Wrestling Legend Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka Dies At 73

One of the legends of wrestling who rose to fame in the 1980's Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka died over the weekend.

According to CNN,  Snuka's death was announced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on behalf of the family.

Snuka was one of those wrestling legends who rose to fame during the mid 1980s in the then World Wrestling Federation.   The time when Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper and The Iron Sheik ruled the ring.

I don't remember a kid at that time who didn't imitate 'Superfly'.  He was known for his high flying moves.  Jumping from the top rope to finish his opponents.   Kids would finish with his splash or with the leg drop made popular by Hulk Hogan.

I personally don't remember a specific match of his I saw at the time.  In later years I did have the chance to see his memorable match against Magnificent Muraco which took place at Madison Square Garden in a steel cage in 1983.

He lost but after the match he pulled Muraco back into the ring and did his splash from the top of the cage.

One moment of Snuka's career that I will always remember is his segment with Roddy Piper in Piper's Pit back in 1984.   Piper finished off the segment by hitting 'Superfly' in the head with a coconut.

A legend who I will always remember as one of the first group of wrestlers from the World Wrestling Federation that I would follow as a kid.