| Name | Mike Rotunda |
|---|---|
| Names | Captain MikeIrwin R. SchysterMichael WallstreetMike DrondMike RotundaMike RotundoMr. WallstreetV.K. Wallstreet |
| Height | |
| Birth date | March 30, 1958 |
| Birth place | St. Petersburg, FloridaWashington, D.C. (as IRS/Wallstreet)Sioux City, IowaMike attended Owego Free Academy In Owego New York, and his parents live in Newark Valley New York, |
| Trainer | Dick Beyer |
| Debut | October 22, 1981 |
| Retired | 2004 |
Later in the year, Rotunda joined the National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Jim Crockett Promotions, where he lingered at mid-card level as a face before turning heel and joining Kevin Sullivan's Varsity Club, a group of wrestlers with amateur wrestling credentials. Rotunda began bickering with fellow Varsity Club member Rick Steiner, a graduate of the University of Michigan, over which of the two had a superior alma mater. This in turn led to the two arguing over which of them was the superior wrestler.
Rotunda went on to win the NWA World Television Championship from Nikita Koloff in January 1988 and subsequently gave the Florida title to Steiner. He then began a feud with Jimmy Garvin because Sullivan wanted Garvin's wife Precious. Steiner eventually left the group and began feuding with Rotunda, with the enemies trading the Television Championship before Rotunda lost the title to Sting.
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Dan Spivey joined the Varsity Club in late 1988, and Rotunda teamed with Williams to win the NWA World Tag Team Championships from the Road Warriors. Referee Theodore Long turned heel during the match and administered a fast count, enabling Rotunda and Williams to overcome the champions. Long went on to become a manager following the controversial officiating.
In May 1989, Williams and Rotunda were stripped of their titles and shortly after Sullivan and Rotunda concluded a feud with the Steiner Brothers Rotunda briefly left the NWA. He returned in 1990 as a face, using the maritime gimmick Captain Mike Rotunda. He formed a "crew" consisting of Abdullah the Butcher and Norman the Lunatic and feuded with Kevin Sullivan's new stable, "Sullivan's Slaughterhouse" (Cactus Jack, Buzz Sawyer, and Bam Bam Bigelow).
In mid-1990, Rotunda turned heel again and became Michael Wallstreet with Alexandra York and her computer as his manager. They founded the York Foundation. The two would claim to have the ability to pick how to win the match and how long it would take for Wallstreet to become victorious. In this brief run he was undefeated and often a timer was present on screen to further the duo's claim. The partnership was a brief one, as Rotunda left the NWA for a bigger role in the WWF in early 1991.
After Money Inc. was disbanded due to Ted DiBiase retiring from wrestling on a performing basis, Rotunda went back to singles wrestling. Rotunda's biggest singles feud was with Razor Ramon. He also engaged in a feud with Tatanka, who he accused of failing to pay a gift tax on a sacred headdress. Rotunda would join Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation stable, going on to often team with fellow member Bam Bam Bigelow while trying to regain tag team gold. Rotunda later refocused again on singles wrestling, feuding with The Undertaker in a long rivalry, with both gaining momentum leading up to their clash at the 1995 Royal Rumble. This included I.R.S. defeating many jobbers on Monday Night Raw, re-possessing the headstone of a child, and also interfering in a Casket Match between The Undertaker and Yokozuna. When the two eventually squared off, the Undertaker was victorious following a chokeslam, but was thwarted when his urn was stolen after the match. Later in 1995, Rotunda suffered an injury at the hands of Lex Luger, which resulted in a shattered disc after being hit in the chin. During the healing process, Rotunda was given a role as an agent, but he again went to World Championship Wrestling to wrestle on a full time basis.
Rotunda was rehired by WWE as a road agent in 2006, and has made face appearances (like some other retired wrestlers) as Irwin R. Schyster. One such appearance was on the August 6, 2007 edition of WWE Raw; Mr. McMahon was discussing his IRS troubles with Jonathan Coachman, and when the conversation ended, Rotunda lowered the paper covering his face (The Financial Times) and revealed himself.
Rotunda appeared as I.R.S. on the December 10, 2007 15th Anniversary edition of Raw, winning a 15 man Battle Royal, only to be paid off by his former tag team partner Ted DiBiase to eliminate himself and give DiBiase the win.
Category:1958 births Category:American professional wrestlers Category:American sport wrestlers Category:Living people Category:People from Syracuse, New York Category:Professional wrestling trainers
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| Name | Tom Zenk |
|---|---|
| Names | Tom ZenkZ-Man |
| Height | |
| Weight | |
| Birth date | November 30, 1958 |
| Birth place | Robbinsdale, Minnesota |
| Billed | Robbinsdale, Minnesota |
| Trainer | Eddie SharkeyBrad Rheingans |
| Debut | 1984 |
| Retired | 1996 |
Thomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk (born on November 30, 1958) is a former American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.
