GREENVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, OCTOBER 16, 1989

Images from Greenville News

Photographs Doral Chenoweth/Staff 

Greenville Municipal Auditorium, Oct. 16, 1989

vs Bill Irwin in one of Z-Man's first matches for NWA/WCW

 

Zenk interview after having WWF, 1987

 Interview with Ray Whebbe, Wrestling Forum, September 15, 1987

• why he left the WWF
• the need for a union
• Vince will never forgive Zenk

Yup! Zenk

 

When they use Tom Zenk right....

 

ALL JAPAN

 

Zenk vs Pillman

 

Danny Kroffat/Doug Furnas/Tom Zenk vs Genichiro Tenryu/Samson Fuyuki/Toshiaki Kawada - Mar 25, 1989

Watch here 

Tom Zenk and Rick Martel vs Tiger Mask II & Samson Fuyuki (December 6, 1986)

 

Watch here

1986年11月22日 全日本プロレス 後楽園ホール 1986世界最強タッグ決定リーグ公式戦 ザ・ファンクスvsリック・マーテル トム・ジンク

1986年11月22日 全日本プロレス 後楽園ホール 1986世界最強タッグ決定リーグ公式戦　ザ・ファンクスvsリック・マーテル トム・ジンク

Watch here

 

"The day Tom Zenk captured the hearts of the Nippon Budokan audience....

 

Watch here 

A Japanese fan remembers Baba and Wajima vs Zenk and Martel, World's Strongest Tag Team, 1986

トム、ジンクさんといえば昭和６１年の世界最強タッグで故ジャイアント馬場さんが元横綱輪島さんと組み東都デビュー戦として対戦した試合を銭湯のテレビでみました。


その頃僕は大学受験のため上客して予備校に通っていましたが友達が居なかったり授業についていかれなくなったり東京のラッシュや生活ペースについて行かれずに十二指腸に潰瘍が出来て池袋駅で吐いてから電車に乗れなくなりました。


近所なら良かったですが電車に乗ろうとしたりと人混みを歩くと頭が痛くなったり下痢をしたり吐き気がして身体が悲鳴をあげていました。故に大家以外に人と話をしなかったり昼夜の生活が逆転して１９歳という人生で一番フレッシュな時期に写真が１枚もない時代を過ごしました。


一応受験生だったのでテレビは無かったですがプロレス中継が見たかった以外は特にテレビがなくとも困りませんでした。しかし僕は幼少期に輪島さんと北の湖関と名勝負を見ていたのでプロレス転向後の輪島さんをみたいと思い銭湯のテレビを見に行きました。


輪島さんは喉輪？でトム、ジンクさんに勝ちましたが僕はそれを見て感激しました。今から思うとトム、ジンクさんがプロレスラーとして魅せたと思うのですが輪島さんを最高に光らせた見事な負けっぷりで１９歳の頃の僕の思い出は銭湯に行ったことと池袋駅で吐いてからパニックになり一駅毎に途中下車して暗くなってしまいネオンが悲しかったことと輪島さんが豪快に勝ったことしかありませんでした。


その後僕はボクシングジムに入門して引きこもりを克服すると同時に辛かった１９歳の頃のことを忘れて行きましたがトム、ジンクさんの死去のニュースに１９８６年のことを思いだしました。


あれから３１年、間もなく元号も変わり馬場さんも亡くなりトム、ジンクさんも亡くなり昭和が更に遠くになったと思いますがトム、ジンクさん引きこもり時代の辛い１９８６年に好ファイトで元気を与えていただきありがとうございました。トム、ジンクさんのご冥福を祈っています。

https://praneman2.naganoblog.jp/e2197313.html

[translation]

Today, December 19th, I was shocked to hear the news that former professional wrestler Tom Zenk passed away on Yahoo News. 

Speaking of Tom Zenk, I watched a match on TV where the late Giant Baba teamed up with former Yokozuna [sumo champion] Wajima in the World's Strongest Tag Team in 1986 to make their debut match in Tokyo. 

