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Zach Gowen, (born on March 30, 1983 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for both of the top US promotions: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on their SmackDown! brand, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
| Zach Gowen | |
|---|---|
| File:Gowen.jpg | |
| Born | March 30, 1983 Livonia, Michigan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Zach Gowan Zach Gowen Tenacious Z |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Billed weight | 155 lb (71 kg) |
| Trained by | Truth Martini Tommy Johnson |
| Debut | March 16, 2002 |
Gowen was diagnosed with cancer as a child. Because of that, he lost his leg at the age of 8. It was a necessary move: according to his doctors and parents, had the amputation not been done, Zach would have died.
Gowen walks with a prosthesis and claims he can wrestle with or without it. However, he wrestles most of his matches without it due to the inherent marketability of seeing a one-legged wrestler compete. Known for his high-flying ability as well as his "one-legged" moonsault, Gowen was a fan favorite simply for the spectacle.
Career
Gowen was determined to become a wrestler since he was a young child, and he spent a good portion of his teenage years training towards that goal. On March 16, 2002, he finally achieved his dream, when he debuted in the Independent Wrestling Revolution, losing to Truth Martini. On April 26, 2002 , he earned his first win, over Almighty Ray.
WWE
He made his WWE debut on the May 15, 2003 edition of SmackDown! as a planted fan in the audience. As Mr. America (a masked Hulk Hogan) was making his way to the ring he acknowledged Gowen personally as a loyal fan near the walkway by giving him the American flag Mr. America was carrying. Later, when Mr. America was being unfairly beaten by Roddy Piper and Sean O'Haire, Gowen jumped the wall dividing the fans from the wrestler's walkway and jumped into the ring to aid him. This began a short collaboration of the two leading to an angle with Vince McMahon, then heel, Roddy Piper and Mr. America and Gowen's first matches. On July 3, 2003 Gowen and then baby face, Stephanie McMahon faced off against then SmackDown! star, Big Show in what Vince billed as the first "real" handicap match (referring to Gowen and his amputee status in addition to the two vs. one parameters of the match). With run-in help from then WWE Star, Kurt Angle and then baby face/WWE star, Brock Lesnar, the team of Gowen and McMahon were able to defeat the Big Show and thus won Gowen a WWE contract as per the stipulations of the match.
Gowen later faced off with and lost to Vince McMahon at the Vengeance 2003 pay-per-view. As a result of his feud with McMahon, Gowen was forced into a match with former WWE Champion the heel version of Brock Lesnar. In his hometown of Detroit, Gowen won via DQ when Lesnar attacked him with a steel chair. After the match, the assault continued. With his family watching at ringside, Gowen's only leg was destroyed when Lesnar F5ed him, propelling his leg into the steel ring post. A few weeks later, Lesnar kidnapped Gowen (now confined to a wheelchair) and threw him down a flight of stairs, at the New Orleans Arena (but this cut-scene was done with someone portraying Gowen; you can see that the "prosthetic" leg is a real leg with careful examination). As a result, (On July 31, 2003) Gowen was the object of a feature report on SmackDown!. When he returned, Gowen defeated then heel, Matt Hardy at No Mercy before being released from WWE in February 2004.
TNA
Gowen first gained national exposure wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling during early 2003 under the name Tenacious Z, but soon left TNA after signing a developmental contract for World Wrestling Entertainment.
Gowen later returned to TNA on May 15, 2005 at their Hard Justice pay-per-view event, as the second entrant in the 20-Man Gauntlet for the Gold match. He lasted just under five minutes in the ring before being eliminated by Shark Boy. The next month, Gowen wrestled for their Slammiversary pay-per-view, losing in a six way match. He also appeared on TNA iMPACT!, wrestling Mikey Batts to a no contest. Gowen left the promotion once again later that year. At TNA Bound For Glory 2006, Gowen returned to TNA during the Kevin Nash X-Division Open Battle Royal Gauntlet match as the sixth entrant, but was eliminated by Johnny Devine.
Independents
Gowen made his Ring of Honor debut on October 7, 2006, losing to Delirious in a match featured on ROH's video website, ROHVideos.com.
Although Gowen has taken a hiatus from the world of televised professional wrestling to pursue his college degree at Eastern Michigan University, he continues to appear in his hometown of Detroit for Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Revolution. He also travels and appears for independent promotions such as Border City Wrestling, All American Wrestling, NWA Wisconsin, Cleveland All Pro Wresting, Juggalo Championshit Wrestling, IWA East Coast, and more.
In Juggalo Championshit Wrestling Zach Gowen is a heel and goes under the name "Dickhead" Zach Gowen.
In AAW, he is also a part of the "Michigan Invasion" heel group along with fellow Michiganders Truth Martini, "Amazing" N8 Mattson, Eddie Venom and Brian Gorie.
On April 14, 2007, Zach Gowen and his mystery partner Krotch defeated "Michigan Invasion" members Truth Martini and "Amazing" N8 Mattson to become new AAW Tag Team Champions.
Finishing and signature moves
- Uni-Sault (Top rope moonsault using his only leg)
- Zack Attack (leg drop bulldog)
- Springboard moonsault
- Single leg dropkick
- Modified figure four leglock
- Modified Swinging neckbreaker (Nicknamed "Handicap Parking")
- Buff Blockbuster
Nicknames
- #1 Mr.America Fan
- Z
Championships and accomplishments
- All American Wrestling
- AAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) (with Crotch, current)
- Independent Wrestling Revolution
- IWR Tag Team Championship (1 time, with Kamikaze)
- IWR King of the Indies Championship (1 time)
- TZW Tag Team Championship (1 time, with Super Meetsee)
- Midwest Wrestling United
- MWU Light Heavyweight Title (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Rookie of the Year Award (2003)
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award (2003)
- Others
- CAPW Jr. Heavyweight Champion (1 time)