Gorilla Monsoon
American professional wrestler (1937–1999) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
Gorilla Monsoon | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert James Marella |
Born | (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 |
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.