At the time, I was attending a preparatory school for the University Entrance exam, but I didn't have any friends, couldn't keep up with classes, and couldn't keep up with the rush of Tokyo and the pace of life in the city.

I rode the train in my neighborhood, but walking through the crowds, I would get head pain and nausea.  I didn't talk to anyone other than my landlord, and my day and night life were reversed. I was 19, in the freshest time in my life, and I don't have a single photograph of those times. 


Since I was an exam student, I didn't have a TV, but I didn't have any problem with that, except when I wanted to watch professional wrestling. I'd seen Wajima and Kitanoumi in their famous sumo matches when I was a child, and I wanted to see Wajima after he turned pro wrestler, so I went to the public bathhouse to watch TV. 


Wajima-san won against Tom Zenk with a clothesline, but I was deeply moved when I saw the match. When I think about it now, I think that Tom Zenk-san fascinated me as a professional wrestler and made Wajima shine with that finish.


After that, I joined a boxing gym and overcame my withdrawal [hikikomori], and at the same time, forgot about the painful 19 years of my former life.

It has been 31 years since then, and the Showa [All Japan Pro Wrestling] era has become even more distant with the change of the new year and the passing of Baba and Tom Zenk, but thank you, Tom Zenk, for your great matches and great energy in 1986, a difficult time for me when I was a shut-in. I wish Tom Zenk rests in peace.

 Watch the match here

Remembering the Z-Man

 

'A DUDE OF MYTHICAL STATUS'

A review of WCW Saturday Night Live on WWE.com - 

 

TOM RETURNS TO THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST, 7-8 MAY 1988

1988 and Billy Jack was setting up the Oregon Wrestling Federation to rival Don Owen's Pacific Northwest promotion. According to Tom, "Billy rang me and offered me $1,200 a week to come and work for him. I told him "No Billy, I'm loyal to Don." He told me, "Well I'm calling youa punk. You're nothing but a punk. I'm telling you, face to face, man to man, you're a punk." On the opening night of Billy Jack's fed, I drove up to Portland for the rival card that Don was promoting on the same night. I think Billy's promotion lasted only 4 months." (It closed 7/17/88).

Don Owens Extravaganza, May 7-8 May, 1988
5/7/88 Portland 
Cage match for tag titles - 
Steve Doll & Scott Peterson def. Avalanche & Mike Golden 
Assassin def. Buddy Rose DQ 
Tom Zenk def. Grappler DQ 
Matt Borne def. Shogun 
Jesse Barr def. Al Madril DQ 
Tom Zenk def. CW Bergstrom 
Billy Two Eagles & Art Barr def. Moondog Moretti & Steve Austin
​
5/8/88 Seattle 
AWA Champion Curt Hennig def. The Grappler 
Assassin def. Buddy Rose 
Al Madril drew Jesse Barr 
Tom Zenk def. CW Bergstrom 
Matt Borne def. Shogun DQ 
Steve Austin & Mike Golden & Avalanche def. Billy Two Eagles & Steve Doll & Art Barr 
Steve Doll & Scott Peterson def. Moondog Moretti & Steve Austin 
Cowboy Lang def. Coconut Willie

​

coverage below  from Northwest Wrestlemedia, Volume 2, No.7 and the excellent blog "I remember Portland Wrestling"

 

