| Ruben Cruz Ayala | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Hercules Ayala Hercules Cortez Ruben Ayala Hercules Ayala Cortez |
| Billed height | 6'1"[1] |
| Billed weight | 265 lbs.[1] |
| Born | July 14, 1950 [1] Puerto Rico[1] |
| Resides | St. Albert, Alberta, Canada[1] |
| Trained by | Angelo Savoldi |
| Debut | 1970 |
Ruben Cruz (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 eastern Canadian Grand Prix Wrestling, the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling and the World Wrestling Council.
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Born in Puerto Rico, Cruz was a fan of professional wrestling and admired Hurricane Castillo.[1] 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.[1] While living in Boston, Cruz met former National Wrestling Alliance wrestler Angelo Savoldi working out at a local gym.[1] After undergoing training with Savoldi, he was able to compete for the then World Wide Wrestling Federation for a brief time.[1]
After returning to Puerto Rico, he began working for the Capital Sports Promotion (later renamed to World Wrestling Council).[1] He wrestled Ric Flair on one occasion. After a heel turn, he feuded with Carlos Colon all over the island. In March 1985, he defeated Randy Savage to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship.[1]
In 1977, Cruz met Bret Hart and the Dynamite Kid in Germany, and they introduced him to Stu Hart.[1] Cruz worked in Canada for eight years.[1] In Hart's Stampede Wrestling, Cruz held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship with Jim Neidhart.[1] 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.[1]
Cruz met his wife Susan while he was wrestling in Canada.[1] They have two children together, and Cruz has a son from a previous relationship.[1] After retiring from professional wrestling, Cruz settled in St. Albert, Canada and worked for a fencing company.[1]