Konnan and Rey Mysterio had been two of the brightest stars to crossover from lucha libre to mainstream American professional wrestling.
Whereas it’s straightforward for some American wrestling followers to think about lucha libre as merely a method or a small phase of the wrestling world, it may be seen as a lot greater than that. Arising from Mexican tradition, lucha libre is its personal entity. The time period actually interprets to “free combat” and encompasses a convention of fast-paced, high-flying motion that has featured its share of sensational masked superstars and different memorable characters and variations on wrestling guidelines throughout a protracted historical past.
Two legends of lucha libre who transcended that style of wrestling and have become stars in mainstream US wrestling had been Konnan and Rey Mysterio. It’s no coincidence that they every reached such heights or had moments of intersection on display screen. Certainly, the 2 have a protracted private historical past with each other, leaving their careers and legacies within the enterprise unmistakably intertwined.
Konnan And Rey Mysterio’s Friendship Dates Again To Mysterio’s Childhood
Many followers of mainstream American wrestling first grew to become conversant in each Konnan and Rey Mysterio in WCW the place they intersected quite a few occasions throughout the Monday Night time Wars as cornerstone stars of Nitro. Their runs included working as opponents for matches like their conflict at Street Wild 1997 and as teammates as two of the important thing members of the the Filthy Animals faction. Their shared time in WCW additionally included the noteworthy milestone of Konnan being Mysterio’s tag group associate for the match wherein he misplaced his masks at SuperBrawl 9.
In a go to to the Apter Chat podcast (h/t Fightful), Mysterio mentioned solely being eleven years outdated when he met Konnan, over a decade his senior. Whereas the age hole meant that they would not naturally come collectively as associates, it is clear that that they had quick interpersonal chemistry, rooted in a love wrestling. Konnan skilled to wrestle underneath Mysterio’s uncle, and started a big-brother, little-brother type relationship—a bond neither might have anticipated would final throughout many years and show massively necessary to every man’s life and profession.
Konnan And Rey Mysterio Had A Enterprise Relationship
Konnan was recognized to have an unofficial position in WCW as a liaison and agent of kinds between Spanish talking luchadors and the formal administration construction in place for the corporate. In his interview with Invoice Apter, Mysterio credited Konnan with getting his foot within the door at WCW and for different alternatives, going as far as to say, “I owe him my life for opening doorways for me.”
Whereas Konnan was on poor phrases with WWE that didn’t precisely assist Mysterio’s profession there, it appears probably Konnan additionally performed some position in Mysterio’s option to spend one season working with Lucha Underground as nicely, regardless of having little overlap between their respective tenures with the smaller promotion. Extra broadly, although, Mysterio lauded Konnan’s efforts, “for giving me the chance and the platform to have the ability to show my type of wrestling. The truth that he believed in me at a really younger age and believes in me now, is a large blessing to have had him in my life.”
Konnan Has Perspective On Dominik Mysterio’s Profession
In an interview with Denise Salcedo for Intuition Tradition (h/t Bodyslam.internet), Konnan mentioned how completely happy it made Rey Mysterio to have his son Dominik comply with him into the enterprise. The dialogue included Dominik coaching with a variety of veterans and academics that included not solely his father, however Jay Deadly, in addition to Konnan himself in Phoenix.
Konnan was very complimentary of Dominik’s efforts, citing that every time he labored with him, it appeared the teenager had realized extra and was extra critical about his craft. Certainly, many followers have gone as far as to take a position that now, as a longtime WWE Celebrity, Dominik’s new look since his kayfabe jail stint, could also be an homage to Konnan for the superficial similarities of how he wears his bandana and flannel like Konnan did on the top of his reputation as certainly one of the breakout stars of the favored nWo Wolfpac faction in WCW.
Konnan clearly shares a particular bond with Rey Mysterio that each wrestlers who arose from the lucha libre custom communicate freely about. Their mutual respect and affection for one another is with none doubts. It’s significantly fascinating that they struck up a friendship when Mysterio was so younger, and all of the extra in order that their connection has transitioned to the subsequent technology with Konnan serving to Rey’s son alongside in his journey by the enterprise.
