As the 1980s began, Marella's in-ring career wound down. On August 23, Monsoon put his career on the line in a match against Ken Patera. Monsoon lost the match and only wrestled a few more matches, retiring several weeks later. He stayed true to his word and returned just four times: wrestling a six-man tag team match at Madison Square Garden in 1981, a match in 1982 as a substitute for André the Giant, taking part in Big John Studd's "Body Slam Challenge" in 1983, and wrestling at WWC's tenth anniversary show in San Juan, Puerto Rico (also in 1983). The next phase of his career began, as the voice and backstage manager of WWF.