Hercules Ayala Explained

Hercules Ayala
Birthname:Ruben Cruz
Spouse:Susan Cruz
Children:3
Names:El Sansón Boricua
Hercules Ayala
Hercules Ayala Cortez
Hercules Cortez
Ruben Ayala
Height:6 ft 1 in[1]
Weight:265 lb
Birth Date:14 July 1950
Birth Place:Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Death Place:St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Trainer:Angelo Savoldi
Debut:1970
Retired:2004

Ruben Cruz (July 14, 1950 – January 22, 2020) was a Puerto Rican professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hercules Ayala. He competed in Canadian and international wrestling promotions including the eastern Canadian Grand Prix Wrestling, the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Japan and World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico.[2]

Professional wrestling career

Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Ayala was a fan of professional wrestling and admired Huracan Castillo.[2] During the early-1970s, he traveled to the United States several months after his mother had left to live with her daughter and her grandchildren in Boston, Massachusetts.[2] While living in Boston, Cruz met former National Wrestling Alliance wrestler Angelo Savoldi working out at a local gym.[2] After undergoing training with Savoldi, he was able to compete for the then World Wide Wrestling Federation for a brief time.[2]

In December 1976, Ayala and tag team partner Victor Jovica won the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Puerto Rico/WWC version) from Heigo Hamaguchi and Gordon Nelson. In 1977, Cruz met Bret Hart and the Dynamite Kid in Germany, and they introduced him to Stu Hart.[2] Cruz worked in Canada for eight years.[2] In Hart's Stampede Wrestling, Cruz held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship with Jim Neidhart.[2] In addition to Stampede, he wrestled for Lutte Internationale. In January 1987, he defeated David Shultz for the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship, but lost it to Abdullah the Butcher approximately one month later.[2]

After returning to Puerto Rico, he began working for the Capital Sports Promotion (later renamed to World Wrestling Council). He feuded with Killer Tim Brooks, Kevin Sullivan and Hercules Hernandez. In March 1985, he defeated Randy Savage to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship.[2] He also wrestled Ric Flair for the NWA title. In the summer of 1987 Ayala suggested to the WWC office that he turn heel after years working as a babyface. He feuded with Carlos Colon over the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title and hired Chicky Starr as his manager. His feud with Carlos Colon reached its peak when Ayala attacked Nancy Coates, Carlos Colon's wife, at a WWC banquet award ceremony. On January 6, 1989, he lost a loser leaves town match to Colon and disappeared from the territory.

In 1992, he worked as booker in Puerto Rico for the American Wrestling Federation, where he reunited with manager Chicky Starr and was the AWF champion until he lost the championship to Huracán Castillo Jr.

Between 1995 and 1996, he made some appearances at the World Wrestling Council and feuded against Bronco l.

In 2011, Hercules Ayala returned to the World Wrestling Council and dedicated the 2011 WWC Anniversary Card to him.

He was also inducted to the Prairie Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Cruz met his wife Susan while he was wrestling in Canada.[2] They had two children together, and Cruz had a son from a previous relationship as well as two daughters.[2] After retiring from professional wrestling, Cruz settled in St. Albert, Alberta, and worked for a fencing company. He is the godfather to fellow wrestler Ángel Acevedo's daughter.[2] He died on January 22, 2020 at age 69.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. Book: WWE Encyclopedia. Shields. Brian. Sullivan. Kevin. 129. DK. 2009. 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. Web site: The strengths of Hercules Ayala. https://archive.today/20130115072605/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/ayala.html. usurped. January 15, 2013. SLAM! Wrestling. Oliver, Greg. 2009-12-18.
  3. 1220353598124515330. CACReunion. We heard this morning that Ruben.... January 23, 2020.
  4. Web site: AWF World Heavyweight Title . Wrestling Data . January 23, 2020 . October 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016144048/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=titles&titel=3780 . live .
  5. Web site: AWF World Tag Team Titles . Wrestling Data . January 23, 2020 . October 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016144049/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=titles&titel=3781 . live .
  6. Book: Royal . Duncan . Gary . Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . Pennsylvania . 2000 . Archeus Communications . 0-9698161-5-4 . Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore].
  7. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017 . December 16, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161216081255/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/nwa-ss/tx-nwa-t.html . live .
  8. Web site: SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Hercules Ayala . usurped . https://archive.today/20130115072605/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/ayala.html . January 15, 2013 . SLAM! Wrestling . Oliver . Greg . January 15, 2013 . February 18, 2023.
  9. Web site: European Wrestling Union World Super Heavyweight Title . January 23, 2020 . Wrestling-Titles . June 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629161718/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/africa/safrica/ewu-sh.html . live .
  10. Web site: Pro wrestling history (01/19): Ric Flair wins WWF title in 1992 Royal Rumble . January 19, 2019 . January 18, 2019 . . Brian . Hoops . October 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024232149/https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0119-ric-flair-wins-wwf-title-1992-royal-rumble-302116 . live .
  11. Book: Royal Duncan & Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON . Archeus Communications . 2000. 4th . Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title [Hart] . 340–341. 0-9698161-5-4.
  12. Web site: Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title. wrestling-titles.com. January 24, 2020. April 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110416104907/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-int-t.html. live.
  13. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title [Colon] . 327 . 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC North American Heavyweight Title [Colon] . 325 . 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  15. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC North American Tag Team Title [Colon] . 326 . 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  16. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title [Colon] . 327 . 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  17. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Junior Heavyweight Title [Colon] . 325 . 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  18. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC World Tag Team Title [Colon] . 324–325. 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.
  19. Book: Duncan, Royal. Gary Will . Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . London, ON. Archeus Communications. (Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Universal Tag Team Title [Colon] . 323–324. 2000. 0-9698161-5-4.

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