Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James " Gino " Marella ( June 4, 1937 † 6 October 1999 ) was an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator and booker. Marella worked mainly for promotion World Wrestling Federation and its direct precursor organizations.
He was primarily known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon and was still working as a backstage manager for the World Wrestling Federation after the end of his active career.
Background in sports
Marella was already in his time at Jefferson High School in Rochester; NY an outstanding athlete in the sports of American football, wrestling and track and field. He weighed at that time at a height of 195 cm already nearly 140 kg. Nevertheless Marella got in high school the inappropriate for him nicknamed " Tiny" ( engl. = small, tiny) awarded.
Even in college in Ithaca; New York, he was a successful wrestler and 1959 NCAA Wrestling Championships took second place.
Marella also considered some records at this school, both in wrestling with a 18 seconds victory, as well as in athletics. In 1973, he was therefore included in the " Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame". His athletic achievements and most recently his height attracted the attention of local wrestling promoter Pedro Martínez. After graduating from college this Marella took them under contract.
Career
Marella began his career, according to its origin as an Italian-American Gino Marella. His ring role was that of a crowd favorite ( Face) and the name " Gino " would later be permanent nickname among colleagues are.
Marella had initially only moderate success. He realized the monster characters for wrestling fans were much more interesting and the corresponding wrestlers also earned more money. So Marella changed his ring character. He invented the ring figure of Gorilla Monsoon and let his beard grow. The new ring character was built up the storyline ( storyline ) after a brutal monster character, who now came from Manchuria, according to the newly invented backstory. The fans reacted accordingly and Marella even rose up in highly doped wrestling circles.
World Wide Wrestling Federation
Playing career
In April 1963, Vince McMahon Sr. split off with the former NWA Capitol Wrestling Federation of the National Wrestling Alliance and now formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Marella was close friends with this promoter and bought into the new promotion. He finally stopped 1/6 of the shares and controlled in some of the WWWF areas, the booking of the antretenden wrestler.
As an active wrestler Marella now reached the position of the top villain of the promotion. He came several times against the then reigning WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino. Despite his now considerable body weight of about 200 kg, he played several times 60 - minute matches, some of which were also extended.
1969 with Marella a gimmick change was completed and it was rebuilt to be a crowd pleaser ( Face). This role reversal has taken place at a match between his storyline nemesis Bruno Sammartino and its counterparty The Sheik, as allowed Marella engage in an unlawful attack of the latter in favor Sammartino Tinos.
In the 1970s, Marella was among the top earners of wrestling and worked with numerous other stars of the scene. For example, with the then WWWF champion Superstar Billy Graham or Andre the Giant.
1973, extended the influence of the WWWF also affect the Caribbean, as there with today's promotion World Wrestling Council, a sub-organization (german affiliate ) the WWWF was born. Marella was there co-owner and in 1973 joined the WWWF under its old NWA banner again the National Wrestling Alliance in.
1979 Vince McMahon Jr. bought the WWWF from his father and renamed it to World Wrestling Federation. And so Marella end of 1979 began to slowly end his active wrestling career and they tie him into a feud with Ken Patera program. As a result, denied Marella on August 23, 1980 against this a career match, which he lost. Thus, Marella announced his withdrawal from the active events.
Commentator / Backstage Manager
Following the sale of promotional Marella sold in 1980 its shares to the new owner. In return he received from McMahon Jr. a contractual obligation for life. Marella now took over the backstage management, in which he coordinated the processes behind the scenes. In addition, it was used before the cameras as a commentator. Marella worked together in the aftermath of Jesse Ventura and both were one of the most famous duos in wrestling commentators. Ventura took over doing the part to stand on the side of the villain, while Marella insisted on the rules. Together, they commented on the first six WrestleManias.
After Ventura's departure Marella then got the former wrestler and manager Bobby Heenan - villain set aside. Both were very good friends behind the scenes for a long time. But the microphone is delivered both endless word duels, the very well-received by the audience.
Marella commented between 1985 and 1992 a total of eight WrestleManias. In addition, it was used in the TV shows " WWF All Star Wrestling ", " WWF Wrestling Challenge ", " WWF All American Wrestling" and also often in " WWF Prime Time Wrestling" as a commentator.
In 1993, the former NWA and WCW commentator Jim Ross appeared in the World Wrestling Federation. Marella pulled slowly out of the wrestling scene in front of the cameras back, but kept his backstage position. 1994 struck him a heavy blow when his son, who was also engaged in the WWF as a referee, in a car accident was killed. In the same year he was accepted by Ross into the WWE Hall of Fame.
In 1995, it is before the cameras as President of the WWF, a role with which the " general manager " of the individual WWE shows can be compared today.
In 1997 he had to resign for health reasons of this role. He had his last public appearance at " Wrestlemania 15" as a juror for a tournament. Marella died in 1999 at the age of 62 years due to heart failure.
Achievements
- International Wrestling Alliance
- World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles )
- 2x WWA Tag Team Champion ( once each with Luke Graham and El Mongol )
- World Wrestling Council
- 2x WWC North American Heavyweight Champion
- World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation
- 2x WWWF United States Tag Team Champion ( once each with Killer Kowalski and Bill Watts )
Find out more
- Marella was between 1973 and the 1980s, co-owner of World Wrestling Council
- The items in the backstage area, the Gorilla Monsoon held in WWE is today generally still referred to as a wrestling gorilla position.
- Marella was late trademark sunglasses with dark blue lenses.