Trivia

In January 2017 Lehigh County (PA) Judge Kelly Banach dropped all charges against him in the 1983 death of his girlfriend Nancy Argentino. Snuka was judged to be incompetent to stand trial due to medical records showing he was suffering from dementia and showing symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), the result of repeated head trauma. In December 2016 Snuka had been moved from in-home hospice to in-hospital hospice.

One of the most memorable moments in his career came in July of 1984, when Roddy Piper smashed a coconut over his head during a broadcast of "WWF Championship Wrestling;" Piper was already insulting the Fiji superstar. This incident sparked a memorable and personal feud between them.

In July 2014, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He had surgery which removed about three-fourths of his stomach, some lymph nodes and a section of his large intestine. It is believed that the anesthesia may have accelerated his dementia.

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 Don Muraco (aka "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 drop-kicked out the door and onto the floor, thus keeping the Intercontinental title.

Father of Sarona Snuka aka Tamina Snuka.

Wrestled for the WWF from 1982-85, and again from 1989-92.

His son, James Reiher Jr., is a professional wrestling who goes by the name Jimmy Snuka Jr. and Solo.

On January 15, 2017, it was reported that he had only six months left to live. He passed away later that day.

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. It 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 he writhed in pain on the mat and held his stomach, Backlund easily held him for a three count by the referee, and stepped out of the cage still the WWF Heavyweight champ..

Upon his death, WWE released a 4 minute tribute video. This received a backlash from fans and critics for praising Snuka who allegedly killed his girlfriend, and still doing almost all they can to distance themselves from other wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Chris Benoit who were accused of equally as bad, or not as bad, acts as Snuka.

Noted feuds against Don Muraco and Roddy Piper.

Formerly managed by NWA/WWF Champion, Buddy Rogers.

1977 Wrestling Rookie of the Year.

Appeared at Wrestlemania I in the corner of Mr. T and Hulk Hogan in the main event as they faced "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "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.

He made an appearance on WCW Monday Nitro (1995), 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.

Was the first opponent The Undertaker (aka Mark Calaway) beat at WrestleMania, kicking off Undertaker's 14-0 winning streak.

From 1973-78, he and Dutch Savage won six NWA Pacific Northwest tag team titles.

Published author.

In 1992 he was the very first ECW Heavyweight champion. At the time, the initials stood for Eastern Championship Wrestling; later it was re-named Extreme Championship Wrestling. He beat Wildman Bellomo in a final in Philadelphia and held the title for just one day, as he lost it to Johnny Hotbody the following evening.

Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

Former ECW Television Champion.

Still wrestles occasionally at independent wrestling shows. (2004)

WWE Hall of Famer.