View source for Hercules (wrestler)

{{short description|American professional wrestler (1956–2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Hercules
|birthname   = Raymond Constantine Fernandez Jr.<ref name="Meltzer2004"/>
|image       = File:Hercules 1988.jpg
|caption     = Hercules in 1988
|image_size  = 200px
|names       = Hercules<br/>Hercules Hernandez<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/hercules-hernandez/|title= Hercules Hernandez profile|access-date=February 19, 2011|author=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><br />Masked Assassin #2<ref name="OWOW"/><br />The Mighty Hercules<ref name="Meltzer2004"/><br /> Mr. Wrestling III<ref name="OWOW"/><br />Super Invader<ref name="OWOW"/>
|height      = 6 ft 1 in<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=129 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/129}}</ref>
|weight      = 270 lb<ref name="Encyclopedia" />
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1956|5|7|mf=y}}<ref name="OWOW"/>
|death_date  = {{death date and age|2004|3|6|1956|5|7}}<ref name="OWOW"/>
|birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.<ref name="Meltzer2004"/>
|death_place = [[Tampa]], [[Florida]], U.S.<ref name="OWOW"/>
|death_cause = [[Heart disease]]
|spouse      = {{marriage|Debbie Fernandez|1974}}
|children    = 7
|billed      = [[Bangkok]], Thailand<br/>(as Super Invader)<br>[[Tampa, Florida]]<br/>(as Hercules)
|trainer     = [[Hiro Matsuda]]<ref name="Meltzer2004"/>
|debut       = 1979<ref name="OWOW"/>
|retired     = 1999
|}}
'''Raymond Constantine Fernandez Jr.''' (May 7, 1956 – March 6, 2004) was an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] better known by his [[ring name]] '''Hercules Hernandez''', or simply '''Hercules'''.<ref name="Hernandez dies">{{Cite web|last=Powell|first=John|date=March 6, 2004|title=Hercules Hernandez dies|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2004/03/06/hercules-hernandez-dies/|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canoe.ca|Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> Fernandez began his career in 1979, primarily wrestling in [[Florida]] and [[Texas]] before earning his greatest success by joining the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] in 1985, where he was a member of [[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 [[Bodybuilding|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.<ref name="Meltzer2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/grandhassan/fernandez.htm |title=Obituary |access-date=March 25, 2004|author-link=Dave Meltzer |first=Dave |last=Meltzer |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603054528/http://www.geocities.ws/grandhassan/fernandez.htm}}</ref><ref name="Obituary">{{Cite web|title=Raymond C. Fernandez obituary|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tampabaytimes/name/raymond-fernandez-obituary?pid=2010997|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=[[Legacy.com]]|publisher=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> 

== Professional wrestling career ==

=== Early career (1979–1983)===
[[File:Gary Royal and Hercules Hernandez 1983.png|thumb|Fernandez (right) and his manager [[Gary Royal]] (left), {{Circa|1983}}]]
Fernandez was trained to wrestle by [[Hiro Matsuda]].<ref name="Meltzer2004"/> He started wrestling in 1979, mainly performing in [[Florida]] and [[Texas]] territories as "Hercules" Hernandez.<ref name="Hernandez dies" /> In 1982, he joined the NWA Central States territory (which ran out of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] and promoted shows in [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], and [[Iowa]]). While in the Central States, Hercules teamed up with [[The Missing Link (wrestler)|Dewey Robertson]], and the two won the Central States tag team championship on two occasions; they beat Mike George and [[Mark Youngblood|Mark Romero]] both times.<ref name="Hernandez dies" /> He also held the Central States Television title for a little over six months, winning it from, and losing it back to, his main rival, Romero.<ref name="Titles" /> His two other notable feuds in the Central States territory were with [[Manny Fernandez (wrestler)|Manny Fernandez]] and [[Harley Race]]. His feud with Race garnered Hernandez significant attention in the national wrestling scene, due to Race's stature as a former [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship|NWA World Champion]].<ref name="Career Retrospective">{{cite web|last=Beaston|first=Erik|date=July 15, 2015|title=Full Career Retrospective and Greatest Moments for Hercules Hernandez|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2520799-full-career-retrospective-and-greatest-moments-for-hercules-hernandez|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Hernandez dies" /> 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.<ref name="Career Retrospective" /> 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]].<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/>

