Tom Zenk in AWA

Back in the AWA Part 2

Last week we featured an article on Tom Zenk's return to the AWA, following the break up of the Can-Am Connection (July 1987) and a short tour of Japan (November - December 1987).

By around the late spring of 1988, Zenk and McMahon had achieved a legal settlement and Zenk was free to return to professional wrestling in the US.

Around July 1988, Zenk signed again with AWA and became a top contender for the vacant AWA heavyweight championship. The championship belt was decided at a Battle Royal in February 1989, with Zenk narrowly losing to Zbyszko after dominating the match (see story and images).

Zenk then moved to Japan for a brief but successful tour in April 1989, before returning to the AWA.

The promoters' preference for Zbyszko over Zenk as AWA champion eventually backfired - Zbyszko proved to be an unpopular champion who did very little to help AWA retain its dwindling audiences. Zbyszko was eventually stripped of the title early in 1990 but even that wasn't enough to save AWA which folded shortly afterwards.

The following article makes considerable play of Tom Zenk's nomadism ('where will you be tomorrow?') and compares him to Bam Bam Bigelow - another wrestler who rarely spent long in any federation. While this frequent movement guaranteed a degree of independence, and a formidable breadth of experience, it often prevented Zenk from establishing himself as a title contender. Considering this, Zenk's record of 6 gold belts is a considerable feat.

Despite reassurances to Wrestling Superstars' Assistant Editor Bob Smith that he was with AWA to stay - it was not to be. Possibly frustrated at the lack of support from AWA promoters and sensing the imminent collapse of the federation, Zenk moved to NWA in July 1989.

Super Star Interview

Tom Zenk

by Bob Smith, Wrestling Superstars, Fall 1989

For four years, he's been considered one of the brightest prospects in the sport. On a cold February 7 night in St. Paul, Minnesota, it looked as if Tom Zenk was about to fulfill his potential and become a world champion for the first time. Zenk had dominated Larry Zbyszko for several minutes, and had the former Western States champion slumped against the ring ropes during a battle royal to determine the new AWA World champion. Zbyszko and Zenk were the last two men in the ring , and the majority of the crowd was pulling for the handsome young Minneapolis native to bring home the gold.

But it was not to be. Zenk attempted a flying bodypress as Zbyszko staggered against the strands, but the wily veteran caught Zenk and sent him flying over the top rope. Zbyszko would be handed the AWA World belt moments later.To Zenk's credit he refused to complain about the loss, even though referee Gary DeRusha was knocked out when he had Zbyszko pinned just a few minutes earlier.

Instead, Zenk took stock of himself and scheduled a tour of Japan, where he would face some of the finest talent in the Orient. After a string of solid victories there, Zenk's now back in the AWA, and his goal is to succeed against Zbyszko where he failed before. But will Zenk stay in the AWA long enough to get the job done?

During the past several years, Zenk has been one of the sport's most elusive competitors. Two years ago, he formed one of the finest tag teams anywhere, The Can-Am Connection, with Rick Martel. But he left the WWF just as they were about to challenge for the World tag team title. Following that [this should read 'Before that' - RD], he wrestled in the AWA, Pacific Northwest, and in Japan, but he didn't stay in any one place long enough to establish himself as a contender.

All that has changed now. Buoyed by several impressive showings in Japan, Zenk's stock has never been higher. Now he claims he won't leave the AWA until he has the World title belt firmly around his waist. Assistant Editor Bob Smith spoke with Zenk at the wrestler's home in Minnesota, where Zenk spoke candidly about his future plans.

Wrestling Superstars (WS) - Tom, its great to see you wrestling in the AWA again, but where will you be tomorrow? You've got to be the hardest man in wrestling to keep track of, with the possible exception of Bam Bam Bigelow, of course.

Tom Zenk - Oh, haven't you heard? I'm teaming with Bigelow tomorrow night in Florida (laughs). Hey, I'm only kidding. I guess it's true that I've developed a reputation as a man who doesn't stay in one place for very long, and I don't have a real answer for it. It was the same way when I was teaming with Rick Martel back in '87. For months, we struggled to gain acceptance as the number-one contenders to the WWF World tag team title, which was held by Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart back then.

WS: But soon after you left, Martel and Tito Santana won the title from Hart and Neidhart. IN retrospect, do you feel you left the WWF a bit prematurely?

Tom Zenk - Not at all. Do you see what Martel has been up to lately? Who would have dreamed that one of the great scientific wrestlers of our time - and a former AWA World champion - would hire a devious man like Slick to be his manager? I don't mind telling you, I had some differences of opinion with Martel back then, and now he's showing the whole world his true colors. If you ask me, I got out of that tag team at the right time. At least he didn't have the opportunity to turn against me the way he did against Tito.

Zenk and Rick Martel once wrestled together as The Can-Am Connection, but Zenk quit the team because he felt Martel was taking all the credit. Now that Martel is a rulebreaker, Zenk is even more convinced he made the right decision.

WS - But still, you continue to move all over the place. After you barely lost that battle royal to Larry Zbyszko, you left the AWA to go to Japan. Are you finally going to stick around this time?

Tom Zenk - Yeah, I am. Really! The reason I went to Japan is because I wanted to take on the best competition I could find, and right now the Orient is loaded with wrestlers, and a lot of American ones, too. I needed to find out if I had what it takes to become a champion. After that battle royal, I became overwhelmed by a feeling I've never had before. Even though I lost, I was brimming with confidence and raring to get another title shot. Before I did, though, I wanted to make sure I could cut the mustard, and that Japanese excursion really has me ready to rumble.

