Why WWE’s Behind The Curtain Area Is Called “The Gorilla Position”

The Gorilla Position Holds A Lot Of Importance In WWE

The Gorilla Position Is The Beating Heart Of WWE Programming

Triple-H-Vince-McMahon-gorilla

Fans have probably seen a glimpse on TV of behind the entrance curtain, as WWE superstars are sometimes interviewed in that place as they’re about to make their entrance, but there’s more happening in the so-called Gorilla Position. Certain things that get done in this position relate to on-the-spot creative instructions towards the talent that help keep the show running.

In basic terms, the Gorilla Position is where the show gets directed, as WWE officials are present in this area. Certain officials, including former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, would be wearing headphones behind a desk giving directions. For instance, it’s a known phenomenon among internet fans that Vince McMahon is instructing the WWE commentators to say what he wants them to say.

Scott Steiner was always known for his massive physique, but the later years of his wrestling career saw him with a deformed chest.

Working behind the table in the Gorilla Position is a crucial position to have in producing the show. The people who work behind the desk, whether Vince McMahon or now Triple H, don’t get enough credit for their contributions.

The Name Is A Tribute To Gorilla Monsoon

Gorilla Monsoon Will Forever Be A Part Of Wrestling History

Gorilla Monsoon And Stu Hart

The Gorilla Position goes back many decades. And because it’s been around for many years, some might wonder where the “Gorilla Position” phrase stemmed. The “Gorilla Position” is a tribute to the legendary Gorilla Monsoon, one of the most recognized professional wrestlers in WWE history. Monsoon is not just known for his in-ring career, but is heavily known for his play-by-play announcer on WWE TV. Older wrestling fans probably remember the legendary duo of Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura, as their voices represented that 1980s generation of WWE’s Rock n’ Wrestling Era.

When David Schultz slapped ABC’s John Stossel in the 1980s, it resulted in his wrestling career coming to an end.

Monsoon was a wrestler, performed commentary, and even provided booking for WWE. He wore many hats in the three decades he spent in WWE, as it’s one of the biggest reasons he’s widely beloved in the wrestling industry, let alone WWE. The Gorilla Position phrase was attributed to Gorilla Monsoon because he was always in that backstage area working behind the scenes for WWE.

Many legends in WWE get looked back on with fondness. Other legendary superstars will get the same treatment but are looked back on much more, highlighting their overwhelming accomplishments in the business. Andre the Giant has a WrestleMania battle royal named after him, and The Ultimate Warrior has a Hall of Fame award named after him, considering they’re among the biggest names in wrestling history. There’s no denying that Gorilla Monsoon is among those very names of big wrestling stars. Gorilla Monsoon was what the WWE wanted, not just as an in-ring talent but also behind the scenes.

As an in-ring talent, Gorilla Monsoon represented the larger-than-life aspect of sports entertainment that WWE showcases. As a play-by-play commentator, his work is one of the most respected in the wrestling business. Not many people in the wrestling business get recognized for the many jobs they contribute, as Gorilla Monsoon was one of the few superstars to earn that special recognition.

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Gorilla Monsoon’s Legacy Lives On Forever

AEW Calls Their Backstage Area The Dusty Position

Gorilla Monsoon WrestleMania 15
All Time Win/Loss Record Championships Won In WWE
679-464-188 WWE United States Tag Team Championship x2

In AEW, they have a similar tribute regarding their backstage area before the wrestlers do their entrances. Like WWE naming their backstage area the Gorilla Position, AEW named the same place after the late Dusty Rhodes, also known as The Dusty Position.

When Gorilla Monsoon passed away in 1999, it was among the many deaths in wrestling that shook the industry. Monsoon was both a powerful voice on the commentary desk and someone who achieved a strong legacy in the ring, working with the likes of Bruno Sammartino (helping him to grow as a major babyface), Bobo Brazil, Haystacks Calhoun, Stan Stasiak, and many other top stars of that era. He was one of the earliest “big guys” to show a great mixture of both size and agility, paving the way for many others over the years. He was once involved in an infamous segment with Muhammed Ali too, in which Monsoon gave the legendary fighter an Airplane Spin and slammed him. In a small tribute, the name of Santino Marella is influenced by Monsoon’s real surname of Marella, which was another way his legacy continued on. One thing’s for sure, Gorilla Monsoon’s legacy lives on, especially considering that the Gorilla Position operates to this day.

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