=== Jim Crockett Promotions (1983–1984) ===
{{also|The Assassins (professional wrestling)|l1=The Assassins}}
In JCP, Fernandez was paired up with [[Jody Hamilton]], who had been wrestling as the Masked Assassin; Fernandez became the Masked Assassin 2, a [[List of professional wrestling terms#G|gimmick]] that had been played by several other wrestlers over the years. The two competed at the first ever [[Starrcade (1983)|Starrcade]] beating the team of [[Rufus R. Jones]] and [[Bugsy McGraw]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#83 |title=Starrcade Show results |access-date=April 3, 2007 |author=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> 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 [[Bill Watts]]' [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Mid-South]] promotion, where he once again donned a mask. [[Mr. Wrestling II]] had recently [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] on his tag team partner [[Magnum T. A.]] and become a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]]. Mr. Wrestling II renamed himself simply "Mr. Wrestling" and got a new protégé, "Mr. Wrestling II", who was Fernandez under a mask (referred to as "Mr. Wrestling III" in magazines to avoid confusing their readers). Mr. Wrestling II seconded Mr. Wrestling in his feud with Magnum T. A. Later on, Fernandez unmasked and competed once again as "Hercules Hernandez", and feuded with [[Jim Duggan|"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan]] under the tutelage of [[Jim Cornette]]. Hercules soon joined [[Skandor Akbar]]'s [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|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.<ref name="Hernandez dies" />

=== Championship Wrestling from Florida (1985) ===
In "[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]", Hercules quickly won the [[NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)|NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Brian Blair]], and then won the [[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Hector Guerrero]] the following month; this made him a double champion.<ref name="Titles" /> Some time during July 1985, Fernandez was fired from CWF after a dressing room fight with [[Wahoo McDaniel]] and stripped of both titles. After leaving Florida, Fernandez went to [[World Wrestling Council]] (WWC), in Puerto Rico before signing with the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|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 November 1985, managed by [[Freddie Blassie|"Classy" Freddie Blassie]].<ref name="Blast from the past">{{Cite web|last=Mihalik|first=Kenneth|date=October 11, 2019|title=Blast from the past: Hercules Hernandez|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/blast-from-the-past-hercules-hernandez/article_5db7cf4c-ec33-11e9-bcd4-a76768936ec4.html|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[The Post and Courier]]}}</ref> His first major national exposure came when he competed at [[WrestleMania 2]] in a losing effort against [[Ricky Steamboat|Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat]] at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|Sports Arena]] in the [[Los Angeles]] part of the show.<ref>{{cite web|author=|title=Full WrestleMania 2 results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/2/results|access-date=April 3, 2007|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> Blassie soon retired, as, in storyline, he sold his stable to [[Slick (wrestling)|Slick]] and Fernandez soon found himself floundering in the WWF midcard.<ref name="Blast from the past" />

==== Heenan Family (1986–1988) ====
{{see also|Heenan Family}}
In late 1986, however, his contract was "sold" by Slick to fellow heel manager [[Bobby Heenan|Bobby "The Brain" Heenan]]. Soon after, he dropped "Hernandez" from his ringname (though some commentators such as [[Gorilla Monsoon]] still occasionally referred to him as Hernandez), as well as the Roman gladiator-style vest and wrist bands he wore during his ring entrance. He began carrying a long steel chain to the ring and re-emerged with a more muscular physique. On November 29, 1986 ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event VIII]]'', Hercules received a shot at the [[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.<ref name="Blast from the past" />

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 [[Nelson hold|full nelson]] submission hold, as his finisher.<ref name="Blast from the past" /> 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).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full WrestleMania III results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/3/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> The feud culminated some weeks later in a chain match that saw Hercules as the victor.<ref name="Career Retrospective" />

In the early part of 1988, during an episode of ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]'', Hercules was swinging his chain in the direction of another muscular power wrestler: [[Warrior (wrestler)|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.<ref>{{cite book |author=Brian Shields |title=Main event – WWE in the raging 80s |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2006 |edition=4th |isbn=978-1-4165-3257-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 19, 2011|title=Full WrestleMania IV results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/4/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref><ref name="Career Retrospective" />

