WCW And WWF Star Tom Zenk Passes Away At 59
Tom Zenk, also known as "The Z-Man" has passed away at the age of 59.
1Wrestling's Bill Apter revealed the news on a video blog that he posted Sunday afternoon. Zenk performed for World Championship Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, the American Wrestling Association, and the World Wrestling Federation in his decade-plus career. The information appeared in an obituary in Minnesota with little information attached.
Trained by Eddie Sharkey and Brad Rheingans, Zenk was one of many Minnesota pro wrestling products of the time. Early in his career, Zenk was befriended by Rick Martel, who would tag with him as a part of the Can-Am Connection. The duo came into the company with a big push, but Zenk left the WWF in 1987. For the next year or so, Zenk worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Zenk caught another break in 1989 when he was hired by WCW, and met great success there. During a five year run, Zenk became a World Television Champion, but racked up accolades in tag team action. While paired with Brian Pillman, he won the NWA United States Tag Team Championship tourney to win the titles, and would later team with Dustin Rhodes and Matt Borne (known as Big Josh) to become WCW Six-man Tag Team Champions.
After his May 1994 WCW release, Zenk returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling. He'd work several dates for the American Wrestling Federation, before wrapping up his career at only 37 years old.
No cause of death is known at this point.
