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Pick My Brain:
Nichole Rae Fernandez
Daughter of the Late Hercules Hernandez
April 21, 2004
Hercules
wasn't just a wrestler, but a father, husband, and friend to many people
who loved him as a person. As wrestling fans, we never see that side of
these performers.
Shortly
after Hercules Hernandez tragically passed away a few weeks ago, his
daughter, Nichole Rae Fernandez wrote us and wanted everyone to know how
much her father had accomplished in this business. And for those of you
who thought he was just another heel to feed Hulk Hogan, you'll be quite
surprised to learn about what a successful career this guy really had.
From all of us at The Armpit, please enjoy this very special Pick
My Brain.
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1. Thank
you for taking the time to speak with us. Many families cannot deal
with the constant travel and pressures of the wrestling business, but
Hercules, from all accounts, was something of a family man. What was it
like growing up as the daughter of a celebrity wrestler, and was it hard
on your family?
I loved that my father was a celebrity wrestler. I make sure that any
time I am involved in a conversation about sports I tell everyone who my
father is. I still do that till this day because I am so proud of him. I
understood why he was gone all the time. He had a very large family to
support and besides that wrestling was something he loved to do. How
many people really go to work everyday and love what they do like my dad
did? My family, I feel, handled my father being gone very well. It also
helped that we had a wonderful mother at home to support us.
2. Hercules had a pretty good career with New Japan as a tag team
with Scott Norton called the Jurassic Powers. It is difficult for some
fans in America to comprehend just what a plum position that is, and
just how big a star Norton was at one time. How did your father like
Japan, and did he ever tell you any good stories from his travels there?
He loved
working in Japan and said that the Japanese people always treated them
with respect. There is one story that stands out in my mind. He was in
Japan on tour and there was a bad earthquake. My mom was very nervous
when she heard about it on the news, so she called my dad. He and some
other wrestlers had slept right through it.
3. Probably the most famous match of Hercules' career in the USA was
his WrestleMania III bout with Billy Jack Haynes in 1987. Over 70,000
fans packed the Pontiac Silverdome to see a pretty bloody brawl, at a
time when WWF wasn't fond of using blood. Did he ever tell you what it
was like to perform in front of so many people?
He was always in awe of how exciting it was to step out onto the mat and
have people cheering for you or in his case most of his career they were
booing him. He said even when the fans booed him it was still a rush.
His most memorable experience was the first time that he wrestled in
Madison Square Garden.
4. I remember the Power and Glory tag team with Paul Roma very
vividly. It was the first time in a long time that some of my friends
in high school thought the WWF was "hip" again, because they were a good
undercard heel act. How well did Hercules and Paul Roma get along in
real life?
My dad was friends with Paul Roma and they got along very well as a
matter of fact Paul is my sister Taylor's Godfather. We all felt that
the Power and Glory were a great tag team and that they should have been
pushed harder, but since my dad and Paul Roma did not play up to the
politics that go on in the WWF they were pushed to the back. I felt that
my dad was in his best physical condition of his career when he wrestler
with Paul.
5. How did Hercules adapt to life after wrestling? I know he held a
variety of jobs during the last 8 years or so, but I was surprised to
hear that he hadn't wrestled much on the independent scene.
He did some independents, but later decided he'd rather stay home
with his family.
6. I was happy that Hercules found work in WCW in 1992, when Bill
Watts hired him and they were cutting way back on wrestlers' pay.
Unfortunately, Watts gave him a silly gimmick, nylon to put over his
face, and the name "Super Invader." Was your father happy with that
gimmick, and did he enjoy his time with WCW?
He was happy to be working and appreciated Bill giving him this
opportunity. He did not like working for the WCW or that gimmick they
gave him. He wasn’t the type to be complaining. My opinion on this was
that he deserved much better than the terrible gimmick they gave him.
