24 Facts About Tom Zenk

Thomas Erwin Zenk was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder.

Tom Zenk was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987, American Wrestling Association 1988 to 1989 and with World Championship Wrestling from 1989 to 1994, as well for his tours of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Tom Zenk's 1976 graduating class included fellow future professional wrestlers Brady Boone, Barry Darsow, Curt Hennig, Nikita Koloff, and Rick Rude.

Tom Zenk attended the University of Minnesota, where he majored in speech communications.

Tom Zenk was introduced to professional wrestling by Road Warrior Animal, who he met at a bodybuilding contest.

Tom Zenk was trained to wrestle by Brad Rheingans and Eddie Sharkey.

Tom Zenk debuted in early 1984 with Mid-South Wrestling in Louisiana.

In mid-1984, Tom Zenk joined the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association, where he performed as an undercard wrestler until September 1985.

Tom Zenk was named Rookie of the Year for 1984 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, tying with Jushin Liger.

In October 1985, Tom Zenk joined the Portland, Oregon-based Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion, where he received a push.

Tom Zenk held the Championship until March 1986, when Jaggers regained it.

Between May 1985 and October 1986, Tom Zenk wrestled intermittently with the Montreal-based Lutte Internationale promotion in Canada, where he won the Canadian International Tag Team Championship with Dan Kroffat.

The Can-Am Connection were planned to become the WWF's top face tag team and to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship, but in mid-1987 Tom Zenk resigned from the WWF due to a pay dispute.

Between 1987 and 1989, Tom Zenk made multiple tours of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Tom Zenk returned to the American Wrestling Association to wrestle a handful of matches in early 1988.

On May 1,1988, Tom Zenk took part in the "Battle of Breakfast Cereal", a show recorded for the breakfast cereal manufacturer Kellogg's for a sales conference in which Kelloggs-themed characters faced characters themed after General Mills, Kellogg's' main competitor.

On February 7,1989, Tom Zenk competed in a 20-man battle royal for the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship in which he was the last man eliminated by the winner, Larry Zbyszko.

Tom Zenk challenged Zbyszko in several return matches before moving to WCW.

Tom Zenk debuted at Fall Brawl '89 in September 1989 under the ring name "The Z-Man", defeating The Cuban Assassin.

In 1990, Tom Zenk formed a tag team with Brian Pillman.

At Halloween Havoc 1991, Zenk lost to the debuting WCW Phantom.

In 1993, Tom Zenk teamed with Ricky Steamboat as "Dos Hombres" subbing for Shane Douglas, but was announced as Douglas.

Tom Zenk died in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on December 9,2017, at the age of 59, from atherosclerosis and cardiomegaly.

Tom Zenk was interred at St Nicholas Cemetery in Carver, Minnesota.