Jimmy Snuka

James Reiher Snuka (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.

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

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. 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. After his death, an autopsy revealed that Snuka had been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Championships
All Japan Pro Wrestling
World's Strongest Tag Team League (1981) (with Bruiser Brody)
Catch Wrestling Association
CWA British Commonwealth Championship (1 time)
Cauliflower Alley Club
Other honoree (1996)
Continental Wrestling Association
CWA International Tag Team Championship (one time) (with JT Southern)
Eastern Championship Wrestling
NWA ECW Heavyweight Championship (two times, Inaugural)one
NWA ECW Television Championship (one time)
Georgia Championship Wrestling
NWA National Tag Team Championship (one time) (with Terry Gordy)
International Wrestling Superstars
IWS United States Championship (one time)
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
Class of 2012
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
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
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.

 Footnotes 

References

Other websites

Category:1943 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:American professional wrestlers
Category:Fijian sportspeople
Category:Former WWE wrestlers
Category:Deaths from stomach cancer
Category:WWE Hall of Fame