Back when the WWE was the WWWF in the 1960s, Gorilla Monsoon was one of the top heels in the company, feuding with Bruno Sammartino before turning face in 1969. In June 1976, Monsoon gained worldwide publicity after putting Muhammad Ali--who was then prepping for a match with Antonio Inoki that month--in an airplane spin, slamming the boxer onto the mat.

After retiring in 1982, Monsoon became a color commentator, usually paired with Jesse Ventura or Bobby Hennan throughout the WWE's peak through the 1980s and early 1990s. He still holds the record for announcing the most consecutive WrestleManias, having commentated the first eight.

Monsoon was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994.

He made his final WWE appearance in 1999 at WrestleMania XV. He died in October of that year following a heart attack. He is widely considered to be one of the most beloved wrestling personalities of all time.

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