David Lauer
Encyclopedia
Bruno Lauer 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 promotion
s 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
.
at a circus in Pennsylvania. In exchange for helping to tear down the ring after the show, he was given free admission. He later joined the company and toured Ohio. During this time, The Royal Kangaroos
' Jonathan Boyd
became his mentor. Back in Pennsylvania, Geeto Mongol trained Lauer and gave him the ring name Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky.
He then moved to Memphis where he performed under the name Downtown Bruno. In 1986, he became the most prominent villainous
manager in Memphis. In addition, wrestlers like Jerry Lawler
and Sid Eudy
helped his career. He continued to work in the Southern promotions for the rest of the late 1980s. 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.
(WWF). He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, the villainous manager of Big Bully Busick
. In April 1992 at WrestleMania VIII
, Wippleman managed Sid Justice—the character played by his friend Sid Eudy—in his main event match against Hulk Hogan
which ended with Justice losing by disqualification. After Eudy left the WWF, Lauer's "push
" was lessened, and he began managing lower-level talent.
Afterward, Wippleman managed Kamala, who was feuding
with The Undertaker. 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. 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. Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at WrestleMania IX
, where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a chloroform
-soaked rag. The feud culminated in a Rest in Peace match at SummerSlam
, which Undertaker won.
Wippleman's next high-profile storyline was in 1995, when he managed his on-screen girlfriend Bertha Faye. Faye, with Wippleman in her corner, won the WWF Women's Championship
by defeating Alundra Blayze
at the SummerSlam
event in 1995. Wippleman then began feuding with WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel
. Their feud culminated in a Tuxedo match on January 5, 1995. The following year, Lauer made appearances as a referee.
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. The win made him the first male to hold the Women's Championship. He lost the title on February 3, 2000 to Jacqueline in a match that lasted under a minute. Subsequently, Whippleman served as a road agent for the company.
On November 15th, 2010 for WWE's Old School Raw, Wippleman returned to WWE, managing the Brooklyn Brawler in a squash loss to Ezekiel Jackson.
In 1994, Lauer was in a car accident with Joey Marella
, which claimed Marella's life and injured Lauer. The crash occurred as a result of Marella falling asleep at the wheel while driving on the way to Newark
. Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his. Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer had approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.
He also wrote an autobiography Wrestling with the Truth, which was released in 2008.
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Harvey Wippleman, is a professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
, referee
Referee (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring...
, and occasional wrestler. He began his career working in professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
s in the Southern United States, especially Memphis. In the 1990s, he debuted in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF), where he managed wrestlers such as Big Bully Busick
Nick Busick
Nick Busick is a former police officer turned professional wrestler who competed in Georgia All-Star Wrestling and the Global Wrestling Federation, but is best known for his brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name "Big Bully" Busick.-Professional wrestling career:Busick...
, Kamala, and Bertha Faye. In 2000, he became the first and only man to win the WWF Women's Championship
WWE Women's Championship
The WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
. He currently works backstage in World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the WWF) and occasionally performs as Downtown Bruno in Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Memphis Wrestling evolved from an earlier short-lived promotion called Memphis Championship Wrestling.-Television:...
.
Early career
In 1979, Lauer attended an independent wrestling showIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
at a circus in Pennsylvania. In exchange for helping to tear down the ring after the show, he was given free admission. He later joined the company and toured Ohio. During this time, The Royal Kangaroos
The Royal Kangaroos
The Royal Kangaroos was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of cousins “Lord” Jonathan Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles III. The duo played off their Australian heritage which included using a boomerang as their weapon of choice...
' Jonathan Boyd
Jonathan Boyd
Jonathan Barry Boyle was an Australian professional wrestler who is known worldwide under the name "Lord" Jonathan Boyd. Initially Boyd competed both in North American and international promotions as part of the Royal Kangaroos with his cousin Norman Frederick Charles III...
became his mentor. Back in Pennsylvania, Geeto Mongol trained Lauer and gave him the ring name Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky.
