Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

39. 1984: Tom Zenk & Keiichi Yamada

Essa Rios Lita
WWE.com

Tom Zenk was a handsome, athletic worker who by all accounts had an even higher opinion of himself than the WON voter base. He rubbed more experienced colleagues the wrong way, priced himself out of the WWF, and didn't do enough in WCW to warrant his self-promotion. He was really good, but never great, and he thought he was great. Then again, in a business like wrestling, you have to think you're great.

He died at 59 in 2017 in of cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis.

Keiichi Yamada co-won the award. That is Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, one of the most influential and acclaimed wrestlers of all time. A hybrid worker before that was even a style, his innovative aerial prowess and improvisational brilliance changed the industry dramatically. He now commentates for NJPW having finally retired in January 2020.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!