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Hercules Ayala
Ayala (top) in a match against Carlos Colón (bottom)
Birth name	Ruben Cruz
Born	(1950-07-14)July 14, 1950 Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Died	January 22, 2020(2020-01-22) (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 (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.

Professional wrestling career

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

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

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. 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. They had two daughters together, and Cruz had a son from a previous relationship . 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. He died on January 22, 2020 at age 69.

Championships and accomplishments

• 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)

References

1. ^ Oliver, Greg. "The strengths of Hercules Ayala". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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 ". 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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 ". 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.

External links

• Hercules Ayala's profile at Cagematch.net

• 1950 births
• 2020 deaths
• Sportspeople from Bayamón, Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rican male professional wrestlers
• Professional wrestling executives
• Puerto Rican emigrants to Canada
• Businesspeople from Alberta
• Professional wrestlers from Alberta
• Sportspeople from St. Albert, Alberta
• Stampede Wrestling alumni
• 20th-century male professional wrestlers
• 21st-century male professional wrestlers
• WWC Universal Heavyweight Champions
• WWC Puerto Rico Champions
• Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions
• NWA World Tag Team Champions (Texas version)