Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tape Machines Are Rolling
http://tapemachinesarerolling.tumblr.com
Flyin’ Brian & Z-Man vs Cactus Jack & Abdullah the Butcher (WCW Saturday Night - 1/11/1992)
REQUESTED! (by anonymous)
hell yeah! Early 90s WCW TV requests. That’s where the money is. This Center Stage set makes me have feelings.
I got to see Abdullah live and up close 10 years ago and that is the fattest man I have ever seen in my life, I think. In person, I mean. I think Tom Zenk is kind of underrated. Later in the 90s and early 2000s, he would guest on Meltzer’s radio show and talk all kinds of crazy shit, real disgruntled old guy stuff, but not in the Ole Anderson way, or like Paul Roma claiming Ric Flair held him down because he was jealous of Roma’s hot bod & great talent. He seemed to find the comedy in it all, and that made him super entertaining.
But I really think Zenk is underrated, and that’s from rewatching a lot of early 90s WCW a few years back. He wasn’t great or anything, but he was real solid as a singles and a pretty damn good tag wrestler with Pillman.
This is a pretty hot start with Z-Man getting worked over, then making the tag to Pillman, who immediately lights Abdullah the fuck up with open hand slaps to the chest and then a BODYSLAM, before getting caught coming off the top rope, giving Cactus a chance to come in and squeal and do his damage. Jack was hot as hell in WCW and they never quite got it, but that dude was getting good stuff out of Van Hammer around this time.
Pillman slips on a springboard attempt and sells the knee but good, then he gets hit in the face with Abdullah’s shrunken head on a stick, then Cactus clotheslines him off the apron. Cactus and Pillman had some fun TV matches together. This was a fine time for WCW match quality and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. 1990-93 WCW beats the dogshit out of 1990-93 WWF. That’s a bona fide fact, you guys. There is no argument for the WWF as actually being the superior promotion other than they had more brand name recognition and other synergy integration revenue streams shit like that.
Zenk gets a hot tag and puts it on Abdullah with a pair of superkicks that stagger the Madman from Sudan, then Zenk jumps on piggyback for a sleephold that has Abdullah fading before Cactus manages to get in there with the referee distracted and hit Zenk with that stick, giving his team the win.
But as the bad guys continue their assault on Zenk and Pillman after the contest, Zenk ducks a stick shot and Cactus accidentally hits Abdullah. Cactus isn’t really upset or sorry about it, it happens. Abdullah is more or less OK that it happened, too, it’s just they’re now going to fight one another, and they do, with Abdullah getting the better of a short struggle. What great television fun. Hotter than all the RAWs of the last third of 2014

Monday, December 29, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

IWA LUTTE 1986

Dan Kroffat and Tom Zenk vs Wild Bill Irwin and Cowboy Bull Johnson (June 28, 1986)

The Long Riders, comprised of brothers Bill and Scott Irwin, were the reigning International Tag Team Champions in the spring of the 1986. When Scott Irwin briefly left the promotion to begin chemotherapy and radiation treatment for a cancerous brain tumor, longtime Toronto-area undercarder Danny "Bullwhip" Johnson (using the moniker Cowboy Bull Johnson) replaced him. However, he and Bill Irwin were eventually stripped of the belts for failing to make a title defense within 30 days. The newly-formed tag team of Tom Zenk and Phil Lafon (who used the name Dan Kroffat in Montreal) were chosen to be their opponents in a bout for the vacant titles. However, as you will see here, a certain someone makes an unexpected return, albeit under a mask. Rick Martel and Sadistic Steve Strong also get involved in what turns out to be one of the craziest brawls ever shown. For my money, this is one of the best executed angles I've ever seen. The match itself is a terrific clash of opposing styles. Eddie the Brain Creatchman managers Bill Irwin and Johnson here, while Milt Avruskin and Gino Brito provide commentary. This match was taped in the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec and aired on June 28, 1986 (estimated airdate). I've also included a Dino Bravo interview and a Steve Strong video as bonuses. 


CAN-AM IN JAPAN

From the City Gymnasium in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan (taped December 9th, 1986), here's a interesting tag match, as Giant Baba and Hiroshi Wajima fight Tom Zenk and Rick Martel (broadcast All Japan December 13th, 1986)

 


From the Civic Culture Center in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan, here's a great tag match, as Tiger Mask II (Misawa) and Samson Fuyuki fight Tom Zenk and Rick Martel.


 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Zeitgeist squared

http://wcwworldwide.com/post/99534841609/fun-tom-zenk-fact

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Sunday, September 21, 2014


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

TOM ZENK’S TV TITLE RUN, AND YOUR CUP OF COFFEE: A RETRO PUSH HOMICIDE
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 BILLY CARPENTER
Written under duress by Critical Bill (@williamrenken83)
http://4crwrestling.com/2014/09/08/tom-zenks-tv-title-run-and-your-cup-of-coffee-a-retro-push-homicide/

I recently fell down the rabbit hole of Tom Zenk’s career after the 4CRetro podcast episode of Wrestle War ’92 when Zenk matched up with Brian Pillman. A phenomenal Light Heavyweight Title bout that made me wonder: what the hell ever happened to this man?






