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Tom ZenkTwo Tours of Japan · 1989

Spring Champion Carnival and Summer Action Series I — programs, complete results, action photography and life on tour.

Overall introduction

Two Tours

Tom Zenk made two tours of Japan in 1989 — (1) the Spring Action Series in March and April and (2), a few months later, the 1989 Summer Action Series.

US wrestlers on the Spring Action Series 1989 tour included—in addition to Tom Zenk—Dan Kroffat (Phil LaFon), Doug Furnas, Dustin Rhodes (billed as “Dusty Rhodes Jr.”), Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy, Pete Roberts, Joel Deaton and Abdullah the Butcher.

US wrestlers on the 1989 Summer Action Series included Zenk, Stan Hansen, The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton), Joe and Dean Malenko, Jim Brunzell, Marc Laurinaitis (“The Terminator”) and Dick Beyer (“The Destroyer”).

Tour one25 March — 20 April

Spring Champion Carnival
24 documented appearances

Tour two1 — 28 July

Summer Action Series I
20 documented matches

Segment One · 第1部

Spring Champion Carnival

25 March — 20 April 1989

01
Spring tour

Introduction

The Spring 1989 tour placed Zenk alongside a deep visiting roster and opened with a televised six-man match in Kumagaya.

Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada and Samson Fuyuki defeated Zenk, Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas when Tenryu pinned Kroffat after a powerbomb. A later highlight was the All-Asian Tag Team Championship challenge in Tokyo, where champions Footloose narrowly retained against Zenk and Kroffat after 13:17.

02
Official material and coverage

Program

1989 Champion Carnival — Spring tour emblem
Spring Action Series — official tour schedule
Spring Champion Carnival — official program cover
Spring Champion Carnival — roster and schedule
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage
Spring Action Series — program and contemporary coverage

