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.[22] Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his.[22] Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer incurred approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.[1]

He also wrote an autobiography Wrestling with the Truth, which was released in 2008.[1][3]

In wrestling

Harvey Wippleman as a manager in 1994
  • Teams and stables managed

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 c d e f g h Shields, Brian and Kevin Sullivan (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK/BradyGAMES. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. ^ a b c d Marvez, Alex (2008-07-24). "Wrestling: Outside the ring, Lauer a perfect 'concierge'". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  4. ^ a b Duncan, Royal and Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. ^ a b Hertzel, Bob (May 5, 2009). "WVU football recruit Busick will wrestle as well". The Times West Virginian. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  6. ^ "Kamala's bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  7. ^ McAvennie, Mike (2007-05-28). "Kamala Matata". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  8. ^ Price, Joseph L. (2005). From Season to Season: Sports as American Religion. Mercer University Press. p. 209. ISBN 0-86554-961-3.
  9. ^ "Yokozuna (spot No. 27) wins the Royal Rumble Match". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  10. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: The Undertaker". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  11. ^ "WrestleMania IX - Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzales". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  12. ^ Feigenbaum, Aaron; Kevin Kelly; Seth Mates; Brian Solomon; Phil Speer. The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book. p. 85. ISBN 0-7434-5756-0.
  13. ^ "Matches from the early 1990s". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McAvennie, Mike (February 15, 2007). "List This #9: Harvey's whipped". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  15. ^ "Bertha Faye's reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  16. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated: 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". 29 (5). Sports & Entertainment Publications, LLC: 123. ISSN 1043-7576. {{cite journal}}: |chapter= ignored (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ "Gimmick Battle Royal - WrestleMania X-Seven". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  18. ^ a b c "Women's Title History: Hervina". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  19. ^ "Women's Title History: Jacqueline". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  20. ^ Gilles, Dan (2008-07-27). "Off the Turnbuckle: Raw-ECW merger plans have been scrapped". The Morning Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  21. ^ "Harvey Whippleman - Nov 10, 2011".
  22. ^ a b Mooneyham, Mike (1994-07-10). "Crash Claims Joey Marella". The Wrestling Gospel. Archived from the original on November 13, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg "Bruno Lauer's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
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