From ECW to WrestleMania, the Blue Meanie is still ‘Brian from South Philly.’ That’s how he likes it.

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Brian Heffron rose to a prominent role as a WWE character known as The Blue Meanie, appearing at the 1999 WrestleMania in Philadelphia.

From ECW to WrestleMania, the Blue Meanie is still ‘Brian from South Philly.’ That’s how he likes it.

“When I come here, I’m just Brian,” Heffron said. “In the wrestling world, people sometimes find themselves getting so absorbed into their character that they are that 24 hours a day. I think I’ve been fortunate enough to find the balance between the character and Brian.”Cheers “Pro wrestling was the ultimate in escapism,” Heffron said. “I battled depression, I dealt with a lot of bullying, kids would pick on me and beat me up. Growing up with a single parent and my grandparents raising me, they would pick on me for that. They’d pick on me for asthma. They’d pick on me for being fat. Pro wrestling gave me an escape to fall in love with.“Every weekend, I would channel surf, looking for pro wrestling, and that became my obsession.

“A 13-hour drive and that was a story to itself,” Heffron said. “My windshield wiper flew off and then my alternator died in Columbus, Ohio. I got that fixed and stayed in a hotel where I stayed up all night making sure my car was still there. I got to school on Tuesday.” John McCusker bought the bar when he was 28 after his father, Joe, learned that Gannon’s Bar was looking to sell. Joe McCusker delivered ice and Gannon’s — an Irish pub — was one of his clients. A handshake sealed the deal a few weeks later and a “McCusker’s Tavern” sign was hung outside in December 1968.

“Every time I do that, fans who follow me on social media say, ‘One day, I have to come to this bar and have a beer with the Blue Meanie,’” Heffron said. He studied under Al Snow, who owned Body Slammers and helped Heffron get matches at the events Snow was already working. Finally, Snow told Heffron it was time to head home and find his own path.

“I walked about 20 feet from my bedroom to my living room,” Heffron said. “I look at my mom and my grandmom and I say, ‘Hey.’ They look at me. I say, ‘Put all the bills in my name.’ They’re like, ‘What?’ ‘Because I just signed with the WWF.’ My grandmom’s knees almost buckled and she grabbed the chair next to her. My mom went, ‘Wooo.’

 

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