JAPAN SUPERSHOW 1991 AT TOKYO DOME

Tom Zenk and New Japan official at welcome lunch party for WCW wrestlers featured in the Japan Supershow, Tokyo 1991

Below all the WCW talent.

The Japan Supershow 1991 (known in Japan as Starrcade in Tokyo Dome) was one of the most significant inter-promotional wrestling events of the early 1990s, bringing together World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

Date	21 March 1991
Venue	Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Attendance	Approximately 64,500
Promoters	NJPW & WCW
US Broadcast	Aired on pay-per-view in April 1991
Japanese Name	Starrcade in Tokyo Dome

The event was designed to showcase dream matches between American and Japanese stars and was the first of three annual WCW/NJPW Supershows.

Main Event

Title vs. Title Match

• Ric Flair (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) vs.Tatsumi Fujinami (IWGP Heavyweight Champion)

Featured Matches

• The Great Muta defeated Sting
• The Steiner Brothers defeated Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship
• Jushin Thunder Liger retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Akira Nogami
• Arn Anderson & Barry Windham defeated Masa Saito & Masahiro Chono
• El Gigante defeated Big Cat Hughes
• Shiro Koshinaka, Kuniaki Kobayashi & Takayuki Iizuka defeated Tom Zenk, Brian Pillman & Tim Horner 

Why the Show Was Important

• First major WCW/NJPW supershow.
• Helped strengthen the WCW–NJPW working relationship.
• One of the largest wrestling crowds of 1991.
• Laid the groundwork for the annual January Tokyo Dome supershows that became a tradition in Japanese wrestling.

Wrestlers Appearing

• Ric Flair
• Tatsumi Fujinami
• Sting
• The Great Muta
• Tom Zenk
• Brian Pillman
• Tim Horner
• Arn Anderson
• Barry Windham
• The Steiner Brothers
• Hiroshi Hase
• Kensuke Sasaki
• Jushin Thunder Liger
• Akira Nogami
• Masahiro Chono
• Masa Saito
• El Gigante
• Big Cat Hughes
• Shiro Koshinaka
• Kuniaki Kobayashi
• Takayuki Iizuka

Historical Legacy

Although overshadowed today by later Tokyo Dome spectaculars, the 1991 Supershow is regarded as one of the landmark international wrestling events of its era. It demonstrated that American and Japanese promotions could successfully co-promote major stadium events, paving the way for future cross-promotional collaborations.

ROBBINSDALE'S WRESTLERS - SOMETHING IN THE WATER?

The Robbinsdale Historical Society has paid tribute to the many wrestlers associated with the Robbinsdale High School from Verne Gagne to Nikita Koloff 

           

Read the full story here 

 

THE GYM, MINNESOTA

 

PRO WRESTLING AMERICA TOUR MARCH 1985

Below Pro Wrestling America cards for March 13, 1985 and March 15, 1985 shows in New Jersey featuring a young Tom Zenk. Pro Wrestling America 

Background to PWA (courtesy Wikipedia) 

In 1982, after leaving the AWA as a result of a pay dispute with promoter Verne Gagne, Sharkey was approached by fifteen other wrestlers similarly upset with Gagne over withholding payment and convinced Sharkey to start his own promotion. Sharkey duly set up Pro Wrestling America, starring his own trainees such as two future members of the Road Warriors tag team (at this stage known as Crusher Von Haig and The Road Warrior respectively) as well as Rick Rood, and Barry Darsow (then still wrestling under his legal name). Sharkey was soon able to sign other wrestlers including Paul Ellering, Tom Zenk, Nikita Koloff, The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom) and the Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) as well as Mad Dog Vachon, Bruiser Brody, Larry Cameron often making appearances. Although a chief rival of the American Wrestling Alliance during the late 1980s, Sharkey and Gagne eventually agreed to a talent exchange deal between the two promotions. A number of PWA veterans were brought into the AWA during its last years including Derrick Dukes and Ricky Rice. 

Zenk vs Alaskan 1 (Rick Renslow)

THE GREAT BARRY HOROWITZ ....

 Barry Horowitz - "A true worker can make anyone look great in minutes, even solo. Some guys just don't have it. In the 90s, stars like Skip, Owen Hart, Bret Hart, Tom Zenk, and many more were top of my list"

https://x.com/developspeaking/status/2080427791665795310?s=20

full interview = https://youtu.be/wGaSb5zb2yk?si=FQ7vztRsPeByI2nz

ALL JAPAN TOUR - 12 JULY 1989 - KITAHIYAMA HOKKAIDŌ

12 July 1989: All Japan: Kitahiyama Townsman Gymnasium, Kitahiyama, Hokkaido

The Destroyer celebrates his 59th birthday on tour with from left Tom Zenk, 'Terminator' Marcus Laurinaitia, Dean Malenko, Destroyer, Jim Brunzell, Joe Malenko, and Stan Hansen. (photo - @allan_cheapshot)

AJPW Summer Action Series 1989 – Day 8
Date: Wednesday, 12 July 1989
Venue: Kitahiyama Townsman Gymnasium, Kitahiyama, Hokkaidō, Japan
Attendance: 1,700

Results

1. Mitsuo Momota defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
   • Backslide
   • 9:59
2. The Terminator defeated Mighty Inoue
   • DDT
   • 9:08
3. The Destroyer defeated Goro Tsurumi
   • Figure-Four Leglock
   • 11:56
4. The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers) defeated Masanobu Fuchi & Yoshinari Ogawa
   • Rocket Launcher (Rogers pinned Ogawa)
   • 10:56
5. John Tenta & Shinichi Nakano defeated Isamu Teranishi & Akira Taue
   • Flying Body Attack by Nakano on Teranishi
   • 11:24
6. Samson Fuyuki defeated Kenta Kobashi
   • Jackknife Hold
   • 14:56
   • Asunaro Cup League Match
7. Toshiaki Kawada defeated Shunji Takano
   • Moonsault Press
   • 13:00
   • Asunaro Cup League Match
8. Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell
   • Prison Hold by Yatsu on Brunzell
   • 10:00
9. Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen defeated Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue
   • Hansen pinned Taue following a Lariat
   • 12:49

TOM ZENK AND THE ROAD WARRIORS VS THE LONG RIDERS AND STEVE STRONG. 22 JULY 1986

 

Colisée de Québec 22 July 1986

Can Am Connection vs Iron Sheik and Nicolai Volkoff, May 1987

Can Am Connection vs Iron Sheik and Nicolai Volkoff

May 1987 episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event!

Match commences at 57.50

 

PROMO PICS 1990

 

FAN-CAM TOM ZENK VS JIMMY GARVIN AWA 10/21/84 St Paul Civic Center

 Fan-cam of Tom Zenk va Jimmy Garvin at the St. Paul Civic Center, for AWA

https://youtu.be/jvsiqJj8TOo?si=eUPF3Gi0hsBMjPqH

Tom Zenk and Johnny Ace in Japan Summer 1988

Tom Zenk and Johnny Ace in Japan Summer 1988. Photo  from Roy Lucier's Twitter Account. AI colered.

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 leaving 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