Whenever we watch high-flying cruiserweights put their bodies on the line for our entertainment, remember that this man did it first.
This death-defying, steel cage jumping maniac hailing from Fiji was the definition of ‘ daredevil’, constantly defying gravity and revolutionizing the nature of professional wrestling by making it more athletic and acrobatic.
We lost the legendary Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka to a terminal illness. The world has lost a legend, but thanks to the WWE Network we can relive his career almost in its entirety today. Let’s revisit his WWE Hall of Famer’s career and revisit some of the facts that you may not know about him.
#5 Snuka was the first ever ECW Heavyweight Champion
Not only was Snuka the first ever champion for this brand which revolutionised professional wrestling, he played a big role in getting it started. Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, assisted by wrestling legends Don Muraco and Terry Funk would help Tod Gordon kickstart ECW, at that time known as ‘Eastern Championship Wrestling’.
As is well chronicled, when Paul Heyman took over from Gordon, he named it ‘Extreme Championship Wrestling’, because he did not want it to sound like a regional wrestling promotion. However, in its earliest days, Snuka was the star of the upcoming company.
Also read: WWE News: Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka dies at age 73
While Jimmy Snuka is not a name one associates with ECW, on April 1992, Snuka defeated Salvatore Bellomo in the finals of a tournament to become the first ever ECW Heavyweight Champion.
He would lose it a day later to Johnny Hotbody but regain it soon after.
Snuka toured with ECW from mid-1992 all the way to 1994. Sadly, WWE does not recognise his title run and considers Shane Douglas winning the championship in 1994 to be the starting point for ECW World Heavyweight Champions.
#4 Was part of a rather ‘racist’ Piper’s Pit
Before there was Miz TV, The Highlight Reel, Cutting Ege, The Ambrose Asylum and The Kevin Owens Show, there was Piper's Pit. Hosted by the very eccentric Rowdy Roddy Piper, it was a great way to start new feuds, much like the other shows attempt these days!
In what would turn out to be one of the most infamous episodes of the show, Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka was provoked by the explosive Piper for his origins and mocked with a variety of tropical fruits because of his roots that were based in Fiji.
After Piper peeled a banana and tossed it at Snuka, and compared Pineapple leaves to the hair of Fijian natives, he began the rivalry by hitting Snuka in the head with a coconut.
This would continue through 1984 until Snuka would end it by going into rehab.
#3 Snuka would have his chance at retribution, in TNA
Remember when TNA used to actually be very good?
At Victory Road 2004, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka would replay their famous segment from Piper’s Pit where Piper would confess that him hitting Snuka with the coconut had been eating him alive, and would offer Snuka a chance at retribution, by asking him to hit Piper with well, a coconut.
While this episode became a slugfest for the X-Division, it was a tribute to the Superfly, to showcase his impact (no pun intended) on the division. Check it out.
#2 He was the first opponent in Undertaker’s ‘Streak’
Until Brock Lesnar ended the historic streak at Wrestlemania 30, no Wrestlemania was complete without the mystery of knowing whether or not the streak would be broken. What many people don’t realise is that the first man to fall victim to The Dead Man was Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka.
At Wrestlemania 7, the Undertaker defeated him and embarked on a storyline that would continue for over two decades. The match lasted well under five minutes and won't be remembered as a classic. However, the aftermath will be felt for a long, long time indeed.
Snuka would quit the company soon after this loss, jumping ship to ECW.
#1 Inspired Foley's fall at Hell in a Cell
A young Mick Foley once missed school to attend a match between Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco at Madison Square Garden, inside of a steel cage.
He would watch Snuka lose the match, but drag Muraco to the ring and deliver the move that made him famous- The Superfly Splash from the top of the steel cage. This move would remain with Foley for the duration of his career, and he would emulate the same in his match with The Phenom at Hell in a Cell.
Surprisingly, other legends like The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer and Bubba Ray Dudley were in the audience too, and were inspired by this moment.
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