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Jimmy Snuka

Nickname: Superfly; The Phenom

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 250 lbs.

From: The Fiji Islands

Birthday: May 18th

Pro Debut: 1969

Aliases: Jimmy Kealoha, Lani Kealoha, Tami Snuka, Great Snuka, Big Snuka, Superfly Snuka

Feds Worked For: TSW, OPW, AWA, ECW, NWA, WCW, WWE, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All Star Wrestling (Canada) Apocalype Wrestling Federation (Canada), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (Mexico), Ballpark Brawl (NY), Big Time Wrestling, Catch Wrestling Association (Austria/Germany), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Century Wrestling Alliance (CT/MA/MD), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Classic Championship Wrestling (Canada), Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling (OH), Coastal Championship Wrestling (FL), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), DREAMWAVE Wrestling (IL), East Coast Pro Wrestling (NJ/NY/PA), East Coast Wrestling Association (DE/NJ/NY), Eastern Championship Wrestling (MD/NJ/PA), Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling (Canada), Extreme Wrestling Federation (IL/IN), Firestorm Pro Wrestling (OH), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (Japan), Funkdafied Wrestling Federation (NJ), Garden State Wrestling (NJ), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Heroes and Legends Wrestling (IN), Heroes of Wrestling (MS), Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling (NJ), Impact Zone Wrestling (AZ), International World Class Championship Wrestling (CT/ME/NJ/NY/PA), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Cartel (PA), International Wrestling Superstars (NJ), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Juggalo Championship Wrestling, Main Event Championship Wrestling (OH), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), Michigan Marquee Wrestling Association (MI), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation (MD/WV), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), Midwest Renegade Wrestling (MO), National Wrestling League (MD/PA/WV), National Wrestling Superstars (NJ), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Northern Championship Wrestling (Canada), Northern States Wrestling Alliance (MI), Northwest Wrestling Promotions (Canada), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Championship Wrestling America (NJ), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA New York (NY), NWA Polynesian (HI), NWA Upstate (NY), One Pro Wrestling (England), Pacific Coast Athletic Club (CA), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling Alliance (PA), Powerhouse Wrestling (MA), Pro Pain Pro Wrestling (PA), Stars & Stripes Championship Wrestling (NJ), Steel City Wrestling (OH/PA/WV), Super World Sports (Japan), Top Rope Promotions (MA), Traditional Championship Wrestling (NY), Trans World Wrestling Federation (PA), Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (NJ), Ultimate Pro Wrestling (CA), Ultra Championship Wrestling Zero (UT), Universal Wrestling Association (Mexico), Universal Wrestling Federation (CA/FL/ND/NV/NY/SC), Universyl Wrestling Enterprises (MI), USA Xtreme Wrestling (NJ), Vancouver All-Star Wrestling (Canada), World Wide Wrestling Alliance (NJ/PA), World Wrestling Alliance (MA), World Xtreme Wrestling (FL/PA), Wrestle Association-R (Japan), Xtreme Wrestling Federation

Finisher: Superfly Splash (Flying Crosbody)

Signature Moves: Jumping Headbutt, Flying Headbutt, Knee Drop, Backhand Chop, Backbreaker

Career Highlights: -Catch Wrestling Association British Commonwealth Champion
-Continental Wrestling Association International Tag Team Champion (w/ J. T. Southern)
-ECPW Champion
-Eastern Championship Wrestling Champion (2x)
-Eastern Championship Wrestling Television Champion
-IWS United States Champion
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) United States Champion
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Paul Orndorff and Ray Stevens)
-NWA National Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Terry Gordy)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Champion (6x)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (8x; 6 w/ Dutch Savage, 2 w/ Frankie Laine)
-NWA Texas Champion
-NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (w/ Gino Hernandez)
-NWA (Toronto) United States Champion
-NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team Champion (w/ Don Leo Jonathan)
-NWA WestVirginia/Ohio/Tri-State Champion
-NWL Champion
-SAW Tag Team Champion (w/ Drew Haskins)
-SXA United States of America Champion
-USA Pro New York Champion
-USA Pro Wrestling Express Champion
-WWWA Champion

Affiliates: Dutch Savage, Lou Albano, Buddy Rogers, Terry Gordy, J. T. Southern, Paul Orndorff, Ray Stevens, Frankie Laine, Gino Hernandez, Don Leo Jonathan, Drew Haskins, Bruiser Brody, Don Muraco, Paul E. Dangerously, Eddie Gilbert, The Dark Patriot, Ray Stevens, André the Giant, Rocky Johnson, Gene Anderson