However, during this time Zenk tore a muscle while weightlifting and had to take several months off to recover. His physical appearance was quite different upon returning, still muscular, but more slender than before. Upon his return, Zenk began feuding with Arn Anderson over the World Television Championship and later won the title. When the promotion changed its name to World Championship Wrestling in 1991, Zenk officially became the final World Television Champion under the NWA banner and the first under the WCW banner, but he later lost the title back to Anderson. Later that year, he, along with Dustin Rhodes and Big Josh, feuded with the York Foundation and the Fabulous Freebirds over the World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Zenk, Rhodes and Josh later won the title from the Freebirds before losing the title to the York Foundation, who would become the final champions. Zenk left WCW in early 1994 and finished his career in the independents in 1996.
Now retired from wrestling, Zenk is currently working for a small Community Hedge Fund trading Convertible Bond arbitrage.
Following his retirement, Zenk's fans set up a tribute website - see external links below. The site also featured a weekly blog, "Tom Zenk's Column" in which Zenk made commentary about the current state of professional wrestling. He praised the wrestlers that treated him kindly over the years and blasted wrestlers and promoters who he felt had treated him poorly or unfairly or had attained their fame through underhanded tactics. Zenk was always especially critical of the McMahons, Triple H, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page and Hulk Hogan. The blog also often featured comically altered photos of the subjects of his discussion. The blog ended suddenly and Zenk never gave an explanation of why he stopped. The Tom Zenk website continues as a fan tribute.
1The title's name was changed to the WCW World Television Championship due to WCW withdrawing from the NWA after Zenk won it, technically making him the last World Television Champion under the NWA banner and the first under the WCW banner.
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| Name | Robert Rechsteiner |
|---|---|
| Names | Rick SteinerRob Rechsteiner |
| Height | |
| Weight | |
| Birth date | March 09, 1961 |
| Birth place | Bay City, Michigan |
| Resides | Acworth, Georgia |
| Billed | Detroit, Michigan |
| Trainer | Brad RheingansEddie Sharkey |
| Debut | 1983 |
Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling, where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion (seven times with his brother Scott and once with Kenny Kaos). In addition to tag team success, he was also a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a three time World Television Champion. Besides WCW, Steiner also found success in the World Wrestling Federation, where he and Scott won the World Tag Team Championship twice.
The Steiners left the WWF later that year, with Rick stating that he felt that Vince McMahon wasn't following through with promises made to the team. After briefly feuding with both the Warriors and Public Enemy, the Steiners began feuding with the World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat. On July 24 at a house show, the Steiner Brothers defeated Harlem Heat to win the World Tag Team Championship, although they lost the title back to Harlem Heat only three days later. The Steiner Brothers then reclaimed the title after defeating The Outsiders on January 25, 1997 at Souled Out. Rick then faced Kevin Nash for the title at Spring Stampede on April 6 due to Scott Hall not appearing, but was unable to win the title back.
On the October 26 episode of Nitro, Steiner nominated Kenny Kaos as his new tag team partner to hold the World Tag Team Championship with due to Bagwell turning against him after winning the title at Halloween Havoc the previous night. Later on in the night, Steiner and Kaos successfully retained their title against nWo members Stevie Ray and The Giant. On May 9 at Slamboree, Steiner defeated Booker in a rematch to win the World Television Title. After winning the U.S. Heavyweight Title, Steiner began a brief feud with Dustin Rhodes over the title, which culminated at SuperBrawl Revenge with Steiner being victorious in a title match.
At Victory Road, he interfered in the Match of Champions by attacking the referee during Brother Devon's pinfall attempt on Kurt Angle. A month later at Hard Justice, Scott returned to the ring following his recovery and the reunited Steiners defeated Team 3D, beginning a feud with Team 3D. In retaliation to their loss, Team 3D attacked the Steiners, ending with Rick being powerbombed him through a table.
The Steiners returned to TNA in late September to challenge Team 3D in a two out of three falls tables match at Bound for Glory. Team 3D won the first fall after performing the 3D on Rick through a table. However, Brother Ray would take the first loss for his team after Scott performed the frankensteiner on him through a table. The deciding fall came when Scott lifted Ray on his shoulders and Rick performed his signature diving bulldog on Ray through a table, securing the win for the Steiners. On January 29, 2008, Rick Steiner was released due to budget cuts, splitting up the brothers once again.
Category:1961 births Category:American professional wrestlers Category:American sport wrestlers Category:American sportspeople of German descent Category:Living people Category:People from Bay City, Michigan Category:People from Cobb County, Georgia
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| Name | Paul Ellering |
|---|---|
| Names | "Precious" Paul ElleringMr. Dot ComThe Body Doc |
| Birth date | August 22, 1953 |
| Birth place | Melrose, Minnesota |
| Resides | Grey Eagle, Minnesota |
| Trainer | Verne GagneEddie Sharkey |
| Debut | 1978 |
| Retired | 2002 |
Ellering was trained in Minneapolis, Minnesota at a camp run by American Wrestling Alliance (AWA) owner and promoter Verne Gagne and wrestler/trainer Eddie Sharkey in the mid 1970s. According to Ellering's RF Video shoot interview, of the thirty-plus trainees in the camp, only himself and later AWA mid-card wrestler Steve Olsenowsky (a.k.a. Steve O) made it through the camp. Ellering would later go on to wrestle in singles and tag teams for Gagne in the AWA, Bill Watts's Mid-South promotion, and for Jeff Jarrett's Memphis promotion, where he was paired with manager Jimmy Hart. His notable feuds were with Jesse Ventura as a face, and as a heel with Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Valiant, from whom he won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship.
