Jimmy Snuka

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Jimmy Snuka
Statistics
Ring name(s) The Big Snuka
Superfly Snuka
Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Kealoha
Lani Kealoha
The Great Snuka
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight 244 lb (111 kg)
Born May 18, 1943 (age 63)
Fiji Islands
Resides New Jersey
Trained by Danny Hodge-Eubank
Debut 1969

James Reiher (born May 18, 1943) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several wrestling promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation in the early- to mid-'80s, and is credited with introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to that promotion.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

After making his debut in Hawaii in 1969, Snuka would move to Portland soon afterwards, where he won the Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) Heavyweight title six times between 1971 and 1976 and the PNW Tag Team Championship six times along with partner Dutch Savage. Snuka would also wrestle in several other National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) regions, including Texas, the Mid-Atlantic (where he formed a tag team with Ray Stevens) and Georgia. He became identified with the "I Love You" sign language gesture, which he displayed as he jumped from the ropes in his signature move, which became so popular among fans that promoters began relaxing their ban of top-rope maneuvers so as to accommodate Snuka's exciting aerial style.

In January 1982 Snuka entered the then-named World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a heel under the guidance of Captain Lou Albano; Snuka received several title shots at WWF Champion Bob Backlund, their most famous match together being a steel cage bout at Madison Square Garden on June 28, 1982 in which Snuka leapt from the top of the cage, barely missing Backlund who managed to escape the cage for the win. The contest would be declared Match of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

Even though Snuka was a heel, the Northeast fans started to cheer on Snuka and his athletic style. An angle was created late in the year which revealed that Snuka was being financially ripped off by Lou Albano, thus releasing Snuka from Albano's managerial services. Albano then attacked Snuka and with the help of "Classy" Freddie Blassie's newest arrival, Snuka's former tag team partner Ray Stevens, beat Snuka bloody in front of a TV audience. The vicious attack, concluding with two piledrivers by Stevens on the concrete floor, solidified Snuka's new role as a face seeking to settle the score. Snuka brought his former manager from the Mid-Atlantic territory, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, back on as his new manager and embarked on a mixture of tag and singles matches against Stevens and Albano across the region. Snuka was now a star at the beginning of Vince McMahon's expansion and a candidate for what would become Hulk Hogan's role in the company, but outside-the-ring issues and lack of mic skills were factors that would hold him back from ever capturing a WWF title belt.

In 1983, Snuka encountered a personal crisis that would haunt him for many years to come. On May 10, after finishing his last match at the WWF TV taping at the Lehigh County Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Snuka became the focal point of an investigation regarding the suspicious death of his girlfriend Nancy Argentino. In the early hours the morning after the Allentown event, Argentino was discovered semi-conscious in a hotel room next to a sleeping Snuka. Various accounts of the cause came to light from alleged abuse to a slip and fall caused by intoxication. Argentino was taken to nearby hospital and later died of a skull fracture. The death was ruled accidental.

After a few months of recovery from the loss of his girlfriend, another defining moment of Snuka's career occurred on October 17, 1983 in another steel cage match at Madison Square Garden, this time against Intercontinental Champion "Magnificent" Don Muraco. The match ended in a loss for the Superfly, but he managed to drag Muraco back into the ring and this time connect with the most famous Superfly Splash of his career, off the top of the 15-foot high steel cage. Future wrestling stars Mick Foley and Tommy Dreamer were both in attendance at the event, and both attribute this match as the reason they decided to aggressively pursue professional wrestling.

In June 1984 Snuka became embroiled in an intense feud with one of the WWF's top heels, Roddy Piper, through a notorious incident that would be perhaps the most infamous of either wrestler's career. In a segment of Piper's Pit, Piper brought bananas and coconuts to the interview to make Snuka "feel more at home" but said he didn't get a tree for Snuka to "climb up and down like a monkey". Piper then proceeded to smash a real coconut on Jimmy's head when he turned his back momentarily. This was followed by a beating with a belt before the WWF cut to a commercial. The attack led to a series of bitter grudge matches between the two that were played out over venues across the US throughout the summer of 1984. The remainder of Snuka's initial WWF stint would see him frequently tangling with Piper one way or another, often via tag matches or wrestling Piper's closest ally, Bob Orton, Jr. The feud played a small part in the first ever WrestleMania in March 1985, when Snuka acted as a cornerman for Hulk Hogan and Mr. T when they faced Piper and Paul Orndorff (with Orton in their corner). The Superfly vanished from the WWF in August 1985, though he still appeared in cartoon form when Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling premiered the following month.

