TOM ZENK IN AWA
7/9/84 TV (Tom's pay $50.00) 7/25 Fairbault, MN (Tom's pay $200.00) 7/22/84 Minneapolis
TV
7/28/84 St. MIchael (Tom's pay $100.00) 7/30/84 TV (Tom's pay $30.00) 8/9/84 Glenwood (Tom's pay $100.00) 8/12/84 St. Paul,
MN @ Civic Center
8/13/84 TV (Tom's pay $50.00) 8/16/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Norberry Auditorium T.V. Taping
8/16/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
8/18/84 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon, Chicago
8/22/84 Pine Island (Tom's pay $75.00) 9/2/84 Minneapolis
TV
9/2/84 Davenport,
IA @ Palmer Auditorium 9/8/84 Willmac (Tom's pay $100.00) 9/9/84 St. Paul,
MN @ Civic Center
9/10/84 Minneapolis
TV
9/9/84 Minneapolis
TV
9/16/84 Princeton (Tom's pay $100.00) 9/19/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Norberry Auditorium T.V. Taping
9/20/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
9/22/84 Milwaukee,
WI
9/24/84 Sauke? Center (Tom's pay $200.00) 9/30/84 Minneapolis
TV
10/7/84 Minneapolis
TV (Cumberland)
10/14/84 Minneapolis
TV
10/17/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Norberry Auditorium T.V. Taping
10/21/84 Minneapolis
TV
10/21/84 St. Paul,
MN @ Civic Center
10/25/84 Monominee (Tom's pay $100.00) 10/26/84 Salt Lake
City, UT @ Salt Palace
10/27/84 Denver (Tom's pay $250.00) 11/1/84 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
11/2/84 Middleton,
WI
11/5/84 Lacrosse (Tom's pay $150.00) 11/7/84 Mankato (Tom's pay $150.00) 11/8/84 Winnipeg (Car $250 TV and expenses $150.00 plus $200) 11/11/84 Minneapolis
TV
11/14/84 Wausau,
WI
11/21/84 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
11/22/84 St Paul (Tom's pay $100.00) 11/23/84 Monticello (Tom's pay $100.00) 11/24/84 Fond Du
Lac, WI @ Marion College Gym
11/25/84 Minneapolis
TV
11/25/84 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon
12/4/84 WPG TV (Tom's pay $100.00 plus $50.00 expenses) 12/5/84 Brandon (Tom's pay $175.00) 12/6/84 Winnipeg (Tom's pqay $375.00) 12/7/84 Denver (Tom's pay $225.00) 12/9/84 Minneapolis
TV
12/9/84 Salt Lake
City, UT @ Cow Palace
12/10/84 "Vancouver paid" 12/12/84 Las Vegas (Tom's pay $150.00 plus $75.00) 12/13/84 San Francisco,
CA @ Cow Palace
12/14/84 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
12/15/84 Milwaukee,
WI
12/16/84 Minneapolis
TV
12/16/84 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon, Chicago
12/25/84 Christmas Day "St Paul No work." 12/27/84 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
12/28/84 Denver,
CO @ Auditorium Arena
12/29/84 Fort Atkinson,
WI
12/30/84 Minneapolis
TV
12/30/84 Green Bay,
WI @ Brown County Veteran’s Memorial Arena
1985 1/5/85 Middleton,
WI
1/6/85 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
alternate results:
Jim Garvin beat Rick Martel* (dq) … Curt Hennig beat Superstar (dq)
1/20/85 Minneapolis
TV
1/25/85 Reedsburg,
WI
1/26/85 Sheboygan,
WI
1/27/85 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
2/1/85 St. Paul,
MN Pro Wrestling USA TV Taping
2/3/85 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon
2/7/85 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
2/10/85 Minneapolis
TV
2/15/85 Middleton,
WI
2/16/85 Waukegan,
IL
2/17/85 Minneapolis
TV
2/17/85 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
2/17/85 Green Bay,
WI @ Brown County Veteran’s Memorial Arena
2/20/85 San Francisco,
CA @ Cow Palace
2/21/85 Salt Lake
City, UT @ Salt Palace
2/22/85 St. Paul,
MN @ Civic Center
2/23/85 Milwaukee,
WI
2/24/85 East Rutherford,
NJ @ Meadowlands
3/9/85 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon
3/13/85 Freehold,
NJ
3/14/85 Baltimore,
MD
3/15/85 Passaic,
NJ
3/16/85 Ridgewood,
NJ
3/19/85 Brooklyn,
NY
3/23/85 Middleton,
WI
3/24/85 St Paul,
MN @ Civic Center
3/28/85 Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
3/31/85 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon
4/5/85 Salt Lake
City, UT @ Salt Palace
4/13/85 Milwaukee,
WI The Mecca
4/14/85 Minneapolis
TV
4/14/85 Green Bay,
WI @ Brown County Veteran’s Memorial Arena
4/15/85 Salt Lake
City, UT @ Salt Palace
4/18/85 Washington
DC
4/19/85 East Rutherford,
NJ @ Meadowlands
4/21/85 Minneapolis
TV
4/21/85 St. Paul,
MN @ Civic Center - Starcage
4/24/85 Winnipeg
Arena, Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
4/25/85 Brandon,
Manitoba, Canada @ Keystone Centre
4/26/85 Rockford,
IL @ Boylan High School
4/28/85 Rosemont,
IL @ Rosemont Horizon
5/3/85 Denver, CO
5/12/85 Green Bay,
WI @ Brown County Veteran’s Memorial Arena
Summer
tour in IWA Montreal May - July
8/11/85 St. Paul, MN @ Civic Center
8/21/85 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Holy
