James William Reiher (born May 18, 1943), better known by the ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor. He is signed with WWE, working in their Legends program. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka was the first ECW World Heavyweight Championship and held the title on two occasions. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early to mid-1980s and is credited with introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to the WWF. His children, former WWE Superstar Jimmy Reiher, Jr. and current WWE Diva Tamina Snuka, are also wrestlers.
Still wrestles occasionally at independent wrestling shows. [2004]
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Published author.
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Former ECW Television Champion.
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From 1973 to 1978, Snuka and Dutch Savage won 6 NWA Pacific Northwest tag team titles.
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Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion.
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Was the first opponent that the Undertaker had beaten at WrestleMania, kicking off Undertaker's 14-0 winning streak.
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Jimmy's son, James Reiher Jr. is a professional wrestling who goes by the name Jimmy Snuka Jr. and Solo.
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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.
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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 Mark Calaway (aka "The Undertaker") at Wrestlemania VII.
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Wrestled for the WWF from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1989 to 1992
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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.
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One of the most memorable moments in his career came in July of 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. This incident sparked off a memorable and personal feud among them.
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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, then easily held Snooka, for a three count by the referee, and stepped out of the cage and kept the WWF title, for that time.
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1977 Wrestling Rookie of the Year.
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Made his WWF debut in 1982, managed by Lou Albano.
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In 1992 Jimmy Snuka was the very first ECW Heavy Weight champion. At the time, the initials stood for Eastern Championship Wrestling, ECW' initials were later re-named 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, the following evening.
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Formerly managed by NWA/WWF Champion, Buddy Rogers.
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