Climbing Edge Gym Pacific
Climbing Edge Gym Pacific
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. His biological son James Jr. is also a professional wrestler, who had wrestled in the WWE on its Raw brand as Sim Snuka and a daughter Sarona Snuka who is a wrestler.
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. Waikiki and Mr. North Shore. Reiher opted to go into the more lucrative career of professional wrestling due to his uncertainty of making a living in bodybuilding. 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." 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.
Snuka also wrestled in several other National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) regions, including Texas. In 1977, Jimmy won both the Texas Heavyweight and Tag Team titles. After enjoying success in Texas, Snuka left for the Mid-Atlantic where he formed a tag team with Paul Orndorff. Orndorff and Snuka defeated Baron von Raschke and Greg Valentine to become the tag team title holders in 1979. Snuka also garnered success in singles competition in the Carolinas, because on September 1, 1979, Jimmy defeated Ricky Steamboat to hold the United States title. Snuka also formed a tag team with Ray Stevens while with this promotion.
Snuka's career eventually led him to Georgia. In Georgia, Terry Gordy and Jimmy became the NWA National Tag Team Champions by defeating Ted DiBiase and Steve Olsonski. He became identified with the "I Love You" sign language gesture, which he displayed as he jumped from the ropes in his signature move, which became so popular among fans that promoters began relaxing their ban of top-rope maneuvers so as to accommodate Snuka's exciting aerial style.
World Wrestling Federation
1982
In January 1982 Snuka entered the then-named World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a heel under the guidance of Captain Lou Albano. Snuka lost several title shots at WWF Champion Bob Backlund; their most famous match together was a Steel cage match at Madison Square Garden on June 28, 1982 in which Snuka leapt from the top of the cage, barely missing Backlund who managed to escape the cage for the win. The contest would be declared Match of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Even though Snuka was a heel, the Northeast fans started to cheer on Snuka and his athletic style. An angle was created late in the year which revealed- on an episode of Buddy Rogers' Victory Corner - that Snuka was being financially ripped off by Lou Albano, thus releasing Snuka from Albano's managerial services. Albano then attacked Snuka and with the help of "Classy" Freddie Blassie's newest arrival, Snuka's former tag team partner Ray Stevens, beat Snuka bloody in front of a TV audience. The vicious attack, concluding with two piledrivers by Stevens on the concrete floor, solidified Snuka's new role as a face seeking to settle the score. Upon becoming a babyface Snuka brought his former manager from the Mid-Atlantic territory, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, back on as his new manager and embarked on a mixture of tag and singles matches against Stevens and Albano across the region. Snuka was now a star at the beginning of Vince McMahon's expansion and a candidate for what would become Hulk Hogan's role in the company, but outside-the-ring issues and lack of mic skills were factors that would hold him back from ever capturing a WWF title belt.
1983
Snuka would also have a famous feud with "Magnificent" Don Muraco in 1983, which began after Snuka entered the ring for a preliminary match while Muraco, the Intercontinental Champion, was being interviewed. Muraco, enraged at the perceived lack of respect, confronted Snuka at ringside, triggering a wild brawl in which Muraco's street clothes were torn off and Muraco bloodied Snuka with a microphone.
This feud led to a defining moment of Snuka's career on October 17, 1983, in a steel cage match at Madison Square Garden. The match ended in a loss for the Superfly, but afterwards he managed to drag Muraco back into the ring and this time connect with the most famous Superfly Splash of his career, off the top of the 15-foot (4.6 m) high steel cage. Future wrestling stars The Sandman, Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer, and Bubba Ray Dudley were all in attendance at the event, and cite this match as the reason they decided to aggressively pursue professional wrestling. This is also where commentator Gorilla Monsoon's infamous exclamation "Superfly perched...fifteen feet high!" was born.
