flyin high -archive piece

Who broke up the tag team of Tom Zenk and Flyin'Brian?

One of the many intriguing, and so far unanswered, riddles of Tom Zenk's time with NWA - WCW is, why the team of Tom Zenk and Flyin' Brian was split up, after little more than 6 months together?

This team electrified the NWA with a series of brilliantly worked matches in which Zenk and Pillman took turns to suffer endlessly or clean house in classic tag team style.

Then, at the very height of their popularity, the team was broken up - with both men returning to singles wrestling. On a number of occasions the team was reformed but never long enough to recapture its original momentum.

The chronology of this tag team was, briefly, as follows -

July 1989 and September, 1989 - Pillman and Zenk (respectively) move to National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Pillman initially and unsuccessfully teams with Scott Hall while Zenk works solo.

Z-Man makes the save after Pillman is double teamed by the Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) during a singles match. The Z-Man and Flyin' Brian tag team is formed and a memorable feud with the Freebirds ensues across the country.

January, 1990 - Z-Man and Pillman prepare to make their move on the NWA's tag teams, continuing to feud with the Freebirds and the Midnight Express (Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton)

January 23, 1990 - Although a relative newcomer to NWA, Z-Man nearly wins the NWA World Title in one of the highlight matches of his career against Ric Flair in Greenville, South Carolina.

February 6, 1990 - Z-Man and Pillman defeat The Mod Squad, when Z-Man pins Basher (9.53) at Clash of Champions X, Corpus Christi, Texas

February 12, 1990 - Z-Man and Pillman win the revived US Tag Team title defeating the Freebirds in a tournament final at Rainesville, Alabama (defeating Jack Victory and Rip Morgan in Round I; Midnight Express in Round II; and the Freebirds in Round III. The tournament runs on TV from January 23 - February 12, 1990)

February 25, 1990 - Z-Man and Brian successfully defend US Tag Team title against the Freebirds at Wrestlewar in Greensboro, North Carolina (when Pillman pins Garvin, 24:32)

February 28, 1990 - Z-Man and Brian defeat Midnight Express in title match at Altoona, Pennsylvania (Pillman sustains an injured throat after being double teamed by the Midnight Express). Despite Z-Man and Pillman's victory, the Midnight Express's manager, Jimmy Cornette, steals the title belts

Z-Man and Brian (after his recovery) challenge Rick and Scott Steiner (then NWA tag champions) to a title vs title match

March - April, 1990 - Z-Man tag-partners Dan Kroffat and others in a tour of Japan

May 19, 1990 - Z-Man and Pillman lose NWA US tag titles to Midnight Express at Capital Combat, Washington, DC (despite Midnight's manager, Jim Cornette, being locked in cage at ringside; Eaton pins Zenk, after illegal intervention, in 20:20)

August 1990 - article in Pro Wrestling Illustrated continues speculation on title vs. title match between Pillman and Zenk (US Tag Champs) and the Steiners (NWA World Champs). PWI Ratings Analysis reports "Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk continue to dominate US tag title opposition"; Z-Man and Brian move to third position in the top ten tag teams behind Demolition at #2 and Steiners at #1.

August 1990 - Inside Wrestling speculates on the future of Z-Man and Brian's partnership. Zenk had been undertaking singles matches against Luger, while Pillman had been matched against Luger and Flair.

But, long before this, and for unknown reasons, the team had stopped receiving any push from the WCW booking committee.

This article lightly sketches some of the themes of what would become the storyline of the split.

It characterizes Pillman as the little guy punching above his weight, being helped along by "others [who] take an interest" like Ric Flair, Sting, and the Road Warriors [Pillman "never hesitated to remind fans that his success was achieved through sheer dedication, determination and plenty of hard work. He was living proof of that."]. On the other hand, the story of Zenk's own struggle to build an essentially light body into a credible wrestling frame, his struggle for independence and integrity in a sport which favored neither, are passed over, while his departure from Can-Am and WWF, in pursuit of that integrity, is rewritten as the result of 'a wrestling injury.'

As a consequence, the article establishes an artificial distinction between Pillman the, supposedly, tough working class 'battler' ["Setbacks have never kept this good man down'] and Zenk the, supposedly, privileged and naturally gifted athlete, for whom things came without apparent effort.

This artificial distinction is developed fully - and somewhat wildly - in an article which appears here next week.

Latest tag team contenders!

PILLMAN AND ZENK; FLYIN' HIGH OVER THE NWA

by Robert E. Riddick, Jr. (TV Wrestlers, March 1990)

There have been many successful high-flying teams throughout wrestling history. Among them Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell, the Rock and Roll Express, the Fantastics, the (Midnight) Rockers and Strike Force. Recently though a new tag team comprised of aerial wizards was formed in the NWA by a chance encounter. The two wrestlers in question , Tom Zenk and Flyin' Brian Pillman have now joined forces and together, they plan to go straight to the top of the NWA tag team scene.

Since entering the NWA in July (1989) Pillman has gone from "who's that" to future superstar. After a feud with Norman the Lunatic that saw Pillman emerge the victor over his much larger opponent, Pillman began breathing down the neck of the United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger following a violent confrontation on SuperStation TBS. Although outweighed and clearly an "underdog," Pillman displayed the guts and ability of a man destined to go far in this sport.

"Coming from a remote wrestling area (Stampede) like I did into the NWA, really thrust me into the fire right out of the frying pan" says Pillman. "Fortunately, my God-given ability has paid off for me in a big way in a short period of time. Also having friends like Ric (Flair), Sting, the Warriors, and many others take an interest has helped to mold me into what you see today. I've proven that I can handle the competition here on my own. Now, Tom Zenk and I are preparing to make our move on the NWA's tag teams, particularly the Freebirds!"

Pillman has good reason to want a piece of the Freebirds. While facing Jimmy Garvin in a singles bout, Brian was brutally double-teamed by Garvin and Michael Hayes before the match ended. Who should come to Pillman's aid but another new star to the NWA this year, Tom Zenk (aka The Z-Man). Together, they repelled the Freebird's attack. Shortly thereafter, a new team was formed.

"I've been keeping my eyes open at the things that have been going on in the NWA" says Zenk. "In just two months I've watched lunatics like Terry Funk try to suffocate the World's Champion. I've seen the Midnight Express and their so-called manager Jim Cornette turn their backs on their fans and friends. Most importantly though, I saw the Freebird's try to take out a guy who has become a good friend of mine since I came to the NWA and that's when I drew the line! I don't normally go sticking my nose in other peoples' affairs but, like I said, Brian Pillman is my friend and one thing I believe in is backing up my friends! The Freebirds are first on our list and believe me those fans out there haven't seen anything yet! Brian and I plan to go all the way to the top and we'll take on any team that wants to step into the ring with us. Freebirds, Midnight Express, SST - it really doesn't matter who, just when!"

Zenk and Pillman have already faced the 'Birds in matches across the country and so far, no clear cut victor has emerged. Though still in their infancy as a duo, Zenk and Pillman work very well
together.

In case you've forgotten, Zenk and Rick Martel formed the Can-Am Connection in the WWF a few years ago and until an injury to Tom, they were considered future WWF tag team champions. Zenk was also one of the last two remaining men in a Battle Royal held by the AWA to determine a new champion. Tom put up a tremendous battle against Larry Zbyszko before being eliminated.

Because of their strong aerial attacks, fantastic wrestling ability and conditioning, Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk, the NWA's High Flyers, are a team to watch out for.

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