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 WWF television after his death, McMahon described Marella as "one of the greatest men I have ever known."
WCW commentator Tony Schiavone acknowledged Marella's death (at Bobby Heenan's request) on the October 11, 1999 WCW Monday Nitro episode, even though Marella never worked for WCW. Heenan added: "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."
When Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, he said in his acceptance speech, "I wish Monsoon were here."
In 2007, when Anthony Carelli made his debut with the WWE, as a tribute to Marella, he was given the ring name "Santino Marella".
Read more about this topic: Gorilla Monsoon
Famous quotes containing the words death and, death and/or legacy:
“Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others’ death and dying the others’ life.”
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“The Reverend Samuel Peters ... exaggerated the Blue Laws, but they did include “Capital Lawes” providing a death penalty for any child over sixteen who was found guilty of cursing or striking his natural parents; a death penalty for an incorrigible son; a law forbidding smoking except in a room in a private house; another law declaring smoking illegal except on a journey five miles away from home,...”
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“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
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