Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco - The Legendary Moment Remembered

Fans witnessing the Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco match in Madison Square Garden never experienced anything like it. And in the many years since, fans haven’t forgotten.

A shot from the legendary Jimmy Snuka vs. Don Muraco steel cage match at Madison Square Garden, October 17th, 1983.

Quick Tip for Facebook Readers

Many of our readers connect with our content through our Facebook page. However, Meta's built-in browser (which opens by default on mobile) occasionally freezes mid-article- a known issue unrelated to our site. To enjoy uninterrupted reading: Tap the three dots in the top right corner → Select 'Open in external browser.' This will resolve the glitch. Thanks for your support. We want your wrestling stories to stay as smooth as a top-rope hurricanrana!

Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco – Nothing Touched It

The legendary Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco steel cage match at Madison Square Garden on October 17th, 1983, was a magical moment that will live forever.

It culminated in the then at his peak Snuka, climbing to the top of the cage, leaping UP, before perfectly landing on a prone Muraco in what many consider one of the greatest moments in the history of pro wrestling.

I was there, and I want to walk you through this experience.

What Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco pulled off wasn’t an everyday occurrence although I’m told Snuka had been doing this in the territories prior.

You see, this was the pre-YouTube days, and for us fans present in Madison Square Garden were not expecting it one bit.

As Snuka climbed to the top of that cage, I was sitting with best buddy Scott Bernstein, and we were actually saying out loud, "No! He’s not…" Only he DID.

It was electric.

In those pre-cellphone days, when flashcubes were still in vogue, a zillion flashes went off simultaneously as Jimmy made his leap, and Madison Square Garden literally shook.

I had been there for the glorious championship ’69 and ’73 Knicks as well as the Bruno and Superstar Billy Graham bloodbaths.

Still, when I tell you I never experienced anything like THIS, the sheer excitement of that MOMENT, forever frozen in time, that was THE wrestling moment. Nothing touched it, and I don’t believe anything has since.

THE Wrestling Moment

I’ve been attending live wrestling since 1974, and these two giants Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco, are squarely locked in my top 20 of all time. Not only for their own feud but their other great rivalries, too.

The Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper feud live was as electric as anything I’ve EVER seen.

In his prime, heel Muraco, particularly as Intercontinental Champion, was as great a villain that ever set foot in the ring.

Month after month, he’d defend that belt against such luminaries as former world champ Pedro Morales, and he’d even face Bob Backlund repeatedly for the world belt.

Unfortunately, by the late ’80s, both warriors were past their prime, but from the early to mid-’80s, few ever have or ever will touch these guys.

And I doubt there was ever a more accurate ring name than "Magnificent Muraco" because he most certainly was just that.

Watch the Legendary Leap off the Cage From the Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco Steel Cage Match at Madison Square Garden:

These stories may also interest you:

Can’t get enough pro wrestling history in your life? Sign up to unlock ten pro wrestling stories curated uniquely for YOU, plus subscriber-exclusive content. A special gift from us awaits after signing up!

Want More? Choose another story!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and Flipboard!

"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg

Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.

Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.

Got a correction, tip, or story idea for Pro Wrestling Stories? Contact us! Learn about our editorial standards here. Ever wanted to learn more about the people behind Pro Wrestling Stories? Meet our team of authors!

ProWrestlingStories.com participates in affiliate marketing programs. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn commissions at no extra cost to our readers. This supports our mission to deliver free content for you to enjoy!