Tom Zenk on Wrestling Observer Live

8 June 2000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tOZQiev-Ps

6 October, 2000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ijcMHRNXks

13 October, 200

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChabOwZCRXw

25 May, 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmkBJvOElFs

CAN-AM AND JESSIE 'THE BODY' VENTURA - COMEDY MOMENT

توم زينك

 from the Mid West to the Middle East 

Arabian - تم تقديم

 تقديم Zenk إلى المصارعة المحترفة بواسطة حيوان الطريق المحارب ، الذي التقى به في مسابقة كمال الأجسام.[7] تم تدريبه على المصارعة براد راينجان و إيدي شاركي.[5] ظهر لأول مرة في أوائل عام 1984 مع منتصف جنوب المصارعة في لويزيانا. في منتصف عام 1984 ، انضم Zenk إلى مينابوليس، مينيسوتا -على أساس جمعية المصارعة الأمريكية ، حيث كان يعمل كمصارع تحت التمرين حتى سبتمبر 1985.[8] تم تسميته مبتدئ العام لعام 1984 بواسطة النشرة الإخبارية للمصارعة وربطها جوشين ليج  (more)

to the Far East

Chinese - 托马斯·欧文·曾克 

托马斯·欧文·曾克 （1958年11月30日至2017年12月9日）是美国人 专业摔跤手 和 健美先生 。他最出名的是他的外表 世界摔跤联合会 从1986年到1987年， 美国摔跤协会 （AWA）1988年至1989年，以及 世界冠军摔跤 从1989年到1994年，以及他的日本之旅 全日本职业摔跤 (more)

Japanese - トム・ジンク

トム・ジンク（"Z-Man" Tom Zenk、本名：Thomas Erwin Zenk、1958年11月30日 - 2017年12月9日^[1]）は、アメリカ合衆国のプロレスラー。ミネソタ州ゴールデンバレー出身^[2]。

より原音に近いファミリーネームの表記は「ズィンク」だが、本項では日本のプロレス業界における慣例的な表記（日本語圏で一般によく知られている名前）を使用する。

THE MINNESOTA TORNADO?

(PWO twitter)

On closer examination its a closer resemblance to the Texas Tornado

THE WCW TV TITLE

Apparently Tom Zenk was the first to hold the WCW (as opposed to the NWA) TV title - 

https://gamingrespawn.com/amp/features/53621/retro-wrestle-respawn-the-wcw-world-television-title-a-briefish-journey-in-time-part-one-zenk-to-austin/

Le brunch avec Tom Zenk

WRESTLEWAR '92

VIEW THE MATCH - JOIN IT AT 1.23.10

VIEW THE MATCH - JOIN IT AT 1.23.10

VIEW THE MATCH - JOIN IT AT 1.23.10

                                                  http://tomzenkforum.blogspot.com/2017/06/

 

PAID TO DO THE JOB - SONG FOR TOM ZENK

from the band 'double moonsault'

https://doublemoonsault.bandcamp.com/track/paid-to-do-the-job-song-for-tom-zenk

from the album ....

https://doublemoonsault.bandcamp.com/album/lexlugersexmagik-lextended-version

wow Saturday Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZvKr_G0KcA



start at 16 mins

Tom Zenk in Mid South, April 1984

Mid South under Bill Watts was one of the early promotion where Tom Zenk tried out. His tour was cut short by a family emergency.  The following image shows the card for 4/10/84.. Other earlier matches are listed below. Terry Taylor was the rising babyface. Lanny Poffo was living out of his car boot. Bill Watts was Bill Watts

Mid south pro 4/10/84

Lake Charles LA 

Mid-South Tag Team titles: The Midnight Express vs The Rock 'n' Roll Express 

Hacksaw Duggan & Terry Taylor vs Krusher Darsow & Nikolai Volkoff 

Magnum TA vs Mr Wrestling II 

Buddy Landell vs Lanny Poffo 

Butch Reed vs Tom Zenk 

Joe Savoldi vs Masao Ito

4/2/84 Baton Rouge 
Magnum TA beat Mr. Wrestling II
Texas Tornado Match
Jim Duggan & Terry Taylor beat Nicolai Volkoff & Crusher Darsow
Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey beat Bill Dundee & Porkchop Cash
Lights Out match
Ricky Morton beat Buddy Landell
Butch Reed beat Lanny Poffo
Professor Ito beat John King
Tom Zenk beat Jerry Grey

