James Reiher

James Reiher (18th May, 1943) is a legendary professional wrestler, especially popular in the 1980s as "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka.

Profile

• Height: 6'0"
• Weight: 250 lbs.
• Birthday: May 18, 1943
• Birthplace: Fiji Islands
• Trainer: Danny Hodge
• Managers: Hunter Q. Robbins, Buddy Rogers, Dawn Marie, Lou Albano, Gene Anderson, Paul E. Dangerously
• Debut: 1969
• Other Gimmicks: The Big Snuka, Superfly Snuka, Jimmy Snuka, Jimmy Kealoha, Lani Kealoha, The Great Snuka

Career

His nickname "Superfly" apparently came from his acrobatic skills and moves, including his signature wrestling move, where Snuka would leave his stunned opponent laying on the mat, and then Snuka would climb on to a corner of the ring's ropes, stand up, and dive face down, landing on the opponent in pin position (unless the opponent revived and moved out of the way).

Jimmy Snuka (the character), like Reiher, was from Fiji. He would wrestle barefoot. He popularized the "hang loose" Hawaiian hand gesture, which he displayed as he jumped from the ropes in his signature move.

Equal parts athlete and showman, he was a favorite in professional wrestling. He was also successful, winning the Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) Heavyweight title six times and the PNW Tag Team Championship seven times. Snuka went on to wrestle in several other NWA regions.

In January of 1982, Snuka entered the then WWF as a heel under the guidance of Captain Lou Albano. Snuka received several title shots at WWE champion Bob Backlund. The final being a famous steel cage match in which Snuka leaped from the top of the cage barely missing Backlund who managed to escape for the win. Even though Snuka was a heel, the Northeast fans started to cheer on Snuka and his athletic style. Eventually, Snuka and Albano split ways and Snuka became a face . Albano would bring in Snuka's former Mid Atlantic tag team partner Ray Stevens , to feud with him. Former Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers became Snuka's manager. Roger's had also managed Snuka in the Mid Atlantic. Snuka was the top draw at the beginning of Vince McMahon's expansion and was a candidate for what would become Hulk Hogan's role in the company, but out of the ring issues and lack of mic skills relagated him to the midcard.

He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996.

Championships/Accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Paul Orndorff and Ray Stevens)
• 1-Time NWA National Tag Team Champion (with Terry Gordy)
• 5-Time NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion
• 6-Time NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Dutch Savage)

American Wrestling Association

• 1-Time AWA Southern International Tag Team Champion (with J.T. Southern)

World Class Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion (with Gino Hernandez)

Eastern Championship Wrestling

• 2-Time ECW World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time ECW Television Champion

Other Titles

• 1-Time WWWA Heayvweight Champion
• 1-Time USA Pro Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time Tri-State Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time USA New York Champion

• Member of WWE Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 29 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 41 of the best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with Ray Stevens.

• Snuka won the PWI Tag Team of the Year Award in 1980 with Ray Stevens and the 1983 PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award. He was involved in the 1982 Match of the Year (vs. Bob Backlund).

External link

• Biography from the official Superfly Snuka website