Longtime wrestling businessman and talent Konnan learned valuable lessons growing up in Miami, which he used in the professional and entertainment world.

Konnan -- who wrestled for companies such us World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment), World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action -- grew up in Miami, during the 1980s when drugs were very prevalent. In an interview with “The Roman Show,” Konnan (Charles Ashenoff) said he took what he learned from the streets and put it to good use.

“It helped me just for the simple fact that I was a hustler at a young age, and a lot of the time you have to sell yourself and not your product,” he told hosts Rodolfo Roman and the Cinematic Superstar Johnny Knockout on “The Roman Show,” a weekly sports entertainment radio program airing on the blogtalkradio network.

“I became a salesman,” Konnan said.

The Cuban-American wrestler later moved to Mexico where he worked for CMLL and AAA, two successful Lucha Libre companies. He is considered a well-known personality in the Latin American country, and during his prime, he was the Hulk Hogan of Mexico. Going full circle, he is currently employed by AAA, working on camera and behind the scenes.

Konnan said he considers himself lucky to survive tough times in Miami. After running into trouble with the law, a judge gave him a choice to join the Navy at 17-years-old or...

“You always hear any old players in the game?” said Konan who also hosts a podcast on www.mlw.com. “You always have to be watching people in your own crew. You could end up in jail or dead.”

In Mexico, he said he would make up professions just to get his foot in the door.

“When I went to Mexico, I told a guy I had done a rap record, but I had never rapped before,” he said. “A music company signed me to a contract.”

In the interview, he also said how drugs were abundant in the locker room when he wrestled. He wrestled in WCW from 1996-2001.

“Back then in that era, it was super crazy,” he said. “There was no drug testing. Everyone was making a lot of money no one was going to rock the boat by telling them get off the juice. Everyone was on the juice.”

He said the locker room was in party mood.

“When I came to Mexico, all you saw there was liquor and cocaine and that was it,” he said. “When I came to the United States, you saw liquor, cocaine, weed, mushrooms, GHB, special K, all these pills I’ve never heard of.”

The Coral Gables and Southwest high school student, who wrestled in the WWF as Max Moon, also said he remembers seeing people passing out and shaking in the locker-room and hallway. Konnan also discusses Scott Hall (Razor Ramon) and how he devised his gangster style. He also said how promotions should offer wrestlers a job, upon retirement.

Listen to the entire interview by clicking the link http://rodolforoman.com/the-roman-show-9-18-12-konnangirls-gone-dead/.