Marvez: 'Superfly' Snuka still in there fighting at 64

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is still ready to soar.
At age 64, Snuka is set to become the oldest performer to ever grapple on a "Wrestlemania" pay-per-view show. He will team with Ricky Steamboat and Roddy Piper against Chris Jericho in a "legends match" Sunday at "Wrestlemania 25" in Houston.
World Wrestling Entertainment had originally hoped for a bout pitting Jericho against actor Mickey Rourke, the Academy Award-nominated star of "The Wrestler." But when Rourke pulled out and Ric Flair didn't take the spot, Snuka was a more-than-willing replacement.
"Brother, it's amazing how the Lord works things out like that," Snuka said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "It's fantastic to be on this one."
Snuka actually performed at "Wrestlemania I" in 1985. He worked the corner for Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in their main-event match against Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. The appearance was a continuation of the red-hot feud with Piper that began the previous year when "Rowdy Roddy" smashed a coconut in Snuka's face. The incident on Piper's Pit was so memorable that WWE recently reconstructed the interview set to stage a confrontation between Snuka and Jericho on "Monday Night Raw" (9 p.m. EDT, USA Network).
Jericho compared Snuka with Rourke's character, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aged former star relegated to working for small promotions throughout the U.S. Northeast. For Snuka, that's not an insult. Snuka remains a staple of the independent circuit near his New Jersey home. He is even part owner of Bodyslam University, a South Florida wrestling school where he teaches once a month.
"I'm going to keep wrestling as long as my body is in good health," said Snuka, whose son, Sim "Deuce" Snuka, is on WWE's "Raw" talent roster. "It never really came to mind that I am retired. I love it so much that I'm ready to go at any time."
Snuka's spot in WWE lore was secured in the early 1980s long before "Wrestlemania" was created. During an era when death-defying maneuvers were rare, he performed two of the most memorable moves in WWE history. Snuka delivered his trademark "Superfly splash" from atop a steel cage during bouts against Bob Backlund and Don Muraco.
Snuka cites both moments as the highlight of a 40-year grappling career.
"When I was younger, I used to dive off cliffs," said Snuka, a native of the Fiji Islands who was raised in Hawaii. "That was the first thing that came to my mind when I looked up and saw the cage. I said, 'Brother, I've gotta fly and make history right now.' "
Snuka, Piper, 54, and Steamboat, 55, are making history by appearing at "Wrestlemania 25." They are the only "Wrestlemania I" participants wrestling on this year's show (Hogan recently had back surgery and Wendi Richter reportedly declined an invitation to appear in a women's battle royal).
To show how much time has passed, Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway began his 16-0 "Wrestlemania" record with a victory over Snuka at "Wrestlemania VII." Randy Orton also was 5 years old when his father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr., worked the corner for Piper and Orndorff at "Wrestlemania I." Randy Orton is now headlining "Wrestlemania 25" against Paul "Triple H" Levesque.
Snuka said he never could have imagined appearing at "Wrestlemania" almost a quarter-century after working the inaugural event, let alone teaming with his archrival, Piper.
"Isn't that something how things go around?" Snuka lamented. "But it doesn't mean our feud is over yet. Just because we're teaming doesn't mean we can't turn it back on again. Right now, the light is just off temporarily."
Sounds like a match for "Wrestlemania 26."

For more information, visit www.jimmysnuka.com and www.coastalchampionshipwrestling.com.

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro-wrestling column for Scripps Howard News Service. E-mail him at alex1marv(at)aol.com.)