After a stint in alcohol/drug rehab, Snuka resurfaced in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) replacing the injured Jerry Blackwell as Greg Gagne's partner in a tag team match against Bruiser Brody and Nord the Barbarian at WrestleRock 86. Snuka would split his time between the AWA and Japan throughout 1986 and 1987. His most notable feud in the AWA during that time was with Col. DeBeers, who refused to fight Snuka because of his race until he was able to sneak-attack Snuka by pushing him off the top rope onto the floor and administering several face-first piledrivers, leading the way for a series of grudge matches in 1987.

Like many aging veterans before him, Snuka re-emerged in the WWF in March 1989 to help put over younger stars, like Curt Hennig and Rick Rude. In 1991, he was the also first PPV singles opponent for The Undertaker who would be a top contender in the company for many years to come, in part from Snuka letting The Undertaker squash him at WrestleMania VII.

After leaving the WWF in 1991, Jimmy toured with various smaller organizations in the early 90's and played a role in the formation of Paul Heyman's ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) organization along with Don Muraco and Terry Funk. Snuka was ECW's first heavyweight champion and toured with the company in arguably the best shape of his life.

He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996. He also continued to spend much of his time with East Coast wrestling organizations through the late 1990s and into the 2000s, including periodic appearances for the WWF. Snuka received a lifetime achievement award from the WWE in 2002 at Madison Square Garden and began to be thrust into skits by the WWE in 2004/2005.

In 2005, he appeared at the "WWE Homecoming", in which he delivered a Superfly Splash to Rob Conway with a ring full of legends at his side like Dusty Rhodes and Billy Graham. He also took part in a backstage skit, chasing after a partially disrobed Mae Young with a wad of Ted DiBiase's money. He was a part of the 2005 Taboo Tuesday pay-per-view, where fans voted for him (ahead of Kamala and Jim Duggan) to team with Eugene against Rob Conway and Tyson Tomko. Snuka won the match, pinning Conway after a superfly splash.

Snuka continues to work in nostalgia bits for WWE as well as work for U.S. independent shows and conventions well into his 60's and seems to have no plans to retire. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife Carol.jimmy soper fly was seen driving thru the parking lot at WrestleMaina23.

[edit] Trivia

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  • Snuka is linked to the Samoan Anoa'i family, though not actually related.[citation needed]
  • His son James Jr. is also a professional wrestler, currently wrestling on WWE Friday Night Smackdown! as Deuce.
  • Snuka was the first ECW (World) Heavyweight Champion, but isn't recognized as one in the WWE.
  • Snuka is mentioned in 'Everybody Get Up' by British Boyband 5ive, 'I'll be the resident president, I'm the fifth element, Jimmy 'Fly Snuka, Stone Cold hand picking 'em.'
  • Snuka is mentioned on the DangerDoom song 'El Chupa Nibre' in the line "The super flow with more jokes than Bazooka Joe/A mix between Superfly Snuka and a superhoe."
  • Snuka is mentioned on the Joe Budden song '#1' in the line "I'm talking old Bobby Brown before he thugged Whitney. I used to bring all my toys in the tub wit me. A snotty nose kid eatin' boogers. It was Ultimate Warrior and Jimmy Fly Snuka UH!"

[edit] Finishing and signature moves

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • AWA Southern International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with J.T. Southern
  • National
  • Regional
  • Other Titles
  • WWWA Heayvweight Championship (1 time)
  • USA Pro Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • USA New York Championship (1 time)
  • 1981 Tag Team of the Year (with Terry Gordy)
  • 1981 Best Flying Wrestler

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../j/i/m/Jimmy_Snuka_1f60.html"
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