Tom Zenk
Tom Zenk  |
|
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Tom Zenk Z-Man |
| Billed height | ft in ( m) |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Born | November 30 1958 Robbinsdale, Minnesota  |
| Trained by | Eddie Sharkey Brad Rheingans |
| Debut | 1984 |
| Retired | 1996 |
Tom Zenk (born Thomas Erwin Zenk on November 30, 1958 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota) is a former American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.
Career
Tom Zenk attended High School with other pro wrestlers Nikita Koloff, Brady Boone, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, John Nord, and Barry Darsow. He started wrestling in 1984 in the Pacific Northwest territory where he feuded with Bobby Jaggers and occasionally appeared in the AWA during the mid 1980s.
Zenk got his first taste of wrestling stardom when he went to the World Wrestling Federation with Rick Martel as the "Can-Am Connection" in late 1986. The pair faced, and defeated, the tag team of Don Muraco and Bob Orton, Jr. in the opening bout of WrestleMania III in March 1987. The tandem was so popular that they were being built up as the successors to the Hart Foundation as the next WWF World Tag Team Champions, but Zenk would abruptly leave the promotion, allegedly the result of a contract dispute. Zenk elaborated on the incident in a radio interview saying that he felt betrayed by Martel as he went behind Zenk's back and used his influence as a former AWA Champion to get a better deal for himself while not doing anything to sweeten Zenk's deal. Zenk also said Martel tried to get him to marry his sister as a way to keep him loyal to the partnership. He has never married.
He reappeared in the American Wrestling Association in early 1989 and was the last man eliminated by Larry Zbyszko in the battle royal to fill the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Title.
After receiving several shots at the AWA title, he went to wrestle for the NWA in mid 1989 and was billed as the "Z-Man". He soon formed a tag team with Brian Pillman. They won the United States Tag Team Titles, and feuded with the Midnight Express (the version with Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) and the Fabulous Freebirds.
It was during this time that Zenk tore a muscle while weightlifting and had to take several months off to recover. His physical appearance was quite different upon returning, still muscular, but more slender than before.
When the promotion changed its name to World Championship Wrestling in 1991, he was feuding with Arn Anderson over the TV Title. Later that year, he feuded with the York Foundation and the Fabulous Freebirds.
Zenk left WCW in early 1993 and finished his career in the independents in 1996. Now retired from wrestling, Zenk is currently working for an international distribution firm.
Controversy
In 1999, Tom Zenk gave a series of interviews on the radio and on the Internet where he discussed behind-the-scenes stories from his time in the WWF (even claiming he was paid $50 per television appearance) and WCW, releasing years of pent up frustrations about the politics of wrestling that he dealt with as an active wrestler. While heavily critical of the WWF and Vince McMahon, most of Zenk's venom went toward former wrestler and WCW booker Ole Anderson.
Wrestling facts
Finishing and signature moves
Championships and accomplishments
- Lutte Internationale
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- NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Scott Doring
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- PWI ranked him # 343 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
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- Rookie of the Year award in 1984 - tied with Jushin Liger
1Zenk and Pillman won the championship after Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was sold by Jim Crockett, Jr. to Ted Turner in 1988 and after it was renamed World Championship Wrestling. It was also before the title's name was changed to the WCW United States Tag Team Championship.
External links
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