While wrestling for Georgia Championship Wrestling, Ellering severely injured his knee in a match with Robert Gibson, reinjuring it after returning to the ring, which ended his full-time wrestling career. Georgia booker Ole Anderson recognized his speaking ability, however, and gave him a job as a manager. Ellering was also the real-life manager for the team; he booked their matches, lined up their flights, set up hotel reservations, and kept track of their expenses.
He currently owns and operates The Historic Rock Tavern in Grey Eagle, Minnesota on Big Birch Lake. He has a wife named Joan and three children: Rebecca, Rachael and Saul.
Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets Category:American dog mushers Category:American professional wrestlers Category:People from Stearns County, Minnesota Category:1953 births Category:Living people
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| Name | Jimmy Garvin |
|---|---|
| Names | "Gorgeous" Jimmy GarvinBeau JamesJimmy "Jam" Garvin |
| Height | |
| Weight | |
| Birth date | September 25, 1952 |
| Birth place | Tampa, Florida |
| Debut | November 1, 1968 |
| Retired | 1994 |
Throughout his career, Garvin competed in the Mid-Southern and Florida regions, along with World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Since his retirement from professional wrestling, Garvin has become an Airline Transport Pilot.
He toured the Mid-Southern and Florida territories from 1978 until 1983, when he joined World Class Championship Wrestling.
He next moved on to feud with Chris Adams and he replaced Sunshine with his wife Patti under the name of Precious. Precious and Sunshine feuded and Jimmy traded the American Title with Adams until 1984, when Garvin left World Class for the American Wrestling Association. Garvin and Adams would revive their feud ten years later in the Global Wrestling Federation, but the promotion went out of business before that angle got off the ground.
Jimmy turned face and helped Ron feud with the Midnight Express. One of the bigger matches during that feud was when the two teams were matched against each other during the 1987 Jim Crockett Memorial Cup tag team tournament. The Midnight Express won by countout to advance.
Later that year, Jimmy had one of the most memorable feuds in his career with Ric Flair, who was eyeing Precious. He sent her gifts and this caused lots of buildup for a big cage match between Flair and Jimmy during the 1987 Great American Bash stop in Greensboro, North Carolina for Flair's NWA World Title. The stipulation was added that if Flair won the match, he would get a date with Precious. During the match, Jimmy attempted a leap frog at one point but landed on one knee instead of his feet. Pain in the knee was "sold" by him during the rest of the match. This match got so heated that a fan actually attempted to climb into the cage to help Garvin. The fan was apprehended just at the moment he was about to get in. Flair ended up winning the match when he put Jimmy in the figure four leglock, Jimmy blacked out from the pain in his knee and his shoulders hit the mat for a count of three. Ron Garvin then entered the cage when the match was over and attacked Flair in order to defend Jimmy from further damage to his knee. When the date with Precious that Flair won occurred, Flair and James J. Dillon ended up being punched out by Ron Garvin, who was dressed in his "Miss Atlanta Lively" outfit. Just two months later, Ron successfully unseated Flair as NWA World Champion, holding on to the title until Starrcade '87 when Flair regained the belt.
During the 1988 Great American Bash in Baltimore, Maryland held in July, Jimmy and Sullivan each captained 5 men teams opposing each other in the first ever "Tower of Doom" match. This match was actually a copied idea from World Class Championship Wrestling based out of Texas who held a similar match a short while before this. It involved three cages stacked up on top of each other. A member of each team would start out climbing a ladder and facing off in the top cage. Every few minutes, new members from each team would enter the top cage in a similar fashion. Every so often, the doors between the cages would open for ten seconds allowing wrestlers to slip through to the next level. Jimmy's teammates consisted of Ron Garvin, Steve Williams, and the Road Warriors. They were victorious over Sullivan's team but the feud between Jimmy and Sullivan was not quite yet over.
In September 1988, Garvin left to sell a broken leg that he had gotten from Sullivan and Mike Rotunda. On an edition of NWA World Championship Wrestling from the TBS studios, Sullivan broke cement blocks over Jimmy's leg. Jim Ross commentating at the time yelled out "He's breaking blocks all over his leg! Jesus!"
At around this time they also had a manager of sorts, "Little Richard Marley" (wrestler Rocky King).
Garvin is prominently featured in The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling DVD released by World Wrestling Entertainment in late 2007. The DVD was composed of interviews with former WCCW stars as well as footage and matches from various WCCW broadcasts.
Garvin also appeared on an installment of "Legends" on WWE Classics on Demand discussing managers. Garvin spoke on a number of subjects, including the often contentious relationship between Sunshine, Precious and Missy Hyatt, as well as his own experiences as a manager.
1Garvin's reign with the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship occurred after the Mid-Atlantic promotion was sold to Ted Turner in November 1988 and remained World Championship Wrestling. It was also prior to the championship being renamed the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
Category:1952 births Category:American professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:People from Tampa, Florida Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets
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