The wrestlers were legally defined as "independent contractors" and responsible for their own taxes, social security, licence fees, physical examination fees and medical insurance. The promoters retained all rights to television and video payments.  They also retained rights to all merchandise - souvenir programs, photos, etc, with the workers receiving a 20% commission on souvenir items other than programs. Wrestlers had to do television and radio and press  interviews with no additional pay.

Hotels and hotel meals were provided as part of the contract but all other expenses including telephone calls, room service, gratuities, etc., were at the wrestlers' own cost.

For his work,  Zenk received a fee of $US1,200 for six days ($5,000 for the tour). He took it for the chance to visit his family's original home country, Germany.
 
 

In Minneapolis, the promoters had promised Ramada-style hotel accommodation throughout Europe with efficient transfers between each show. In reality, hotels were below standard and, in some cases,  cockroach infested. The tour buses were old and unreliable.
 

Derrick Dukes used a glass against the wall to listen in on the promoters - while Zenk slid along the hotel corridor on his belly to listen outside their door. What they overheard confirmed their suspicions -  that the promoters had run out of cash and were preparing to stiff the wrestlers in the last week of the tour.

Next day Zenk asked for his final week's pay in advance and, ticket and passport in hand, headed  for Munich airport and the next flight to New York.

He'd been paid for 3 weeks - the original terms of his contract and he'd seen Switzerland, Germany and Italy.