17 images · click any image to enlarge

03
25 March — 20 April

Results

DateVenueResultTime
25 MAR1989Kumagaya, Saitama2,250 · TVGenichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki defeated Tom Zenk, Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas; Tenryu pinned Kroffat after a powerbomb.14:00LOSS
27 MAR1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,150Tom Zenk & “Dusty Rhodes Jr.” fought John Tenta & The Great Kabuki to a double count-out.8:33DRAW
27 MAR1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,15021-man heavyweight battle royal won by Doug Furnas. Tom Zenk was the seventh wrestler eliminated.6:54BR
28 MAR1989Iwatsuki, Saitama2,150Tom Zenk defeated Mighty Inoue with a dropkick.10:58WIN
29 MAR1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,350 · TVTom Zenk, Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas defeated Shinichi Nakano, Akira Taue & Isao Takagi; Zenk pinned Taue after a missile dropkick.11:46WIN
30 MAR1989Koriyama, Fukushima1,900Tom Zenk & Dan Kroffat defeated Shinichi Nakano & Akira Taue; Kroffat pinned Taue after a diving bodyslam.15:55WIN
31 MAR1989Sanjo, Niigata2,150Tom Zenk & “Dusty Rhodes Jr.” fought John Tenta & Shunji Takano to a double count-out.17:09DRAW
01 APR1989Toyama, Toyama2,900Tom Zenk & Doug Furnas defeated Masanobu Fuchi & Kenta Kobashi; Zenk pinned Kobashi after a diving bodyslam.13:37WIN
02 APR1989Hakui, Ishikawa2,850Tom Zenk & Doug Furnas defeated Shinichi Nakano & Kenta Kobashi; Furnas pinned Kobashi after a Samoan backdrop.11:46WIN
04 APR1989Yokohama, Kanagawa4,250 · TVThe Great Kabuki & Masanobu Fuchi defeated Tom Zenk & Pete Roberts; Kabuki pinned Roberts after a top-rope vertical bodyblock.11:29LOSS
05 APR1989Matsusaka, Mie1,850Masanobu Fuchi and Tom Zenk fought to a double count-out.17:10DRAW
06 APR1989Tokuyama, Yamaguchi1,600Tom Zenk defeated Yoshinari Ogawa with a diving body press.6:51WIN
07 APR1989Kumamoto, Kumamoto2,750Tom Zenk & “Dusty Rhodes Jr.” defeated Shunji Takano & Isamu Teranishi; Zenk pinned Teranishi after a diving body press.10:18WIN
08 APR1989Ebino, Miyazaki1,350Tom Zenk defeated Mighty Inoue with a diving body press.11:16WIN
09 APR1989Nichinan, Miyazaki1,650Yoshiaki Yatsu defeated Tom Zenk by submission with the Prison Deathlock.10:42LOSS
10 APR1989Beppu, Oita1,600The Great Kabuki & John Tenta defeated Tom Zenk & Doug Furnas; Kabuki pinned Furnas with an inside cradle.11:40LOSS
11 APR1989Onomichi, Hiroshima1,450Giant Baba, Rusher Kimura & The Great Kabuki defeated Harley Race, Tom Zenk & Joel Deaton; Kimura pinned Deaton after a lariat.12:02LOSS
12 APR1989Marugame, Kagawa1,650 · TVYoshiaki Yatsu & John Tenta defeated Tom Zenk & “Dusty Rhodes Jr.”; Zenk submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.13:35LOSS
13 APR1989Kochi, Kochi1,700Tom Zenk defeated Mighty Inoue with a diving body press.10:48WIN
16 APR1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,400 · TVTom Zenk defeated Isao Takagi with a flying body press.6:54WIN
17 APR1989Karasuyama, Tochigi1,450Tom Zenk & “Dusty Rhodes Jr.” defeated Isao Takagi & John Tenta; Zenk pinned Takagi after a diving body press.14:16WIN
18 APR1989Ota Ward, Tokyo4,200 · TVAll-Asian Tag Team Championship: Footloose defeated Tom Zenk & Dan Kroffat; Kawada pinned Kroffat with a rolling crucifix cradle.13:17LOSS
19 APR1989Okazaki, Aichi1,850Tom Zenk & Doug Furnas defeated John Tenta & Kenta Kobashi; Zenk pinned Kobashi after a diving bodyslam.13:17WIN
20 APR1989Osaka, Osaka4,300 · TVGiant Baba, Rusher Kimura & John Tenta defeated Tom Zenk, Dan Kroffat & Joel Deaton; Baba pinned Deaton after a boot to the face.10:59LOSS

18 APR 1989 · Ota Ward, Tokyo
All-Asian Tag Team Championship: Footloose defeated Tom Zenk & Dan Kroffat; Kawada pinned Kroffat with a rolling crucifix cradle. · 13:17

04
Spring at ringside

Action Photos

Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989
Spring Action Series — ringside action, 1989

48 images · click any image to enlarge

05
Life on tour

Behind the Scenes

Training at Tokyo’s Tsurumi Gym and personal photographs from the Spring visit.

Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989
Life between the matches — Japan, Spring 1989

19 images · click any image to enlarge

Segment Two · 第2部

Summer Action Series I

1 — 28 July 1989

01
Summer tour

Introduction

The tour opened in Omiya before 4,100 fans and paired Zenk principally with Jim Brunzell.

Nippon Television declared July “Bruiser Brody Month,” airing extended collections of Brody’s matches. A second memorial night was staged at Korakuen Hall on 16 July, with Zenk and Brunzell facing the debuting Fantastics.

The tour unfolded amid tension between All Japan and the NWA over talent. All Japan pressed Zenk to commit to its October tour, while Zenk sought a longer-term guarantee comparable to the two-year offer available from the NWA. He remained protected in the booking, with Brunzell generally taking the falls.

After the tour, Zenk signed a two-year contract with the NWA/WCW. He did not return to Japan until March 1991, when he appeared for the rival NJPW/WCW Tokyo Dome Supershow.

