Title History
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Spoiler I [Tournament] (February 21, 1976);
- WWC North American Tag Team titles w/Victor Jovica defeating Higo Hamaguchi & Gordon Nelson (December 4, 1976);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Hurricane Castillo (June 18, 1977);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Caribbean Heavyweight title defeating Hurricane Castillo (November 26, 1977);
- Stampede International Tag Team titles w/Jim Neidhart defeating Mr. Sakurada & Kasavudu (September 27, 1980);
- NWA (Texas) World Tag Team titles w/Ali Mustafa Awarded (January ??, 1981);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) World Tag Team titles w/King Tonga defeating Super Medicos (January 6, 1984);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Terry Gibbs (June 14, 1984);
- EWU (South Africa) World Super Heavyweight title defeating Jan Wilkens (October 6, 1984);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) North American Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (March 2, 1985);
- IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating David Shultz (January 19, 1987);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Caribbean Heavyweight title defeating Abdullah the Butcher (March 28, 1987);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Universal Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon (July 18, 1987);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Universal Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon (February 13, 1988);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Universal Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon (July 23, 1988);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Ricky Santana (December 17, 1988);
- AWF (Puerto Rico) Tag Team titles w/Invader 4 defeating Solid Gold (March 14, 1992);
- AWF (Puerto Rico) Heavyweight title defeating Crash the Terminator (June 6, 1992);
- WWC (World Wrestling Council) Puerto Rican Heavyweight title defeating Ray Gonzalez (March 9, 2002);
Career Highlights
In The Beginning:
- Hercules took the name “Ayala” because it was his mother’s maiden name..
- Hercules Ayala, living in Boston, began working out and met wrestler Angelo Savoldi, who trained him..
- Hercules Ayala debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation..World Wrestling Council:
- Early 70s: Hercules Ayala returned to his native Puerto Rico to work for Capital Sports Promotion, better known as WWC..
- ~~~Hercules Ayala made a shocking heel turn on Carlos Colon and feuded with him..Stampede Wrestling:
- 1977: Hercules Ayala met Bret Hart & Dynamite Kid while on tour in Germany, Ayala was soon booked in Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling..
- ~~~Hercules Ayala agreed to a six month run, but ended up staying eight years!
- ~~~Hercules Ayala left Stampede just before the WWF expanded and bought the promotion..
- ~~~Hercules Ayala was often billed as ‘The Strongest Man in Wrestling’..
- ~~~Hercules Ayala met his wife, Susan, while working for Stampede, who was from Edmonton, Alberta..WWC + Eastern Canada:
- March 1985: Hercules Ayala defeated Randy Savage to win the WWC North American title..
- Hercules Ayala also did a couple of tours of duty for the Atlantic Grand Prix circuit, as Hercules Ayala Cortez (not the original)..
- January 1987: Hercules Ayala defeated Dr. D. David Shultz for Montreal’s International Wrestling title..
- ~~~Hercules Ayala would eventually lose the title to Abdullah the Butcher..
- 1988: Hercules Ayala was in the ‘heel’ dressing room when Bruiser Brodywas killed (in the ‘face’ locker room) in Puerto Rico..Retirement:
- Ruben & Susan Cruz now live in Edmonton with their two daughters, who have dual citizenship..
- Ruben, who is a landed immigrant in Canada, also has a son from a previous relationship in Puerto Rico..