 Zenk in 1986 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Erwin Zenk[6] (1958-11-30)November 30, 1958 |
| Died | December 9, 2017(2017-12-09) (aged 59)[7] |
| Cause of death | Atherosclerosis andcardiomegaly[8] |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota[2] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Tom Zenk[1] The Z-Man[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (100 kg; 16 st)[2] |
| Billed from | Minneapolis, Minnesota[3] |
| Trained by | Brad Rheingans[2] Eddie Sharkey[2][4] |
| Debut | February 1984[5] |
| Retired | October 1996[5] |
Thomas Erwin Zenk (November 30, 1958 – December 9, 2017) was an Americanprofessional wrestler andbodybuilder. He was a babyface for his entire career[9] and was best known for his appearances with theWorld Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987, with theAmerican Wrestling Association from 1988 to 1989, and withWorld Championship Wrestling from 1989 to 1994, as well for his tours of Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling.[6][3]
Zenk was born inGolden Valley, Minnesota.[1] 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.[4][10][11][12] He attended theUniversity of Minnesota, where he majored in speech communications.[1][2]
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.[4]
Zenk was introduced to professional wrestling byRoad Warrior Animal, who he met at a bodybuilding contest.[4] He was trained to wrestle byBrad Rheingans andEddie Sharkey.[2] He debuted in early 1984 withMid-South Wrestling inLouisiana. In mid-1984, Zenk joined theMinneapolis, Minnesota-basedAmerican Wrestling Association, where he performed as an undercard wrestler until September 1985.[5] He was namedRookie of the Year for 1984 by theWrestling Observer Newsletter, tying withJushin Liger.[13]
In October 1985, Zenk joined thePortland, Oregon-basedPacific Northwest Wrestling promotion, where he received apush.[5][13] In December 1985, he and Scott Doring won theNWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship. They lost the Championship toBobby Jaggers andRip Oliver the following month.[14] In the same month, Zenk defeated Jaggers for theNWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship. He held the Championship until March 1986, when Jaggers regained it.[15] Between May 1985 and October 1986, Zenk also wrestled intermittently with theMontreal-basedLutte Internationale promotion in Canada, where he won theCanadian International Tag Team Championship withDan Kroffat.[5][16]
In October 1986, Zenk was signed by theWorld Wrestling Federation.[17][18][19] Heteamed with Rick Martel as TheCan-Am Connection. In the opening bout ofWrestleMania III on March 29, 1987, The Can-Am Connection defeatedDon Muraco andBob Orton, Jr.[20]
The Can-Am Connection were planned to become the WWF's topface tag team and to win theWWF World Tag Team Championship, but in mid-1987 Zenk resigned from the WWF due to a pay dispute.[13]
In November and December 1986, Zenk andRick Martel toured Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling, competing in the annualReal World Tag League.[5] He and Martel received the World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award.[21]
Between 1987 and 1989, Zenk made multiple tours of Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).
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 cereal manufacturerKellogg's for 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 Tanaka andPaul Diamond (wrestling as "The Mills Brothers").[22] Zenk left the AWA once more later that month.[5] This era of The AWA (1985 to 1990) was seen for many years onward, appearing on TheESPN Network Television, as afternoon time-slot re-runs.
On February 7, 1989, Zenk competed in a 20-manbattle royal for the vacantAWA World Heavyweight Championship in which he was the last man eliminated by the winner,Larry Zbyszko.[23] He challenged Zbyszko in several return matches before moving to WCW.
While touring with All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1989, Zenk was signed to a two-year contract withWorld Championship Wrestling by presidentJim Herd.[4] He debuted at Fall Brawl '89 in September 1989 under thering name "The Z-Man", defeatingThe Cuban Assassin.[1]
In 1990, Zenk formed a tag team withBrian Pillman. In February 1990, they won the vacantNWA United States Tag Team Championship, defeatingThe Fabulous Freebirds in the finals of a tournament. They went on to feud withThe Midnight Express, who won the Championship from them in May 1990.[24][25]
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 Anderson over 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 Rhodes andBig Josh feuded withThe York Foundation and 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 debuting WCW Phantom (who was revealed after the match to beRick Rude).[26]
In October 1992 he also worked forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling while under contract with WCW teaming withJim Neidhart.
In 1993, Zenk subbed forShane Douglas in the team "Dos Hombres" withRicky Steamboat, but was not acknowledged by announcers.[27]
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.
After WCW and All Japan, Zenk worked in his home stateMinnesota where he worked in theindependent circuit. In August 1996, Zenk joined theAmerican Wrestling Federation (AWF), where he ultimately finished his career a few months later, in October.
Zenk died inRobbinsdale, Minnesota, on December 9, 2017, at the age of 59, fromatherosclerosis andcardiomegaly.[7][8] He was interred at St. Nicholas Cemetery inCarver, Minnesota.
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