Deuce (wrestler)
Deuce | |
---|---|
Birth name | James Wiley Smith Thomas Reiher Snuka[1] |
Born | [2] Fiji[2] | September 1, 1971
Spouse(s) |
Michelle Sierra (m. 2000) |
Children | 1 |
Family | |
Trained by | Jimmy Snuka[2] Ultimate Pro Wrestling[2] Ohio Valley Wrestling[2] |
Debut | 1999[2] |
James Wiley Smith Thomas Reiher Snuka (born September 1, 1971) is a Fijian-born American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Deuce.
The son of professional wrestler Jimmy Snuka, Reiher began wrestling in the late 1990s, and worked for the UWA and the Xcitement Wrestling Federation. After signing a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Reiher was assigned to WWE's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005, where he wrestled under the name Deuce Shade. He was placed in tag team competition, alongside Dice Domino. Along with their manager Cherry, the group were known as The Throw-Backs and later The Untouchable, and captured the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions. Deuce also won the OVW Television Championship on one occasion in singles competition.
The group was called up to the
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2005–2009)
After deciding to become a professional wrestler, Reiher trained with his father,
World Wrestling Entertainment (2005–2009)
Ohio Valley Wrestling (2005–2009)
Reiher made his debut in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) on January 27, 2005, as Deuce Shade, defeating Brent Albright.[2] On May 24, 2005, he defeated Chad Wicks in an OVW Television Championship tournament match. He later went on to beat Ken Doane in the tournament finals for the OVW Television Championship on June 7.[9] He ended up losing it to Doane later that month.[9] On August 24, Shade won a number one contenders battle royal to earn the right to face OVW Champion Johnny Jeter later that night, but he lost this match.[10]
In January 2006, Shade started teaming with
In mid-August 2006, The Untouchables quickly became embroiled in a scripted rivalry with Cody Runnels and Shawn Spears over the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[11] Runnels and Spears captured the title from The Untouchables on October 18.[12] In November 2006, Runnels and Spears defeated The Untouchables in a tag team match, and won the services of their valet, Cherry.[11] On November 29, the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship was vacated after a match between The Untouchables and Runnels and Spears ended in a draw.[12] The following week, a rematch between the two teams was held for the vacant championship.[12] During this match Cherry turned on Spears and Runnels, re-joining The Untouchables and helping them regain the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[11][12] Two weeks later, on December 20, Runnels and Spears defeated The Untouchables in a Street Fight to win the championship.[11]
SmackDown! (2007–2008)
On the January 19, 2007 episode of
On the June 29 episode of SmackDown!, Domino suffered an injury during a match with
Throughout late 2007 and early 2008, Deuce 'n Domino wrestled sporadically, facing teams such as
Repackaging (2008–2009)
As part of the
Following this, Snuka appeared rarely.
National Wrestling Alliance (2009)
In November, Snuka began to appear on promotional posters for shows in the NWA-Southwest and Phoenix regions, now under the name 'Simm Snuka'. On November 28, 2009, he made his debut for NWA, teaming with his father Jimmy Snuka to defeat Hellcat and Triple X at NWA New York Raging Gladiator Wrestling III.
Independent circuit and first retirement (2009–2017)
On October 24, 2009, Snuka and Lawrence Tyler defeated Devon Willis and Sonny Samson. After not wrestling for four years, he returned to face Graves for the Championship Wrestling from Arizona Heavyweight Title. Snuka would win the match but not return to the promotion. The following year his only match was at a NWA/UCW event where he would be on the winning team of a six-man tag match alongside his father, it would be his last time teaming with him before his father's death. In 2017 his final match to date was competing in a Battle Royal for the APWA promotion.[43]
Return to independent circuit (2021–present)
Thirteen years after the separation, Reiher along with Treiber and Drew reformed the Deuce 'n Domino stable and now began accepting bookings in the independent circuit.[45]
Personal life
Prior to entering the wrestling business, Reiher worked as a youth counselor and a TV cameraman in Utah.[6] Reiher is a former Mr. Hawaiian Islands in bodybuilding.[2]
Reiher is a second-generation wrestler; his father James Reiher wrestled using the name Jimmy Snuka.[6] Reiher's sister Sarona works for WWE as "Tamina". His daughter Penina attends the University of Arizona, where she plays volleyball for the Arizona Wildcats.[46] Through his mother Sharon, Reiher is part of the Anoaʻi wrestling family.[3]
On December 2, 2016, Reiher's father, Jimmy, was reported to be in hospice and had six months left to live, due to a terminal illness.[47] He died at age 73 on January 15, 2017, in Pompano Beach, Florida.[48]
Championships and accomplishments
- American Pro Wrestling Alliance
- APWA Tri State Championship (2 times)
- Championship Wrestling From Arizona
- CWFAZ Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Deep South Wrestling
- DSW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Domino[49]
- International Wrestling Association
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Domino[12]
- OVW Television Championship (1 time)[9]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Domino[52]
References
- ISBN 978-1600787584.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Sim Snuka Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
- ^ a b "Superfly Snuka and the Anoa'i Family".
- ^ a b c "Deuce Biography". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
- ^ )
- ^ a b c d e f g h Varsallone, Jim (December 2002). "Superfly, the Sequel: Jimmy Snuka Jr. looks to follow his legendary father's footsteps in the ring". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on March 27, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
- ^ "Xcitement Wrestling Federation – About Us". Xcitement Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
- )
- ^ a b c "OVW Television Championship". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ "Ohio Valley Wrestling 2005 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 31, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Ohio Valley Wrestling 2006 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "OVW Southern Tag Team Championship". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the originalon January 30, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Archivedfrom the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. June 19, 2009. Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Matches « Deuce « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Simm Snuka Challenges Blue Demon". YouTube. November 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ "Deuce, Domino, and Cherry Now Accepting Worldwide Bookings for the First Time in a Decade | Fightful News".
- ^ "#20 Penina Snuka". Arizona Wildcats. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ Schroeder, Laurie Mason (April 18, 2017). "Testimony: Jimmy Snuka in hospice, has 6 months to live". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ McCausland, Phil (April 18, 2017). "Controversial Wrestler Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka Dead at 73". NBCNews.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "DSW Tag Team Title (Georgia)". www.wrestling-titles.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ "IWA Hardcore Title (Puerto Rico)". www.wrestling-titles.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2009". Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ "Deuce 'n Domino's first reign". WWE. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
External links
- Deuce's profile at Cagematch.net , Internet Wrestling Database
- James Reiher Jr. at IMDb