Tom Zenk

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Tom Zenk
Statistics
Ring name(s) Tom Zenk
Z-Man
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight 240 lb (110 kg/17 st)
Born November 30, 1958 (1958-11-30) (age 49)
Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S.
Billed from 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.

Contents

[edit] Career

Tom Zenk attended High School with other pro wrestlers Nikita Koloff, Brady Boone, Curt Hennig, Richard Rood, better known by his wrestling name of 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.

Thomas Erwin Zenk got his first taste of wrestling stardom when he went to the World Wrestling Federation with Richard Vigneault, better known as the wrestler 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. Thomas Erwin 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. Thomas Erwin Zenk also said Richard Vigneault tried to get him to marry his sister as a way to keep him loyal to the wrestling partnership.

He reappeared in the American Wrestling Association in early 1989 and was the last man eliminated by Lawrence Whistler, better known as the wrestler 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 Thomas Erwin 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 Martin Lunde, known commonly as Arn Anderson over the TV Title. Later that year, he feuded with the York Foundation and the Fabulous Freebirds.

Zenk left WCW in early 1994 and finished his career in the independents in 1996. Now retired from wrestling, Zenk is currently working for an international distribution firm.

[edit] Controversy

In 1999, Thomas Erwin 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.

[edit] In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • Lutte Internationale

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

[edit] External links

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