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Konnan

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Charles Ashenoff
File:Konnan.jpg
BornJanuary 6, 1965
Santiago de Cuba
Miami, Florida
Tijuana
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)El Centurión
Konnan
Konnan el Barbaro
El Relámpago
Max Moon
Konan
K-Dawg
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight260 lb (118 kg)
Billed fromMexico City
Trained bySuper Astro
Negro Casas
Eddie Guerrero
Rey Misterio, Sr.
DebutJanuary 6, 1987

Charles Ashenoff (sometimes seen Hispanicized as Carlos Ashenoff; born January 6, 1965 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, resides in San Diego, California, United States), better known as Konnan, is a Cuban American professional wrestler. Ashenoff is very well-known in Mexico for his appearances with the Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, and has in the past been described as "the Mexican Hulk Hogan", reflecting his mainstream popularity. In addition, he has also wrestled for every major American promotion, including the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and, currently, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he was a founding member of the 3Live Kru.

Career

Ashenoff was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, but his family moved to the United States when he was still young. He had a troubled childhood in Miami, Florida in which he was expelled from several schools, and he later served time in prison after joining a street gang. After his incarceration was over, Ashenoff served in the United States Navy for four years. While in the Navy, he trained as a boxer, and became the Californian Middleweight Amateur Boxing Champion in 1982 and 1983.

He later moved to San Diego, California and became a bodybuilder. While living in San Diego, Ashenoff met a wrestling promoter, John Roberts, who encouraged him to train as a wrestler. Ashenoff travelled to Tijuana in Mexico and trained under several veteran luchadores alongside Psicosis, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Halloween and Damián 666. He debuted on January 6, 1987 after eight months training under a mask as El Centurión.

Ashenoff wrestled on the independent circuit before joining the Universal Wrestling Alliance, where he first began using the name Konnan. He later left the UWA, feeling that he was being held back, and joined the Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre, where he was pushed into the main event. He lost his mask in 1991 to Perro Aguayo in a mask versus hair match after the referee took the side of Aguayo. After the match, a young boy who was introduced as Ashenoff's brother entered the ring crying and handed Ashenoff his mask back, generating considerable bonhomie towards Ashenoff from the sympathetic crowd (in lucha libre, losing one's mask is a major, career shaping event).

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración

In 1992, with the EMLL plagued by corruption and the wrestlers' union fraught with embezzlement, Ashenoff and several other EMLL wrestlers joined Antonio Peña's upstart Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, where he feuded with Cien Caras. Following interference from Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Ashenoff lost a two out of three falls retirement match by count-out to Caras at TripleMania on April 30, 1993 in front of 48,000 fans in Mexico City, setting the all-time attendance record for a Mexican wrestling event. Ashenoff did not comply with the stipulations of the match, and returned to defeat Roberts in a hair versus hair match at TripleMania II on May 27, 1994 in Tijuana.

Later in 1994, Ashenoff betrayed his tag team partner, Perro Aguayo, and formed a heel stable known as Los Gringos Locos with Eddie Guerrero, Art Barr and Madonna's Boyfriend. Aguayo gained his revenge on Ashenoff by defeating him in the first, and, to date, only, AAA pay-per-view, When Worlds Collide, in a steel cage match in Los Angeles, California on November 6, 1994. By this point, Ashenoff was among the most prominent wrestlers in Mexico, and had achieved a significant degree of crossover popularity, and was often featured on Mexican television. He eventually became the AAA booker.

Ashenoff defeated Killer on February 2, 1996 in Queretaro to become the first ever AAA Heavyweight Champion. He vacated the title after leaving AAA in October 1996 to form his own promotion, Promo Azteca, and the title remained inactive until 2004. Ashenoff's Mexican wrestling career was hampered in the late-1990s by his American wrestling commitments. However, he made a return to the Mexican wrestling circuit in the 2000s.

World Wrestling Federation

Ashenoff spent several months in the World Wrestling Federation as Max Moon. The Moon character, created by Ashenoff based on a gimmick he had seen in Japan, was that of a cyborg, and Ashenoff wore an outfit (purchased by the WWF at the cost of $13,000) bedecked with circuitry, along with a pyrotechnic gun on his arm during his approach to the ring. Ashenoff left the WWF following a disagreement with WWF owner Vince McMahon, believing that he was being discriminated against. The Max Moon gimmick was subsequently given to Paul Diamond.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

After meeting Extreme Championship Wrestling booker Paul Heyman while on a wrestling tour of Singapore, Ashenoff joined ECW in 1995, and feuded with The Sandman. He appeared at November To Remember 1995 on November 18, squashing Jason, and wrestled at a event co-promoted by ECW and the AAA in Chicago, Illinois.

World Championship Wrestling

Ashenoff's first appearances with World Championship Wrestling came after Jim Barnett offered him a tryout match with Bobby Eaton. The match was well-received by WCW management, and Ashenoff was booked at StarrCade 1990: Collision Course on December 16 in the Kiel Auditorium in Saint Louis, Missouri. Teaming with his trainer and mentor, Rey Misterio, Sr., Ashenoff entered the Pat O' Connor Memorial Tag Team Tournament. He and Mysterio defeated Norman Smiley and Chris Adams in the quarter-finals, but lost to the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) in the semi-finals.