7. Your father had a reputation among wrestlers backstage as a really
tough cookie. He beat up Wahoo McDaniel, after all, which in wrestling
is worthy of a badge of honor. But unlike most tough guys, Hercules
didn't seem to abuse his power. On the contrary, he seemed to be a
caring, selfless guy. What were some of caring, selfless things
Hercules did, and would some of those things surprise some people who
think he was just a wild, reckless wrestler?
As far as him beating up Wahoo McDaniel my mother and I never heard
that. My dad had to be pushed pretty hard to end up fighting someone. He
was a very passive person. My dad was a kind and gentle soul who tried
to get along with everyone and would help the Catholic Sisters at my
school with anything they needed. He was a very spiritual person and a
good man. I remember every time we stopped by a church he would make the
sign of the cross. I picked up the same habit because he used to do it
so much.
8. Our website was critical of how Hercules handled his last match in
the WWF on "Prime Time Wrestling." He was powerbombed and pinned, and
after the match he got right back up and didn't "sell" the move.
Ironically, his opponent was Sid "Vicious" Justice, who had done the
exact same thing to El Gigante when he left WCW in 1991. Now is your
chance to give Hercules' side of the story. Do you remember this match
at all, and did he ever tell you why he did that?
I do not recall that, but my mom does. She said that there was a lot
going on behind the scenes at the WWF around that time and he had just
had enough.
9. Right about when your dad left the WWF, many people started coming
forward with accusations against the WWF of sexual abuse of teenage boys
and heavy steroid and recreational drug use. Hercules worked for the
WWF right when those illegal activities were allegedly taking place.
Did he ever mention to you about witnessing or hearing about those
underage molestation stories?
He did not say anything to me, but he did talk about with it with my
mother. She recalls my dad telling her that the molestation incident was
true.
10. Hercules had a reputation, true or not, on the road of being a
heavy partier with his share of personal demons. Did this ever concern
you, or were you generally not aware of it?
Well you could probably say that about 99% of the wrestlers. I was not
aware of what went on while he was on the road. I never knew my father
to be a heavy partier or to have had any personal demons.
11. Living in Tampa, you and your family must have seen or hung out
with lots of wrestlers in the area. Many wrestlers live or have lived
in Florida, such as Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake, Bobby Heenan, Terry
Taylor, Brian Blair, Steve Keirn, and even Vince McMahon owned property
there. Can you share any brief stories about some of those people and
how they treated you?
Brian Blair was a great friend to my father. He actually spoke at my
father’s wake. He and his wife Toni are very nice people. As for Hulk
Hogan, Beefcake, Heenan, and Vince I was always taught that if you can't
say anything nice about someone don't say anything at all. I can't think
of anything nice to say about these people.
12. Hercules was largely absent during wrestling's biggest boom ever,
during the late 90s WWF vs. WCW Monday night era. Did he follow the
business during that period, and did he ever try getting a job with WCW
or WWF back then?
We never watched wrestling in our home again. My favorite wrestler was
my father, so when he stopped wrestling there was nothing for me to
watch.
13. One of the most notorious promos among old-school Mid-South
Wrestling fans is when Hercules went on TV and actually bragged that
steroids helped make his arms so big. The drug and steroid use by your
father is well documented. In later years, did he ever tell you he
regretted taking steroids and that it wasn't worth it?
I would like to see that promo, it had to have been done in my dad's
younger years. I can not imagine him saying anything like that. I can
not imaging my father promoting steroid use or any drug use for that
matter. He always taught me not to give in to any peer pressure and to
stay away from drugs.
14. You have remarked that some of the best times of your life were
on the road with Hercules. Hercules worked with scores of famous
wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Rick Steamboat, Ted
DiBiase, Scott Norton, Randy Savage, and numerous others. Do you have
any funny road stories you'd like to quickly tell us? And did you ever
get to meet any of the wrestlers Hercules worked with?
My best times where with my father on the road not with any of the other
wrestler. I loved that I was able to travel Florida during the summers
with my dad and the rest of our family. We also use to take my friends
and I to the wrestling matches when the WWF was in Tampa at the USF
sundome. It was great to have all my friends there watching my dad
wrestle. Then he would take us all in the back to meet all the
wrestlers. I did meet all the wrestlers during that time. My favorite
wrestler, besides my dad, was Bret Hart.
