Ruben Cruz

Infobox Wrestler
name=Ruben Cruz Ayala


img_capt=
names=Hercules Ayala
Hercules Cortez
height= 6'1"
weight= 265 lbs.
birth_date = birth date and age|year=1950|month=7|day=14
birth_place = Puerto Rico
resides=St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
billed=
trainer=Angelo Savoldi
debut=1987
retired=|

Ruben Cruz Ayala (born July 14, 1950), known by his ringname Hercules Ayala, is a retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler who has competed in Canadian and international wrestling promotions including the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling and the World Wrestling Council.

Career

Born in Puerto Rico, Cruz was a fan of professional wrestling growing up who admired Hurricane Castillo. During the early-1970s, he travelled 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 NWA wrestler wrestler Angelo Savoldi working out at a local gym and, after undergoing training with Savoldi, was able to compete for the then World Wide Wrestling Federation for a brief time before returning to Puerto Rico.

Working for Capital Sports Promotion, the future World Wrestling Council, he found some success, wrestling Ric Flair on one occasion. After a heel turn, he feuded with Carlos Colon all over the island. An infamous moment, in which he struck Colon's wife during a match, gained him the hatred of the fans.He currently is retired and lives in Canada. It has been rumored that that he is in ill health.

Championships and accomplishments

*Big Time Wrestling :*NWA World Tag Team Championship "(Texas version)" (1 time) - with Ali Mustafa

*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) (First):*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)

External links

* [http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/ayala.html SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Hercules Ayala]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/h/hercules-ayala.html Online World of Wrestling: Hercules Ayala]