Biography for
'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

18 May 1943, The Fiji Islands

Birth Name

James Reiher

Nickname

Superfly
The Original Phenom

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Jimmy Snuka is a classic example the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (formerly known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF)) who became a baby-face (a good guy) without trying. Originally a heel, Snuka came into the WWE as a heel (a bad guy) under the guidance of heel manager, Captain Lou Albano.

After receiving many title shot for the WWE Championship, which Snuka never won, the final match between him and then-WWE Champion Bob Backlund was in Madison Square Garden in the famous Steel Cage Match, which Snuka did his trademark "Superfly Splash" off the top steel cage.

Snuka attracted many fans with his acrobatic wrestling style. Soon he torn away from Ablano and became a face. However, this wouldn't be the last time Snuka would see Albano again. Albano brought in Snuka's former Mid-Atlantic tag team partner, 'Ray Stevens', to feud with him. With Albano in Stevens' corner, Snuka brought in former WWE Champion and WWE competitor, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers as his manager.

At the top of his game after a year in the WWE, Snuka would face a personal crisis that haunted him for the next few years. In 1983, after he finished up his last match, his girlfriend, named Nancy Argentino, was found semi-conscious next to a sleeping Snuka. Argentino died at the nearby hospital. When in court, it was ruled that the death was accidental.

After recovering from his girlfriend's death, Snuka's real shot to fame was when he feuded with Don Muraco, a former WWE Champion. In another famous Steel Cage Match, Snuka faced Muaraco but lost. However, he gotten the last laugh by dragging Muraco back inside the cage, and that's when Superfly's proudest moment came. He climbed up to the top of the 20-foot steel cage, and executed his Superfly Splash. This became one of the most memorable moments in WWE history. Both wrestling veterans, 'Mick Foley' and 'Tommy Dreamer', were there when it happened. Both also shot to fame in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which Superfly first started and became the first ECW Champ (During that time it was formerly known as Eastern Championship Wrestling).

Another fan favorite highlight came along when Snuka started feuding with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, which Piper called Snuka a "big shot" and a "monkey". After Snuka came out confronting Piper, Piper smashed Superfly's head with an actual coconut. The storyline went through the first WrestleMania when Snuka was managing Hulk Hogan and TV veteran Mr. T in the main even against Piper and 'Paul Orndoff'. With Snuka in Hogan and Mr. T's corner, Piper and Orndoff had 'Bob Orton, Jr.'.

After a stint of alcohol/drugs rehab, Snuka went back into wrestling, but this time, in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he became a tag team partner with also wrestling veteran, Verne Gagne.

After AWA, he went back into the WWE in 1989, to help younger wrestlers who would also become legends such as "Mr. Perfect" 'Curt Cunning' and "Ravishing" Rick Rude. Then 1991, he started to feud with a much younger 'Undertaker' and lost to 'Taker at Wrestlemania VII, marking Snuka the first victim of Undertaker's 14-0 winning streak. After leaving WWE the same year, Snuka started touring with smaller wrestling promotions and also began working again with ECW alongside Don Muraco and wrestling legend, Terry Funk.

Then in 1996, Snuka's biggest moment of his life came. He became part of the class of 1996 to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also was inducted with legends such as his former manager Lou Albano, 'Killer Kowaski', and 'Pat Patterson'. He was inducted by former rival, Don Muraco.

Recently, Superfly showed up at the WWE Homecoming, and was chosen by the fans that he would team up with newcomer Eugene (Nick Dinsmore), on Taboo Tuesday in a non-title tag team match again Rob Conway and 'Chris Master'. both Superfly and Eugene won by pin-fall when Snuka did his signature Superfly Splash.

When in he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame back in 1996, Snuka said that even though he is inducted into the Hall of Fame, doesn't mean he will retire from wrestling. Today, even though in his 60s, Snuka still wrestles in the independent circuit and appear on WWE occasionally.

IMDb Mini Biography By: rocknrollunderdawg

Trade Mark

Splash from the top rope

Tiger or leopard pattern wrestling tights.

"Superfly" splash off the top rope

"Shaka" (I love you) hand sign

Wrestled barefoot

Always wears a headband, even with formal wear.

Trivia

Noted feuds against Don Muraco and Roddy Piper

Formerly managed by NWA/WWF Champion, Buddy Rogers

WWF Hall-of-famer

In 1992 Jimmy Snuka was the very first ECW Heavy Weight champion. At the time called Eastern Championship Wrestling, it later became Extreme Championship Wrestling. He beat Wildman Bellomo in a final in Philadelphia and held the title for just 1 day as he lost it to Johnny Hot Body.

Made his WWF debut in 1982, managed by Lou Albano

1977 Wrestling Rookie of the Year.

Entered the WWF as a "heel" in 1982, managed by Capt. Lou Albano, and quickly began a bloody feud with WWF World Champion Bob Backlund. Their feud culminated in a steel cage match that June at Madison Square Garden in New York. Snuka had Backlund badly beaten and attempted to leap off the top of the cage (in executing his trademark Superfly leap) onto a prone Backlund. However, Backlund moved out of the way at the last second, and Snuka crashed to the mat. As Snuka writhed in pain on the mat and held his stomach, Backlund easily stepped out of the cage and kept his WWF title.

One of the most memorable moments in his career came in July 1984, when Roddy Piper smashed a coconut over Snuka's head during a broadcast of "WWF Championship Wrestling;" Piper was already insulting the Fiji superstar. That incident sparked off a memorable, personal feud between the two.

Tried his "top of the cage" Superfly leap again in October 1983 (again, at Madison Square Garden in New York), this time as a good guy and wrestling against the Magnificent Muraco for the WWF Intercontinental Championship; Muraco and Snuka warred violently that year. This time, Snuka didn't miss with his leap. Alas, he had already lost the match; Muraco had earlier been dropkicked out the door and onto the floor, thus keeping the Intercontinental title.

Inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996. The night afterwards he made a surprise wrestling appearance at the Survivor Series, wrestling alongside Yokozuna, Savio Vega, and Flash Funk to take on the team of Vader, Farooq, The New Razor Ramon, and The New Diesel

Wrestled for the WWF from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1989 to 1992

Appeared at Wrestlemania I in the corner of Mr T & Hulk Hogan in the main event as they faced "Rowdy" Roddy Piper & "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, made a surprise return to the WWF at Wrestlemania V, wrestled "Ravishing" Rick Rude at Wrestlemania VI, and wrestled The Undertaker at Wrestlemania VII.

He made an appearance on WCW Nitro taking on Jeff Jarrett in a steel cage match. He lost the match but managed to deliver his famous Superfly leap off the cage onto Jarrett.

Jimmy's son, James Reiher Jr. is a professional wrestling who goes by the name Jimmy Snuka Jr. and Solo.

Was the first opponent that the Undertaker had beaten at WrestleMania, kicking off Taker's 14-0 winning streak.

Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

From 1973 to 1978, Snuka and Dutch Savage won 6 NWA Pacific Northwest tag team titles.

Former ECW Television Champion.

Where Are They Now

(2004) Still wrestles occasionally at independent wrestling shows.

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