By John D’Onofrio<br><a href="mailto:donofrioj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail John</a>
LOCKPORT — The man known as “Superfly,” beloved professional wrestler Jimmy Snuka, will fight for the Raging Gladiator Extreme Lumberjack heavyweight championship of the world on June 14 at the Lockport Kenan Center Arena on Beattie Avenue.
The bout is part of a major fundraiser being staged by two Western New York semipro football teams, the Lockport Rage and Buffalo Gladiators. Tickets are $10.
“He’s been my favorite pro wrestler since I was a kid,” said Joe Speer of the Rage.
“I think every kid around my age has memories of doing the super fly off their bed onto their brother or friends, like me.”
Snuka’s opponent has yet to be decided said Gladiators quarterback John Augustine of Buffalo.
“This will be the first ever title fight in Lockport,” Augustine said.
“Jimmy wanted an opportunity to leave his home in Hawaii and come here to show his fans in Lockport and Western New York how he can still fly off the top rope.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the two teams, to help pay for travel expenses and other costs.
Snuka was born James Reiher on May 18, 1943. Originally from the Fiji Islands, he wrestled for several wrestling promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. He’s best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation in the early-to-mid 1980s, and is credited with being the first ECW Heavyweight Champion and for introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to the WWF. Snuka’s adopted son, James Jr., is also a professional wrestler, currently wrestling on SmackDown! as “Deuce.”
Snuka single-handedly influenced the development of sports-entertainment, as the man who popularized maneuvers from the top ropes. His innovative high-flying style was the precursor to much of what our fans see each week on television.
The 2008 NYAFL season opens on July 12.
Ticket information will be announced shortly, Augustine and Speer said on Tuesday.
