Hercules Ayala

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.[1]

"Ruben Cruz" redirects here. For the Spanish footballer, see Rubén Cruz Gil.

Hercules Ayala
Ayala (top) in a match against Carlos Colón (bottom)
Birth nameRuben Cruz
Born(1950-07-14)July 14, 1950[1]
Bayamón, Puerto Rico[1]
DiedJanuary 22, 2020(2020-01-22) (aged 69)
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada[1]
Spouse(s)Susan Cruz
Children3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)El Sansón Boricua
Hercules Ayala
Hercules Ayala Cortez
Hercules Cortez
Ruben Ayala
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2]
Billed weight265 lb (120 kg)[2]
Trained byAngelo Savoldi
Debut1970
Retired2004

Professional wrestling career

Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Ayala was a fan of professional wrestling and admired Huracan Castillo.[1] 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.[1] While living in Boston, Cruz met former National Wrestling Alliance wrestler Angelo Savoldi working out at a local gym.[1] After undergoing training with Savoldi, he was able to compete for the then World Wide Wrestling Federation for a brief time.[1]

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.[1] Cruz worked in Canada for eight years.[1] In Hart's Stampede Wrestling, Cruz held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship with Jim Neidhart.[1] 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.[1]

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.[1] 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.[1] They had two children together, and Cruz had a son from a previous relationship as well as two daughters.[1] 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.[1] He died on January 22, 2020.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Oliver, Greg. "The strengths of Hercules Ayala". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 25, 2002. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  2. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. @CACReunion (January 23, 2020). "We heard this morning that Ruben..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. "AWF World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Data. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  5. "AWF World Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Data. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  8. Oliver, Greg (January 15, 2013). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Hercules Ayala". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  9. "European Wrestling Union World Super Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  10. Hoops, Brian (January 19, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/19): Ric Flair wins WWF title in 1992 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  11. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title [Hart]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). London, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 340–341. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  12. wrestling-titles.com. "Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title". Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  13. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 327. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC North American Heavyweight Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 325. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  15. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC North American Tag Team Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 326. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  16. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 327. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  17. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Junior Heavyweight Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 325. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  18. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC World Tag Team Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 324–325. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  19. Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2000). "(Puerto Rico) Puerto Rico: WWC Universal Tag Team Title [Colon]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 323–324. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
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