4/4/84 Coliseum, Mississippi State Fairgounds in Jackson, Mississippi 

Mid-South Tag Team Titles Match
Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey) (c) defeated Porkchop Cash and Bill Dundee
Magnum TA vs. Mr. Wrestling II - winner unknown 
Nikolai Volkoff and Krusher Kruschev vs. Terry Taylor and Mystery Partner - winner unknown 
Butch Reed and Buddy Landel vs. Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) - winner unknown 
Lanny Poffo vs. Masao Ito - winner unknown 
Tom Zenk vs John King – winner unknown

4/6/84 Houston, Sam Houston Coliseum (for Paul Boesch and Huston Wrestling)

Krusher Krushev(Darsow) & Nikolai Volkoff beat Hacksaw Duggan & Terry Taylor
Magnum TA beat Mr Wrestling II
Midnight Express beat Bill Dundee & Porkchop Cash
Hector Guerrero beat Masao Ito
Rock & Roll Express beat Butch Reed & Buddy Landell
Jerry Gray beat Joe Savoldi
Tom Zenk beat John King

4/7/84 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, LA 
Bill Watts & Stagger Lee beat Midnight Express (Jim Cornette had to wear a dress)
coal miners Russian roulette match
Jim Duggan beat Crusher Darsow
Mr. Wrestling II beat Magnum TA
Midnight Express beat Bill Dundee & Pork Chop Cash
Terry Taylor beat Butch Reed dq
Kerry Von Erich beat Prof. Ito
Buddy Landell beat Lanny Poffo
Rock & Roll Express beat Nikolai Volkoff & The Russian Invader
Tom Zenk beat Jerry Grey
John King beat Joe Savoldi
Att 25,000. 

JESSIE MEETS THE CAN-AM

Z-MAN IN WCW COMICS

WCW World Championship Wrestling Comic Book Issue 1 Battle Royal released in April 1992

Amazing match - Hiroshi Wajima and Takashi ishikawa vs Jerry Oates and Tom Zenk

Bruiser Brody Memorial Show
August 29, 1988 in Tokyo, Japan
Budokan Hall drawing 16,W00 ($700,000)
Hiroshi Wajima and Takashi ishikawa vs Jerry Oates and Tom Zenk 

The Bruiser Brody Memorial Show was a professional wrestling supercard held by Giant Baba and All Japan Pro Wrestling as a tribute to wrestler Bruiser Brody at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan on August 29, 1988.^[His wife and son were present at the event and his widow, Barbara Goodish, presented her late husband's chain to Stan Hansen.. The show received much attention from the Japanese press and, according to the Wrestling Observer, the media coverage "turned into almost an Elvis Presley type of thing as the magazines are still filled with Brody photos four weeks after his death and on Baba's show they mention his name dozens of times each hour". The show was attended by 16,300 fans and raised $700,000, most of which were donated to Brody's family.

'PAY ME AND PIN ME' - AWA BATTLE OF THE CEREALS

A 1-hour commercial sponsored by Kellogg’s. Featuring 4 AWA matches, each wrestler represents a different food product (separated into Kellogg’s and General Mills teams).

"The Hyatt Hotel in Minneapolis is the site of one of the strangest shows in wrestling history. It's Kellogg's (aka the "Good Guys") vs. General Mills (the "Bad Guys")and all the stars are here: Nutra Rockne, Dr. K, Hondo the Honeybee Haymaker, Mr. Oat-portunity, and many more. Also, we get motivational speeches/crazed propaganda from genuine Kellogg's executives. It's pure insanity, folks."

http://network.wwe.com/video/v2523371083

NB - None of the commentariat has yet made the connection between Kellogs, who sponsored this show for their staff and AWA colour commentator, Lee Marshall who gave life to 'Tony the Tiger', mascot for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal. succeeding Thurl Ravenscroft when Ravenscroft died in 2005.

Below Tom Zenk and Greg Gagne as "Sales and Marketing"