Biography

Was famously challenged to a match by boxing legend Muhammad Ali, he answered the challenge by putting Ali in an airplane spin. He later would never tell whether or not the incident was scripted or not.

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 famous in-ring encounter with Muhammad Ali was not arranged in advance. He claimed that he had not met Ali before, or after, the incident. He said that although he did put Ali into an "airplane spin," he showed him some mercy by not giving him his famous "Manchurian splash."

He was one of professional wrestling's super-heavyweights. He admitted that at one point in 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 therefore 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 very famous main event caliber wrestler facing the top champions like Bruno Sammartino.

(To Bobby "The Brain" Heenan) "Will you stop?!"

After the end of each match: "Stick a fork in 'im; he's done!"

(On a television program as "Gorilla Monsoon" being asked about his real name.) It took me years to become Gorilla Monsoon. I'm not about to blow that in ten seconds

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.

(Questioned on why he left teaching to become a professional wrestler) "Of course, there aren't many $100,000-a-year teachers."