The iconic career of Jim Ross might not have ascended to the pinnacle it did without the influence of a well-renowned name in wrestling. Ross acknowledges this himself.
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Grilling JR”, he opened up about Gorilla Monsoon and the significant impact he had on both his professional and personal life. Ross expressed,
“The loss of Gorilla was utterly devastating. Without a doubt, my WWE career wouldn’t have unfolded the way it did, were it not for Gorilla Monsoon. He was always there for me during my low points… I simply adored him. In my extensive 50-year tenure in pro wrestling, I can’t think of anyone else who I respected and admired more than Gorilla Monsoon.”
Monsoon and Ross joined forces on the ephemeral “Radio WWF”, where they provided an alternative perspective on pay-per-view events.
Beyond commentary, Monsoon was a highly successful wrestler in his prime and transitioned into a notable authority figure on-screen once his wrestling days were behind him.
Published in 1999, the last contribution Monsoon made for WWE was his role as a judge for WrestleMania 15’s “Brawl for All” match, the same year he passed away at the age of 62.
Currently, wrestling promotions honor his legacy with the ‘Gorilla Position’ located behind the entrance ramp, a nod to the wrestling giant.