Height: 6'1"

Weight: 270 lbs

Real Name: Raymond Fernandez

DOB: 1959

DOD: 3/06/04

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Other Names: Mr. Wrestling II(Mid-South), Assassin #2(Mid-Atlantic), the Russian Assassin, The Mighty Hercules(WWF), Power(WWF), Super Invader(WCW)

Wrestler Since: 1979

Finishing Maneuver: Full Nelson

Previous PWI 500 Rankings: #90(1992), #73(1991)

History: Slam! Sports article by John Powell, 3/07/04

Former WWE and WCW superstar Raymond Hernandez, (AKA: ‘Hercules’ Hernandez) passed away in his sleep Friday night. He was 46.

Though Hernandez had notable success in many promotions during the early eighties, most fans will remember him as the chain-swinging backbone of Bobby Heenan’s heel stable in the WWE. Although Hernandez never achieved main event status there, the muscle-bound powerhouse was a solid mainstay of the promotion making his presence felt in WrestleManias 2 through 7.

Hernandez began his career in 1982, primarily wrestling in Florida and Texas. At that time, he was managed by Sir Oliver Humperdink. The highlight of his tenure being his feud with wrestling legend Harley Race.

Teamed with Canadian Dewey Robertson, Hernandez won the Central States Tag Team Championship. The switch to tag team wrestling was beneficial to Hernandez who would be the backbone of many teams throughout his professional life in pro wrestling.

In an interview at the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame dinner in Blasdell, NY Saturday night, Robertson recalled Hernandez arrived in Kansas City, with only ski boots to wear in the ring. Promoter Bob Geigel tried to discourage Robertson from helping Hernandez, especially leading the match when they fought in the ring, a role traditionally expected of the babyface.

Moving on to the Mid-South area, Hernandez fell under the tutelage of Mr. Wrestling II. Later, Hernandez joined forces with his future WWE stablemate - Ted Dibiase - to form the Devastation Inc. The team was managed by General Skandor Akbar.

In the mid-eighties, Hernandez joined the WWE and in his first appearance at a WrestleMania (WrestleMania 2), he battled veteran Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat. By the time WrestleMania 3 rolled around, Hernandez had made his mark in the promotion and was elevated to a prominent feud with face Billy Jack Haynes over who had the deadlier full nelson finisher. The feud culminated in a memorable and bloody Chain Match at the broadcast. From there, Hernandez was positioned as the strongman to beat. He was booked in feuds with The Ultimate Warrior, Earthquake and other “big men”. His persona getting a bit moldy in that role, Hernandez was repackaged in a tag team with Paul Roma as “Power and Glory”.

Having not won a heavyweight title of any kind in the WWE, Hernandez moved on to World Championship Wrestling in the early nineties in a brief stint as the masked Super Invader managed by his one-time foe, Harley Race. Hernandez then teamed up with another strongman - Scott Norton - and put together the “Jurassic Powers” tag team in the IWGP promotion in Japan. The team beat The Hellraisers to win the tag team titles there.

