| TOM
ZENK IN
AMERICAN WRESTLING ASSOCIATION
Entrance music - "Holding Out For A Hero" 1/10/88 Grafton, WI
1/17/88 Oshkosh, WI
1/23/88 Tomah, WI
2/4/88 Minneapolis, MN @ Auditorium
(att: 1,700)
Note: Final AWA Card at Minneapolis Auditorium. 8 February 1988 - Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports Tom Zenk is signed to face Billy Robinson on the 02/04 show at the Minneapolis Auditorium, the last show at the arena before it is torn down, and Meltzer is surprised by that match, because independent promotions won't use Robinson because of his rep for shooting, and that he could easily shoot with Zenk..... An AWA album will be coming out soon, featuring Greg Gagne, Baron Von Raschke, Wahoo McDaniel, Jerry Blackwell, Tommy Rich, Dick Slater, Jerry Lawler, Jeff Jarrett, the Midnight Rockers and Tom Zenk. The album is being recorded in Atlanta. Blackwell, Rich and Slater were there because the Gagnes helped them get an insurance break for their new promotion. Lawler and Jarrett were there because there is planned to be more talent swapping between both territories in the future. In fact, Curt Hennig is scheduled to work a heavy schedule for CWA because the AWA is no longer running a full schedule. 15 February 1988 - Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the final card at the Minneapolis Auditorium happened on 02/04 before a low turnout of 1,700 fans. They were hyping it as Nostalgia Night, and the WWF countered by running "Mad Dog Vachon Night" in the same market the following week, and even ended up bringing in old AWA stars for their show like The Crusher, Nick Bockwinkel and Blackjack Lanza. Verne had Red Bastien, Killer Kowalski, Carl Eller (never wrestled, but was a member of the Minnesota Vikings Purple People Eaters front four in the early 70s), Butch Levy, Leo Nomellini, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Dick the Bruiser (who wrestled), Billy Robinson and perennial jobber Kenny "Sodbuster" Jay, who actually got the biggest pop. Verne Gagne and Stanley Blackburn were in attendance as well.Meltzer says Zenk/Robinson stood out in the wrong way, because Zenk is the only potential contender they have for Hennig, and a 50-year old guy took him to a 20-minute draw. He also controlled the entire match, which was in slow motion and Zenk had no opportunity to do anything to get himself over. The AWA now doesn't have a venue lined out for the Twin Cities. -- Kelly Kiniski quit. He was unhappy with his $170 weekly check and went back to Canada. -- Nord the Barbarian quit. He's hugely over in the AWA because of his car commercials, but Verne never wanted to push him because he didn't think he could last. 2/7/88 Wausau,
WI 22 February 1988 - Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Tom Zenk quit the same day he was to do an angle with Curt Hennig at a TV taping, because he wanted a guarantee. He also didn't understand the logic of doing a time limit draw with Billy Robinson before feuding with Hennig. -- The Nasty Boys have been let go. -- In addition to Curt Hennig, Kevin Kelly and Madusa Miceli are also on guarantees. Hennig's is $1,500 per week and Kelly and Miceli's is less than $300 per week. Japan
Tour 3 - 1988 AJPW Summer Action Series II (08/20 - 09/09/88)
1989 2/2/89 Winnipeg (att: 500)
2/7/89 St. Paul, MN @ Civic Center (att:
2750 - 750 paid)*
* Brian
Pillman and Bruce Hart were originally billed to appear but pulled
out some weeks in advance.
2/18/89 Marshfield, WI
Japan Tour 4 - 3/89 - 4/89 AJPW Champion Carnival 5/6/89 Rochester, MN att: 1,500
|
 |
