Who Is Gorilla Monsoon? Age, Biography and Wiki
Gorilla Monsoon, born Robert James Marella on June 4, 1937, was an iconic figure in the world of professional wrestling. He made a significant impact in the industry throughout his career, which spanned several decades until his passing in 1999. Monsoon was renowned for his larger-than-life personality, both inside and outside the wrestling ring. He was not only a talented wrestler but also a beloved commentator and promoter. His legacy lives on as he is remembered for his contributions to WWE and the wrestling community as a whole.
| Occupation | Executives |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 4, 1937 |
| Age | 62 Years |
| Birth Place | Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Jersey |
| Date of death | 6 October, 1999 |
| Died Place | Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
Popularity
Gorilla Monsoon's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Gorilla Monsoon stood tall at 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) and had an impressive weight of around 400 lbs (181 kg) during his prime. His massive frame was a defining characteristic, allowing him to dominate his opponents in the ring. While specific measurements may vary, Monsoon's physical prowess was an essential part of his wrestling persona.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his life, Gorilla Monsoon was notably married to his high school sweetheart, Christine Marella, and the couple shared a close bond that lasted until his death in 1999. They had three children together. As a family man, Monsoon was known for his strong values and dedication to his family, which he cherished during his illustrious career.
In the early 1980s, Vincent J. McMahon's son, Vincent K. McMahon, began assuming the reins of the promotion from his father. The elder McMahon asked his son to take care of long-time employees who had been loyal to him.
The younger McMahon agreed, and in 1982, Vince bought Marella's shares in the company in exchange for a guarantee of lifetime employment. As he had been to his father, Marella became a close confidant of the younger McMahon, and assumed a prominent backstage role within the then WWF.
Marella would then become an announcer for the WWF starting in 1982. In addition, McMahon needed a new commentary team to head up his television programming, and installed Marella with the recently retired Jesse "The Body" Ventura in 1985.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Gorilla Monsoon's estimated net worth was around $1 million, a testament to his successful wrestling career as well as his work as a commentator. In 2025, if he were alive, his wealth could have significantly increased through various avenues such as merchandise, nostalgia-driven appearances, and potential hall of fame induction bonuses.
The Ventura/Monsoon duo of heel and babyface were the original broadcast duo, setting the standard which all who followed would attempt to emulate, especially Ventura's charismatic pro-heel character which was a first of its kind as previous wrestling commentators had almost always been in favor of the fan favorites.
The pair commentated on all the WWF pay-per-views together with the exception of the first two SummerSlams and the 1990 Royal Rumble (at SummerSlam 1988 Ventura was the guest referee for the main event so Monsoon commentated with "Superstar" Billy Graham, while Ventura was paired with Tony Schiavone at both SummerSlam 1989 and the Royal Rumble).
When Ventura left the WWF in mid-1990, he was replaced in commentary by Monsoon's Prime Time Wrestling co-host, heel manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, another duo that subsequent wrestling commentary teams have often tried to emulate.
Though the pair were frequently at odds on screen – with Monsoon regularly yelling, "Will you stop?" in response to Heenan's denigration of fan-favorite wrestlers – in real life they formed a close friendship that Heenan often recalled fondly.
In his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech at the 2004 ceremony, Heenan finished by saying that only one thing was missing – that he wished Monsoon was there.
Other people who were often paired with Monsoon in the broadcast booth included Lord Alfred Hayes, Luscious Johnny Valiant, Johnny Polo, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Hillbilly Jim, Tony Schiavone, Jim Neidhart, Randy Savage and Jim Ross.
Career, Business and Investments
Gorilla Monsoon began his professional wrestling career in the 1950s, establishing himself in prominent wrestling promotions. He was a mainstay in the WWWF (now WWE) and engaged in memorable feuds that captivated audiences. After retiring from in-ring competition, Monsoon seamlessly transitioned to a commentator role, bringing his insightful analysis and signature humor to broadcasts. Beyond wrestling, Monsoon ventured into business, operating a successful catering company which further diversified his income streams.
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.
Social Network
Though social media as we know it today didn't exist during Gorilla Monsoon's lifetime, his legacy has continued to thrive through fan pages and wrestling communities online. Fans commemorate his contributions across various platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where wrestling memories and tributes to his career are constantly shared. In 2025, Monsoon might have been celebrated through digital retrospectives, keeping his spirit and memories alive for new generations of fans.
Marella debuted in 1958, originally billing himself as Gino Marella, a proud Italian American babyface who would sing in Italian prior to his matches. Even after changing his ring name, "Gino" stuck as Marella's nickname among friends and colleagues, including Jesse Ventura, who would call Marella "Gino" on the air.
He would work in Toronto, Calgary, St. Louis and Japan. Marella garnered moderate popularity but soon realized that fans paid more attention to outlandish monster heel gimmicks, and they, therefore, made more money. Marella totally revamped his image, growing a long beard and billing himself as Gorilla Monsoon, a terrifying giant from Manchuria.
Supposedly born on an isolated farm, "Monsoon" traveled across the countryside with a gypsy caravan wrestling bears, spoke no English, ate raw meat, and drank his victims' blood. The story given on WWWF television was a bit different: his first manager, Bobby Davis, claimed to have discovered Monsoon in Manchuria wading nude in a mountain stream.
The Monsoon character was far more successful, and fans were genuinely afraid of him, sparking a huge financial windfall for Marella. In the ring, Monsoon dominated opponents with vicious chops, the dreaded Manchurian Splash, and his signature move, the Airplane Spin.
Education
Gorilla Monsoon was raised in a strong Italian-American family in Rochester, New York. While specific details about his formal education are scarce, he was known for his intelligence and charm, which served him well in his wrestling and commentary careers. His passion for the sport and dedication to his craft outweighed any formal educational pursuits he may have had, as he focused on honing his skills and developing his character in professional wrestling.
In conclusion, Gorilla Monsoon remains an enduring figure in wrestling history, and his legacy serves as an inspiration to many in the world of sports entertainment. Although he left us in 1999, the impact of his contributions continues to resonate, ensuring that his story is far from over.
Marella attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, New York, becoming a standout athlete in football, amateur wrestling, and track and field. At the time, he weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) and was affectionately called "Tiny" by his teammates.
