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Hercules Cortez

Title History

  • Champion of Spain
  • World Wrestling title defeating Lou Thesz (1962 / Madison Square Garden);
  • European Heavyweight title defeating ???? (1964);
  • IWA (International Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight title defeating ???? (1965);
  • AWA (American Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight Tag Team titles w/Red Bastien (1971);

Career Highlights

  • 1950s: Alfonso Carlos Chicharro began his professional career as Pepe Chicharro/Pepe Cortes in Spain..
  • 1958: Alfonso Carlos Chicharro competed in Canada & the United States using the name Claude Dassary..
  • 1960: Alfonso finally settled on the name “Hercules Cortez”, as suggested by his wife, Valeri..
  • ~~~A trademark of Hercules Cortez was a giant boulder he brought from Spain which he would place in the ring and dare others to lift..
  • ~~~Hercules Cortez travelled all over the world wrestling in may different venues and territories..
  • July 24, 1971: Hercules Cortez died of injuries suffered in a one-car accident near St. Cloud, Minnesota early in the morning..
  • ~~~Hercules and partner Red Bastien were returning to Minneapolis-St. Paul after a tag team match in Winnipeg just hours earlier..
  • ~~~Hercules, who was reported to have been the driver of the car, had been scheduled to wrestle Nick Bockwinkel later that day.
  • September 17, 1983 – WWC: Hercules Ayala defeated The Iron Sheik.
  • April 21, 1984 – Stampede: Bad News Allen defeated Hercules Ayala to retain the North American heavyweight title.
  • September 15, 1984 – WWC: Hercules Ayala defeated Tom Lintz.
  • September 21, 1985 – WWC: Ric Flair defeated Hercules Ayala to retain the NWA World heavyweight title.
  • February 22, 1987 – International Wrestling: Abdullah The Butcher defeated Hercules Ayala to win the International Wrestling title.
  • September 20, 1987 – WWC: Carlos Colon defeated Hercules Ayala in a no holds barred match to retain the Universal title.
  • February 27, 1988 – WWC: Carlos Colon defeated Hercules Ayala in the 1st round.
  • September 10, 1988 – WWC: Carlos Colon defeated Hercules Ayala in a fire match.
  • August 6, 1993 – WWC: Greg Valentine vs. Hercules Ayala in the 1st round ended in a time limit draw.
  • August 7, 1993 – WWC: Greg Valentine defeated Hercules Ayala in the semi-finals.
  • August 8, 1993 – WWC: Abdullah The Butcher vs. Hercules Ayala ended in a double disqualification.
  • March 3, 2000 – Stampede: Hercules Ayala defeated Vic Viper.
  • March 16, 2000 – Stampede: Hercules Ayala defeated Soddam Insane.
  • March 31, 2000 – Stampede: Hercules Ayala defeated Eric Freeze.
  • April 21, 2000 – Stampede: Hercules Ayala defeated Gary Gallant.
  • April 27, 2001 – PWA: Hercules Ayala defeated Sledgehammer.
  • May 4-5, 2002 – WWC: El Nene vs. Hercules Ayala ended in a double count-out.
  • January 3, 2004 – WWC: Hercules Ayala defeated El Bronco I.
  • January 23, 2020: It was announced that Hercules Ayala Cortez passes away at the age of 69.
Updated:

Trained By

Debut

1950s-1970

Birthday

July 7, 1932 (Spain)

Hometown

Puerto Rico, USA

Gender

Male

Height

6' 1" (185 cm)

Weight

266 lbs (121 kg)

Finishing Move(s)

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Status

Deceased