Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Ray Fernandez had a pretty successful career in the territories before landing under the bright lights of the World Wrestling Federation in 1985. While wrestling under the moniker of Hercules Hernandez and then simply as Hercules…Fernandez had an up and down WWF career. Hercules wrestled mainly as a heel, but did have a babyface run thrown in the mix. Today on the blog, we look at the babyface turn that seemed like it was a few years in the making.
When Hercules Hernandez debuted in the WWF in 1985, he was a heel managed by WWE Hall of Famer ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie. Hercules had a beard, long hair and wore what looked like a Roman Gladiator outfit to the ring. He had a chiseled physique and was pushed just like the mythical god known for his strength and power. Under Blassie’s tutelage, Hercules never made it past mid card status.
In August of 1986, on a talk show segment called ‘The Body Shop’ hosted by ‘The Magnificent’ Don Muraco, an aging Freddie Blassie announced that he had sold one half of his managerial contracts. The secret investor was revealed to be the newcomer called ‘Slick.’ Hercules along with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff were now partly owned and managed by the Slickster. At first, Blassie would accompany his charges to the ring along with Slick…but ultimately faded away. In reality, Blassie was ill and had a hard time standing for long periods of time. He decided to retire from professional wrestling.
Slick became Hercules Hernandez’s full time manager, but the partnership did not last a long time. In October of 1986, a video package was shown of Slick in a bank with Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan. Heenan had purchased the contract of Hercules from Slick for an undisclosed amount of money. Under Heenan’s management, Hercules pretty much remained on the mid card. He did eventually get a world title shot against Hulk Hogan, but lost via pinfall.
Hercules wound remain managed by Bobby Heenan until the Fall of 1988. It was then that The Brain announced that he was selling the contract of Hercules to ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted Dibiase. Dibiase bought the contract of Hercules to make him his own “personal slave.” A visibly shocked and upset Hercules (probably fed up from all his human trafficking in the mid 1980’s) refused to be sold to Dibiase. Instead, Hercules grabbed Heenan by his shirt collar and brought his now former manager to his knees.
The Million Dollar Man picked up his Halliburton briefcase filled with cash and hit Hercules on the back of the head. Dibiase and his bodyguard Virgil then attacked Hercules, while Heenan grabbed the briefcase and took off running. Hercules was now officially a babyface and would kick off a feud between him and Dibiase. Hercules would defeat Virgil to get released from his contract owned by Dibiase and Hercules was finally on his own.
His career really stalled after that and after a brief feud with the Heenan Family, Hercules became a glorified enhancement talent who got others “over.” He remained a babyface until 1990, when Hercules turned heel again and formed a partnership with Paul Roma and manager Slick called ‘Power and Glory.’ It seems, in the end, it was Slick who got the best investment on Hercules. After selling him in 1986, he got him for nothing in 1990. Well played Slick…well played.