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This
article appeared in October 1992, some months after Zenk had fought a highly
rated match against Brian Pillman for the WCW light heavyweight title at
Wrestle War '92 (Classic
Match #5).
 The article, like many in the wrestling magazines, is entirely fictitious. (Zenk never spoke to Ellner far less rode with him to Baltimore as Ellner claims below.) However the article is interesting for asserting that 'Its obvious that "Z-Man" Tom Zenk has the skills and stamina to be a top contender for the WCW World title, but something seems to be holding him back." What
was holding Zenk back was WCW bookers Dusty Rhodes and Bill Watts - but
there's no mention of that basic detail anywhere in Ellner's 'analysis'.
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Brian Pillman said it best. After he retained his WCW light heavyweight championship with a victory over his ex-tag team partner, Tom Zenk, Pillman congratulated his pal during an interview.
"Tommy gave it his all," said Pillman without the slightest hint of ill will. "There were no losers in this match. He just didn't win".
Nice
as Pillman is, the simple truth remains that those were Zenk's shoulders
on the mat for three seconds, not his. By any standard, Zenk lost that
match - but that isn't the problem. Everyone loses - even the greatest
of champions.
The problem lies in the "Z-Man's" attitude about the loss. It didn't keep him up all night. He didn't stay up until 5 a.m. reviewing the match videotape. What he did was meet a few friends and have dinner.
A nice dinner. A pleasant dinner. The kind of dinner that sits in a man's stomach and makes him complacent.
Which is exactly what's happening to Tom Zenk.
It is easy to consign Zenk to the BWAPAPW category - that is, Boys Who Are Pretty And Pretty Worthless. He has the look, the hair, the body, the electrifying moves - everything a wrestler needs to drown in mediocrity. Zenk is gasping for his wrestling life, but doesn't yet realize it.
The qualities listed above, all qualities Zenk possesses in abundance, are common fodder among wrestlers. So what is he can drop-kick and suplex with alacrity? Big deal... his execution is above average. Yawn....64 dozen other wrestlers can say the same thing. If Zenk wants to crack wrestling's elite - which he claims he does - one must examine those tools he lacks.
First and foremost, Zenk doesn't possess the championship strain. What is that? It comes in many forms. A broken nose. A scar. An unquenchable blood lust. The inability to sleep after a loss in a title match. For example:
Stan Hansen's crooked pinkie finger. While defending the AWA title, Hansen's finger caught in a turnbuckle hook and was nearly snapped off. Despite almost unendurable pain, Hansen continued the match and retained the title.
Sting's philosophy. "Losing a title match is like a small death," the WCW World Champion once said. "There's nothing to compare to it. It is the most excruciating thing an athlete can undergo".
Steamboat's obsession. "I would be up for hours, consumed by every move I made that night," Rick Steamboat has said. "I'd already be preparing for the next match."
What does Zenk do after an unsuccessful title match? He eats! Socializes with friends! The "Z-Man" may generate enough heat to melt hearts, but that's about it.
Why am I spending so much time on a man so obviously dedicated to driving down the middle of the road? Well, as much as I hate to admit it, there appears to be more to Tom Zenk that meets the eye - a lot more! I traveled with Zenk after his Wrestle War loss to Pillman and learned that beneath that bland demeanor lies the heart of a possible rulebreaker - and, even more possibly, a champion.
The problem is that Tom Zenk doesn't know it yet. So I'm here to tell him.
The first indication of Zenk's potential was a conversation we shared while driving to a card in Baltimore.
We were discussing our childhood sports heroes when he confessed his love for Killer Kowalski. "I loved the way Killer stormed the ring," Zenk said, practically misty-eyed. "I always admired that kind of ferocity. "Killer Kowalski? But Zenk wasn't finished.
