After meeting Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) booker Paul Heyman while on a wrestling tour of Singapore, Konnan joined ECW in 1995 and feuded with The Sandman. At one point he was referred to as "The Mexican Hulk Hogan" for breaking attendance records across the country,[10] and Konnan still holds the all-time attendance record in Mexico City as well as cities including Tijuana, Guadalajara, Acapulco, Torreon, Hermosillo and Nuevo Laredo. Teaming with his trainer and mentor, Rey Mysterio, Sr., Konnan entered the Pat O'Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament held at the event. Konnan's tag-team record was much better: Konnan went 6-0 teamed with Nathan Jones (exclusively against the team of Lenny Lane and Lodi, better-known formerly as The West Hollywood Blondes in WCW) between November 27 - December 11, 2001. Over the years Konan Big has made several appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) when their tour went through Monterrey. The plan backfired as Pato Zambrano defeated Konan Big in a Luchas de Apuesta match on August 1, 2004. wrestling this time as The Latin Fury, he defeated The Heartbreaker. As a result, he became a face and teamed with Misterio to fight the nWo. Konnan was teamed with Rikishi and lost to Cibernetico and La Parka by disqualification. [2][26] Konnan did not comply with the stipulations of the match and returned to defeat Roberts in a hair versus hair match at Triplemanía II on May 27, 1994 in Tijuana. After making his debut for UWA, Konnan wrestled for the UWA Heavyweight title against El Canek at UWA 14 on January 29, 1989, and wrestled six- and eight-man tag matches intermittently for the promotion until 1994, with the likes of Dos Caras, Mascara Sagrada, and others. [15], On July 14, 2004, the 3Live Kru, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko defeated Jarrett, Ken Shamrock and the Elite Guard in a ten-man tag team match. Eugenio Torres Villarreal is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, television host and rapper best known under his ring name Konan Big. Monterrey, Nuevo Leon [15] In March 2008, Konnan sued TNA for racism and discrimination, alleging that while the company said that they would help pay for his hip replacement surgery, they did not. He had set a goal to qualify for the Junior Olympics in boxing, but he injured his shoulder in training, and was then deployed to the Middle East subsequent to the U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut on April 18, 1983. [28] He vacated the title after leaving AAA in October 1996 to form his own promotion, Promo Azteca, and the title remained inactive until 2004. In 2009 he announced that he would change his rap name to "Buffalo" due to copyright problems. During a career spanning almost three decades, he has wrestled for independent and national promotions in the United States and Mexico, and held fifteen title belts in nine promotions. He then went to Maximum Xtreme Pro Wrestling, where he lost another heavyweight title match; this time against Simon Diamond for the MXPW Heavyweight Title on August 12, 2002. [2] Konnan defeated One Man Gang for the United States Heavyweight Championship on January 29, 1996. Konnan would not return to the promotion until 1996. On February 22, 2004 Konan Big lost his own mask when he was defeated in an Apuesta match by Spiderman. [15], On June 12, 2010, in a Four Way Elimination Match for the vacant AAA Parejas Increibles Tag Team Title, Cibernetico & Konnan defeated Dr. Wagner Jr. and Silver Cain, Electroshock & Super Fly, and LA Par-K & La Parka to become the champions. [2][9][note 2] Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter then details Ashenoff's first foray in to professional wrestling: Carlos traveled to Tijuana on Wednesday, January 6, 1988, (his 24th birthday), where he was led to the dressing area and introduced to Manuel de los Santos, the promoter of the show, and who also wrestled in the main event as “Kiss”. [5], Konnan appeared on the inaugural Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) pay-per-view on June 19, 2002 in the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The two teams faced one another in a No Surrender rematch on August 14, 2005 at Sacrifice, with James appointed guest referee by Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko, and James reaffirmed his loyalty to the Kru by attacking Kip, enabling Konnan to pin him and win the match. On March 11, 2007 Konan Big and Axel lost a tag team match to El Hijo del Aníbal and El