Ashenoff returned to WCW on a full-time basis in January 1996, and was largely responsible for the hiring of several prominent Mexican wrestlers by WCW, including Rey Mysterio, Jr., Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera and La Parka. After wrestling several matches under a mask, he joined the Dungeon of Doom. Ashenoff defeated The One Man Gang for the WCW United States Championship in Canton, Ohio on the January 28, 1996 episode of WCW Monday Nitro. During his reign, he continued to defend his IWAS and AAA Heavyweight Championships in Mexico. He lost the title to Ric Flair in Daytona Beach, Florida on July 7 at Bash At The Beach '96 following interference from Flair's valets, Miss Elizabeth and Woman.

The New World Order

Ashenoff joined the New World Order (nWo) on July 14, 1997, thus turning heel. When the nWo divided into two rivals factions on the May 4, 1998 episode of Nitro, Ashenoff sided with the nWo Wolfpac, led by Kevin Nash. The Wolfpac feuded with nWo Hollywood, led by Hollywood Hogan, and became 'tweeners. Ashenoff developed a increasingly hip-hop based gimmick, and was nicknamed K-Dawg. On the November 30, 1998 episode of Nitro in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ashenoff defeated Chris Jericho for the WCW World Television Championship. His reign lasted until December 28, 1998, when he lost to nWo Hollywood member Scott Steiner on Nitro in Baltimore, Maryland following interference from Buff Bagwell.

The Filthy Animals

When the two halves of the nWo reunited in January 1999, Ashenoff was thrown out of the nWo and attacked. He thus became a face, and teamed with Rey Mysterio, Jr. to fight the nWo. After feuding with nWo member Lex Luger, Ashenoff and Mysterio, Jr. were defeated by The Outsiders at SuperBrawl IX, with The Outsiders removing Mysterio's mask in the process.

Ashenoff spent several months feuding with Disco Inferno, then began a rivarly with Stevie Ray. He and Mysterio then formed an alliance with Master P and the No Limit Soldiers and fought with the West Texas Rednecks. After Master P left WCW, Ashenoff formed a stable known as the Filthy Animals. He and Mysterio, representing the Filthy Animals, defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) for the WCW World Tag Team Championships on October 18, 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the assistance of Billy Kidman and Eddie Guerrero. They were scheduled to defend the titles against Harlem Heat in the MGM Grand Hotel on October 24 at Halloween Havoc 1999, but on the night of the event Misterio was announced as being injured. The titles were then contested in a three way tag match pitting Ashenoff and Billy Kidman, representing the Filthy Animals, against Harlem Heat and the First Family (Hugh Morrus and Brian Knobbs). Harlem Heat regained the titles after Stevie Ray pinned Morrus. Ashenoff and Kidman defeated Harlem Heat for the titles the next night on Nitro in Phoenix, Arizona, but lost to Creative Control (Ron and Don Harris) on November 22 in The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Ashenoff was inactive for much of 2000, as he was suspended after requesting his release from WCW, unhappy with the way he was being used. It was rumored that he might jump to the WWF along with the Radicalz, but this did not come to pass. Shortly after returning from suspension and reforming the Filthy Animals, Ashenoff was sidelined once again, this time with a torn tricep incurred after Van Hammer threw Juvi Guerrera at him during a match and Guerrera's elbow connected with his upper arm. Throughout 2000, the Filthy Animals feuded with other stables, including the Misfits In Action, the Natural Born Thrillers and Team Canada. At WCW Greed on March 18, 2001, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome (representing Team Canada) defeated Ashenoff and Hugh Morrus in one of his last appearances with the promotion before it was sold to the WWF in March 2001.

World Wrestling Allstars

Following the sale of WCW, Ashenoff toured Australia and Europe throughout 2001 with the newly-formed World Wrestling All-Stars promotion. In addition to wrestling, Ashenoff acted as a color commentator.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Ashenoff appeared on the inaugural Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view on June 19, 2002 in the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He entered the Gauntlet for the Gold match for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but was chokeslammed and subsequently eliminated by Malice. He returned to TNA on February 12, 2003 and formed a heel stable, the Authentic Luchadores, with fellow Latino wrestlers Juventud Guerrera, Super Crazy and the Spanish Announce Team. The stable feuded with Jerry Lynn until April 2, when Lynn claimed that he had been heavily influenced by lucha libre and that he respected his Mexican opponents, thus earning the friendship of Ashenoff.

The 3Live Kru

In May and June 2003, Ashenoff began teaming with B.G. James and Ron Killings, and in July 2003 the trio formed a face stable known as the 3Live Kru. The Kru first wrestled as a unit on August 13, 2003, defeating the New Church (Sinn, Vampire Warrior and Devon Storm). On November 26, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee, the Kru defeated Simon Diamond, Johnny Swinger and Glenn Gilberti in a six man tag team match with the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships on the line. The NWA World Tag Titles were thus held by all three members of the Kru, until January 28, 2004, when they were defeated by Kevin Northcutt and Legend in Nashville.

