Thomas (Tom) Edward Zenk (Born: November 30, 1958) is a former American professional wrestler, also known by Tom Zenk and his nickname Z-Man.
| Thomas Zenk | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 30, 1958 Robbinsdale, Minnesota |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Tom Zenk Z-Man |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Trained by | Eddie Sharkey |
| Debut | 1984 |
| Retired | 1996 |
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 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 Fabulous Freebirds and the Midnight Express version of Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane.
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 only $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. Zenk's opinion of Ole was venomous to say the least, as he accused Ole of sabotaging the careers of countless up and coming wrestlers (including himself, Brian Pillman, and then rookie Steve Austin) out of spite for his own failed career and the low pay that he received as booker.
One of his most controversial statements toward Ole, was a story he told where Ole Anderson once proclaimed that he would perform oral sex on men if he could be paid the same amount of money as most of the wrestlers working for WCW at the time.
He also dished out a good amount of venom at Dusty Rhodes, claiming he used wrestlers like himself, Brian Pillman, and others to put his son Dustin Rhodes over and then burying them after they had outlived their usefulness. Zenk claimed he did this because of nepotism, and quoting in Rhodes' supposed words, "What did their daddies ever do for the business?".
Zenk's rantings caused him to gain a new audience amongst many wrestling fans on the internet. Capitalizing on this newfound interest in him, Zenk began a weekly column on his personal website that were filled with both insight towards the world of professional wrestling and a general loathing of the current state of wrestling, most notably WWE, and an incestuous relationship between WWE owner Vince McMahon, his daughter and head WWE writer Stephanie McMahon, and top wrestler Triple H. After two years of writing, the website was shut down after WWE threatened to sue Zenk for the columns. Ultimately, Zenk was forced to remove his columns from his website which reopened several months later.
Wrestling facts
Finishing and signature moves
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling Alliance
- National
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Brian Pillman
- Regional
- NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Scott Doring
- WCW World Television Championship (1 time)
- WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (1 time) - with Dustin Rhodes & Big Josh
- Other Titles
- Canadian International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dan Kroffat
- PWIranked him # 343 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- 1984 Rookie of the Year (tied with Jushin Liger)