That tyrant behind the book, Ole Anderson, has finally gone too far, the no good bastard. In no uncertain terms, his reign as the holder of WCW’s book has been nothing less than a total, complete, undisputed disaster. The company has lost nearly seven million dollars, stars of yesteryear are getting the main event pushes, and worst of all, the Z-Man has been relegated to being the Zero Man. (Fuck you, Johnny B. Badd!)




“The one thing I’m grateful to him (Rick Martel) for is his warning about Dusty Rhodes. He told me how egotistical these @#*!!s were. He said he’d never go back any place where he’d have to kiss Dusty’s ass.”
 “Stan (Hansen) is like Ole Anderson. ‘F**** the pretty boys!'”

Anderson and Rhodes become key players in this stagnant year of 1990 NWA/WCW. The Z-Man, Tom Zenk, like many young stars is cast to B Shows while the likes of Hansen and Paul Orndorff, certainly in the downhill slope of their careers, get the thrust into the lethargic A Shows which most fans are turning their back to with money in hand for better wrestling (ie. the B Shows).

There were bright times prior to this changing of the guard that brought the out-of-touch Anderson into the role of WCW match maker. Before him, it was the Nature Boy himself in that role, which helped bring about one of the more memorable tag team feuds of this short time: Zenk and Flyin’ Brian Pillman battling Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express with the US Tag Team titles hanging in the balance.

Meltzer’s ratings don’t lie, ranging from three to four stars with live reports consistently notating the pops for the hot tag. That’s the mark of a good tag match. Keep the gimmicks and cheap heat. A good hot tag is the ultimate trump card. Zenk and Pillman along with the Midnights perfect this for most of 1990. The Anderson ascension in the booking role slows burgeoning and thriving feuds like this to a dead calm.

En Medias Res


Zenk’s ascention in professional wrestling comes in a line and crew of Minnesota stars of the squared circle. With the likes of Hening, Rude, Koloff, even Darsow, Zenk, combined with his impressive physique followed his high school brethren to wrestling. It’s a journey that sees many avenues for Zenk. Japan, the WWE, the AWA, but it’s in the NWA just before the WCW name-takeover, would he cement himself as the Z-Man.

The pairing of Zenk and Pillman is a no-brainer. Their styles, crisp technical mat wrestling combined with an impressive aerial attack, are just what the fading NWA needs to create the national pop for the new WCW product. Ole Anderson disagrees…

The dog days of summer. Zenk is fed to the new giant on the block, the imposing Big Van Vader. In fact, he’s fed to Vader multiple times throughout a lot of 1990, and when he’s not eating a pin from Vader, it’s Stan Hansen and even Kevin Nash disguised as Master Blaster Steele.

Excerpt from Wrestling Observer Newsletter 10/9/90: “Master Blaster Steele pinned Tom Zenk in two minutes. Basically it appears they are trying to get Zenk to quit and he hasn’t yet so they are turning up the pressure.”

Seasoning in Japan
Zenk and Hiroshi Wajima go toe-to-toe in the finals of a tag team tournament in famous Budokan Hall.

Zenk tags with veteran Rick Martel; the Can-Am Connection. They become instant draws with the Japanese fans. And how could they not? High octane offense combined with stiff exchanges with Japanese icons such as Wajima and Giant Baba cater to the action expected in the east. They become such a draw, they are offered a sizable sum to stay in Japan and work in the vein of future Gaijins of the squared circle, Hansen and Vader.

But a curious development. Martel urges Zenk to hold out for more money with Vince McMahon and the WWE. They venture back to the west.

The young high fliers with the look and flair younger fans in America can gravitate towards get hot quickly in 1987. They match up with Islanders and the combination of Volkoff and Sheik and soon find themselves fantasy booked with the championship wearing Hart Foundation, which seemed destined to be the third mantle of the all-ready hyped WrestleMania III card (along side Hogan-Andre and Savage-Steamboat).

But legal issues with Jim Neidhart put the Pontiac payoff in jeopardy and the Can-Am duo draw Bob Orton and Don Muraco in the opener; a five and a half minute opener. Solid. Nothing offensive. Crowd is into it as they should be. There’s very little rest, and it’s a match strictly designed to let Zenk and Martel get their stuff in, get over with the crowd, and set up for the inevitable tag title bestowment that seems all but guaranteed after ‘Mania. But then…

 “He (Martel) was making $6,000 a week in Japan while I was making $2,500 as his partner. He was playing me with the promoters as in ‘I’ve got this kid…’ I played the part of the lesser guy with no ego…I never managed to get high self-esteem from the money in WWF. We were over like kings on Earth. People came up to us at airports-businessmen, everyone. Great push but no money!…

Ultimately it was Rick, with his greed, who split the Can-Am Connection.”

