what do you score him: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

[NormanSmiley]

we take a wrestler and score him 1-10 on the following criteria. And then give him a total score.

Today we go with Jimmy Snuka


In ring ability/move set:
look/physique:
finisher:
on the mic:
character development:

total score:
& then discuss your thoughts and feelings for Superfly for Joe's sake

[NormanSmiley]

In ring ability/move set: i'll go 7
look/physique: 7
finisher: 8 was fun watching him fly
on the mic: 4, not that impressive
character development: 5


total score: 31

[Curd]

Ring moves: 8 (appeared to work strong style without actually potato'ing opponents, was one of the pioneers of simple top-rope finishers)
Physique: 9 (absolutely toned in his prime but not massive like Hogan, though almost as big as Warrior if not for his average height)
Finisher: 8 (timed the Superfly Splash well enough where it hit over 90% of the time, opponents stayed down about 95% of the time)
Promo ability: 5 (man of few words ala Benoit, even his 2002 cameo to put over 3-Minute Warning had him speak less than a minute before the interruption)
Character depth: 7 (consistently a Fijian face, not known for any substantial heel work like a well-rounded character would be if around as long as he was)
Overall: 7.0 (35/5)

Snuka peaked before the Rock'N'Wrestling Era by building great heels like Roddy Piper and Don Muraco. He then served as Hogan's lackey in the late 80's until working almost exclusively in the Indies ala Honky Tonk Man.

[dingdongyo]

5
9
6
4
3

i don't remember him being anything but the fiji guy that wrestled barefoot and said "bruddah". i suppose the top rope splash was much cooler at the time. if it wasn't for the fact that wrestling fans have weird obsessions with holding onto once-idols, i don't think the memory of his character stands the test of time.

[Shisen Kopf]

He seems like a 7/10 kinda guy. I'd give him an 8 but he had greasy hair.

[Curd]

And I totally ignored the dead hooker who had OD'ed in his hotel room. Rumor has it that killed Snuka's chance at a Heavyweight Title run.

[Curd]

One of the lessons I've learned from reading wrestler biographies is that ring rats are generally trouble. :)

[NormanSmiley]

totally forgot that too curd, good point out

[Curd]

Snuka took less public flack for it than Lex Luger because the Snuka incident was before social media and involved a member of the underclass (known only by family, friends, and competing prostitutes) whereas the Luger incident resulted in his mugshot being all over the Internet and involved a fairly well-to-do former coworker from television (Liz Hewitt).

[NormanSmiley]

no hooker story in pro wrestling is better than Marty Jannety's telling of the Iron Shiek's treatment of a lady of the night