He then moved to Memphis where he performed under the name Downtown Bruno. In 1986, he became the most prominent villainous
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
manager in Memphis. In addition, wrestlers like Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
and Sid Eudy
Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation...
helped his career. He continued to work in the Southern promotions for the rest of the late 1980s. In September 1988, he won the Continental Wrestling Federation
Continental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
's Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship
NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Southeastern Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title for wrestlers considered "Junior Heavyweights", that is weighing under 230 lbs...
and held it until the promotion closed in 1989.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1991-Present)
In 1991, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). He debuted as Harvey Wippleman, the villainous manager of Big Bully Busick
Nick Busick
Nick Busick is a former police officer turned professional wrestler who competed in Georgia All-Star Wrestling and the Global Wrestling Federation, but is best known for his brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name "Big Bully" Busick.-Professional wrestling career:Busick...
. In April 1992 at WrestleMania VIII
WrestleMania VIII
WrestleMania VIII was the eighth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 5, 1992 at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, Wippleman managed Sid Justice—the character played by his friend Sid Eudy—in his main event match against Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
which ended with Justice losing by disqualification. After Eudy left the WWF, Lauer's "push
Push (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a push is an attempt by the booker to make the wrestler win more matches and become more popular or more reviled with the fans depending on whether they are a heel or a face...
" was lessened, and he began managing lower-level talent.
Afterward, Wippleman managed Kamala, who was feuding
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with The Undertaker. After Kamala was defeated by Undertaker in a Coffin match at Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1992)
Survivor Series was the sixth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on November 25, 1992 at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio...
in 1992, Kamala left Wippleman and Reverend Slick became his new manager. 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
Royal Rumble (1993)
Royal Rumble was the sixth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 24, 1993 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The main event was a Royal Rumble match, a battle royal in which two wrestlers...
and eliminated the Undertaker. Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at WrestleMania IX
WrestleMania IX
WrestleMania IX was the ninth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. The event took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 4, 1993 and was the first WrestleMania event held outdoors...
, where Gonzalez knocked Undertaker unconscious with a chloroform
Chloroform
Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...
-soaked rag. The feud culminated in a Rest in Peace match at SummerSlam
SummerSlam (1993)
SummerSlam was the sixth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 30, 1993 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan....
, which Undertaker won.
Wippleman's next high-profile storyline was in 1995, when he managed his on-screen girlfriend Bertha Faye. Faye, with Wippleman in her corner, won the WWF Women's Championship
WWE Women's Championship
The WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
by defeating Alundra Blayze
Debra Miceli
Debrah Ann Miceli is a Monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She is best known under her ring names Madusa or Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she held the AWA World Women's Championship one time...
at the SummerSlam
SummerSlam (1995)
SummerSlam was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was the eighth annual SummerSlam event. It took place on August 27, 1995 at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
event in 1995. Wippleman then began feuding with WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel is a professional wrestling ring announcer currently working with WWE in a variety of roles. Hired in 1975 by Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation, "The Fink" was the first person brought in to Vincent K...
. Their feud culminated in a Tuxedo match on January 5, 1995. The following year, Lauer made appearances as a referee.
During The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era was a period in World Wrestling Federation and professional wrestling history that began as a direct result of the Monday Night Wars, a television ratings conflict between the WWF and longtime rival promotion World Championship Wrestling that lasted from 1995 to 2001...
, he won the WWF Women's Championship from The Kat
Stacy Carter
Stacy Carter , better known as Miss Kitty or The Kat, is an American former professional wrestling valet.During her tenure in the World Wrestling Federation, she held the Women's Championship once, although she was not a trained wrestler...
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. The win made him the first male to hold the Women's Championship. He lost the title on February 3, 2000 to Jacqueline in a match that lasted under a minute. Subsequently, Whippleman served as a road agent for the company.
On November 15th, 2010 for WWE's Old School Raw, Wippleman returned to WWE, managing the Brooklyn Brawler in a squash loss to Ezekiel Jackson.
Personal life
Lauer grew up impoverished in Pennsylvania. According to Lauer, he spent his teenage years "sprawling on car hoods, smoking cigarettes, and drinking beer with no particular ambition in mind". His drinking eventually caused Lauer to serve jail time in Memphis.In 1994, Lauer was in a car accident with Joey Marella
Joey Marella
Joey Marella was a professional wrestling referee for the World Wrestling Federation and the son of former wrestler and then WWF announcer Gorilla Monsoon from Willingboro Township, New Jersey....