1984
In June 1984, Snuka became embroiled in an intense feud with one of the WWF's top heels, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, through a notorious incident that would be perhaps the most infamous of either wrestler's career. In a segment of Piper's Pit , Piper brought bananas and coconuts to the interview to make Snuka "feel more at home" but said he didn't get a tree for Snuka to "climb up and down like a monkey." Piper then proceeded to smash a real coconut on Jimmy's head when he turned his back momentarily. This was followed by a beating with a belt before the WWF cut to a commercial. The attack led to a series of bitter grudge matches between the two that were played out over venues across the US throughout the summer of 1984. The remainder of Snuka's initial WWF stint would see him frequently tangling with Piper one way or another, often via tag matches or wrestling Piper's closest ally, Bob Orton, Jr. Snuka also famously defeated Orton at The War to Settle the Score , and put Orton's left arm in a cast for over a year. The feud played a small part in the first ever WrestleMania in March 1985, when Snuka acted as a cornerman for Hulk Hogan and Mr. T when they faced Piper and Paul Orndorff (with Orton in their corner). The Superfly vanished from the WWF in August 1985, though he still appeared in cartoon form when Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling premiered the following month.
American Wrestling Association (1986–1989)
After a stint in alcohol/drug rehab, Snuka resurfaced in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) replacing the injured Jerry Blackwell as Greg Gagne's partner in a tag team match against Bruiser Brody and Nord the Barbarian at WrestleRock 86. Snuka would split his time between the AWA and Japan throughout 1986 and 1987. His most notable feud in the AWA during that time was with Col. DeBeers, who refused to fight Snuka because of his race. However, he was able to sneak-attack Snuka by pushing him off the top rope onto the floor and administering several face-first piledrivers. This led the way for a series of grudge matches in 1987.
World Wrestling Federation (1989–1992)
Like many aging veterans before him, Snuka re-emerged in the WWF at WrestleMania V on April 2nd, 1989 to help put over younger stars, like Curt Hennig and Rick Rude, losing to the latter at WrestleMania VI. In 1991, he was also the first PPV singles opponent for The Undertaker. The Undertaker would be a top contender in the company for many years to come, in part from Snuka letting him win in a squash at WrestleMania VII; this began his Wrestlemania undefeated streak.
Eastern Championship Wrestling (1992–1994)
After leaving the WWF in February 1992, Jimmy toured with various smaller organizations in the early 1990s and played a role in the formation of Tod Gordon's Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) organization along with Don Muraco and Terry Funk. Snuka was ECW's first ECW Heavyweight Champion and toured with the company through 1994. ECW would later be taken over by Paul Heyman, who would rename it Extreme Championship Wrestling .
Semi-retirement (1996–present)
He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996. He also continued to s
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, Santa Cruz, CA - Yahoo! Travel
One of the largest rock gyms in the world offering indoor climbing ... Pacific Edge Climbing Gym. The UpTake guide to Pacific Edge Climbing Gym includes resources from...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym: The Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gym ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym: The Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gym by Jeremy S. Abrahamson in Sports / Gymnastics (submitted 2010-01-12) Pacific Edge Climbing Gym is situated on Santa ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, Yoga & Fitness Center ::
Indoor climbing gym offering a 50-foot main wall, bouldering, weight room and pro shop. Photos, hours, rates, and schedule of clinics.
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, Yoga & Fitness Center ::
MARCH 7TH -TALL MOUNTAIN: A KARAKORAM SUMMER. multi-media show by Andy Selters Climbing,skiing,culture and adventure 7pm (gym closes early for event)
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym | Silicon Valley EcoMetro Directory
March 6, 2010 Find the best green and local products, merchants and ideas. From the creators of EcoMetro Guide
WineCountry.com : Santa Cruz Mountains : Santa Cruz : Pacific Edge ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym 104 Bronson Street, #12 Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym | Facebook
Welcome to the official Facebook Page of Pacific Edge Climbing Gym. Get exclusive content and interact with Pacific Edge Climbing Gym right from Facebook. Join Facebook to create ...
Pacific Edge Indoor Climbing Gym - Cruzio
Address: 104 Bronson Street, Suite 12 City: Santa Cruz Description: A local resource for fitness, fun, and community since 1993, Pacific Edge offers 14,000 sq. ft. of climbing ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym: Indoor Rock Climbing Gym | Information And ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym: The Complete Indoor Rock Climbing Gym Pacific Edge Climbing Gym is situated on Santa Cruz’s east side and very close to Seabright Avenue and in fact ...
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym - Santa Cruz, CA - Recreation, Parks
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym 104 Bronson Street, Suite 12 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-454-9254 . One of the largest rock gyms in the world offering indoor ...
