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Tom Zenk

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Tom Zenk
Birth nameThomas Erwin Zenk[1]
Born(1958-11-30)November 30, 1958
Golden Valley, Minnesota,U.S.[2]
DiedDecember 9, 2017(2017-12-09)(aged 59)[3]
Robbinsdale, Minnesota,U.S.[3]
Cause of deathAtherosclerosisandcardiomegaly[4]
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota[5]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tom Zenk[2]
The Z-Man[2]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[5]
Billed weight230 lb (100 kg; 16 st)[5]
Billed fromMinneapolis, Minnesota[6]
Trained byBrad Rheingans[5]
Eddie Sharkey[5][7]
DebutFebruary 1984[8]
RetiredOctober 1996[8]

Thomas Erwin Zenk(November 30, 1958 – December 9, 2017) was an Americanprofessional wrestlerandbodybuilder.He was best known for his appearances with theWorld Wrestling Federationfrom 1986 to 1987,American Wrestling Association(AWA) 1988 to 1989 and withWorld Championship Wrestlingfrom 1989 to 1994, as well for his tours of Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling.[1][6]

Early life[edit]

Zenk was born inGolden Valley, Minnesota.[2]He attended Robbinsdale High School inRobbinsdale, Minnesota.His 1976 graduating class included fellow future professional wrestlersBrady Boone,Barry Darsow,Curt Hennig,Nikita Koloff,andRick Rude.[7][9][10][11]He attended theUniversity of Minnesota,where he majored in speech communications.[2][5]

Bodybuilding career[edit]

Zenk competed as a bodybuilder. In October 1980, he competed in the "Mr. North Country" competition, placing third. In July 1981, he participated in the "Mr. Minnesota" competition, winning championships in the overall, heavyweight, and "most muscular" divisions.[7]

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Early career (1984–1986)[edit]

Zenk was introduced to professional wrestling byRoad Warrior Animal,who he met at a bodybuilding contest.[7]He was trained to wrestle byBrad RheingansandEddie Sharkey.[5]He debuted in early 1984 withMid-South WrestlinginLouisiana.In mid-1984, Zenk joined theMinneapolis, Minnesota-basedAmerican Wrestling Association,where he performed as an undercard wrestler until September 1985.[8]He was namedRookie of the Yearfor 1984 by theWrestling Observer Newsletter,tying withJushin Liger.[12]

In October 1985, Zenk joined thePortland, Oregon-basedPacific Northwest Wrestlingpromotion, where he received apush.[8][12]In December 1985, he and Scott Doring won theNWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship.They lost the Championship toBobby JaggersandRip Oliverthe following month.[13]In the same month, Zenk defeated Jaggers for theNWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship.He held the Championship until March 1986, when Jaggers regained it.[14]Between May 1985 and October 1986, Zenk also wrestled intermittently with theMontreal-basedLutte Internationalepromotion in Canada, where he won theCanadian International Tag Team ChampionshipwithDan Kroffat.[8][15]

World Wrestling Federation (1986–1987)[edit]

In October 1986, Zenk and Martel were signed by theWorld Wrestling Federation.[16][17][18]Theyteamedtogether as TheCan-Am Connection.In the opening bout ofWrestleMania IIIon March 29, 1987, The Can-Am Connection defeatedDon MuracoandBob Orton, Jr.[19]

The Can-Am Connection were planned to become the WWF's topfacetag team and to win theWWF World Tag Team Championship,but in mid-1987 Zenk resigned from the WWF due to a pay dispute.[12]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1986–1989)[edit]

In November and December 1986, Zenk andRick Marteltoured Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling,competing in the annualReal World Tag League.[8]He and Martel received the World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award.[20]

Between 1987 and 1989, Zenk made multiple tours of Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling(AJPW).

American Wrestling Association (1988, 1989)[edit]

Zenk returned to the American Wrestling Association to wrestle a handful of matches in early 1988. He returned again one year later. On May 1, 1988, Zenk took part in the "Battle of Breakfast Cereal", a show recorded for thebreakfast cerealmanufacturerKellogg'sfor a sales conference in which Kelloggs-themed characters faced characters themed afterGeneral Mills,Kellogg's' main competitor. In the main event, Zenk andGreg Gagne(wrestling as "The Sales And Marketing Team" ) defeatedPat TanakaandPaul Diamond(wrestling as "The Mills Brothers" ).[21]Zenk left the AWA once more later that month.[8]This era of The AWA (1985 to 1990) was seen for many years onward, appearing on TheESPNNetwork Television, as afternoon time-slot re-runs.

On February 7, 1989, Zenk competed in a 20-manbattle royalfor the vacantAWA World Heavyweight Championshipin which he was the last man eliminated by the winner,Larry Zbyszko.[22]He challenged Zbyszko in several return matches before moving to WCW.

World Championship Wrestling (1989–1994)[edit]

While touring with All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1989, Zenk was signed to a two-year contract withWorld Championship Wrestlingby presidentJim Herd.[7]He debuted at Fall Brawl '89 in September 1989 under thering name"The Z-Man", defeatingThe Cuban Assassin.[2]

In 1990, Zenk formed a tag team withBrian Pillman.In February 1990, they won the vacantNWA United States Tag Team Championship,defeatingThe Fabulous Freebirdsin the finals of a tournament. They went on to feud withThe Midnight Express,who won the Championship from them in May 1990.[23][24]

During this time, Zenk tore a muscle while weightlifting and took several months off to recover. He appeared more slender upon returning. Z-Man then feuded withArn Andersonover theWorld Television Championship,eventually winning the title. When the promotion changed its name to World Championship Wrestling in 1991, Z-Man officially became the final NWA World Television Champion and the first WCW World Television Champion. He re-lost the title to Anderson on January 7, 1991. Later that year, Z-Man,Dustin RhodesandBig Joshfeuded withThe York Foundationand The Fabulous Freebirds over theWorld Six-Man Tag Team Championship.Z-Man, Rhodes and Josh won the title from the Freebirds in August, and lost it to The York Foundation in October.

