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Jimmy Snuka

For his son Jimmy Snuka Jr., see Deuce (wrestler).

James Reiher Snuka[b] (born James Wiley Smith; May 18, 1943 – January 15, 2017) was a Fijian-American professional wrestler. He is better known by his ring name, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. His first match was in 1967. Snuka is one of the most remembered wrestlers, along with Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase, and more. His daughter Tamina Snuka currently works for the WWE. His son Jimmy Snuka, Jr. also worked for the company.

Jimmy Snuka
Ring name(s)Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Kealoha[1]
Lani Kealoha[2]
Tami Snuka[1]
The Superfly
Big Snuka[1]
Great Snuka[2]
Billed height6 ft 0 in[3]
Billed weight251 lb[3]
Born(1943-05-18)May 18, 1943
Suva, Fiji[a]
DiedJanuary 15, 2017(2017-01-15) (aged 73)
Coral Springs, Florida, U.S.
Billed fromThe Fiji Islands
Trained byDanny Hodge
Debut1968[4]
Retired2015[5]

He retired from wrestling in 2015. In August 2015, his wife announced that Snuka was diagnosed with stomach cancer.[7]

On September 1, 2015, Snuka was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 1983 death of his girlfriend Nancy Argentino at an Allentown, Pennsylvania hotel.[8] The charges were dismissed in 2017, because of Snuka's terminal illness and dementia.

Snuka died of stomach cancer on January 15, 2017 in Pompano Beach, Florida, aged 74.[9] After his death, an autopsy revealed that Snuka had been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).[10]

Championships

  • All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Catch Wrestling Association
    • CWA British Commonwealth Championship (1 time)
  • Cauliflower Alley Club
    • Other honoree (1996)[12]
  • Continental Wrestling Association
    • CWA International Tag Team Championship (one time) (with JT Southern)
  • Eastern Championship Wrestling
  • Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • International Wrestling Superstars
  • Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
    • NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (one time)
    • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (two times) (with Paul Orndorff (one) and Ray Stevens (one))
  • NWA All-Star Wrestling
    • NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (one time) (with Don Leo Jonathan)
  • NWA Big Time Wrestling
    • NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (one time)
    • NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (one time) with Gino Hernandez
  • NWA Tri-State Wrestling
    • NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (one time)
  • Pacific Northwest Wrestling
    • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (five times)
    • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (six times) with Dutch Savage
  • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • PWI Match of the Year (1982) (vs. Bob Backlund in a cage match on June 28)
    • PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1983)
    • PWI Tag Team of the Year (1980) (with Ray Stevens)
    • He was ranked #29 of the 500 best singles wrestlers by PWI during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
  • Universal Superstars of America
    • USA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • USA Pro Wrestling
    • USA Pro New York Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • World Wide Wrestling Alliance
    • WWWA Heavyweight Championship (one time)
  • World Wrestling Federation
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
    • Tag Team of the Year in 1981 with Terry Gordy
    • Best Flying Wrestler in 1981
    • Best Wrestling Maneuver in 1981 and 1983 for the Superfly Splash.

Jimmy Snuka Media

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Fiji was a British colony at the time of Snuka's birth.
  2. ↑ Reiher legally changed his surname to Snuka.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Meltzer, Dave. The Wrestling Observer's Who's Who in Pro Wrestling (1996)Wrestling Observer. p. 111–112.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Historical Dictionary of Wrestling (2014)Scarecrow Press. p. 272. ISBN 9780810879263.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shields, Brian. WWE Encyclopedia (2009)DK. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  4. ↑ Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s (2010)Simon & Schuster. p. 51. ISBN 978-1416532576.
  5. ↑ Mason Schroeder, Laurie. Psychologist says Snuka 'shell of a man,' but video shows 'Superfly Splash' from last year. The Morning Call (May 13, 2016). Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  6. ↑ Mooneyham, Mike. Superfly Jimmy Snuka soars again in new book. The Post and Courier (January 20, 2013). Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ Jimmy Snuka diagnosed with Stomach cancer, wife Carole revealsBleacher Report.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ Wrestling legend Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka charged in girlfriend's 1983 deathThe Morning Call. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  9. ↑ McCausland, Phil. Controversial Wrestler Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka Dead at 73 (January 15, 2017)NBC News. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  10. ↑ Three pro wrestlers diagnosed with CTE or similar diseaseBoston Globe. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ TitleholderAll Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  12. ↑ List of CAC Award WinnersCauliflower Alley Club. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  13. ↑ The highs and lows of Superfly. Slam! SportsCanadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  14. ↑ ECW TV Championship - Jimmy Snuka (March 12, 1993 - October 01, 1993)WWE. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 On this day in pro wrestling history (July 6): Terry Gordy & Jimmy Snuka win belts, Santana vs. Valentine, Goldberg vs. Hogan seta WCW recordWrestling Observer. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  16. ↑ Class of 2012Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2015-09-01.

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