Back Gorilla Monsoon Afrikaans غوريلا مونسون Arabic جوريلا مونسون ARZ Qorilla Musson Azerbaijani گۆریلا مۆنسون CKB Gorilla Monsoon Czech Gorilla Monsoon Danish Gorilla Monsoon (Wrestler) German Γκορίλα Μονσούν Greek Gorilla Monsoon Spanish
| Gorilla Monsoon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Monsoon in 1977 | |
| Birth name | Robert James Marella |
| Born | June 4, 1937 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 1999 (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 7 in (201 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 "Gino" 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.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
wwebiowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Legendswas 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.