A curious twist.
Despite a badass clash of work rate between the Harts and the Can-Ams, the pay-off title change never happens. Zenk leaves WWE suddenly and abruptly amidst money disputes stemming from alleged shady dealings with Martel and the company that caused Martel to get paid substantially more than Zenk. (There’s also some alleged dialogue during Zenk’s departure that includes a curious conversation with Linda McMahon where he threatens to blow the lid on the steroid scandal and Dr. Zahorian which leads to an ambiguous threat from the side of WWE.)

Zenk on the move…
Tom Zenk, a good looking, well conditioned, extremely capable and as over a wrestler with the fans as anyone in the mid-card of NWA is Ole Anderson’s glorified jobber of the stars. Cast in the cellar of mediocrity on B Shows outdrawing A Shows that act more as wrestling museums for the stars of yesteryear. It’s a dark time for the Z-Man.

But there’s a coup in the works. Anderson is swiftly removed amidst the economic downturn the company has taken and replaced by a committee that includes Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Flair who kickstart a new, unbelievable trend to push this world traveler of Japan, AWA, and WWE, who again has all the tools along with a decent promo to be a mainstay of the mid-card.


Less than a thousand gather at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta. December 4th television taping. Tom Zenk, the Z-Man is introduced first followed by the slow, methodical entrance of his opponent, the NWA World Television Champion, Arn Anderson. In many minds, the greatest of all TV Champions.

As far as a title goes, none is better suited to draw heat from the crowd on behalf of a heel champion than the TV Title. With a time limit of usually 15 or 20 minutes, inevitably a broadway would end the match just as the babyface was closing in on a victory. Anderson is classic in this role; milking matches with snug mat work, working a hold for most of the duration. This is a perfect contrast to the highflier Zenk.

Zenk’s build is fairly strong, coming in with somewhere between 30 and 40 consecutive victories; a hot babyface. But with Double A, the mega heel, Zenk becomes a face in peril with Anderson keeping him on mat, wrenched in an arm bar. (At one point, Anderson becomes so annoyed with a bandage hanging loose from his head he viciously rips it away while re-applying an arm bar.)

The final five minutes becomes a furious rally that ends with an unlikely bursting, fading missile dropkick that upends Anderson cleanly. Tom Zenk, after all the false starts from all panels of the world, is a singles champion on the national stage. A red hot babyface who simultaneously became the last NWA Television Champion and the first under the banner of WCW.

He’d lose the belt in a month.

Nice while it lasted.



Epilogue

The picaresque journey of Tom Zenk throughout the 80’s and early 90’s is a mid-card tragedy in wrestling that wasn’t the first and certainly not the last. I recently fell down the rabbit hole of Zenk’s career after the 4CRetro podcast episode of Wrestle War ’92 when Zenk matched up with Brian Pillman. A phenomenal Light Heavyweight Title bout that made me wonder: what the hell ever happened to this man?

Credit right now has to be given to tomzenk.net which is an absolute treasure trove of in-depth information about the Z-Man. A lot of the information in this piece including the quotes comes from this site. I highly recommend it for classic wrestling fans.
I couldn’t help but connect the dots to the product currently under everyone’s bus in the present day WWE.

It made me think of poor Kofi Kingston, my favorite unsung hero in professional wrestling. I have been hanging on to the one beautiful moment in the Garden when Kofi decided to key Randy Orton’s recently gifted stock car and become edgy, culminating in a Boom Drop through a table. Then Orton called him “stupid,” and the push was lost forever.

It has been forever. A seemingly sad hyperbole that has had moments where it might be thwarted but ultimately coated in yet another layer of battle royal non-eliminations.

The thought of Kofi linking up with Big E and Xavier Woods and the possibility of a Nation of Domination rebirth ruffles the feathers of many who still find it a continuation of an often ignored streak of racism in WWE. You can argue that; fine, cool, right on.

If it sticks around, I’m excited. I’m excited at the possibility that Kofi will not only hopefully have an edge (dare say heel tendency) but maybe get above meddling in the jobber of the stars division of 2014. Then again, maybe he’s destined to be the less bitter version of Tom Zenk in 2014. What a sad, sad, terrible world we live in.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Zenk on the Net - selections from August/Sept 2014






From The Huffington Post ------




Zenk vs Billy Robinson

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday, August 20, 2014



_____________________


Random thoughts




WCW Magazine Collector Series Special #3 December 1992



Tumblr.com images

Vs Buddy Landell and a foreign object

Can-Am


Centre fold




vs Kevin Kelly (later Nailz of WWF)

Monday, June 2, 2014

All a work?





Friday, May 30, 2014

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

"Classic Moment of the Week" - July 13, 2010 Can-Am Connection vs Demolition

"Classic Moment of the Week" - July 13, 2010 Can-Am Connection vs Demolition

Saturday, May 17, 2014




Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Monday, April 28, 2014

twitterz