Konnan Says WWE Has Given Wrestlers In Mexico A Different Lifestyle With Better Pay

In April, WWE announced they were purchasing Lucha Libre AAA. The announcement was made as part of WrestleMania weekend, and the two brands have been integrated in the ensuing months.

Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Konnan explained how WWE has boosted the scene in Mexico for AAA wrestlers.

“Rob Viper recommended Komander to me years ago. I saw him and he was very green and raw. I brought him to AAA and we started to cultivate him. Now he’s in AEW making more money than he’s ever made, and he was crying. He was crying because if you saw where he came from, it would make you cry. He comes from poverty. All these guys come from poverty. Maybe second-generation guys don’t, but all these guys, [WWE] gives them a different lifestyle, better hotels, better transportation. Mexico is rough. That ain’t for the weak stomach. That is a rough place to wrestle. The rings are hard. Security concerns. A lot of people who aren’t professional. A lot of times the transportation is not the best. To see them be able to help their family and live a better lifestyle makes me really happy,” said Konnan

When Denise mentioned that there is better pay across the board, Konnan confirmed, “100%.” 

Asked how he thinks the better lifestyle will change the landscape of lucha libre in Mexico, Konnan replied, “I think the main thing it’s going to change is that a lot of the Mexican wrestlers, they’re not motivated because they’re not getting paid that much. Alberto Del Rio was motivated because this was his last chance, and he came through with flying colors, to tell you the truth. A lot of these guys are not in shape, not professional, not media savvy. Once they find out what these guys are making, they’ll get in shape, they’ll learn to be professional, and they’ll become media savvy. You don’t have any idea how many times digital or media has to call me and tell me, ‘Can you tell this person to send in a video for this show we’re having?’ or ‘Can you tell the local promoter?’ I have to tell them, ‘This promotion is for you, not for me.’ You don’t have to get in your car, get gas, and park somewhere. It’s from your phone. How lazy can you be? WWE, all those wrestlers are media savvy. It’ll be more competition across the board because everybody wants to go there and make money and get merch money.”

AAA and WWE will present Worlds Collide on September 12th from Las Vegas.

Elsewhere during the interview, Konnan commented on Nick Khan’s speech at AAA x WWE TripleMania. You can find his comments here.

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