Bob Marella

Born: 1937-06-04

Robert James Marella better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator, and booker. Monsoon is famous for his run as a super-heavyweight main eventer, and later as the voice of WWE, as commentator and backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s. He also portrayed the on-screen role of WWE 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 WWE shows late in his career, is named the "Gorilla Position" in his honor. Although remembered fondly by many viewers, Monsoon was voted Worst Television Announcer a record six times by readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in the publication's annual awards poll. Marella was married to his wife, Maureen, for more than 40 years and had three children: Sharon (born 1960), Joey (adopted, 1963–1994), and Valerie (born 1966). Victor Quinones (1959-2006) was listed in Gorilla's obituary as his son as well. This was never confirmed officially by Gorilla but the Marella family has acknowledged this after Gorilla's death. Along with Linda McMahon, Marella was considered as a possible replacement for Vince McMahon as the owner of WWE if McMahon had been found guilty during his 1994 legal trial for illegal steroid use in the company. On July 4, 1994, his adopted son, Joey Marella, fell asleep at the wheel and died in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, while returning from refereeing a WWE event in Ocean City, Maryland. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. For years, Marella had a custom New Jersey license plate which read "kayfabe Death and legacy Marella died on October 6, 1999, of heart failure brought on by complications of diabetes, at his home in Willingboro Township, New Jersey. He was 62 years old. In a tribute that aired on October 11, 1999, on an episode of Raw Is War from the Georgia Dome, McMahon described Marella as "one of the greatest men I have ever known." He is interred next to his son, Joey Marella, at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. WCW commentator Tony Schiavone acknowledged Marella's death on the October 11, 1999, episode of WCW Monday Nitro. Bobby Heenan insisted on doing a tribute to Marella, even though Marella never worked for WCW. Heenan said on-air: "Gorilla will be sadly missed. Now he was one big tough man. He was a decent honest man. And we're all gonna miss him very much. And you know the pearly gates in heaven? It's now gonna be called 'the Gorilla position.' Goodbye, my friend." Robert Marella was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 1994, on June 9. When Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, he ended his acceptance speech with a very emotional, "There's only one thing missing, I wish Monsoon was here." In 2007, when Anthony Carelli made his debut with WWE, as a tribute to Marella, he was given the ring name "Santino Marella".


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Andre the Giant

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An ambitious and wide-ranging documentary exploring Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated...

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Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows

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WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

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The best and most memorable matches from Hulk Hogan's career.

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WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak

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Walk the dark and hallowed path of he who cannot be buried. The Apocalyptic Warrior who has...

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Biography: D-Generation X

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The faction known as D-Generation X and its impact on the '90s; although they could be...

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WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

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Released: 2010-12-07

.A countdown of the greatest superstars in WWE History. From Hulk Hogan to Randy Savage to The...

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The True Story of WrestleMania

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Released: 2011-03-13

It is the most anticipated yearly event in Sports Entertainment, an annual pop culture touch...

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WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell

as Gorilla Monsoon (WWE President)
Released: 1997-05-11

A Cold Day In Hell features Hunter Hearst-Helmsley vs. Flash Funk, The Rock vs. Mankind and The...

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WWE Crunch Classic

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1992-05-28

Join "Rowdy" Roddy Piper for a collection of incredible matches, as The Hot Rod hosts WWE's...

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WWF Hulkamania 2

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1987-05-01

Hulk-a-mania is running wilder than ever with more of the world's greatest athlete!

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Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!

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Released: 1985-01-01

WWF Wrestling bloopers.

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WWE Survivor Series 1990

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1990-11-22

Survivor Series (1990) was the fourth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling...

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WWE's Inside the Steel Cage

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1986-12-11

Join Gorilla Monsoon and Johnny Valentine for a journey through time to relive the most exciting...

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WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 2007-12-26

A collection of the greatest moments of the first 15 years of Monday Night Raw.

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WWE Villains of The Squared Circle

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Released: 1986-06-06

The most memorable rule benders and rule breakers of the 1980s are all here, as Mean Gene...

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WWE Hall Of Fame 1994

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1994-06-09

WWF Hall of Fame (1994) was the event which featured introduction of the second class to the WWE...

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WWE Hall Of Fame 1996

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Released: 1996-11-16

WWF Hall of Fame (1996) was the event which featured the introduction of the fourth class to the...

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WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1985-01-01

Some of the most astonishing stars the WWF has to offer.

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German Fan Favorites 2

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1994-10-24

Gorilla Monsoon hosts another exciting lineup of in-ring action with WWE's German Fan Favorites...

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Tag Team Champions

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1986-03-01

A tribute to the WWF's dynamic duos precision, timing, and teamwork that make them champions.

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WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams

as Gorilla Monsoon (Host)
Released: 1994-06-29

See the wild and wacky world of WWE with your hosts Gorilla Monsoon, Johnny Polo, Stan Lane and...

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The Best of the WWF: volume 12

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Released: 1987-08-15

Your favorite WWE superstars in the hottest action from the squared circle

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Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits

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Released: 1985-09-15

"Mean" Gene Okerlund begrudgingly hosts this collection of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's greatest hits;...

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Biography: Wrestlemania I

as Self (archival footage)
Released: 2022-09-04

Chronicling the making of the first WrestleMania when Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Iron Sheik, Roddy...

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WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 2004-09-14

In 1996, Shawn Michaels won the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row. It set the stage for...

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WWF Sunday Night Slam • November 20th, 1994

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1994-11-20

On this USA special, you get to see some of the biggest superstars of the World Wrestling...

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The Super Bowl of Wrestling

as Gorilla Monsoon
Released: 1978-01-25

The biggest match in the history pits WWWF World Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham against NWA...

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WWE Raw

as Gorilla Monsoon
First aired: 1993-01-11

A regularly scheduled, live, year-round program featuring some of the biggest WWE Superstars.

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WWF Wrestling Challenge

as Gorilla Monsoon
First aired: 1986-09-07

WWF Wrestling Challenge was a professional wrestling television program produced by the World...

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Mr. McMahon

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2024-09-25

WWE experienced record-breaking highs and crushing lows under Vince McMahon's leadership. This...

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