(1937-06-04)June 4, 1937 Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died
October 6, 1999(1999-10-06) (aged 62) Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Cause of death
Complications of diabetes
Alma mater
Ithaca College
Spouse(s)
Maureen Marella
(m. 1959)
Children
4, including Joey Marella and Víctor Quiñones
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
Gino Marella[1] Gorilla Monsoon Bob Marella Manchuria Giant
Billed height
6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[1]
Billed weight
401 lb (182 kg)[1]
Billed from
Manchuria[1][2] Willingboro, New Jersey
Trained by
Stu Hart[3]
Debut
1958
Retired
1997
Robert James Marella (June 4, 1937 – October 6, 1999), better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator, and booker.
Monsoon is famous for his run as a villainous super-heavyweight main eventer, and later as the voice of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), as commentator and backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s. He also portrayed the on-screen role of WWF President from 1995 to 1997.
In professional wrestling, the staging area just behind the entrance curtain at an event, a position which Marella established and where he could often be found during WWF shows late in his career, is named the "Gorilla Position" in his honor.
^ abcdCite error: The named reference wwebio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Legends was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Hornbaker, Tim (2 July 2012). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Sports Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-61321-075-8. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
known by his ring name of GorillaMonsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator, and booker. Monsoon is famous for his run as...
Wrestling Federation and son of former wrestler and then WWF announcer GorillaMonsoon (Robert Marella) from Willingboro Township, New Jersey. Joey Marella...
included: GorillaMonsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes, UK Challenge (1987-1988) Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan (February 7, 1988) GorillaMonsoon, Tony Schiavone...
color commentator and is remembered for his on-screen repartee with GorillaMonsoon. Outside of wrestling, Heenan authored two books, appeared on numerous...
July 9, 1985, with GorillaMonsoon replacing him as Ventura's co-host the week after. Bobby Heenan made his first appearance as Monsoon's co-host on April...
artist Butterbean. This event also marked the final WWF appearance for GorillaMonsoon, who died in October that year. WrestleMania is the World Wrestling...
venue at Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. He took over for GorillaMonsoon on WWE Wrestling Challenge the following weekend. Ross worked alongside...
a brief stop in the WWWF in the Northeast. There they feuded with GorillaMonsoon & Klondike Bill and the Graham Brothers. The team never won the tag...
three decades. As a young adult, Chioda lived close to the Marellas (GorillaMonsoon and his son Joey), who helped him break into the wrestling business...
high cross-body with Zenk on his hands and knees giving Muraco what GorillaMonsoon called "A little high school trip from behind" allowing Martel to get...
of life during this period, including Michael Dokes, Antonio Inoki, GorillaMonsoon, Lyle Alzado, Dave Semenko, and the famous Puerto Rican comedian Jose...
from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2007. "GorillaMonsoon". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on October...
Schiavone commentated alongside others including Lord Alfred Hayes, GorillaMonsoon, Hillbilly Jim, Rod Trongard, and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Behind...
Tanaka occasionally teamed with GorillaMonsoon. Tanaka also main evented the Garden in tag matches, twice with GorillaMonsoon vs. Sammartino and Spyros Arion...
night had his first match against new number one contender, GorillaMonsoon. Because Monsoon won the match by disqualification, Sammartino retained his...
assistance from Lord Alfred Hayes and Pat Patterson; it was later hosted by GorillaMonsoon and Jesse Ventura. From 1982 until 1984, the theme of All-Star Wrestling...
Video release of WrestleMania III, Hayes briefly appeared alongside GorillaMonsoon hyping the event. In 1986, Hayes served as ring announcer for early...
ground. This move has been made famous notably by WWE Hall of Famer GorillaMonsoon and NXT's Tyler Bate. This move was the finisher of Mike Rotunda during...
Adalberto Torres as Morales's tag team partner, along whom he also faced GorillaMonsoon and a variety of partners. On October 17, 1965, he defeated Graham...
WrestleMania not to feature Jesse "The Body" Ventura as a color commentator. GorillaMonsoon hosted the event with Bobby Heenan. When Heenan had to manage at ringside...
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