Robert James Marella
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Gorilla Monsoon, born Robert James Marella in 1937, co-hosted the first six WrestleMania events alongside Jesse Ventura. He was a WWE Hall of Famer and former WWF President who also wrestled as a super-heavyweight. Monsoon died in 1999 at age 62 from diabetes and complications from a heart attack.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Gorilla Monsoon — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Gorilla Monsoon by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Gorilla Monsoon — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
On June 4, 1937, Robert James Marella was born in Manhattan, New York City. At Ithaca College, he finished second in the 1959 NCAA wrestling championships and set an 18-second pin record that still stands. He earned degrees in physical education and physiotherapy.
Marella debuted as a professional wrestler in the summer of 1959, defeating Pedro Martinez at the Rochester War Memorial. After initially wrestling under his own name as a babyface, he transformed into the heel character Gorilla Monsoon in 1963, claiming a backstory of being born on a farm in Manchuria and eating raw meat. He became a main event wrestler, facing champions like Bruno Sammartino. After retiring, Monsoon became a commentator, paired with Bobby The Brain Heenan as a host/commentator team. He served as play-by-play broadcaster for WrestleMania I through VI alongside Jesse Ventura. In 1995, he became interim WWF President, and his final WWF appearance was as a ringside judge at WrestleMania XV in 1999.
Monsoon married Maureen Hess on August 23, 1966, and they remained together for over 40 years until his death. Their two children: Joey Marella, a WWF referee who died in a car accident in July 1994, and Victor Quiñones. He and Bobby Heenan remained close friends.
Gorilla Monsoon entered the WWE Hall of Fame and later the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also inducted into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973. His catchphrase The Irresistible Force meets the Immovable Object remains a classic. He is most remembered as the voice of classic WWF alongside Bobby Heenan and for his presence in and out of the ring.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Gorilla Monsoon — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Gorilla Monsoon — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
After the End of Each Match: Stick a Fork in ‘Im; He’s Done!
I Was a Physical Education Major at Ithaca, and the Only Thing I Regret About Becoming a Professional Wrestler Is That I Missed the Opportunity to Teach Youngsters.
It’s Pandemonium!
Little-known facts about Gorilla Monsoon — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Muhammad Ali challenged Monsoon to a match; Monsoon answered by putting Ali in an airplane spin. He never told whether the incident was scripted.
He finished second in the 1959 NCAA wrestling championships. An 18 second pin remains a school record.
In his later years, he claimed that his in-ring encounter with Muhammad Ali was not arranged. He said he had not met Ali before or after the incident. He put Ali into an airplane spin but showed mercy by not using his Manchurian splash.
He was one of professional wrestling’s super-heavyweights. He admitted that at one point his career his weight reached 440 pounds.
For the first four years of his wrestling career he wrestled under his own name. Despite his size and skill, he was just another Italian-American wrestler. He realized that heels, especially those with a gimmick, drew more attention and made more money. In 1963 he grew a beard and became Gorilla Monsoon. The character’s backstory was that he was born on a isolated farm in Manchuria. He made a living traveling with gypsy caravans and wrestling bears. He arrived in the U.S. speaking no English and eating raw meat which he would wash down with the blood of his victims. The gimmick worked and he became a famous main event caliber wrestler facing top champions like Bruno Sammartino.
WWE Hall of Famer.
Became the interim WWF President after Jack Tunney retired from the position in 1995.
He made his final WWF appearance as a ringside judge in the Brawl-For-All at WrestleMania XV 1999.
Maintained a close friendship with Bobby The Brain Heenan.
Was a strong possibility to replace Vincent McMahon as WWF owner.
Had one son, Joseph A. Marella, a WWF referee who died in a car accident in July 1994.
Last WrestleMania appearance as a broadcaster was Wrestlemania VIII.
He graduated from Ithaca College with degrees in physical education and physiotherapy.
His first match as a professional wrestler was against Pedro Martinez at the Rochester War Memorial in the summer of 1959. The crowd of 6,000 was reportedly four times the usual attendance for a professional wrestling event.
When he retired from active wrestling, he became an on-camera host and commentator under his wrestling moniker. When the WWF expanded to a national promotion via cable television, Monsoon was paired with Bobby The Brain Heenan as a host/commentator team. Their duties were loosely scripted allowing them latitude for improvisation and ad-libbing. The banter between the two became as much a part of the shows as the in-ring activities of new superstars such as Hulk Hogan.
He did not commentate at WrestleMania IX 1993 due to being sick with the flu. Despite his condition, he briefly appeared at the beginning of the event to introduce a man making his WWF debut as a play-by-play commentator, Jim Ross.
His most famous catchphrase was The Irresistable force meets the Immovable Object!
Sang at the wedding of Giant Baba.
Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010.
Longtime commentator for the WWF in the 1980s, then acted as WWF President in the early 90s.
Former professional wrestler.
Former WWF Tag Team Champion.
Served as play-by-play broadcaster alongside color commentator Jesse Ventura for the first six WrestleManias.
Graduated from Ithaca College and, to this day, holds sports records there.
Inducted into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973.
Although he had reduced his weight, his considerable size combined with his diabetes led to the heart attack that took his life at the age of 62.
Real name is Robert Marella, sometimes credited as Bob Marella. Debuted in wrestling as Gino Marella, a proud Italian American babyface. Later turned heel and changed his ring name to Gorilla Monsoon. Throughout the rest of his career he went by Gorilla Monsoon, although his friends often continued to call him Gino.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Gorilla Monsoon.
Celebrities similar to Gorilla Monsoon — same craft, ranked by reach.
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