Hercules (wrestler)

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Hercules
Heart disease
Spouse(s)
Debbie Fernandez
​
(m. 1974)​
Children7
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hercules
Hercules Hernandez[2]
Masked Assassin #2[2]
The Mighty Hercules[1]
Mr. Wrestling III[2]
Super Invader[2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[3]
Billed weight270 lb (122 kg)[3]
Billed fromBangkok, Thailand
(as Super Invader)
Tampa, Florida
(as Hercules)
Trained byHiro Matsuda[1]
Debut1979[2]
Retired1999

Raymond Constantine Fernandez (May 7, 1956 – March 6, 2004) was an American

The Heenan Family. He later split from the stable and feuded with Heenan and Ted DiBiase, afterwards turning heel in 1990, forming Power and Glory with Paul Roma, where they had a feud with The Rockers. Fernandez was also a featured bodybuilder
, appearing in several muscle magazines. He is also known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, and New-Japan Pro Wrestling.

Early life

Fernandez was born in New York City on May 7, 1956. After his mother died from cancer when he was aged six, his father relocated the family to Tampa, Florida. Fernandez attended A. P. Leto High School, where he competed in amateur wrestling. He graduated from high school in 1974 and enlisted in the United States Air Force for three years.[1][5]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1979–1983)

Fernandez was trained to wrestle by

NWA World Champion.[7]

This feud began because Race had an issue with Oliver Humperdink's House of Humperdink stable, which Hernandez had become a part of soon after joining the promotion.[4] One match between the two had the stipulation that if Race won, he would get five minutes inside a steel cage with Humperdink. Hercules was caught using brass knuckles and disqualified, which meant that the cage match was on. When the match was about to start, Hernandez ran to ringside, knocked Race out and threw him into the ring with Humperdink. In the end, Race recovered and delivered a piledriver to Humperdink onto a steel chair injuring (kayfabe) Humperdink and causing him to leave the territory.[7] After losing his manager, Hernandez did not stay in the Central States territory for long but instead signed up with Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP).

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1983)

In January 1983, Fernandez toured Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.[8]

Jim Crockett Promotions (1983–1984)

See also:
The Assassins

In JCP, Fernandez was paired up with

Starrcade beating the team of Rufus R. Jones and Bugsy McGraw.[9] Fernandez's run as one of the Assassins ended less than a year later, after he was unmasked by Jimmy Valiant
.

Mid-South Wrestling (1984–1985)

After being unmasked, Fernandez moved on to

stable, Devastation Inc., alongside future WWF co-worker Ted DiBiase. As part of Devastation Inc., Hercules feuded with the Junkyard Dog and Terry Taylor, before leaving for Florida.[4]

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1985)

In "

World Wrestling Federation
. Hernandez had a brief stint in Dallas with NWA World Class Championship Wrestling where was managed by Sunshine and had several high profile feuds, most notably again Gino Hernandez.

World Wrestling Federation (1985–1992)

Early appearances (1985–1986)

Fernandez debuted in the WWF in 1985, managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[10] His first major national exposure came when he competed at WrestleMania 2 in a losing effort against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at the Sports Arena in the Los Angeles part of the show.[11] Blassie soon retired, as, in storyline, he sold his stable to Slick and Fernandez soon found himself floundering in the WWF midcard.[10]

Heenan Family (1986–1988)

See also: Heenan Family

In late 1986, however, his contract was "sold" by Slick to fellow heel manager

WWF Heavyweight Championship, facing champion Hulk Hogan. Although he was able to put Hogan in the "Hercules backbreaker" torture rack, he lost by pinfall in what was arguably the biggest match of his wrestling career.[10]

Also in the fall of 1986, Hercules rekindled a feud with Billy Jack Haynes that went back through every promotion the two were ever in together, including the WWF earlier in 1986. As part of the feud, Hercules started using Haynes' finishing move, the full nelson submission hold, as his finisher.[10] On an episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge, Heenan called out Haynes saying he would like to see him get out of Hercules' version of the hold. Haynes promptly answered the challenge and was waiting for Hercules to apply the hold when Heenan appeared to have second thoughts. Haynes grew tired of the charade and shoved Heenan. This gave Hercules the opening he needed to clothesline Haynes. Haynes was unable to defend himself and Hercules applied the full nelson. When Haynes began powering out of the hold, Heenan kicked him in the abdomen and Hercules released the hold. This incident set the stage for their match at WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in front of a reported 93,173 fans. The momentum swung back and forth throughout the contest until Haynes attempted to apply the full nelson; both men tumbled to the floor after Hercules reached the ropes. Haynes applied the full nelson on the floor as both men were counted out. Heenan broke the hold by driving a knee into the back of Haynes, who then turned his attention to Heenan and chased him into the ring, allowing Hercules to blindside him with a shot to the head with his steel chain wrapped around his fist, causing Haynes to bleed profusely (a closeup shot of Haynes on the mat clearly showed him "blading" himself in order to draw blood).[12] The feud culminated some weeks later in a chain match that saw Hercules as the victor.[7]