==== Rivalry with Ted DiBiase and Bobby Heenan (1988–1990) ====
During the fall of 1988, Bobby Heenan sold Hercules' contract to [[Ted DiBiase]]; DiBiase claimed that in Hercules, he had now purchased his own [[Slavery|slave]]. The would-be transaction failed because Hercules resisted the proceedings which angered him. He stated that he was owned by "no man" and instantly turned [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] to feud with DiBiase.<ref name="Blast from the past" /> Marking the end of ties for Heenan and Hercules, Bobby Heenan would from now as commentator and in promotions refer to Fernandez as ''Herc the Jerk''. Hercules defeated DiBiase's bodyguard [[Mike Jones (wrestler)|Virgil]] in a battle for his "freedom" on ''[[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)|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 [[Tonga Fifita|Haku]] (who was managed by Heenan). Despite pinning Haku at [[WrestleMania V]], he did not become the "King" of the WWF.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 16, 2016|title=WrestleMania V results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/5/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> Hercules' career stalled following his feud with Haku. He was mainly used to help push the latest heels such as [[John Tenta|The Earthquake]], who [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|squashed]] him at [[WrestleMania VI]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 3, 2012|title=WrestleMania VI results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/6/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref><ref name="Hernandez dies" /> and [[Curt Hennig]].

==== Power and Glory (1990–1991) ====
{{see also|Power and Glory}}
In the summer of 1990, Hercules turned heel alongside [[Paul Roma]] and the two formed [[Power and Glory]], managed by Slick.<ref name="Blast from the past" /> They had a high-profile feud with [[The Rockers]], defeating them at [[SummerSlam (1990)|SummerSlam]] in Philadelphia and challenged [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971-2010)|WWF World Tag Team Champions]] [[The Hart Foundation]].<ref name="Blast from the past" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=SummerSlam 1990 results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/1990/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania VII]], they lost to [[The Road Warriors|The Legion of Doom]] in less than a minute.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 17, 2005|title=WrestleMania VII results|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/7/results|access-date=January 4, 2022|publisher=[[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>

==== Final appearances (1991–1992) ====
After [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam 1991]], Roma left the WWF.<ref name="Blast from the past" /> Hercules spent the rest of his time in the WWF jobbing again, losing to wrestlers such as [[the Bushwackers]], [[Jim Neidhart]], the [[Ray Traylor|Big Boss Man]] and [[Sid Eudy|Sid Justice]], and [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental champion]] [[Bret Hart]].<ref name="Career Retrospective" /> Hercules lasted nearly forty minutes in the [[Royal Rumble (1991)|1991 Royal Rumble]]; in [[Royal Rumble (1992)|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 [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW).<ref name="Hernandez dies" /> He once again adopted a masked persona, this time as Super Invader, a supposed oriental assassin under the management of former [[Heenan Family]] stable mate, later rival, [[Harley Race]].<ref name="Blast from the past" /> As Super Invader, he beat [[Todd Bradford|Todd Champion]] at [[WrestleWar (1992)|WrestleWar 1992]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/w-war.html#92 |title=WrestleWar results |access-date=April 3, 2007 |author=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> and beat [[Buff Bagwell|Marcus Bagwell]] in a [[List of professional wrestling terms#Dark match|dark match]] before the [[The Great American Bash (1992)|Great American Bash 1992]]. The highlight of his run as Super Invader was his appearance at [[Clash of the Champions XX]] teaming with [[Rick Rude]], [[Jake Roberts]], and [[Big Van Vader]] in an elimination tag team match against [[Sting (wrestler)|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 [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] where he appeared as "Hercules Hernandez" once more, mainly teaming with fellow powerhouse wrestler [[Scott Norton]] to form the [[Jurassic Powers]].<ref name="Career Retrospective" /> They won the [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]] from [[The Road Warriors#The Hell Raisers|the Hell Raisers]] ([[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk Warrior]] and [[Kensuke Sasaki|Power Warrior]]) in August 1993 and held it for about four months before losing it back to the Hell Raisers at NJPW's [[January 4 Dome Show#Battlefield|January 4 Dome Show]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results94.php |title=StrongStyle Spirit: NJPW Results from 1994 |access-date=April 3, 2007 |author=puroresufan.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070223212308/http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results94.php |archive-date=February 23, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Hernandez dies" /> While holding the title, the Jurassic Powers successfully defended against teams such as The Japanese Jollyjacks  ([[Takayuki Iizuka]] and [[Akira Nogami]]), [[Masa Saito]] and [[Manabu Nakanishi]], and [[Sione Vailahi|the Barbarian]] and Haku. The team also had a series of matches with the Steiner Brothers and made it to the finals of the 1993 [[G1 Climax Tag League|Super Grade Tag League]] where they lost to [[Keiji Mutoh]] and [[Hiroshi Hase]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results93.php |title=StrongStyle Spirit: NJPW Results from 1993 |access-date=April 3, 2007 |author=puroresufan.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070223212229/http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results93.php |archive-date=February 23, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="Blast from the past" /> In 1999, Ray Fernandez retired from wrestling after working for various independent promotions across the world.<ref name="Blast from the past" />