After several abortive attempts to regain the tag titles, the Kru began supporting Ron Killings' bid to become NWA World Heavyweight Champion. On June 9, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett took part in a "3Live Kru Challenge" which saw him face Ashenoff, James and Killings in three subsequent matches. Jarrett defeated Ashenoff in a strap match and James in a "trailer park trash match" (hardcore match), but lost to Killings in a "Ghetto Justice match". The Kru would later feud with Jarrett's mercenaries, the Elite Guard (Chad Collyer, Hotstuff Hernandez and Onyx). On July 14, the 3Live Kru, Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko defeated Jarrett, Ken Shamrock and the Elite Guard in a ten man tag team match.

The Kru began feuding with Team Canada in August 2004, and at the inaugural three hour TNA pay-per-view, TNA Victory Road 2004, on November 7, 2004, in Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Ashenoff and James defeated Team Canada members Bobby Roode and "Showtime" Eric Young for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. Their reign lasted one month, with Team Canada regaining the titles in Orlando on December 5 at TNA Turning Point 2004 with the help of the injured Johnny Devine.

Throughout early-2005, the Kru feuded with Michael Shane and Kazarian, Team Canada and The Naturals. Dissention was teased after James's former tag team partner from the WWF, Billy Gunn, joined TNA as "The New Age Outlaw" and began trying to convince James to reform their highly-successful tag team, the New Age Outlaws. Ashenoff and Killings feuded with The Outlaw and "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown, with James's loyalties divided. Brown and The Outlaw, who had by now renamed himself "Kip James" as a psychological ploy, defeated Ashenoff and Killings at TNA No Surrender 2005 on July 17, with James declining to help either team. Ashenoff and Killings became increasingly frustrated, at one point referring to themselves as the "2Live Kru". The two teams faced one another in a No Surrender rematch on August 14 at TNA Sacrifice, with James appointed guest referee by Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko, and James reaffirmed his loyalty to the Kru by attacking Kip, enabling Ashenoff to pin him and win the match. The Kru, apparently undivided, celebrated together following the match.

Ashenoff teamed with Lance Hoyt in the TNA 2005 Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament, but they were defeated in the semifinals on the August 26, 2005, episode of TNA iMPACT! by Kip James and Petey Williams. Following his loss, Ashenoff complained that the other members of the Kru had failed to watch his back. Regardless, 3LK won a six-man tag team match against the Diamonds in the Rough at Unbreakable on September 11.

Over the following weeks, Kip James began assisting the 3Live Kru, and on October 23 at Bound For Glory he saved Ashenoff from a beating at the hands of Team Canada. On the November 26 episode of iMPACT!, B.G. James brought Kip James and the 3Live Kru to ringside, then asked Killings and Ashenoff whether James could join the stable. Following a heated argument between the still sceptical Ashenoff and B.G., both Killings and Ashenoff gave their assent, and the "Four Live Kru" was born.

At Turning Point 2005 4LK was in an 8-man tag match against Team Canada. Right at the turning point of the match, Ashenoff took a steel chair and hit Kip James with it. Ashenoff then yelled at Bobby Roode to make the pin. BG James then came in the ring and Ashenoff hit him with the chair too. The Truth came in the ring and yelled at Ashenoff, asking him if he was going to hit him but Ashenoff dropped the steel chair and tried to give The Truth a hug.

The Latin American Exchange

On the December 31 episode of iMPACT!, Ashenoff told B.G.'s father, Bob Armstrong, that he was a "hothead" and invited Armstrong to accompany him backstage for an apology. However, instead of apologising, Konnan led Armstrong into an ambush at the hands of Apolo and the debuting Homicide. The trio then instructed an unconscious Armstrong to tell B.G. and Kip to "take care of their own business".

In wrestling

File:KonnanFaceJam.jpg
Konnan perfoms his Facejam during an episode of TNA iMPACT!

Previous managers

Quotes

Finishing and signature moves

Championships and accomplishments

Championship succession

NWA-TNA World Tag Team Championhip
Preceded by:
- 		First (with Ron Killings) Succeeded by:
Kevin Northcutt and Joe Legend
Preceded by:
Bobby Roode and Eric Young 		Second (with B.G. James) Succeeded by:
Bobby Roode and Eric Young
WCW United States Championship
Preceded by:
The One Man Gang 		First Succeeded by:
Ric Flair
WCW World Television Championship
Preceded by:
Chris Jericho 		First Succeeded by:
Scott Steiner
WCW World Tag Team Championship
Preceded by:
Harlem Heat 		First (with Rey Mysterio, Jr.) Succeeded by:
Harlem Heat
Preceded by:
Harlem Heat 		Second (with Billy Kidman) Succeeded by:
The Harris Brothers

Trivia

On the DVD The Best There Is...The Best There Was...The Best That There Ever Will Be, Bret Hart claims that it was Konnan, not his father, Stu Hart, who originally taught him his finishing hold, the Sharpshooter.

References

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