| Martin Ruane | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Giant Haystacks, Loch Ness, The Loch Ness Monster |
| Billed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Billed weight | 670 lb (300 kg; 48 st) |
| Born | October 10, 1946[1] Camberwell, London, England[2][3] |
| Died | November 29, 1998 (aged 52) |
| Debut | 1967 |
Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent.[4] Best known by his ring name, Giant Haystacks, he wrestled in such places as Great Britain, the United States, Canada, India, and Zimbabwe. Ruane was known for his massive physical size, standing 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall[4] and weighing 48 stone (670 lb; 300 kg) at his heaviest.
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Martin Ruane was born in London, England weighing 14 lb 6 oz. His parents were originally from County Mayo in Ireland. When he was 3, in 1949, Ruane and his family moved north from London to Salford, which remained his home.[4] He worked as a labourer and as a nightclub bouncer before a friend suggested he take up professional wrestling as a career.
Under the promoter Brian Dixon, Ruane was billed as Giant Haystacks, after the American wrestling star William Calhoun who had wrestled in NWA All-Star Wrestling and the World Wide Wrestling Federation under the name Haystacks Calhoun.
Ruane began wrestling in 1967, establishing himself as a household name during the 1970s and 1980s, while wrestling all over the world. He had a long-running feud with Big Daddy, resulting in high ratings on Britain's ITV any time they battled one another. He also had a long feud with Kendo Nagasaki.
Ruane wrestled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion as The Loch Ness Monster, managed by J.R. Foley from Liverpool, England.
In 1996, Ruane debuted in the United States for World Championship Wrestling, under the ring name Loch Ness. He served as a member of the Dungeon of Doom and feuded with Hulk Hogan. However, the feud was short-lived, ending abruptly when Ruane was diagnosed with cancer and returned to the United Kingdom.
British Wrestling Federation
Ruane was a deeply religious man and refused to wrestle on Sundays.
Ruane appeared in the 1981 movie Quest for Fire' and the 1984 movie Give My Regards To Broad Street, written by Paul McCartney, who was a noted Giant Haystacks fan.[5]
Martin Ruane invested, unsuccessfully, in the motor trade and ran, more successfully, a debt collection agency. He died of cancer on 29 November 1998 at the age of 52.
One of his sons, Noel, is the founder of a successful British construction company called 'The Freemont Group' [6] having studied for a degree in Construction Management at the University of Salford.