My memories of "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka

Rest in peace "Superfly"
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka has died after a lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 73. WWE announced the news like this "WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka has passed away. I only bring this up because there's no sign of Snuka on the company's website under the WWE Hall of Fame section. A couple years ago it appeared they had removed him due to the ongoing investigation into the death of his girlfriend in the early 1980s. But this blog isn't about that, instead remembering the in-ring performer.

Snuka & Muraco
Courtesy: WWE

My first memory of the Superfly was during the summer of 1983. He was feuding with then-Intercontinental champion The Magnificant Muraco. I've told the story here before, but long story short I was flipping through the channels one night with a few of my friends and we came upon Snuka standing in the ring being taunted by a dapperly dressed Muraco. Snuka had enough and jumped over the ropes and started ripping the suit off of the champ. It's the first thing I remember seeing on WWF programming and became hooked.

A short time later another legendary moment happened with the Superfly. This time it was on Piper's Pit and host "Rowdy" Roddy Piper belittled Snuka before slamming a coconut into his head. It was a legit hit and Piper proceeded to whip Snuka with his belt. It was a brutal and barbaric move and one of the most iconic moments from my childhood wrestling days.

My first live WWF experience also included Superfly. He wrestled "Cowboy" Bob Orton, winning by disqualification when Orton dropped Snuka crotch-first on the top rope. Piper ran in or maybe Snuka ran into the Piper-Junkyard Dog match that night, I don't remember exactly, but it was an amazing sight to see.

WrestleMania 25
Courtesy: WWE

The only other time I saw Snuka wrestle in person came in 2009 at WrestleMania 25. He teamed with Piper and Ricky Steamboat against Chris Jericho. Although the good guys lost, it was nice to see Snuka get one last moment to shine in the spotlight. It was appropriate having him on the show as he was a part of the main event of the first WrestleMania as the cornerman for Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. 

Snuka vs. Backlund
Courtesy: WWE

He had been a part of so many other iconic moments, including that top-of-the-cage Superfly splash against then-WWF Champion Bob Backlund. Snuka missed and Backlund retained, but many fans thought The Superfly had the champ's number that night. It's hard to believe he never held gold in WWF but definitely went down as one of the company's most beloved Superstars. He was on the Hulk Hogan Rock N Wrestling cartoon and was a part of the first series of LJN action figures released in 1985.

Rest in peace Superfly. My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. 

5 things I loved about Mr. Fuji

Fuji & Demolition
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Over the weekend WWE Hall of Famer Mr. Fuji died. By the time I started watching wrestling in late 1983, Fuji had transitioned from wrestler to manager, though he still had a few matches against good guys like Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat and his former tag team of Demolition. While "the Devious One" had a great career in the ring, holding the WWF tag team titles a couple of times, I will remember him as a constant force on the outside of the ring. His managerial career in the WWF outlasted others from that era like Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Slick and Jimmy Hart.

So I've decided to do a tribute here today with five of my favorite Mr. Fuji moments. He managed many men during his tenure, so narrowing it down to five was tough. (These aren't in any particular order.)

Helping Yokozuna win
Courtesy: WWE

1. His constant "a-salt" on opponents. Mr. Fuji became synonymous with tossing salt into the eyes of his foes in the ring. That act continued as a manager. He "blinded" everyone from Hulk Hogan to Ricky Steamboat to Bret Hart. In fact that act of malice cost Hart the WWF World Championship at WrestleMania IX and Fuji's huge henchman Yokozuna won the gold. But the title run lasted mere moments when Fuji challenged Hogan on the spot and his salt toss backfired and Yoko got the treatment. 

2. He was a sharp dressed manager. For most of his time as a manager, Mr. Fuji wore a black tuxedo, bowler and carried a cane. That looked also lead to an interesting tuxedo match against Hillbilly Jim, in which both men are in tuxes, and the man stripped down to his underwear first loses. Watch the clip above. Eventually when he began managing Yokozuna, he wore a traditional kimono and carried the Japanese flag.

The cane about to go into action
Courtesy: WWE

3. His "cane-do" attitude. Mr. Fuji's cane often became a weapon of mass destruction when his men needed it the most. That cane was used to bring Demolition the WWF Tag Team Titles against Strike Force at WrestleMania IV.  Dozens of good guys left the ring with an imprint of that cane on their back, head or abdomen.

4. He was the king of the low blow. Fuji used to set up his opponents for the ultimate low blow, a head butt to the crouch. It hurts me to just type this one out.

5. He and the Magnificent Muraco put Crockett and Tubbs to shame. The manager-wrestler duo did a spoof of Miami Vice on Tuesday Night Titans called Fuji Vice. It was a a fun segment to capitalize on the popularity of the crime show and give it a wrestling twist. Again, watch the above clip.

These are just a few of the many accomplishments Mr. Fuji made during his long career. I'd be remiss to not mention him during on Demolition during the 1988 Survivor Series and joining forces with the Powers of Pain. Rest in peace Mr. Fuji. You will be missed.

All Dressed Up, But Not For Long

Jimmy Snuka diving onto Magnificent Muraco

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

It was the Summer of 1983 and I was preparing to go into the fifth grade.  At that point in my life, I was a very, very casual fan of wrestling.  In fact, a year prior, I hated it.  But something happened that summer that burned in my brain and has stuck with me ever since.  I'm certain it's my first memory of the WWF.  Until then, I had seen World Class Championship Wrestling and Wrestling at the Chase, so I was vaguely familiar with Andre the Giant, the Von Erichs, and Ric Flair.

But that summer night, I remember I had a group of friends over, and we were flipping the channels on the newly installed cable box and came across wrestling on the USA Network.  It was WWF.  I didn't know any of the names at the time, but the Magnificent Muraco was being interviewed (by the legendary Buddy Rogers) about being the Intercontinental champion.  During the course of Muraco was running down the baby faces on the roster, when "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka made his way to the ring to wrestle some no name guy.

Definitely not PG

Muraco viewed this as disrespect and walked to the ring, got up on the apron, mouthed something to Superfly, and then hocked a loogie his way.  This of course incensed Snuka who did his patented leap over the top rope onto the champ.  He then proceeded to rip the suit coat and dress pants off Muraco as the two threw fists of fury at one another.  Muraco used the microphone to bust open Snuka and commentator Vince McMahon described in detail the flow of blood that was coming from the Superfly's head.   He had to describe it because there was a giant red X with the word CENSORED printed on it covering up the action.

The two then engaged in a classic feud, which was highlighted with Snuka climbing the top of a cage and delivering his Superfly Leap onto a prone Muraco.  I thought for sure he was going to win the title that night, but lost on some sort of technicality.

Anyway, that is my first memory of WWE/F television.  It's part of the reason I'm still a fan, some 30 years later.  What moments do you remember that made you become a fan of the business?