Hercules Ayala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hercules Ayala |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ruben Cruz |
| Born | July 14, 1950 Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Died | January 22, 2020 (aged 69) St. Albert, Alberta, Canada |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Cruz |
| Children | 3 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | El Sansón Boricua Hercules Ayala Hercules Ayala Cortez Hercules Cortez Ruben Ayala |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Trained by | Angelo Savoldi |
| Debut | 1970 |
| Retired | 2004 |
Ruben Cruz (born July 14, 1950 – died January 22, 2020) was a famous professional wrestler from Puerto Rico. Many people knew him by his exciting ring name, Hercules Ayala. He wrestled in many places around the world. These included Canada, Japan, and his home, Puerto Rico. He was a big star in wrestling companies like Grand Prix Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling. He also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the World Wrestling Council.
Contents
Hercules Ayala's Wrestling Journey
Starting in Wrestling
Ruben Cruz was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He loved professional wrestling from a young age. He especially looked up to a wrestler named Huracan Castillo. In the early 1970s, Ruben moved to the United States. He joined his mother and other family members in Boston, Massachusetts.
While in Boston, Ruben met a former wrestler named Angelo Savoldi. Angelo was working out at a local gym. Ruben trained with Savoldi to become a professional wrestler. Soon after, he got to wrestle for a short time in the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
Wrestling in Canada
In December 1976, Ayala teamed up with Victor Jovica. They won the NWA North American Tag Team Championship. They defeated Heigo Hamaguchi and Gordon Nelson. In 1977, Ruben met famous wrestlers Bret Hart and the Dynamite Kid in Germany. They introduced him to Stu Hart, a wrestling legend in Canada.
Ruben Cruz then moved to Canada and wrestled there for eight years. He worked for Stu Hart's company, Stampede Wrestling. There, he won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship with Jim Neidhart. He also wrestled for another company called Lutte Internationale. In January 1987, he won the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship. He defeated David Shultz for the title. However, he lost it about a month later to Abdullah the Butcher.
Returning to Puerto Rico
After his time in Canada, Hercules Ayala went back to Puerto Rico. He joined the Capital Sports Promotion, which later became the World Wrestling Council. He had exciting matches against wrestlers like Killer Tim Brooks and Kevin Sullivan. He also wrestled against Hercules Hernandez.
In March 1985, he defeated the legendary Randy Savage. This win made him the WWC North American Heavyweight Champion. He even had a match against Ric Flair for the NWA title.
Becoming a "Bad Guy"
In the summer of 1987, Ayala decided to try something new. He asked the WWC to let him become a "heel." In wrestling, a heel is a "bad guy" character. Before this, he had always been a "babyface," or a "good guy." As a heel, he started a big rivalry with Carlos Colon. This was for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title. He even hired Chicky Starr to be his manager.
Their rivalry became very intense. Ayala once attacked Nancy Coates, who was Carlos Colon's wife. This happened at a WWC awards ceremony. On January 6, 1989, Ayala lost a special match to Colon. This match meant the loser had to leave town. So, Ayala left the territory for a while.
Later Career and Hall of Fame
In 1992, Hercules Ayala worked as a "booker" in Puerto Rico. A booker helps plan the wrestling shows and storylines. He worked for the American Wrestling Federation. He reunited with his manager, Chicky Starr. Ayala became the AWF champion. He later lost the championship to Huracán Castillo Jr.
Between 1995 and 1996, he made a few appearances back in the World Wrestling Council. He had matches against Bronco l. In 2011, Hercules Ayala returned to the World Wrestling Council one last time. The 2011 WWC Anniversary Card event was dedicated to him. He was also honored by being inducted into the Prairie Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame.
Hercules Ayala's Personal Life
Ruben Cruz met his wife, Susan, while he was wrestling in Canada. They had two children together. Ruben also had a son from an earlier relationship, as well as two daughters. After he stopped wrestling, Ruben settled down in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. He worked for a fencing company. He was also the godfather to fellow wrestler Ángel Acevedo's daughter. Ruben Cruz passed away on January 22, 2020.
Championships and Awards
Hercules Ayala won many championships and awards during his wrestling career:
- Americas Wrestling Federation
- AWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Invader IV
- Big Time Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ali Mustafa
- Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2012
- European Wrestling Union
- World Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Lutte Internationale
- Canadian International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Stampede Wrestling
- Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jim Neidhart
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Victor Jovica
- WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
- WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with King Tonga
- WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
