Fijian wrestler facing murder charge

NEW JERSEY – Professional Fijian wrestling star from the 1980s, Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, has been charged with third degree murder and involuntary manslaughter of his girlfriend back in 1983.

Snuka, who was originally James Riley Smith, was born and raised in Fiji by his mother Louisa Vitu Smith.

He eventually left Fiji with his family for Kiribati and then the Marshall Islands before moving to Hawai‘i and then to the United States, where he gained fame as Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka.

According to Reuters, Snuka, now 72, of Camden County, New Jersey, has been charged over the death of Nancy Argentino, who was 23 at the time of her death, who was found deceased from head injuries in a motel room they shared in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1983, Lehigh County district attorney Jim Martin told a news conference.

Martin said he reopened the cold case last year after receiving a letter from Argentino’s sister.

Snuka was released after posting 10 per cent of a $100,000 bond set by a judge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 21.

Snuka was the first ECW Champion and held the title on two occasions.

He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation and is credited with introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to the WWF.

Snuka was a World Wrestling Federation star along with wrestlers Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper and Andre the Giant. He was known for climbing to the top rope and diving onto the chest of a prone opponent.