Hijo del Solitario, after which the two faced off in a match where Konan Big put the Middleweight title on the line and Axel put his mask on the line. Two days after the announcement Torres revealed that he was planning to retire from professional wrestling at the end of 2011. In the following years Konan Big would wrestle against other local celebrities such as male model Alfonso de Nigris, Regalito the Clown, and football commentator Mario Bezares. [15] He lost yet another title match upon returning to World Wrestling Council, losing by disqualification to Carly Colón in a match for the Universal Heavyweight title at WWC 29th Aniversario on September 14, 2002. After Master P left WCW, Konnan formed a stable known as The Filthy Animals. He entered the Gauntlet for the Gold match for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship,[2] but he was chokeslammed and subsequently eliminated by Malice. He first went to Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW), where he took part in a tournament for the then-vacant XPW Television title on August 25, 2001. [2] He also wrestled at an event co-promoted by ECW and the AAA in Chicago, Illinois. [57], On November 17, 2020, Konnan returned to TNT for the first time in two decades when he appeared on an episode of AEW Dynamite. November 23, 2020 Monday Night RAW results, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración alumni, https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Konan_Big?oldid=1720042, Zambrano is not a wrestler and Konan Big never had his hair cut after thematch, Three way match that also included Pancho Tequila, Triangle match that also include Diluvio Negro I, FILL Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time). He defeated Johnny Webb and Vic Grimes in the first and second rounds, respectively, and then lost the final to Kaos. [15], On July 3, 2011, Konnan, together with El Canek and El Rayo de Jalisco Jr, defeated Los Hermanos Dinamita (Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000, and Universo 2000) by disqualification at International Wrestling Revolution Group's Festival De Las Mascaras 2011 at Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan de Juarez, Estado de Mexico, Mexico. In 1981 (when he graduated a year early from Miami Senior High School), he was arrested and charged as a juvenile with credit card theft and motorcycle theft. He soon became the leader of the stable, which was active through 2009. [46] He was also very critical of WWE on Twitter[47] regarding Alberto Del Rio's release from WWE for "unprofessional conduct regarding an alleged racist joke made by a WWE employee[48] and a concurrent contract dispute involving Rey Mysterio where WWE extended Mysterio's contract without permission.[49]. On March 20, 2015, Konnan was ringside at a show organized by the independent promotion The Crash, in Tijuana, Mexico, when El Hijo del Perro Aguayo died in a freak accident during a match. Der Name bezieht sich auf das Gewicht von maximal 105 kg (Cruisergewicht) wobei im Wrestling Gewichtsangaben nicht immer zutreffen müssen. Konnan's team lost the match. Konnan and Kidman defeated Harlem Heat for the title the next night on Nitro,[2] but lost to Harris Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) on November 22, 1999.[33]. On June 24, 2006, Konnan participated in the first lucha libre event in San Diego. [15], The next day, when he appeared at a WWF Superstars taping in Worcester, Massachusetts against The Mercenary, he was renamed El Relámpago. As he was becoming more popular in Mexico, he was not as focused on making it in America. Throughout early 2005, the Kru feuded with Michael Shane and Kazarian, Team Canada and The Naturals. Outside of wrestling, Konnan is also an occasional rapper. He wrestled Steele again on November 24, 2001 in a "Loser Leaves XPW" match at XPW Revolution at Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. [38] Konnan gave several interviews about the drug abuse problem in pro wrestling around that time, most notably to the New York Daily News, which indicated that Konnan believed his "hip degenerated after years of steroid abuse and the physical toll of his sport, and...painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs ruined [his] kidney. Ashenoff returned to San Diego, and received an honorable discharge. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. During his first stint in the nWo, Konnan feuded with the Luchadores whom he had brought to WCW. Throughout May and June 2003, Konnan began teaming with B.G. The amount of work was incredible. [2] The stable feuded with Jerry Lynn until April 2, 2003, when Lynn claimed that he had been heavily influenced by lucha libre and that he respected his Mexican opponents, thus earning the friendship of Konnan.[5]. Hair match against Vampiro Canadiense. Eugenio Torres Villarreal (born July 13, 1974) is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, television host, singer and comedian best known under his ring name Konan Big. In September 2014, Konnan was announced as one of the AAA wrestlers to star in the El Rey network's new television series Lucha Underground. He has also worked as a manager, color commentator, booker, and creative consultant, primarily for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). [2] Konnan and Killings feuded with The Outlaw and "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown, with James's loyalties divided. Mr. Lince Konnan and Killings became increasingly frustrated, at one point referring to themselves as the "2Live Kru". [45] Konnan wrestled what appears to be his final match to date on September 15, 2013, in a six-man tag match. The Kru later feuded with Jarrett's mercenaries, The Elite Guard (Chad Collyer, Hotstuff Hernandez, and Onyx). [15] During his reign, he continued to defend his IWAS and AAA Heavyweight Championships in Mexico (these championships were billed as a "Mexican Heavyweight Title" wherever Konnan wore one or the other to a WCW ring). Spanish color commentator. [2], Later in 1994, Konnan began a storyline where he betrayed his tag team partner, Perro Aguayo, and formed a heel alliance known as Los Gringos Locos with Eddie Guerrero, Art Barr and Madonna's Boyfriend. He and his clients engaged in a feud with MLW World Heavyweight Champion Low Ki. on June 9, 1991 by disqualification. In that same interview, he teased the then-upcoming deal that would lead to Lucha Underground. [25], Back in AAA, following interference from Jake Roberts, Konnan lost a two out of three falls retirement match by count-out to Caras at Triplemanía I on April 30, 1993 in front of 48,000 fans in Mexico City, setting the all-time attendance record for a Mexican wrestling event. He should have been on his own. According to Kevin Sullivan (the originator of the stable), speaking in a retrospective interview in July 2016, Konnan "didn’t fit in The Dungeon of Doom. He then wrestled a match with Damian Steele on October 13, 2001. He chose the latter, joining the United States Navy. He would win two further matches against Gangrel during his time at the promotion, but his singles record was generally poor: he lost in the first round of the WWA Heavyweight Championship title in a dog collar match against Road Dogg on October 26, 2001, and lost three tables matches against Norman Smiley on December 8, 9, and 11, 2001. Konnan also made an appearance at San Diego Comic Con.[61]. 2004. On his 24th birthday, he had his official debut match at the Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana....within 14 months, he had already won his first mask versus, Konnan defended the title with either James or Killings under the, This was a triangle match that also included. [9] By 1984, the Cape Cod was rotated out of the Persian Gulf. "[39] He would reiterate the issue on his podcast some years later[40] He successfully underwent kidney transplant surgery on July 23, 2007.[41]. He was also involved in the creation of Lucha Underground, where he was supposed to serve as a writer and producer, but ended up in an on-camera role as manager to Prince Puma throughout the first season. When Richard formally adopted Carlos, he listed Carlos’ legal name as Charles Ashenoff. He is known throughout Mexico for wrestling against various local celebrities. Debut Konnan was inactive throughout early 2000, as he was suspended for three months by Bill Busch after requesting his release from WCW, unhappy with the way he was being used. In 1992, Konnan, along with several other EMLL wrestlers, joined Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). [14], In the early part of his career, he wrestled for many different promotions. He compared asking a luchador to remove their mask to "going to Japan and telling the Japanese they have to eat with a fork instead of chopsticks. 