In these circumstances, you'd think the wrestling world would be throwing money and contracts at skilled ring workers like Tom Zenk.
 

the 'Sky-High' dropkick from a standing positon

Zenk was trained in Ed Sharkey's wrestling school and Verne Gagne's training camp and did his journeyman work in the AWA, PNW, IWA and Japan  (1984 - 1986) before achieving national recognition in the WWF. He is best known for the excellence of his technical mat work, highlighted by stunning aerial high spots.  Several manuevers are regarded as Tom Zenk's signature moves, either because he pioneered them or because no-one else has surpassed his execution.  These include the 'Sky-High' dropkick (above); the Sunset Flip; the Flying Bodypress; the enzuiguri; the savate; the catapult splash; the 'high kick',(similar to a karate kick) and above all the dropkick off-the-top-rope.

To push Zenk in the PNW, Don Owen asked him for a dramatic maneuver - something that would excite the fans by its technical and athletic brilliance. Zenk gave him the Sky-High dropkick (above).

On the other hand, Flair, in booking Zenk, stipulated his signature move would be the sleeperhold, telling him  "like it or not, it's the [booking] Committee's decision." This was a clear sign, early on, that WCW had no intention of pushing Zenk.  Once the babyface locked on the sleeper, he was perfectly set up for an ambush from behind that would draw heat onto heels like Flair and Anderson, or Cornette and the Midnight Express.
 

The allocation of finishing moves by the bookers shows that finishing moves are subject to a strict economy in any promotion. Irreversible and 'devastating' finishers (such as the 'DDT' or 'Torture Rack') are allocated to the top echelons of any promotion's ruling clique. This hierarchical allocation is protected by the rule that "you don't take anyone's finish" (unless, as in the case of Diamond Dallas Page and the Diamond Cutter, you steal the move from someone lower down the hierarchy).
 
 

In Japan Zenk executes a leglock on his opponent. In WCW this became "the Scorpion Deathlock" - reserved for Sting's exclusivee use.

In Japan, Zenk executes "the German Suplex." In WCW this was regarded as Benoit's signature move - reserved for his use.

In the WWF, Zenk was warned never to use a leg drop because "that's Hogan's move." In WCW the figure four belonged to Ric Flair and, according to Zenk, "you couldn't use it even as a rest hold."

In WCW, the allocated finishing moves during Zenk's tenure included:
 
 

In many cases, a young wrestler with, e.g. superior aerial skills, may be so good that his performance, given free rein, overshadows the work of a pushed star at the top of the card.  Since wrestling is all about keeping your spot, top wrestlers don't allow that to happen. Bookers or agent are sent to warn wrestlers,  if they want to keep working, they can't use the full range of their ring skills. (Wrestling Eye, September 1990) This artificial limitation of another worker's performance not only limits his audience appeal and subsequent push, but - like any restricted work practice - rruins careers and puts promotions out of business. WCW is a case in point.

Matches of very short duration are another means used to stop skilled wrestlers overshadowing - or just 'blowing up' - the top dogs in the ruling cliques. BBoth Kevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page, for example, were notorious for booking short matches with 'devastating finishers' to maintain their status in WCW. Both men are physically incapable of sustained bouts, performing with knee braces and other prostheses underneath those long tights.