WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka dead at 73
WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly Snuka" (real name: James Wiley Smith) has died.
He was 73.
Snuka had been battling terminal stomach cancer for quite some time.
His daughter, current WWE superstar Tamina Snuka, posted a photo of her and her father on Instagram holding hands to confirm the news.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a descendant of the respected Anoa'i family bloodline which Jimmy is connected to by marriage, also took to social media to announce his passing.
Our family @TaminaSnuka asked me to share the sad news that her dad Jimmy Snuka has just passed away. Alofa atu i le aiga atoa. #RIPSuperfly
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) January 15, 2017
Jimmy will forever be remembered as one of the most popular and respected competitors in company history, despite having never won a championship of any kind during his run.
He recently had a murder case concerning the 1983 death of his then-girlfriend, 23-year-old Nancy Argentino, dismissed after Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach deemed him unfit to stand trial. He had been charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Snuka was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 by Don Muraco.