An article by Mike Mooneyham
Published July 10, 1994
Longtime WWF referee Joey Marella, son of commentator and former wrestler Gorilla Monsoon, was killed in an automobile accident early Monday morning while driving back from a WWF television taping held Sunday night in Ocean City, Md.
According to WWF spokesman Steve Planamenta, Marella and wrestling manager Harvey Whippleman (Bruno Lauer) were en route to Newark airport when Marella fell asleep at the wheel at approximately 3 a.m. and crashed into a tree.
Whippleman, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to a nearby hospital for observation and later released. Marella, who was 31, was not in a seat belt.
Marella joined the WWF in 1983 and was one of the promotion’s featured officials.
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