AtHalloween Havoc 1991,Zenk lost to the debutingWCW Phantom(Who was revealed after the match to be "Ravishing" Rick Rude).[25]

In October 1992 he also worked forNew Japan Pro-Wrestlingwhile under contract with WCW teaming withJim Neidhart.

In 1993, Zenk teamed withRicky Steamboatas "Dos Hombres" subbing forShane Douglas,but was announced as Douglas.[26]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1994)[edit]

After Zenk's release from WCW in May 1994, he participated inAll Japan Pro Wrestling's (AJPW) Summer Action tour that July, and their Giant Series tour in September.

Late career (1994–1996)[edit]

After WCW and All Japan, Zenk worked in his home state Minnesota where he worked in the independent circuit. In August 1996, Zenk joined theAmerican Wrestling Federation(AWF), where he ultimately finished his career a few months later, in October.

Death[edit]

Zenk died inRobbinsdale, Minnesota,on December 9, 2017, at the age of 59, fromatherosclerosisandcardiomegaly.[3][4]He was interred at St. Nicholas Cemetery inCarver, Minnesota.

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

  1. ^The title's name was changed to the WCW World Television Championship due to WCW withdrawing from the NWA after Zenk won it, technically making him the last World Television Champion under the NWA banner and the first under the WCW banner.

References[edit]

  1. ^abJohn Grasso (2014).Historical Dictionary of Wrestling.Scarecrow Press.p. 370.ISBN978-0-8108-7926-3.
  2. ^abcdefKris Pope (October 4, 1989)."Z-Man Settles in with NWA".Twin Cities Wrestling Update.RetrievedJuly 8,2019.
  3. ^abc"Obituary for Thomas Erwin Zenk".Star Tribune.January 7, 2018.RetrievedJuly 8,2019.
  4. ^abLarry Csonka (February 23, 2018)."Tom Zenk's Cause of Death Revealed".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  5. ^abcdefgTim Hornbaker (2017).Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers.Sports Publishing.p. 1105.ISBN978-1-61321-875-4.
  6. ^abDave Meltzer(1986).The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling.Wrestling Observer.p. 136.
  7. ^abcdeKari Williams."Tom Zenk, of Can-Am Connection, dies at 59".Canoe.com.Postmedia Network.Archived fromthe originalon December 22, 2017.
  8. ^abcdefgPhilip Kreikenbohm."Tom Zenk - Career".Cagematch.net.RetrievedJuly 8,2019.
  9. ^Scott Keith (2008).Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse.Kensington Books.p. 165.ISBN978-0-8065-3562-3.
  10. ^Steven Johnson; Greg Oliver (2010).The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels.ECW Press.p. 207.ISBN978-1-55490-284-2.
  11. ^Dave Meltzer;Bret Hart(2004).Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers.Sports Publishing.p. 52.ISBN978-1-58261-817-3.
  12. ^abcdDave Meltzer(December 17, 2017)."Tom Zenk passes away at 59 years old".F4WOnline.com.RetrievedJuly 8,2019.
  13. ^abRoyal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. pp. 315–317.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  14. ^abRoyal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. pp. 317–320.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  15. ^ab"International Wrestling International Tag Team Title [Québéc]".Wrestling-Titles.com.RetrievedJune 20,2015.
  16. ^Dave Meltzer(July 2003).Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  17. ^Steven Johnson; Greg Oliver; Mike Mooneyham (2013).The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons.ECW Press.p. 634.ISBN978-1-77090-269-5.
  18. ^Pat Laprade; Bertrand Hébert (2013).Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling.ECW Press.p. 1992.ISBN978-1-77090-296-1.
  19. ^Brian Shields (2010).Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s.Simon & Schuster.p. 89.ISBN978-1-4516-0467-2.
  20. ^ab"Real Word Tag League 1986".PuroLove.com.RetrievedJuly 8,2019.
  21. ^Art O'Donnell (March 15, 2019)."Induction: Battle of the Breakfast Cereal - a total® debacle".WrestleCrap.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
  22. ^Gary Will; Royal Duncan (1994). "United States: 19th century & widely defended titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW: AWA World Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(3 ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 23.ISBN0-9698161-1-1.
  23. ^abScott Keith (1 November 2008).Dungeon of Death:: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse.Kensington Books.p. 71.ISBN978-0-8065-3562-3.
  24. ^Scott E. Williams (2006).Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW.Sports Publishing.p. 85.ISBN978-1-59670-021-5.
  25. ^R. D. Reynolds;Bryan Alvarez (1 October 2014).The Death of WCW: 10th Anniversary Edition of the Bestselling Classic - Revised and Expanded.ECW Press.p. 48.ISBN978-1-77090-642-6.
  26. ^Harris M. Lentz III (2015).Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.McFarland & Company.p. 331.ISBN978-1-4766-0505-0.
  27. ^Gary Will; Royal Duncan (1994). "United States: 19th century & widely defended titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW: NWA Television Title".Wrestling Title Histories(3 ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 23.ISBN0-9698161-1-1.
  28. ^Gary Will; Royal Duncan (1994). "United States: 19th century & widely defended titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW: NWA United States Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(3 ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 23.ISBN0-9698161-1-1.
  29. ^Gary Will; Royal Duncan (1994). "United States: 19th century & widely defended titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW: WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(3 ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 23.ISBN0-9698161-1-1.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Zenk&oldid=1234294476"