Cross School T.V. Taping
8/22/85 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
8/23/85 Denver, CO
8/25/85 Minneapolis TV
9/15/85 Minneapolis TV
9/18/85 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Holy
Cross school T.V. Taping
9/18, 1985
(?) - AWA -DC Armory Starplex - Washington DC?
9/19/85 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Arena
9/21/85 Rockford, IL @ Boylan High School
9/22/85 Minneapolis TV
9/22/85 Green Bay, WI @ Brown County Veteran’s
Memorial Arena
source - Old
School Wrestling
early
October 1985 - Tom Zenk goes to Pacific North West
Relive
the matches!!
more
on Tom Zenk in the AWA
|
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HAS ANY ONE GOT THIS TAPE?
"By the way, I noticed during an old match between Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura that the referee was an even younger looking Tom Zenk." MICHAEL BRANCH,Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
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HISTORY OF THE AWA
(source) The American Wrestling Association was a professional wrestling organization, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The AWA operated mainly in the midwestern United States and central Canada. Wrestling bouts were promoted in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington (Minnesota), Winnipeg, Chicago, Omaha, Milwaukee, Denver, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. From 1957 to 1991 it was owned by Verne Gagne.
History
Until the late 1980s, the AWA was considered one of the top wrestling companies in the world and Verne Gagne was its biggest star. The territory was originally part of the National Wrestling Alliance NWA, becoming an independent territory in the late 1950s. Then NWA world champion Pat O Connor was recognized as the first AWA world champion, but when OConnor failed to defend the new AWA title against number one contender Verne Gagne, Gagne was awarded the belt.
Over the years, Gagne feuding against Gene Kiniski, Dr. Bill Miller, Fritz Von Erich, Dr. X (Dick Beyer under a mask), The Crusher, Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel, he won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship a record 10 times before retiring from full-time competition in 1981. He would go on to wrestle a few matches a year until his final match at WrestleRock 86 against Sheik Adnan El Kassey.
Gagne was a former amateur-wrestling champion who had earned a spot on the U.S. team at the 1948 Summer Olympics, and he ran the AWA with a traditionalist sensibility, firmly believing that good wrestling, not flashy entertainment, should be the basis of a pro-wrestling company. When his career wound down, he turned the companys focus to Bockwinkel, also a skilled mat technician.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, AWA television production was headquartered at Minneapolis independent station WTCN-TV, then owned by Metromedia. The ring announcer was longtime Minneapolis sports broadcaster Marty ONeill, who also conducted the post-match interviews. Hold-by-hold commentary was provided by Rodger Kent. In the mid-1970s, during a prolonged illness, ONeill was occasionally replaced as ring announcer by program producer Al DeRusha and interviews were conducted by both Kent and Gene Okerlund. By 1979, Okerlund had permanently replaced ONeill, who died a couple of years later, and production was transferred to Minneapolis station KMSP-TV.
But as Vince McMahon and the northeastern-based World Wrestling Federation attempted to end pro wrestlings regional era in the mid-1980s and establish the WWF as the dominant national promotion, Gagne made several decisions that caused the AWA to lose momentum in the emerging wrestling war. Among them was overemphasizing his son Greg in AWA storylines (which led to speculation of nepotism in regards to Verne himself within the company), but his biggest misstep was his failure to make Hulk Hogan the focus of his company. Starting in 1982, Hogan rapidly caught on as a babyface with AWA fans, but even as his popularity grew to unprecedented levels, Gagne refused to give him the AWA championship. He recognized Hogans showmanship and charisma but believed a wrestling company should be built around the best wrestler in the company, such as himself and Bockwinkel (both being great mat technicians). Gagne did not respect Hogan as a pure wrestler, and in an interview years later, rated his wrestling ability as a one or a zero on a scale of one to 10. On two occasions, the AWA went so far as to tease title wins for Hogan only to strip him of the championship.
