Tom Zenk

Thomas Erwin Zenk (November 30, 1958 – December 9, 2017) was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987, American Wrestling Association (AWA) 1988 to 1989 and with World Championship Wrestling from 1989 to 1994, as well for his tours of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.[1][6]

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 deathAtherosclerosis and cardiomegaly[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]

Early life

Zenk was born in Golden Valley, Minnesota.[2] He attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. His 1976 graduating class included fellow future professional wrestlers Brady Boone, Barry Darsow, Curt Hennig, Nikita Koloff, and Rick Rude.[7][9][10][11] He attended the University of Minnesota, where he majored in speech communications.[2][5]

Bodybuilding career

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

Early career (1984–1986)

Zenk was introduced to professional wrestling by Road Warrior Animal, who he met at a bodybuilding contest.[7] He was trained to wrestle by Brad Rheingans and Eddie Sharkey.[5] He debuted in early 1984 with Mid-South Wrestling in Louisiana. In mid-1984, Zenk joined the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association, where he performed as an undercard wrestler until September 1985.[8] He was named Rookie of the Year for 1984 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, tying with Jushin Liger.[12]

In October 1985, Zenk joined the Portland, Oregon-based Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion, where he received a push.[8][12] In December 1985, he and Scott Doring won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship. They lost the Championship to Bobby Jaggers and Rip Oliver the following month.[13] In the same month, Zenk defeated Jaggers for the NWA 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 the Montreal-based Lutte Internationale promotion in Canada, where he won the Canadian International Tag Team Championship with Dan Kroffat.[8][15]

World Wrestling Federation (1986–1987)

In October 1986, Zenk and Martel were signed by the World Wrestling Federation.[16][17][18] They teamed together as The Can-Am Connection. In the opening bout of WrestleMania III on March 29, 1987, The Can-Am Connection defeated Don Muraco and Bob Orton, Jr.[19]

The Can-Am Connection were planned to become the WWF's top face tag team and to win the WWF 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)

In November and December 1986, Zenk and Rick Martel toured Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling, competing in the annual Real 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 with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).

American Wrestling Association (1988, 1989)

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 the breakfast cereal manufacturer Kellogg's for a sales conference in which Kelloggs-themed characters faced characters themed after General Mills, Kellogg's' main competitor. In the main event, Zenk and Greg Gagne (wrestling as "The Sales And Marketing Team") defeated Pat Tanaka and Paul 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 The ESPN Network Television, as afternoon time-slot re-runs.

On February 7, 1989, Zenk competed in a 20-man battle royal for the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 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)

While touring with All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1989, Zenk was signed to a two year contract with World Championship Wrestling by president Jim Herd.[7] He debuted at Fall Brawl '89 in September 1989 under the ring name "The Z-Man", defeating The Cuban Assassin.[2]

In 1990, Zenk formed a tag team with Brian Pillman. In February 1990, they won the vacant NWA United States Tag Team Championship, defeating The Fabulous Freebirds in the finals of a tournament. They went on to feud with The 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 with Arn Anderson over the World 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 Rhodes and Big Josh feuded with The York Foundation and The Fabulous Freebirds over the World 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.

At Halloween Havoc 1991, Zenk lost to the debuting WCW Phantom.[25]

In October 1992 he also worked for New Japan Pro-Wrestling while under contract with WCW teaming with Jim Neidhart.

In 1993, Zenk teamed with Ricky Steamboat as "Dos Hombres" subbing for Shane Douglas, but was announced as Douglas.[26]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1994)

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

Late career (1994–1996)

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

Death

Zenk died in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on December 9, 2017, at the age of 59, from atherosclerosis and cardiomegaly.[3][4] He was interred at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Carver, Minnesota.

Championships and accomplishments
  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
  1. John Grasso (2014). Historical Dictionary of Wrestling. Scarecrow Press. p. 370. ISBN 978-0-8108-7926-3.
  2. Kris Pope (October 4, 1989). "Z-Man Settles in with NWA". Twin Cities Wrestling Update. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  3. "Obituary for Thomas Erwin Zenk". Star Tribune. January 7, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  4. Larry Csonka (February 23, 2018). "Tom Zenk's Cause of Death Revealed". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  5. Tim Hornbaker (2017). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Sports Publishing. p. 1105. ISBN 978-1-61321-875-4.
  6. Dave Meltzer (1986). The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling. Wrestling Observer. p. 136.
  7. Kari Williams. "Tom Zenk, of Can-Am Connection, dies at 59". Canoe.com. Postmedia Network.
  8. Philip Kreikenbohm. "Tom Zenk - Career". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  9. Scott Keith (2008). Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse. Kensington Books. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-8065-3562-3.
  10. Steven Johnson; Greg Oliver (2010). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-55490-284-2.
  11. Dave Meltzer; Bret Hart (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-58261-817-3.
  12. Dave Meltzer (December 17, 2017). "Tom Zenk passes away at 59 years old". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  13. Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 315–317. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 317–320. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  15. "International Wrestling International Tag Team Title [Québéc]". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved June 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. ISBN 978-1-77090-269-5.
  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. ISBN 978-1-77090-296-1.
  19. Brian Shields (2010). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. Simon & Schuster. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-4516-0467-2.
  20. "Real Word Tag League 1986". PuroLove.com. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  21. Art O'Donnell (March 15, 2019). "Induction: Battle of the Breakfast Cereal - a total® debacle". WrestleCrap. Retrieved July 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. ISBN 0-9698161-1-1.
  23. Scott Keith (1 November 2008). Dungeon of Death:: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse. Kensington Books. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-8065-3562-3.
  24. Scott E. Williams (2006). Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW. Sports Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-59670-021-5.
  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. ISBN 978-1-77090-642-6.
  26. Harris M. Lentz III (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland & Company. p. 331. ISBN 978-1-4766-0505-0.
  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. ISBN 0-9698161-1-1.
  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. ISBN 0-9698161-1-1.
  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. ISBN 0-9698161-1-1.
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