Pay-Per-View/Show Summary: (12 - 32, 1 DCO, 3 DDQs)
- Mid-South Superdome Extravaganza (June 16, '84) = Mr. Wrestling II won a "No Disqualification" Match over Mr. Wrestling.
- WWF Wrestlemania II (April 5, '86) = Hercules Hernandez was beaten by Ricky Steamboat.
- WWF The Big Event (August 28, '86) = Hercules Hernandez fell to Billy Jack Haynes.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #8 (November 15, '86) = Hercules Hernandez lost to the WWF Heavyweight Champion, Hulk Hogan.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #10 (February 21, '87) = Hercules won a Battle Royal.
- WWF Wrestlemania III (March 29, '87) = Hercules fought to a Double Count Out with Billy Jack Haynes.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #11 (April 28, '87) = Hercules lost, via DQ, to the WWF Intercontinental Champ, Ricky Steamboat.
- WWF Paul Boesch Retirement Show (August 28, '87) = Hercules Hernandez lost, via countout, to Bruno Sammartino.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #13 (November 11, '87) = Hercules fell to Bam Bam Bigelow.
- WWF Legends Battle Royal (November 16, '87) = Hercules was pinned by Don Muraco.
- WWF Survivor Series '87 (November 26) = Hercules, Danny Davis, Harley Race, Ron Bass & the Honky Tonk Man fought in an "Elimination" Match against Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts, Brutus Beefcake & Jim Duggan. Hercules was eliminated by Savage, who 'survived' along with Steamboat & Roberts.
- WWF Wrestlemania IV (March 27, '88) = Hercules fell to the Ultimate Warrior.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #16 (April 22, '88) = Hercules lost, via DQ, to Jim Duggan.
- WWF Wrestlefest '88 (July 31) = Hercules fell to Brutus Beefcake.
- WWF Summerslam '88 (August 29) = Hercules was beaten by Jake Roberts.
- WWF King of the Ring Tournament (October '88) = Hercules fought to a Double Disqualification with Bad News Brown in the first round. Ted DiBiase won the tournament.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #18 (November 16, '88) = Hercules pinned Virgil.
- WWF Survivor Series '88 (November 24) = Hercules, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Koko B. Ware & Hillbilly Jim fought in an "Elimination" Match against Ted DiBiase, Haku, the Red Rooster & the Twin Towers. Hercules was eliminated by DiBiase. Hogan & Savage were the 'survivors'.
- WWF Royal Rumble '89 (January 15) = Hercules competed in the Royal Rumble, which was won by John Studd.
- WWF The Main Event II (February 3, '89) = Hercules was beaten by Ted DiBiase.
- WWF Wrestlemania V (April 2, '89) = Hercules defeated Haku.
- WWF Summerslam '89 (August 28) = Hercules won, via DQ, over Greg Valentine.
- WWF King of the Ring Tournament (October '89) = Hercules fought to a Double Disqualification with Jim Neidhart in the first round. Tito Santana won the tournament.
- WWF Survivor Series '89 (November 23) = Hercules, Jim Duggan, Bret Hart & Ronnie Garvin fought in an "Elimination" Match against Randy Savage, Dino Bravo, Greg Valentine & the Earthquake. Hercules was eliminated by the Earthquake, who 'survived' along with Savage & Bravo.
- WWF Royal Rumble '90 (January 21) = Hercules competed in the Royal Rumble, which was won by Hulk Hogan.
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, '90) = Hercules was beaten by the Earthquake.
- WWF Summerslam '90 (August 27) = Power & Glory (Hercules & Paul Roma) won, via countout, over the Rockers.
- WWF Survivor Series '90 (November 22) = Power & Glory, Rick Martel & the Warlord fought in an "Elimination" Match against Jake Roberts, Jimmy Snuka & the Rockers. Hercules' entire team 'survived'. Later on, Hercules' team & Ted DiBiase fought in a "Survivors Elimination" Match against Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana & the Ultimate Warrior. Hercules was eliminated by the Warrior, who 'survived' along with Hogan.
- WWF Royal Rumble '91 (January 19) = Hercules competed in the Royal Rumble, which was won by Hulk Hogan.
- WWF Wrestlemania VII (March 24, '91) = Power & Glory lost to the Legion of Doom.
- WWF Saturday Night's Main Event #29 (April 15, '91) = Hercules competed in a Battle Royal, which was won by Mr. Perfect.
- SWS Sumo Hall (June 7, '91) = Power & Glory fell to the Rockers.
- WWF Summerslam '91 (August 26) = Power & Glory & the Warlord were beaten by Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith & the Texas Tornado.
- WWF at Royal Albert Hall (October 3, '91) = Power & Glory lost to the WWF Tag Champs, the Legion of Doom. Later on, Hercules competed in a Battle Royal that was won by Davey Boy Smith.
- WWF Survivor Series '91 (November 28) = Hercules, Col Mustafa, Skinner & the Berzerker fought in an "Elimination" Match against Sgt Slaughter, Jim Duggan, Tito Santana & Kerry von Erich. Hercules was eliminated by Santana, whose entire team 'survived'.
- WWF Royal Rumble '92 (January 19) = Hercules competed in the Royal Rumble, which was won by Ric Flair.
- WCW WrestleWar '92 (May 17) = The Super Invader took down Todd Champion.
- WCW Omni Show (June 7, '92) = The Super Invader defeated Jimmy Garvin.
- WCW Omni Show (July 5, '92) = The Super Invader fell to Ron Simmons.
- WCW Great American Bash '92 (July 12) = In a dark match, the Super Invader beat Buff Bagwell.
- WCW Clash of the Champions XX (September 2, '92) = The Super Invader, Jake Roberts, Rick Rude & Big Van Vader won an "Elimination" Match over Nikita Koloff, Sting & the Steiner Brothers.
- WCW Omni Show (September 20, '92) = The Super Invader & Jake Roberts lost to Nikita Koloff & Sting.
- NJPW Battlefield Yokohama (September 23, '93) = The Jurassic Powers (Hernandez & Scott Norton) retained the IWGP Tag Titles, beating Takayuki Iizuka & Akira Nogami.
- NJPW Super Grade Tag League III (October/November '93) = The Jurassic Powers lost in the finals of the league to Keiji Mutoh & Hiro Hase.
- AWF Heavyweight Title Tournament (November '94) = Hernandez lost in the first round to the eventual winner, Tito Santana.
- AWF Tag-Team Title Tournament (May '95) = Hernandez & Curtis Hughes fought to a Double Disqualification with Jeff Gaylord & the Warlord. Tommy Rich & Greg Valentine won the tournament.

Title Summary:
- NWA Central States Tag-Team Champion w/ Dewey Robinson (8/82 - 8/19/82)
- NWA Central States Tag-Team Champion(2) w/ Dewey Robinson (9/30/82 - 11/21/82)
- Mid-South Tag-Team Champion w/ Ted DiBiase (12/03/84 - 12/25/84)
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion (6/30/85 - 7/85)
- IWGP Tag-Team Champion w/ Scott Norton (8/05/93 - 1/04/94)
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion(2) (11/07/95 - 11/08/96)
- IAW Heavyweight Champion (6/05/96 - 8/24/96)

PWI Achievement Awards: (0 wins, 0 1st RUs, 1 2nd RU, 1 3rd RU)
- 1990 Match of the Year, 3rd Runner-Up (Royal Rumble)
- 1992 Match of the Year, 2nd Runner-Up (Royal Rumble)