Ruben Cruz

Background

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.

Career

Born in Puerto Rico, Ayala was a fan of professional wrestling and admired Huracan Castillo. While living in Boston, Cruz met former National Wrestling Alliance wrestler Angelo Savoldi working out at a local gym. After undergoing training with Savoldi, he was able to compete for the then World Wide Wrestling Federation for a brief time.

In 1977, Cruz met Bret Hart and the Dynamite Kid in Germany, and they introduced him to Stu Hart.

Cruz worked in Canada for eight years. In Hart"s Stampede Wrestling, Cruz held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship with Jim Neidhart.

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.

After returning to Puerto Rico, he began working for the Capital Sports Promotion (later renamed to World Wrestling Council).

He feuded with Killer Tim Brooks, Kevin Sullivan and Hercules Hernandez. Wrestled Ric Flair for the NWA title. In the summer of 1987 Ayala suggested WWC office to turn heel after years working as a babyface, he feuded with Carlos Colon over the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title and hired Chicky Starr as his manager.

His feud with Carlos Colon reach its peak when Ayala attacked Nancy Coates, Carlos Colon"s wife, in a WWC banquet award ceremony.

On January 6, 1989 lost a loser leaves town match to Colon and disappeared from WWC. In 2011 Hercules Ayala returned to the World Wrestling Council and dedicated the 2011 WWC Anniversary Card to him. Managers

Floyd Creatchman

Chicky Starr

Americas Wrestling Federation

AWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

AWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Invader IV

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)

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).

Achievements

• He has competed in Canadian and international wrestling promotions including the eastern Canadian Grand Prix Wrestling, the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan and World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. In December 1976, Ayala and tag team partner Victor Jovica won the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Puerto Rico/WWC version) from Higo Hamaguchi and Gordon Nelson. In March 1985, he defeated Randy Savage to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship. In 1992 worked as booker in Puerto Rico for the American Wrestling Federation where he reunited with manager Chicky Starr and was the AWF champion until he lost the championship to Huracán Castillo Junior. Between 1995 and 1996 he made some appearances at the World Wrestling Council and feuded against Bronco l.