James William Reiher (born May 18, 1943) is a semi-retired
Fijian professional wrestler and
actor, better known by his ring name of
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the
Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several wrestling promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. He is best known for his time in the
World Wrestling Federation in the early to mid-'80s, and is credited with being the first
ECW Heavyweight Champion and introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to the WWF.
[WWE: Superstars > Hall of Fame > Jimmy Snuka > Bio] His biological son James Jr. is also a professional wrestler, who had wrestled in the WWE on its
Raw brand as
Sim Snuka.
Wrestling career
Early career
Reiher was active in amateur bodybuilding in Hawaii in the 1960s. He also enjoyed some success as a professional bodybuilder, earning the titles of Mr. Hawaii, Mr. Wakiki and Mr. North Shore.
[www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/jimmysnuka2.html] Reiher opted to go into the more lucrative career of professional wrestling due to his uncertainty of making a living in bodybuilding.
[World Wrestling Federation (Producer), Snuka, J. (Writer), & Graham, D. (Director). (1982). Spectrum wrestling picture. USA: World Wrestling Federation.] According to the Wrestling Museum, "as a result of working out regularly at pro wrestler Dean Ho's gym in Hawaii, Snuka came into contact with many of the wrestlers who worked in the South Pacific region and, eventually, he decided to explore his options in the "sport.""
According to Snuka's official website, "Hawaii was the ground in which Jimmy first stepped into the squared circle as Jimmy Kealoha."
[www.jimmysnuka.com/bio.asp] As Jimmy Kealoha, Snuka made his debut fighting Maxwell "Bunny" Butler in
Hawaii in 1969. Snuka's website further states that "Afterwards, the move to the mainland saw Jimmy wrestle for Don Owen’s NWA Pacific Northwest territory where he held the belt as Heavyweight Champion six times. The first title win came when Jimmy Snuka pinned
Bull Ramos on November 16, 1973."
It was in this territory James Reiher a.k.a. "Jimmy Kealoha" transformed himself into Jimmy Snuka. Also in
Pacific Northwest Wrestling, along with winning the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title six times between 1971 and 1976, Snuka held the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship six times along with partner
Dutch Savage. Snuka also had his first notable feud in this Oregon-based promotion with another rookie,
Jesse "The Body" Ventura, and these series of grudge matches would last about two years.