In the early part of 1988, during an episode of

the Ultimate Warrior. Warrior caught the chain, and the two began a tug of war, which led to the steel chain snapping at the middle. The broadcast commentators gave credit to the Warrior for snapping the chain, to the chagrin of Hercules and Heenan, though heel commentator Jesse Ventura contended that it took both Hercules and the Warrior to break the chain and not just the Warrior.[13] This led to their grudge match at WrestleMania IV, which ended with Warrior pinning Hercules after pushing off from the turnbuckle while in Hercules' full nelson and landing on top of him before lifting his shoulder at the two count while referee Dave Hebner continued to count Hercules.[14][7]

Rivalry with Ted DiBiase and Bobby Heenan (1988–1990)

During the fall of 1988, Bobby Heenan sold Hercules' contract to

Saturday Night's Main Event XVIII on November 16 after DiBiase contended that he should not have to dirty his hands to beat his own slave. Hercules and DiBiase were later on opposite teams at the Survivor Series 1988 where DiBiase eliminated Hercules from the contest, but Hercules then distracted DiBiase long enough to be eliminated by WWF World Champion Randy Savage
who rolled him up for a pin while he was still gloating about eliminating Hercules.

After the feud with DiBiase ended, Hercules had a series of matches with

squashed him at WrestleMania VI,[16][4] and Curt Hennig
.

Power and Glory (1990–1991)

See also: Power and Glory

In the summer of 1990, Hercules turned heel alongside

The Legion of Doom in less than a minute.[18]

Final appearances (1991–1992)

After

Big Boss Man and Sid Justice, and Intercontinental champion Bret Hart.[7] Hercules lasted nearly forty minutes in the 1991 Royal Rumble; in 1992, he lasted less than a minute. His last televised WWF match was against Sid Justice at Madison Square Garden where he was squashed in under a minute. A clearly frustrated and fed up Hercules took a Powerbomb
from Justice followed by a three count before no-selling the move by simply getting up unhurt and heading for the locker room.

World Championship Wrestling (1992)

After being with the WWF for seven years, Fernandez signed with

Clash of the Champions XX teaming with Rick Rude, Jake Roberts, and Big Van Vader in an elimination tag team match against Sting, Nikita Koloff, and The Steiner Brothers
. Although Sting eliminated him early, Super Invader's team won the match. By the end of 1992, Fernandez had left WCW.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1993–1994)

See also: Jurassic Powers

In March 1993, Fernandez debuted in

Keiji Mutoh and Hiroshi Hase.[21]

Late career (1993–1999)

In 1993, Hercules wrestled for International World Class Championship Wrestling (IWCCW) and in 1994, he wrestled in the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) promotion taking part in the tournament to crown the first AWF champion.[10] In 1999, Ray Fernandez retired from wrestling after working for various independent promotions across the world.[10]

Personal life

Fernandez met his high school sweetheart Debbie in 1974.[5] They married in 1976[1] and had seven children, Nichole, Jeremy, Jaclyn, Amanda, Taylor, Katelyn, and Keith.[5]

Death

Fernandez died in his sleep in his home on March 6, 2004.

military honors at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Meltzer, Dave. "Obituary". Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2004.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Online World of Wrestling. "Hercules Hernandez profile". Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0
    .
  4. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Raymond C. Fernandez obituary". Legacy.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  7. ^ a b c d e f Beaston, Erik (July 15, 2015). "Full Career Retrospective and Greatest Moments for Hercules Hernandez". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Career - All Japan Pro Wrestling". Cagematch.net. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  9. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "Starrcade Show results". Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mihalik, Kenneth (October 11, 2019). "Blast from the past: Hercules Hernandez". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Full WrestleMania 2 results". WWE. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  12. ^ "Full WrestleMania III results". WWE. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  13. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6
    .
  14. ^ "Full WrestleMania IV results". WWE. May 19, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "WrestleMania V results". WWE. March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "WrestleMania VI results". WWE. September 3, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "SummerSlam 1990 results". WWE. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "WrestleMania VII results". World Wrestling Entertainment. February 17, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  19. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WrestleWar results". Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  20. ^ puroresufan.com. "StrongStyle Spirit: NJPW Results from 1994". Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  21. ^ puroresufan.com. "StrongStyle Spirit: NJPW Results from 1993". Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  22. ^ "Ray Fernandez". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. March 10, 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  23. ^ "NWA Central States Tag Team Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  24. ^ "NWA Central States Television Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Florida Heavyweight Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  27. ^ "IWGP Tag Team Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  28. ^ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". www.willywrestlefest.fr. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  29. ^ "The Slammy Awards". www.prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.

External links

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