Frustrated by Gagnes business decisions, Hogan accepted an offer from Vince McMahon, Jr. to wrestle for the WWF in December 1983. Within months, he had become the focus of the company and its dominant world champion. He and the WWF soon became mainstream media phenomena and virtually synonymous with professional wrestling in much of the country, leaving the AWA a second-tier promotion. As the situation worsened, much of the AWAs other top talent, including announcer Mean Gene Okerlund, manager Bobby The Brain Heenan, and wrestlers Ken Patera, Jim Brunzell, and Jesse Ventura, among others, also left for the WWF.
In 1985, the AWA was able to sign wrestlers like Sgt. Slaughter, Bob Backlund, and the Tonga Kid away from the WWF and was also influential in Pro Wrestling USA, an attempt to co-promote with the NWA and establish a national presence to compete against the WWF. However, the colaborative effort didnt last. Abroad it had working agreements with Japan-based promotions International Pro Wrestling (1969 to 1980), then All Japan Pro Wrestling (1980 to 1988, although the relationship was strained in 1986 following the World Title debacle surrounding Stan Hansen), and, near its end, New Japan Pro Wrestling. It also had a brief relationship with European promotion Catch Wrestling Association, through which its promoter, Otto Wanz, won the World title as well.
The AWA continued to fall behind the WWF and NWA as a major promotion throughout 1986 and 1987......
During that time period, Gagne forged a relationship with Memphis based promoter Jerry Jarrett and even allowed Mid-Southern legend Jerry Lawler to win the AWA World Title from Curt Hennig in May of 1988. In December 1988, following a contentious PPV SuperClash III, the collaborative effort was over and Lawler was stripped of the title in January 1989.
In February 1989, Larry Zbyszko, Verne Gagnes son-in-law, won the vacated AWA World Title in an 18-man Battle Royal, eliminating Tom Zenk to end the match. It was also during this time that Joe Blanchard replaced Stanley Blackburn as AWA president, Eric Bischoff began to take a more active role in the company, and the Team Challenge Series concept was developed.
The AWA would become inactive in the fall of 1990. As a result, Larry Zbyszko signed to wrestle with the NWA. As his last official act, Verne Gagne would strip Zbyszko of the World Title in December 1990. Gagne did promote a card in Rochester, MN in May 1991, featuring the return of Greg Gagne and Wahoo McDaniel against the The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom) in the main event, but was unable to restart the promotion. Despite this, ESPN continued to run old AWA matches in their weekly time slot and the AWA managed to release a commercial tape (Hulk Hogan Highlights) during 1991.
.....
AWA Super Cards & PPVs
* PPV: SuperClash III
* Super Card: AWAs SuperSunday, SuperClash, WrestleRock 86, Rage in a Cage, Battle by the Bay, Brawl in St Paul, SuperClash 2, Rage in a Cage 2, War in the Windy City, World Tag Team Tournament, SuperClash 4, Twin Wars 90AWA Team Challenge Series
The AWA held a Team Challenge Series from October 1, 1989 through August 11, 1990. All of the available wrestlers were divided into three teams, Larrys Legends, headed by Larry Zbyszko, Slaughters Snipers, headed by Sgt. Slaughter, and Barons Blitzers, headed by Baron Von Raschke. (Sgt. Slaughter left the company before the TCS ended, and and Colonel DeBeers became the new team captain.) The winners of Team Challenge matches would earn points for their team; at some unspecified point the highest-scoring team would share one million dollars. The matches took place in a TV studio without an audience; the announcers claimed it was part of an effort to stop wrestlers from interfering, but it was actually due to poor ticket sales.
The Team Challenge Series was promoted by the AWA as revolutionary, but once underway, it appeared to be little more than a long series of gimmick matches and traditional matches with gimmicky names. Rather than showcasing technical wrestling, as the AWA had done for decades, wrestlers wore football helmets and pads in matches, or fought in a Behind the 8-Ball Battle Royal. Jake Milliman defeated Colonel DeBeers in the Great American Turkey Hunt, where the one who got a stuffed, uncooked turkey off of the top of a pole first would win.
