Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino

This "Dark Side of the Ring" episode from season 2 number 5 which first aired on 4-14-20 "Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino" was one revealing and truth seeking episode that still searches for answers while seeking justice. As again it showed a darkside and dark nature that went with a popular wrestling figure. I remember even as a kid being a fan of "Jimmy the Superfly Snuka" as he was one of my favorite wrestlers in the "WWF", as Jimmy was strongly remembered for his athletic moves and his ability to fly around the ring and jump high off up above the top rope turnbuckle. However his hard partying days and wrestling road travel along with his romance of one young Nancy Argentino shed a different light on the "Superfly". As in an Allentown, Penn hotel room in 1983 Nancy tragically lost her life, and the case would not be revisited till many years later. Call it what you want, an unsolved crime an accident or a cover up still this shed light on a forgotten case as it still searches for answers and justice for Nancy even after Jimmy has passed. Overall well done informative, researched episode that still seeks answers as it keeps Nancy in memory.

This certainly is a dark tale. Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka was a high flying star for the WWF back in the early 1980s.

Although married he was on the road with his 23 year old girlfriend, Nancy Argentino. They had a volatile relationship and in 1983. She was found dead in a hotel room with brain injuries.

Snuka knew she was unwell but left her alone in the hotel room and went off to wrestle. After he returned she had died and he called for an ambulance.

Snuka was investigated but was not charged. His story was that she had slipped and hurt her head when they had a bathroom stop while driving to the next event.

In 1985 Snuka faced a wrongful death lawsuit. There was a $500,000 default judgment against him. He never paid it.

The event did not seem to have hurt his career much. He left the WWF mainly because he was unreliable due to substance abuse. He returned to them in the late 1980s.

More than 30 years later, the case was reopened in 2015 due to a journalist taking an interest in the case. They examined the open evidence in the wrongful death lawsuit.

Snuka was charged with the murder but was deemed unfit to stand trial. He had dementia and was suffering from stomach cancer. He died in 2017.

Given the events took place almost 40 years ago. There were very few wrestlers who were associated with Snuka who were willing to talk on camera. There was some speculation in the program.

Those that were might have an axe to grind or might be regarded as unreliable. Wrestlers are known for embellishment and conveniently forgetting things. Interestingly Snuka's widow participated.

No official from WWF was available. It was intimated that the WWF might have smoothed things over with law enforcement personnel. The Argentino family even had an offer of a payoff.

The events surrounding Nancy Argentino's death is certainly murky. I can sympathise with the frustration that Nancy's family have suffered.

So am I to believe that an Italian family living in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York did not know someone, who knew some people?!? People who could tie up loose ends? People who make offers you cannot refuse? For his daughter, a father should willingly blur lies when the ineptitude of the law enforcement community rises to level of absurdity.

Watching the former Allentown Police Chief, you see textbook indicators of deception: rambling and stumbling over his words, darting eyes, looking up and to the right. For him to state he never saw the coroner's report!?! To state he "thought" the investigators were thorough? WTF dude!?! You had one job! To be front and center in a high profile investigation. No guess work. No partial visibility. You are the boot or the blessing depending on the needs of your team.

I lay odds he was on someone payroll.