02
Official material and coverage

Program

1989 Summer Action Series I — tour emblem
1989 Summer Action Series I — tour emblem
Summer Action Series — tour correspondence and schedule
Summer Action Series — tour correspondence and schedule
Summer Action Series — tour correspondence and schedule
Summer Action Series — tour correspondence and schedule
Summer Action Series — official program cover
Summer Action Series — roster and schedule
Tom Zenk and Jim Brunzell — program profiles
Japanese press coverage — Summer Action Series
1989 Summer Action Series — official program

11 images · click any image to enlarge

03
1 — 28 July

Results

DateVenueResultTime
01 JUL1989Omiya, Saitama4,100 · TVYoshiaki Yatsu & The Great Kabuki defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.12:08LOSS
02 JUL1989Yamato, Kanagawa1,550Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell defeated Yoshiaki Yatsu & Akira Taue; Brunzell pinned Taue after a backdrop suplex.10:58WIN
03 JUL1989Takasaki, Gunma2,200 · TVTom Zenk defeated Yoshinari Ogawa with a diving body press.6:43WIN
07 JUL1989Obihiro, Hokkaido2,100Joe & Dean Malenko defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Joe rolled up Brunzell with a Japanese leg-roll clutch.14:10LOSS
08 JUL1989Kitami, Hokkaido2,350Yoshiaki Yatsu & Akira Taue defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.11:10LOSS
09 JUL1989Mombetsu, Hokkaido1,600Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.10:57LOSS
11 JUL1989Nakajima, Sapporo3,800 · TVThe Fantastics defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Tommy Rogers pinned Brunzell after a somersault splash.12:58LOSS
12 JUL1989Kitahiyama, Hokkaido1,700John Tenta & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Tenta pinned Brunzell after a jumping body press.10:38LOSS
13 JUL1989Yakumo, Hokkaido1,750Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.11:35LOSS
15 JUL1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,350Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell defeated The Great Kabuki & Mighty Inoue; Zenk pinned Inoue after a slingshot splash.11:21WIN
16 JUL1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo2,400 · TVBruiser Brody Memorial Night: The Fantastics defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Rogers pinned Brunzell after a somersault splash.13:17LOSS
18 JUL1989Otsu, Shiga2,400 · TVJumbo Tsuruta & Kenta Kobashi defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Tsuruta pinned Brunzell after a backdrop suplex.16:47LOSS
19 JUL1989Wakayama, Wakayama2,100The Fantastics defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Bobby Fulton pinned Brunzell after a flying bodyscissors.11:57LOSS
21 JUL1989Daigo, Kyoto2,700Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.11:43LOSS
22 JUL1989Kanazawa, Ishikawa3,600 · TVFootloose defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Kawada pinned Brunzell after a top-rope missile dropkick.10:50LOSS
23 JUL1989Mikuni, Fukui2,700John Tenta defeated Tom Zenk with an elbow drop.8:03LOSS
24 JUL1989Hamakita, Shizuoka1,900Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.10:00LOSS
25 JUL1989Shinshiro, Aichi1,750The Fantastics defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Rogers pinned Brunzell after a dropkick.12:00LOSS
26 JUL1989Fujisawa, Kanagawa1,600Yoshiaki Yatsu & Shunji Takano defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Brunzell submitted to Yatsu’s Prison Deathlock.6:33LOSS
28 JUL1989Kiryu, Gunma2,300 · TVShunji Takano & Kenta Kobashi defeated Tom Zenk & Jim Brunzell; Kobashi pinned Brunzell after a blockbuster suplex.14:31LOSS
04
Summer at ringside

Action Photos

Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989
Summer Action Series — ringside action, July 1989

38 images · click any image to enlarge

05
Life on tour

Behind the Scenes

Tom Zenk and Jim Brunzell during the July 1989 tour.

Tom Zenk and Jim Brunzell — Japan, July 1989

1 images · click any image to enlarge

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