The final match in the TSC was a royal rumble style battle royal featuring Brad Rheingans, The Destruction Crew, Colonel DeBeers, the Texas Hangmen, the Trooper Del Wilkes, and others. Jake Milliman again came away with the win by eliminating DeBeers at the end, winning the Series and supposed $1,000,000 check for Larrys Legends. The final point tally was as follows: Larrys Legends (56), Barons Blitzers (51), Slaughters Snipers/DeBeers Diamondcutters (48).
The TCS concept was ill-conceived and poorly played out and many wrestling fans feel that it hastened the AWAs demise. Yet elements of the series- having separate teams within one company, a draft, etc. - have parallels to the brand extension employed by World Wrestling Entertainment.
AWA Superstars of Wrestling
See also: AWA territoriesIn 1996 former AWA workers Dale Gagne and Jonnie Stewart relicensed the AWA name in the state of Minnesota and the AWA opened up as an independent promotion called AWA Superstars of Wrestling. On April 4, 2005, the owners changed its history books and named Hulk Hogan a two time AWA World Heavyweight Champion. Also in 2005, Gagne began to franchise the AWA name, selling memberships to existing independent promotions around the United States, Canada, and Japan. Several members of the new AWA are former members of the National Wrestling Alliance. The AWA is now in its tenth year of operation.
AWA Wrestlers
* Adrian Adonis
* Badd Company (Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka)
* Ox Baker
* Red Bastein
* Crusher Jerry Blackwell
* Nick Bockwinkel
* Bruiser Brody
* Jim Brunzell
* The Crusher
* Col. DeBeers
* The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom)
* Derrick Dukes
* Bobby Duncum
* Bill Dundee
* Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
* Manny Fernandez
* Greg Gagne
* Verne Gagne
* Jimmy Garvin
* Ron Garvin
* Scott Hall
* Stan Hansen
* Curt Hennig
* Larry Hennig
* Hulk Hogan
* Tommy Jammer
* Don Leo Jonathan
* Sheik Adnan El Kassey
* Mr. Magnificent Kevin Kelly
* Teijho Khan
* Kokina Maximus
* Jerry Lawler
* The Long Riders (Bill & Scott Irwin)
* Jerry Lynn
* Rick Martel
* Wahoo McDaniel
* The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)
* Steve Olsonoski
* Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)
* Nord the Barbarian
* Original Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose)
* Ken Patera
* D.J. Peterson
* Harley Race
* Mr. Electricity Steve Regal
* Brad Rheingans
* Tommy Rich
* Ricky Rice
* Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk)
* Billy Robinson
* Buddy Rose
* Akio Sato
* Sgt. Slaughter
* Superfly Snuka
* Doug Somers
* Jonnie Stewart
* The Trooper (aka The Patriot)
* Soldat Ustinov
* Mad Dog Vachon
* Butcher Vachon
* Jesse Ventura
* Baron Von Raschke
* Leon White
* Larry Zbyszko
* Tom Zenk
* Boris Zhukov
* Buck ZumhofeAWA Wrestlers (Chicago)
(These wrestlers often performed at the International Amphitheater in Chicago)* Dick the Bruiser
* Reggie Lisowski (The Crusher)
* Rock Rogowski (Ole Anderson)
* Moose Cholak
* Sailor Art Thomas
* Bobo Brazil
* Bob Luce (Chicago promoter)
* Sam Menaker
* Scrap Iron George Gedasky
* Prince Pullins
* Paul Christy
* Spike Huber
* Angelo Poffo
* Johnny Kace
* Ernie LaddAWA Female Wrestlers
* Penny Banner
* Candy Divine
* Sherri Martel
* Madusa Miceli
* Wendi Richter
* Vivian VachonOther Notable AWA Contributors
* Eric Bischoff (interviewer/commentator)
* Gary DeRusha (referee)
* Donna Gagne (announcer)
* Paul E. Dangerously (manager)
* Bobby Heenan (manager)
* Dick Jonkowski (announcer/commentator)
* Scott LeDoux (referee)
* Lee Marshall (commentator)
* Marty Miller (referee)
* Larry Nelson (interviewer/announcer/commentator)
* Gene Okerlund (interviewer)
* Ken Resnick (interviewer/commentator)
* Rod Trongard (commentator)AWA Titles
* AWA World Heavyweight Championship
* AWA World Tag Team Championship
* AWA Womens Championship
* AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
* AWA International Heavyweight Championship
* AWA International Television Championship
* AWA United States Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Americas Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Omaha Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship
* AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
* AWA Brass Knuckles Championship