, which claimed Marella's life and injured Lauer. The crash occurred as a result of Marella falling asleep at the wheel while driving on the way to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. Marella was not wearing his seat belt, but Lauer–the passenger–was wearing his. Because of the severity of his injuries, however, Lauer had approximately $10,000 in medical expenses.
He also wrote an autobiography Wrestling with the Truth, which was released in 2008.
In wrestling
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Austin Lane
- Teams and stables managed
- The Stud StableStud StableThe Stud Stable was a professional wrestling heel stable in World Championship Wrestling, Southeast Championship Wrestling and the Continental Wrestling Association.-History:...
(Robert FullerRobert FullerRobert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:...
, Jimmy Golden, Dutch MantelDutch MantelWayne Keown is an American professional wrestler, and author better known by his ring name, Dutch Mantel or Dutch Mantell. He currently is semi-retired but still makes occasional wrestling appearances. He was previously with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a writer behind the scenes...
, Brian LeeBrian LeeBrian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
, Cactus JackMick FoleyMichael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
, Brickhouse BrownBrickhouse BrownFrederick Seawright is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Brickhouse Brown, who has wrestled primarily in the United States Wrestling Association and other southeastern promotions.-Career:...
, Sylvia) - The Harris Brothers
- The Assassins (Jody HamiltonJody HamiltonJoseph "Jody" Hamilton is an American retired professional wrestler and current wrestling promoter and trainer. In his active days Hamiltion was best known as known as one half of the tag team The Assassins where he was called "Assassin #1"...
and Tom Renesto) - Rock 'n' Roll RPMsRock 'n' Roll RPMsThe Rock 'n' Roll RPMs were a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Tommy Lane and Mike Davis, that competed in several professional wrestling promotions throughout the Southern United States. They were known for their bright colored tights and hanging bandanas. Allen Martin was later...
(Tommy LaneTommy Lee Jones (wrestler)Tommy Lee Jones was a professional wrestler. He was best known for wrestling in southern United States wrestling promotions as Tommy Lane, one-half of the "Rock 'n' Roll RPMs" with Mike Davis.-Early career:...
and Mike DavisMike Davis (wrestler)Michael Davis was an American professional wrestler best known as one half of the tag team Rock 'n' Roll RPMs with Tommy Lane which lasted several years. The RPM's were one of the most well-known heel tag teams throughout the southern United States in promotions such as World Class Championship...
) - Badd CompanyBadd CompanyBadd Company was a professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s, which later went by the name the Orient Express. It is rumored that the team name was derived from the rock band Bad Company...
(Paul Diamond and Pat TanakaPat TanakaPatrick "Pat" Tanaka is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known for his work in the American Wrestling Association as one half of Badd Company and the World Wrestling Federation as one half of The Orient Express...
) - The MoondogsMoondogsThe Moondogs were a professional wrestling stable in the World Wrestling Federation and in two Memphis promotions: the Continental Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association...
- Eddie and Doug GilbertDoug GilbertDoug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert....
- Well DunnWell DunnWell Dunn, also known as the Southern Rockers, was a professional wrestling tag team that competed in several promotions in the United States. The team was composed of Timothy Smith, who competed under the ring names Timothy Well and Rex King, and Steve Doll, who wrestled both under his real name...
(Timothy WellTimothy WellTimothy A. Smith is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by the ring names Rex King and Timothy Well. He wrestled in several promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling . Much of his career was spent wrestling as a tag team with Steve...
and Steven DunnSteve DollSteve Doll was an American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as Steven Dunn in the tag team Well Dunn.-Professional wrestling career:...
) - The Batten Twins (Brad and Bart Batten)
- The Kelly Twins
Championships and accomplishments
- Continental Wrestling FederationContinental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
- Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Southeastern Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title for wrestlers considered "Junior Heavyweights", that is weighing under 230 lbs...
(1 time)
- Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Championship
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Women's ChampionshipWWE Women's ChampionshipThe WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
(1 time)
- WWF Women's Championship
External links
- Bruno Lauer at Online World of Wrestling