25 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the, Ranked No. On the November 30, 1998 episode of Nitro, Konnan defeated Chris Jericho for the World Television Championship. Conan the Barbarian El Centurión El Relámpago K-Dogg Konan Konnan ... (Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis, and Mysterio). He and Mysterio, representing the Filthy Animals, defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) for the WCW World Tag Team Championship on October 18, 1999. Finally they will be able to see the lucha libre that they watch on television live here a few minutes from their home.”[37], In early 2007, Konnan underwent hip replacement surgery, and his appearances in TNA from then on saw him frequently using a wheelchair. Torres competes primarily in the Monterrey -based Federación Internacional de Lucha Libre (FILL)) and in the Independent circuit in northern Mexico. Creo que se llama chic o algo asi pero no encuento nada en San Google, si pueden porner telefono, web o direccion del negocio, pues mejor. Throughout 2000, the Filthy Animals feuded with other stables, including The Misfits In Action, The Natural Born Thrillers and Team Canada. [15], After a no-contest match against Sandman on January 12, 2002 at XPW New Year's Revolution 2, Konnan then went to World Wrestling Council, where he won the World Wrestling Council World Tag Team Championship with Carly Colón, defeating Thunder and Lightning on May 26, 2002. [18] Konnan returned again on January 7, 1992 at a WWF Superstars taping in Daytona Beach, FL. He is also the host of a television show named Noches de Futbol ("Nights of Football"). Torres competes primarily in the Monterrey-based Federación Internacional de Lucha Libre (FILL) as well as make occasional appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). Konnan also claimed that TNA helped pay for Scott Steiner's operation, but did not pay for Ron Killings's surgery from around the same time. [16] He then won a televised match on WCW Power Hour against Chuck Coates on January 19, 1991. [15] Konnan joined Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (EMLL) later that year. jejjjejjje He also created The 3Live Kru for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in the early 2000s and later the Latin American Xchange (LAX) stable there as well. Konan Big [2] In the course of the match, Konnan attacked both B.G. and Kip to "take care of their own business". [43] However, he returned to the promotion on April 15, announcing that he was once again becoming an in-ring performer. [27] Konnan defeated Killer on February 2, 1996 in Querétaro to become the first ever AAA Heavyweight Champion. [2] They were scheduled to defend the titles against Harlem Heat in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 24, 1999 at Halloween Havoc, but on the night of the event Mysterio was announced as being injured. (Spanish Announce Team). He also wrestled a tag match teamed with Norman Smiley for MXPW in September 2003. He used Konnan El Barbaro with EMLL as well. [5] He is currently signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Impact Wrestling. [17] Konnan was given an outfit (purchased by the WWF at the cost of $13,000) bedecked with circuitry and a pyrotechnic gun that shot sparkles into the crowd. In 2006 he also gained a measure of revenge on Pato Zambrano when he shaved Zambrano's hair off after defeating him in an Apuesta match. Last edited on 25 November 2020, at 01:20, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "KONNAN Talks AEW, WWE, Impact Wrestling, Lucha Libre & More! Following a heated argument between the still skeptical Konnan and B.G., both Killings and Konnan gave their assent, and the "'4Live Kru" was born. He then took part in a Mixed Five-on-four Handicap Match on August 7, 2011 where the team of Dr. Wagner Jr., Electroshock, El Elegido & El Zorro defeated Konnan, Chessman, Jennifer Blake, Mini Psicosis & Nicho el Millonario as part of a telethon benefit show in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. "[22], Konnan spent several months feuding with Disco Inferno,[2] and then he began a rivalry with Stevie Ray. [2] Shortening his ring name to simply "Konnan", he feuded with Cien Caras. In 2007 Konan Big defeated Axel El Niete del Santo ("The Grandson of Santo) to win the FILL World Middleweight Championship. {INTERVIEW}", "Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame/Founded by Dave Meltzer - Konnan", "Lucha Underground's Konnan discusses his time with the US Navy, working with Kevin Sullivan and his experience with Lucha Underground", "Hacking into the mystery of Max Moon with the legendary Konnan. The championship was held by all three members of the Kru,[2] until January 28, 2004, when they were defeated by Kevin Northcutt and Legend in Nashville.