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Tom Zenk |
(Austin and Pillman) |
Background
This match is from Slamboree '93. It was supposed to feature Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat against WCW/NWA world tag champion The Hollywood Blondes (Steve Austin and Brian Pilllman).
The Blondes had won the belts from Steamboat and Douglas but their victory was followed by an upset defeat (in a non-title match) by two up-and-coming luchadores - the masked Dos Hombres. Their win earned the luchadores the title match at Slamboree. In the days before Slamboree, there was intense speculation on the identity of the masked men - though it was generally understood that Dos Hombres were, in fact, Steamboat and Douglas, looking to regain the titles.
In the event, Shane Douglas no-showed both matches, providing various excuses (fired/quit/got injured/whatever). It was Brad Armstrong under the mask the first time around and Armstrong was booked to a reprise at Slamboree '93. But at the last minute, Zenk was sent in to do the match without warning or preparation.
At Slamboree '93 the crowd response to Nailz substituting for Scott Norton had been ferocious. But, according to one of the wrestlers in the Omni that night, "when Zenk appeared, nobody in the crowd realized it wasn't Douglas. I was there and I heard nothing said about it .....and, after the match, nobody asked for their money back. A guy the bookers had marked down to jobbing portrayed the 'top guy' and nobody knew!!......Even Meltzer didn't know until I rang to tell him!!"
The match was voted equal best of the PPV (with Vader vs Davey Boy Smith). Meltzer scored it three and a half stars (others scored it more highly).
