Harvey Wippleman

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

Wippleman began his career working in professional wrestling promotions in the Southern United States, especially Memphis.

In 1979, Lauer attended an independent wrestling show 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.

He continued to work in the Southern promotions for the rest of the late 1980s.

In 1986, he became the most prominent villainous manager in Memphis.

In addition, wrestlers like Jerry Lawler and Sid Eudy helped his career.

He also worked briefly in Central States Wrestling territory in 1987.

It was in Continental in 1987 that he first teamed with Eudy, while Eudy was under a mask as an incarnation of Lord Humongous.

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.

In the 1990s, he debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he managed wrestlers such as Sid Justice, Kamala, Giant Gonzalez and Bertha Faye.

In 1991, Sid Eudy helped bring Lauer to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

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.

When Busick left the company and Slick turned face, Wippleman took over managing The Warlord.

However, Wippleman's greatest acquisition was his real-life friend, Sid Justice.

When Sid turned heel, working on a program with Hulk Hogan leading to Wrestlemania, Wippleman became Sid Justice's manager and became "Dr. Harvey Wippleman".

Wippleman would begin carrying a doctor's bag to the ring containing medical equipment.

After Sid's matches against jobbers, Wippleman would retrieve a stethoscope from his bag and listen to the defeated wrestler's hearts.

After Sid left the company, 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.

Afterwards, Wippleman dropped the Dr. gimmick.

He continued to feud with the Undertaker and brought a new wrestler to the WWF, the nearly eight-foot-tall Giant González.

The feud culminated in a Rest in Peace match at SummerSlam, which Undertaker won.

During this period, Wippleman also briefly managed Mr. Hughes, who left the WWF after a few months.

Wippleman was also the manager of Adam Bomb from October 1993 until June 1994, when Bomb turned face, and feuded with Kwang, who was also being managed by Wippleman.

Wippleman also managed Well Dunn, who faced the Rock 'n' Roll Express in the RnR's WWF debut on October 10, 1993.

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, and Finkel shoved him to the mat.

The feud culminated in a tuxedo match on the January 9, 1995 edition of Monday Night RAW, which Finkel won.

Wippleman's next high-profile storyline was later 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 SummerSlam 1995.

After losing the WWF Women's Championship 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.

In 2000, he became the first and only man to win the WWF Women's Championship, thus, technically making him a one time wrestling world champion.

Wippleman works backstage in WWE (formerly the WWF) and occasionally manages in the Memphis area as Downtown Bruno.