Remembering The Legendary Gorilla Monsoon - 20 Years On

Gorilla Monsoon, the voice for a generation, passed away on this day 20 years ago.

For many, he is sighted as the greatest wrestling announcer of all-time and indeed he had a very successful career calling some of the biggest matches of the 80s and early 90s, and he himself also competed in the ring from 1958-1983 alongside and against the likes of Killer Kowalsi, Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, and Andre The Giant.

Monsoon made the transition from the ring to the commentary table in the early 1980s and was the voice of Prime Time Wrestling, Wrestling Challenge and the big ‘big 4’ pay-per-views, WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and the Survivor Series. He hosted many of these shows alongside Jesse Ventura and his long-time friend and broadcast partner Bobby Heenan, a legendary pairing that often provided many comic moments.

Moonson, was one of the first wrestlers to make the transition to commentary in this manner and was often looked up upon for his versatile nature having successfully provided both play by play and colour roles. These skills he would later pass on to other up and coming announcers, namely WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross who became his natural predecessor, and the new voice of a generation. 

Monsoon made his last appearance in 1999 at the WWE WrestleMania XV PPV as a judge for the Brawl 4 All match. Sadly, Monsoon died later that year on October 6 due to heart failure after complications with diabetes.

R.I.P 

June 4, 1937 – October 6, 1999

Before there was @JRsBBQ “the voice of WWE” there was #GorillaMonsoon.

20 years ago the world of professional wrestling lost its voice, the legendary Gorilla Monsoon aged 62 on October 6, 1999.

Tweet us your favourite memories of Moosoon. #wwe pic.twitter.com/t5EohVWcfb

— WʀᴇsᴛʟɪɴɢNᴇᴡsSᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ.ᴄᴏᴍ (@WNSource) October 6, 2019