WS - It's not hard to see why. I caught a glimpse of a match you had in April at the Korauken Hall in Tokyo against Isao Takagi. It was one of the hardest fought bouts I've seen this year but you managed to catch him with a flying bodypress for the victory.

Tom Zenk - That's right. Takagi gave me the match of a lifetime, and I came out on top. That's why I don't think there's another man in wrestling who can pin me right now.

WS - Of course, Zbyszko feels the same way about himself. And he seems more arrogant than ever, since winning the World title.

Tom Zenk - I'm sure he does, but he has a false sense of security. He thinks that all it will take is one swipe with his nunchakus to knock me out of title contention, but he's got another thing coming, I assure you. . Frankly, I think it's prime time in the AWA, because Zbyszko is the weakest champion any major federation had had in years. He only defends his belt as often as he has to, and he usually relies on disqualifications and contest to get out of jams. He's a 17-year veteran now, but I'm just entering my prime after wrestling professionally for 5 years. If I'm ever going to beat him, it's got to be right now.

WS - Right now, though, the AWA has signed you to a series of matches against Don Muraco. The new AWA president, Joe Blanchard, says that whichever of you wins those matches will be the new number-one contender to Larry's crown.

Tom Zenk - That's fine by me. Like I said before, I've got to beat the best if I'm going to be the best. Muraco is truly one of wrestling's all-time greats, but, like Zbyszko, he's another veteran. It's time for the new breed to rise to the top in the AWA.

WS - What do you think of the appointment of Blanchard as AWA president?

Tom Zenk - Well, from what I hear, Mr. Blanchard is a fair and honest man, and that's more than you can say for his kid, Tully (laughs). The former president, Stanley Blackburn, was getting to be known as the king of the disputed decision, if you know what I mean, so I'm sure this is a step in the right direction. It would be nice to know that if any kind of controversy flares up when I'm wrestling for the title that some immediate action will be taken.

WS - Now that you seem to be staying in the AWA for a while, do you have designs on the World tag team title?

Tom Zenk - When I first came back I did. Wahoo McDaniel and myself teamed up to beat Zbyszko and [Col.] DeBeers, and Wahoo pinned Larry in that match, which is another reason why I think the time is right for a title change. But getting back to your question, I'm not really interested in the tag team title now that my friends Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera hold the belts. The Olympians managed to do what no other team for the past year could do; they beat Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond. It was about time someone outsmarted those guys at their own game, the same way I'm gonna outsmart Zbyszko at his game.

WS - Wow, you really seem to have a one-track mind at this point, don't you?

Tom Zenk - (pauses) I guess you're right. You have to know what it's like to come to winning something you wanted so badly, just to have it barely escape from your grasp. That's what it felt like when Zbyszko dumped me over the top rope in that battle royal. I had him covered for pins several times, and at one point I had him down for about 30 seconds, but the referee was knocked out. There were those who felt I should have filed a protest since they claim that Larry intentionally pushed Gary DeRusha into me. But as far as I'm concerned, it would have been an exercise in futility. I don't want to be a paper champion. I won't be satisfied until I pin Zbyszko cleanly, with no controversy, no disputed decision, and no beefing.

'Even with all my ambition, those people out there are worth more than any title ever invented'

WS - Some recent opponents of Zbyszko have said that the reason he's so tough to beat is because he's a master of psychological warfare, that he gets his opponents away from their game plans by constantly badgering referees, arguing with the fans, and stalling for minutes at the beginning of matches. How do you plan to counteract his antics?

Tom Zenk - I'll ignore him. If he wants to stand in the ring and refuse to take his jacket off, let him. If he wants to argue with the ringside fans for 10 minutes, I'll let him do that, too. But when the time comes to lock up, I'm not going to let him out of my grasp for a second. I'm in the finest physical condition of my life, and I haven't spent all those hours in the gym just to look good. I've done it to be faster and have more endurance than anyone else.

WS - You certainly do look impressive. In fact, we get more mail about you from our female fans than just about any other star. Does the fact that you're so naturally attractive to women serve as a distraction to you?

Tom Zenk - No, on the contrary, I enjoy it quite a bit. Naturally, you have to kind of put the fans aside when it comes time to wrestle, but I really need the support of the people out there. Some guys say they don't need it, but there's no other match for it when you have an arena jammed with people who are all supporting you. Right now, I can't imagine what it would be like not to have the fans backing me up.

WS- Your former partner, Martel, seems to think he doesn't need the fans anymore.

Tom Zenk - That's crazy. That just goes to show how far down Martel has fallen. At least the fans don't have to worry about me. I'll never forsake them for the sake of a few dollars. Even with all my ambition, those people out there are worth more than any title ever invented.

"What a credit this kid is to this great sport. He's handsome, so all the young girls flock to the arenas to see him, but there's much more to Tom than just a pretty face. He's got blazing speed, impressive strength and an incredible amount of knowledge for such a young guy - and he's in the right place at the right time now. If he can just get a fair match from Larry Zbyszko , there's gonna be a new AWA World champion, daddy " - Capt. Lou Albano

Capt. Lou Albano has guided 13 tag teams to an unmatched 16 WWf tag team titles.

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