15. Financially speaking, New Japan treated their foreign talent very
well. It also allowed Hercules to spend more time with his family. What
do you think Hercules would say was his favorite company to work for?
Financially speaking it would be Japan. I hate to admit it, but I think
my dad enjoyed working for the WWF the most.
16. So many wrestlers from Florida made it big, and tragically, many
of them have passed away as they got older. Was Hercules ever scared
that his friends and peers were dying, considering his own past health
problems?
My dad was a little nervous when his friend Hawk died that's when he
decided to get a check up in December. He had a head to toe physical. My
dad had no previous health problems. The first time I saw my dad with
the flu was last year.
17. Yes or no, did Hercules ever:
-Let you hold one of this championship belts: I don’t remember
if I ever held his championship belt. It’s been a very long time
-Warn you to never go into the wrestling business: No
-Let you hold his chain that we was famous for wearing in the WWF:
Yes. My sisters and I use to fight over who was going to get to hold the
chain. We use to go with him to buy them.
-Sign autographs when you guys would go out in public:
Yes-Always
-Visit his Alma Matter, Leto High School: No
-Show you how to use chopsticks: No
-Take an interest in your school/college studies: Yes-My father
was always interested in my education.
-Give you advice about life and lessons he learned in life the hard
way: Yes – There are many lessons that my father taught me that I
will never forget
18. It was refreshing to read that your father and mother, high
school sweethearts, reconciled after their divorce and remarried later
on. Any wrestling fan knows how difficult it is to maintain healthy
relationships while on the road. It was also nice reading that he spent
so much time with you and that you two were close. Looking back, do you
feel you spent enough time with Hercules to make up for those years he
was gone?
I do feel that we more than made up for the lost time. He was one of
my best friends. We use to talk every day and hang out all the time. I
miss that
19. Hercules had a thyroid problem, but aside from that, doctors
found no real health problems. When he was feeling ill the days before
his death, the doctor was overbooked and scheduled his appointment for
days later. Do you and you your family have anything to say as far as
how the doctors treated Hercules and how he had been given a clean bill
of health just a few months ago?
Actually, the doctor’s appointment was a scheduled check up by the
doctor and then when my dad got there they said they were too busy to
see him. Then they rescheduled his appointment. All I can say is it is
being looked into.
20. As I mentioned before, my father is a retired schoolteacher who
hated wrestling, but whenever he’d watch, his favorite was always
Hercules. We realize what a difficult time this is for you and the
Fernandez family. Please use this last question to tell us anything you
want, about Hercules the person, the wrestler, or the father. The forum
is yours. Thank you so much again for your time, and the thousands of
people who will read this only wish the best for you. We all thank
Hercules for the memories and we don't like for any wrestler to be
forgotten, especially those like Hercules whom we grew up watching and
enjoyed so much.
First, I want to thank you for this opportunity. It means so much to
my family and I. My father, like I stated, was my best friend. He was a
wonderful person. He was always laughing and smiling no matter what came
his way. He had this loud infectious laugh that even if you were mad you
could not help but laugh right back with him. He was always there for my
family and I. His favorite thing to do was hang out with me and the rest
of my family. He was the total opposite of what you saw on TV. He was
the good guy. When he wrestled he had a role to play. Just like a movie
star plays a role wrestlers play a role as well. He loved to wrestle and
he loved all of his fans. If he had only $10.00 left he would give them
away to someone who needed it more. That’s just the way he was. I miss
him so much. The world was a better place because my dad was in it. He
is my guardian angel now and I can be happy about that. The Mighty
Hercules will live on in our hearts forever. -Nichole Rae Fernandez
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We cannot thank the Fernandez family enough for this interview. It
takes years to recover from a tragedy like this, so her family could
really use the support right now. Thanks to everyone for reading, and
thanks again to Nichole for the heart felt interview.
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