January 1, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Konnan, UFC 66 preview

The in-ring career of Konnan, already in jeopardy since he was scheduled for hip replacement surgery this past week, may be over as doctors in Monterrey, Mexico were unable to operate on him on 12/20, as planned, due to severe kidney problems that will soon require a transplant.
When Konnan was being checked out before surgery, the doctors found his kidneys weren’t functioning properly due to an internal infection, and his system being low in antibodies to fight the infection. Doctors deemed the hip replacement surgery as too risky. He was ordered to undergo painful kidney dialysis three times a week and they were hoping it would help him enough to where they could replace his hip without risking his life with the surgery, now scheduled for late next week.
Konnan, real name Charles Ashenoff, turns 43 next week. When informed of his kidney problems, he immediately felt it was due to his long-term steroid use, but his doctors in Mexico said the kind of kidney failure he is suffering from is inconsistent with the kidney damage associated with steroids.

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Dave Meltzer
Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.