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Few Superstars can be said to have single-handedly influenced the
development of sports-entertainment, but Jimmy Snuka is one of them. His
innovative high-flying style was the precursor to much of what fans see each
week on Raw and SmackDown! from the likes of Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam and Rey
Mysterio. He was the man who popularized maneuvers from the top rope, and
was at one time the most popular competitor in the WWE.
He took to referring to himself as “Superfly”, in reference to his
incredible aerial style of wrestling. Most notable of all was the leap off
the top turnbuckle which he had perfected. Now a commonplace maneuver, back
then it was truly unique, and led to countless wins for Snuka.
In 1982, he made his debut in the WWE under the management of Capt. Lou
Albano. Instantly rocketing to the top of contention, he challenged WWE
World Champion Bob Backlund in three consecutive main events at Madison
Square Garden, culminating in a historic steel cage match on June 28, 1982,
in which he leapt from the top of the 15-foot cage, only to miss his
opponent and consequently lose the match.
Later in the year, the course of Snuka’s WWE career was altered when he
discovered, thanks to the legendary Buddy Rogers (then working as a WWE
announcer) that his manager Albano was ripping him off. Snuka fired Albano
and hired Rogers as his new representation, winning the fans over in the
process. He was the target of a bloody attack by Albano and his new charge
Ray Stevens, which led to one of the early ‘80s’ most violent rivalries.
The following year, Snuka pursued Don Muraco’s Intercontinental
Championship. Their war was highlighted by another MSG steel cage match.
This time, Snuka hit with his leap off the top of the cage, but it was
unfortunately after he had already lost the match. By this time, Snuka was
hands down the most popular Superstar in the WWE.
Next came Rowdy Roddy Piper, who drew the ire of the Superfly by smashing a
coconut on his head during a segment of Piper’s Pit in January 1984. After
settling up with the Rowdy Scot, Snuka made an appearance at the first
WrestleMania, where he was the corner man for Hulk Hogan & Mr. T in the main
event.
Not long after, Snuka disappeared from the WWE scene, just as the company
was going national. He missed out on much of the glory days of the ‘80s, but
made a return to action in 1989 at WrestleMania V. He was no longer the
Superfly of old, but still enjoyed a few more years in the spotlight,
including a match with the rookie Undertaker in 1991 at WrestleMania VII. He
appeared in his final WWE match to date at the 1996 Survivor Series, where
he returned to the Garden to take to the air once again.
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