Ring Debut

Section 01

A New Wrestling Frontier

Rapid City Journal report about the USA Pro Wrestling tour — Rapid City Journal · February 7, 1984

In January 1984, USA Pro Wrestling arrived with a bold plan: a 32-city Upper Midwest circuit, four weekly live events and Monday television tapings in Minneapolis.

Tom Remembers

“Bill Ash was booker and I believe the guys came in because of him, but the whole thing was a bust from the start.”

Tom Zenk

Section 02

Territory Wars

At this time, the country was divided into closely regulated wrestling ‘territories’ with promoters, such as Wally Karbo, jealously guarding their territory against ‘outsiders’. However smaller towns and cities were being ignored by the established promoters with local fans receiving only a few cards a year.

A group of nine anonymous Minnesota investors saw a void in the Upper Midwest as far as wrestling went. Pete Bissonette, a spokesman for the group, and Skip Sponsel, the president, had some innovative ideas and were ready to go.

The group, known as “USA Pro Wrestling”, had leased a ring, sound and light equipment and technicians to run the equipment, motor homes for touring, a PR firm, TV cameramen, and fourteen wrestlers who were not under local contract, including several beginners in the game — Tom Zenk, Rick Renslow, and George Wells from the Canadian Football League.

This brought them into direct competition with Verne Gagne’s AWA territory and Wally Karbo.

Star Tribune January 13, 1984 article, first page

Star Tribune January 13, 1984 article, continuation

Star Tribune February 24, 1984 report on USA Pro Wrestling — Minnesota Star Tribune · February 24, 1984

Section 03

Meet Tom Zenk

Before the first bell, USA Pro needed photographs that could sell a newcomer. These early portraits present Tom as a clean-cut athletic prospect — part bodybuilder, part traditional babyface.

Tom Zenk in yellow trunks — USA Pro prospect

Black-and-white official portrait of Tom Zenk — Official portrait

Tom Zenk in a promotional bodybuilding pose — Promotional pose

Section 04

Official Tour Brochure

Tom Zenk feature from the USA Pro Wrestling programme

Tom Remembers

“The only ‘name’ was pro-footballer George Wells. Oh and Tommy Gilbert, Jerry Valiant and Gary Lawler — you get the picture.”

Tom Zenk on the USA Pro roster

Section 05

George O’Brien Remembers

I went to one of the first tour cards in Duluth, Minnesota on 22 February 1984. The crowd was sparse since TV advertising had been almost non-existent, but there were at least 300 present. There were five bouts in all. Quality was fair to middling as the guys were new to the circuit, and most inexperienced and a bit hesitant. But the light and sound show hyped them up.

Tom Zenk went up against a ‘good-old boy’ heavy, Bill Ash. I believe Ash was Tom’s opponent in his ring debut earlier in the month. Ash was promoted as a redneck resulting in a classic Northern versus Southern angle. Though chubbier and smaller than Tom, Ash won through greater ring experience and heel tactics after 18 minutes of a scheduled 20-minute bout.

After the show, I talked with Zenk, Gary Lowler and Todd Cooley as we worked our way out of the arena into a cold Minnesota winter parking lot. The guys needed to eat and get to the motor home for the trip back to the Twin Cities. But they were all upbeat and hoped the promotion would be a success.

I personally saw only two of their cards. I believe that in the short time they were in business, they presented around six cards — at least two in the Twin Cities, and some on the road like the Duluth show. If memory serves, the guys mentioned having been on the road in Iowa.

The second USA Pro Wrestling show I managed to catch was the promotion’s last. It was held at the Carlton Supper Club in Minneapolis on March 27, 1984. There were eight matches on the card; some new wrestlers had been added.

The match largely reprised the themes of the earlier show. George Wells, the new USA Pro heavyweight champion, was smoother and won his match against the same opponent. Tom Zenk had a new import, but the script was the same. Tom lost to the heel at 18 minutes.

Tom Zenk waiting in a USA Pro Wrestling ring — Waiting for the opening bell · Early 1984

Tom Zenk applying a hold in an early USA Pro Wrestling match — Learning the trade · Early 1984

Section 06

The End of the Experiment

“It was a bust from the start.”

“The money-men were weak on their end — the money. Eventually they asked us to work for less than the original guarantee. That killed it and the promotion folded in late April 1984.” — Tom Zenk

USA Pro Wrestling folded right after the March Carlton Club show. The wrestlers who held 30% of the franchise were holding out for more.

When George O’Brien talked to Pete Bissonette in June 1984, Bissonette said the investors decided to pull the plug since the payoff was too far ahead and, with dissension among the wrestlers, they felt it was not worth continuing.

Most of the wrestlers were blackballed in Minnesota for working with another promotion on traditional AWA ‘territory’. But Tom Zenk, George Wells and another young Minnesotan, Glenn Lieske, went on to the AWA, as did Rick Renslow who became another “Alaskan”.