Notable Feuds: Jesse Ventura, Buddy Rogers, Fred Blassie, The Metal Maniac, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Buddy Rose, Bull Ramos, Roddy Piper, Paul Jones, Afa, Sika, Don Muraco, Masked Superstar/Ax, John Studd, Greg Valentine, Bob Orton, Jr., Ray Stevens, Jesse Ventura, Col. DeBeers, The Barbarian, Jonathan Boyd, Jay Youngblood, Honky Tonk Man, Baron Von Raschke, The Iron Sheik, Jumbo Tsuruta, Norman Lowndes, Kurt Von Steiger, Mr. Fuji, Ripper Collins, Curt Hennig, The Warlord, Sgt. Slaughter, Blackjack Mulligan, Samu, Tony Garea, Lou Albano, Ken Patera, Rocky Johnson, Paul Orndorff, Mike Rotundo/Irwin R. Schyster, Haru Sasaki, Ted DiBiase, Rene Goulet, Giant Baba, Jim Brunzell, Michael Hayes, Ivan Putski, Rufus R. Jones, Tatsumi Fujinami, Antonio Inoki, Matti Suzuki, S. D. Jones, Genichiro Tenryu, André the Giant, Jim Nelson/Boris Zhukov, Bob Backlund

Other Facts: -Real name was James Wiley Smith Reiher
-Father of pro wrestlers Tamina Snuka and Sim Snuka. He trained his son for pro wrestling.
-Former stepfather of Gino Hernandez. He was also Hernandez's step-uncle because Gino's maternal grandfather was married to Snuka's mother
-Nicknamed "Muddy" as a child because he was frequently outside playing and getting dirty.
-Competed as a professional bodybuilder before starting as a wrestler. Held the titles of Mr. Hawaii, Mr. Waikiki and Mr. North Shore.
-Wrestled his first match against Maxwell Butler
-Many promotions became more lenient about top-rope moves (which were mostly banned) due to the popularity of Snuka's "Superfly" splash.
-On May 10, 1983, Snuka's girlfriend Nancy Argentino was transported to a hospital in Allentown, PA where she later died due to "undetermined craniocerebral injuries". Many people theorize that Snuka had something to do with her death. He gave conflicting accounts of how Argentino came to be in the condition she was. There were other marks on her body. Snuka was known to do abuse cocaine and be "uncontrollable" afterwards. Snuka also had a history of abuse towards both Argentino and other girlfriends, including charges of felony assault against Argentino. One of his former girlfriends had contacted Argentino's sister and related an account that she'd had her ribs broken by Snuka during their time together. Charges were never filed against Snuka, but the case was officially left open. It was finally reopened in 2016 and there was enough evidence to bring Snuka to trial. However, his doctor testified saying that Snuka's mental state should preclude him from trial due to Alzheimer's. He was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and the case was closed.
-Competed against Don Muraco in a match on October 17, 1983. Even though he lost to Muraco, he dragged him back to the middle of the ring, then ascended to the top rope and hit the Superfly Splash. Many future pro wrestlers, including Tommy Dreamer, Bubba Ray Dudley, Mick Foley and The Sandman were present as fans at that show and cite it as the reason why they became pro wrestlers.
-Was considered to be Hulk Hogan's opponent for both WrestleMania II & III
-At Survivor Series 1990, Snuka, The Rockers & captain Jake Roberts lost to Power & Glory, The Warlord & captain Rick Martel 4 - 0. It was the first "clean sweep" in Survivor Series history.
-Was The Undertaker's first WrestleMania opponent, beginning his "Streak" of wins.
-He and his wife had a reality show called "The Superfly Challenge". It was shot in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Filming took place at the New Berlin Diner and Nikolai Volkoff's farm.
-Was also an avid poker player. He was at the Poker4Life tournament in New York City and raised $100,000 for the charity. When the Superfly was done, all five tables still in play halted and applauded him with a standing ovation
-Appeared in the movies "Buffalo Bushido" in 2008, "Queen City" in 2013, and "The Half-Life Horror from Hell or: Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!" in 2014
-His autobiography "Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story" was co-written by Jon Chattman and released in 2012
-Former member of the Dangerous Alliance (ECW version)
-Former member of Hotstuff International
-Voted Tag Team of the Year (w/ Ray Stevens) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1980
-Voted Match of the Year (vs. Bob Backlund) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1982
-Voted Most Popular Wrestling by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1983
-Won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Tag Team of the Year (w/ Terry Gordy) in 1981
-Won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Best Flying Wrestling in 1981
-Won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Best Wrestling Maneuver in 1981 and 1983
-Ranked #106 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked #97 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked #75 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked #120 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked #149 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked #185 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked #266 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked #297 in the 1998 PWI 500
-Ranked #310 in the 1999 PWI 500
-Ranked #396 in the 2000 PWI 500
-Ranked #461 in the 2001 PWI 500
-Inducted into the WWE (then WWF) Hall of Fame in 1996
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2012
-Passed away January 15, 2017 at the age of 73 from stomach cancer.
-Snuka and the 1983 death of his girlfriend Nancy Argentino was the subject of an episode of VICE's "Dark Side of the Ring" in 2020. The episode was entitled "Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino" and was narrated by Chris Jericho.