== Personal life ==
Fernandez met his high school sweetheart Debbie in 1974.<ref name="Obituary" /> They married in 1976<ref name="Meltzer2004"/> and had seven children, Nichole, Jeremy, Jaclyn, Amanda, Taylor, Katelyn, and Keith.<ref name="Obituary" />

== Death ==
Fernandez died in his sleep in his home on March 6, 2004.<ref name="Hernandez dies" /> The cause of death was attributed to [[heart disease]] according to his wife.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ray Fernandez|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H0gmAAAAIBAJ&pg=3285,1108663&dq=ray+fernandez+hercules&hl=en|access-date=July 11, 2013|newspaper=Gettysburg Times|date=March 10, 2004|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was buried with [[military honors]] at [[Florida National Cemetery]] in [[Bushnell, Florida]].<ref name="Obituary" />

==Championships and accomplishments==
* '''Américas Wrestling Federation'''
** AWF World Heavyweight Championship  (1 time)
* '''[[Heart of America Sports Attractions|Central States Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Central States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Central States Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[The Missing Link (wrestler)|Dewey Robertson]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Central States Tag Team Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-t.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
** [[NWA Central States Television Championship]] ([[NWA Central States Television Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Central States Television Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-tv.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
* '''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
** [[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Florida Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-h.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
** [[NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)|NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship ''(Florida version)'']] ([[NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-south-h.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
* '''Independent Association of Wrestling'''
** IAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://www.solie.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318044952/http://www.solie.org/ |archive-date=2015-03-18 |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=www.solie.org}}</ref>
** IAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [[Paul Roma]]<ref name=":0" />
* '''International Wrestling Federation'''
** IWF Can-Am Championship (1 time)
* '''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Mid-South Wrestling Association]]'''
** [[UWF World Tag Team Championship|Mid-South Tag Team Championship]] ([[UWF World Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Ted DiBiase]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid-South Tag Team Title |url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midsouth/mswa/mswa-t.html |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Wrestling-Titles.com |language=en}}</ref>
* '''[[New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2018
* '''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
** [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of IWGP Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Scott Norton]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=IWGP Tag Team Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-t.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
* '''North American Wrestling Alliance'''
** NAWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles">{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories |publisher=Archeus Communications |year=2000 |edition=4th |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
* '''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
** Ranked No. 220 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PWI 500 of the PWI Years|url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.willywrestlefest.fr|archive-date=December 5, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205003511/http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
** [[Slammy Award]] (1 time)
*** [[Bobby Heenan|Bobby "The Brain" Heenan]] Scholarship Award ([[Slammy Award#1987 Slammy Awards|1987]]) <small>with [[Tonga Fifita|Haku]], [[Sam Fatu|Tama]], [[André the Giant]], [[King Kong Bundy]], and [[Harley Race]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Slammy Awards|url=https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/slammy.html|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=www.prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref></small>
** Battle Royal (1987)

== See also ==
*[[The Heenan Family]]
*[[The Jurassic Powers]]
*[[Power and Glory]]
*[[List of premature professional wrestling deaths]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW">{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1500&page=4&promotion=6 | title=Career - All Japan Pro Wrestling |access-date=June 11, 2020 |first=Philip |last=Kreikenbohm |website=Cagematch.net}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
*{{imdb name}}
*{{Professional wrestling profiles}}
*[http://findagrave.com/memorial/8483273/raymond-fernandez findagrave]

{{IWGP Tag Team Championship|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hercules}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:A.P. Leto High School alumni]]
[[Category:Burials at Florida National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Faux East Asian professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Heenan Family members]]
[[Category:Masked wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA Florida Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA Southern Heavyweight Champions (Florida version)]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from New York City]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]