tomnbrin

Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk

FLYING HIGH !!!!

by Don Liable, Wrestling Eye, September, 1990

"Great wrestlers are honest, hardworking craftsmen engaged in a wholesome direction of energy for the entertainment of the fans. Success is a journey, not a destination. It's easy to be ordinary but it takes guts to excel," the legendary "Kangaroo" Al Costello once said. When surveying such a precise definition of the modern era grappler, Tom Zenk and "Flying" Brian Pillman immediately come to mind as perfect examples for Costello's principles. These two young men are redefining the level of excellence in tag team competition in the National Wrestling Alliance with each match they accept. The duo has already captured the United States tag championship, and experts are confidently predicting that more titles will be coming their way in the very near future.

Youth, talent and keeping success in perspective are all working positively for Zenk and Pillman. While they may not be the mightiest or perhaps the quickest wrestlers competing on the NWA roster, they certainly use what skills they possess to stay several steps ahead of the competition. When you look at the future of the NWA, Tom and "Flying" Brian are among the brightest stars shining.

It wasn't easy and they didn't expect it would be. However, their efforts certainly paid off last February when they captured the U.S. tag titles from the Fabulous Freebirds. Winning a championship together so soon came as a surprise to the fans. Most people knew Pillman and Zenk were bound for glory but didn't calculate it happening with less than six months of preparation.

Both wrestlers arrived in the NWA in the summer of 1989. With a full year of duty completed, the team of Zenk and Pillman have received top grades on their report cards by all.

Both men are similar in wrestling style, favoring an aerial attack utilizing the top turnbuckle as a launching pad so it was only a matter of time before they combined their skills. In fact, Zenk and Pillman have been accused of spending as much time in the air dishing out flying body blocks and drop-kicks as they are on their feet. As their opponents continue to learn, Zenk and Pillman are doubly dangerous in whatever section of the ring they patrol. It was this style that propelled them through the U.S. tag tournament with Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin in the finals.

It's obvious by observing their wild and sadistic actions in the ring that The Fabulous Freebirds have yet to get over the embarrassment of being defeated in the U.S. tournament. The feud between both teams rages on. Hayes and Garvin continue pushing hard for rematches with Zenk and Pillman. However, as anxious as the Freebirds are, it hasn't been easy for Zenk and Pillman to meet them in the squared circle because they have commitments with other opponents.

Tom and Brian realize how fortunate they are to be wearing the title belts and are treating each match as if it were their last. It wasn't easy getting the gold and Zenk and Pillman are anxious not to lose it. Caution is constantly exercised each time they step in the ring.

Both wrestlers have impressive resumes in professional wrestling and other sports. Pillman, hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, 6'1" and 225 lbs., has come a long way in only four years on the pro mat circuit. After racking up an All-American college football stay at the University of Ohio, Brian played professionally for two years, with the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals before entering the wrestling world.

"Flying" Brian learned his craft in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with promoter Stu Hart's Stampede wrestling group. He teamed with Bruce Hart to form "Bad Company", a tag team that was wildly successful. Pillman quickly blossomed into an exciting performer, just like his childhood hero "Flying" Fred Curry did several years ago.

On February 7, 1989 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Tom Zenk came very close to wrestling immortality. Zenk, 6'2" and 245 lbs., entered an American Wrestling Association Battle Royal. The victor of wrestling's most dangerous match would be declared the new heavyweight titleist of that league.

When the dust cleared from the mat, Larry Zbyszko and Tom Zenk were the final two contestants battling for the belt. Unfortunately for Zenk, Zbyszko eliminated him to win the match and championship.

Setbacks and disappointments haven't slowed the progress of Tom or "Flying" Brian, but has been a motivator for them. Jim Cornette's Midnight Express and The Wild Samoans, two of the top ranked contenders for the U.S. tag belts, have found just how difficult it is to take on Zenk and Pillman. So far, they have been unsuccessful at lifting the gold from Zenk and Pillman.

However, don't underestimate The Midnight Express. Eaton and Lane have not only held the U.S. title before but the world belts have been theirs as well. While Jim Cornette is by no means a physical threat to Zenk or Pillman he is a proven master of deception and manipulation around ringside. When the two teams have clashed, the Express have been terribly disappointed with the results. There was one time when Cornette and his men had luck but it wasn't during a match-up directly with Pillman or Zenk. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an eight-man tag was agreed by four of the premier tag units in the NWA today.

Cornette's Express joined forces with The Fabulous Freebirds to get their win (technically but certainly not morally) at the expense of the Rock 'N Roll Express: Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson with Tom and Brian on their side. The U.S. title didn't change owners, but the ill-will felt amongst all the participants escalated to an all-time high. When referee Nick Patrick was looking in the opposite direction, Cornette, out of desperation whacked Robert Gibson on the head with his "loaded" tennis racket. Bobby Eaton quickly made the pin on his groggy foe and exited the ring.

You don't see Ole Anderson's masked Minnesota Wrecking Crew around the NWA anymore. Guess why? Zenk and Pillman ran them out almost as fast as they came onto the scene. Ole bragged how rugged his boys were, but after mixing it up with the U.S. tag champs, soon learned they weren't even close to being in the same league as Tom and Brian.




Tom and Brian versus ....	....The Royal Family

'If there is a weakness between the U.S. tag champs, it remains wrestling's best kept secret.'

With all the success Zenk and Pillman have found in tag action, they haven't ruled out singles competition. On April 21, in Hammond, Indiana, Tom Zenk pinned The Royal Family's Jack Victory. On that same card, "Flying" Brian whipped the Cuban Assassin in under three minutes. If there is a weakness between the U.S. tag champs, it remains wrestling's best kept secret.

There's no denying that Zenk and Pillman are popular athletes. The female followers of the NWA have taken an extreme interest in the handsome duo. The U.S. champs also garner respect from their fellow athletes. "Trying to wear Zenk and Pillman down in a match is a lost cause. Both guys are "gym rats". They spend more time in the weight rooms working out on the road as they see the inside of their hotel rooms. A commitment of excellence is what brought them to the U.S. tag title and it's that line of thinking which is keeping them ahead of the midnight Express, Wild Samoans and all the others," Johnny Ace grudgingly admitted.

Honest, they are. Zenk and Pillman don't hold back any feelings when asked questions during interviews. They feel The Rock 'N Roll Express would give them one of their best matches and test their level of endurance to the highest level yet. Both teams enjoy a close relationship and they have nothing but respect for each other - so when contracts are signed, it promises to be a tough challenge.

Since Zenk and Pillman want to continue as a tag team, a match against The Rock 'N Roll Express would be taking them in the right direction for a shot at the world championship. Even though heated feelings during the match could break the friendship, Zenk and Pillman are willing to take that risk.

No one told them wrestling was going to be easy, and these two lions don't expect any breaks. Gifted with an abundance of athletic ability, Zenk and Pillman see the sky as the limit of their profession.

back to September 11 features