Curiosidades

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.

WWE Hall of Famer.

Became the interim WWF President after Jack Tunney retired from the position in 1995.

In what would be his final WWF appearance, he was 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 (another former professional wrestler who doubled as a villainous manager) as a host/commentator team. Their duties were very loosely scripted allowing them a great deal of 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 the new wrestling 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 only 62.

Real name is Robert Marella, sometimes credited as Bob Marella. Debuted in wrestling in 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.