Zach Gowen

Infobox Wrestler
name = Zach Gowen
names = Zach Gowan
Zach Gowen
Tenacious Z


height = height|ft=6|in=1
weight = convert|169|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|1983|3|30
death_date =
birth_place = Livonia, Michigan
death_place =
resides =Flint, Michigan
billed =Flint, Michigan
trainer = Truth Martini
Tommy Johnson
debut = March 16, 2002
retired =

Zachary Gowen (born March 30 1983) is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on their "SmackDown!" brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

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, as according to his doctors and parents, he would have died if the amputation had not been done. 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. He is known for his high-flying ability as well as his "one-legged" moonsault.

Career

Training

In 2002, Zack was trained by Truth Martini and Brian "The Playboy" Shotwell in Livonia, Michigan. The training school was named House of Truth by Student Tom Balish. Popular workers that trained and worked out there include Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Jimmy Jacobs and many other popular Mid-East indy wrestlers.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003, 2005, 2006)

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 at the "Slammiversary" pay-per-view, losing in a six way match. He also appeared on "TNA Impact!", wrestling Mikey Batts to a no contest before leaving the promotion once again later that year. In October 2006, at Bound For Glory, 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.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2003-2004)

He made his World Wrestling Entertainment 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, giving him the American flag he 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 entered the ring to aid him. His legless condition was later revealed when, in a fit of rage on an episode of "SmackDown!", Roddy Piper attacked him and pulled his prosthetic leg, and it came off. This began a short collaboration of Gowen and Hogan leading to an angle with Roddy Piper (accompanied by Vince McMahon and Sean O'Haire) being defeated at Judgment Day by Mr. America (accompanied by Gowen).

Following Gowen's refusal to join the Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club, on July 3, 2003 Gowen and Stephanie McMahon were forced to face off against 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 help from then-faces Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, the team of Gowen and McMahon were able to defeat the Big Show and thus win Gowen a WWE contract as per the stipulations of the match.

Gowen later faced 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 then-WWE Champion and the heel gimmick 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, in an attempt to further impress Mr McMahon, threw him down a flight of stairs, at the New Orleans Arena. 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 for his attitude problems.

Independent circuit (2004-Present)

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 Championship Wrestling, IWA East Coast, and more.

In Juggalo Championship Wrestling Zach Gowen began wrestling as a heel on the first episode of "Slam TV". As the weeks and months passed by, the juggalos began to appreciate Gowen more for his talent, and he also began to appreciate the juggalos. Gowen still works for JCW and, after turning from heel to face during a singles run, he became part of a tag team known as the Pimp and Gimp Connection, Zach's gimmick being that of a hypothetical gimp whilst his partner, Human Tornado, is billed as a Pimp. The two recently entered an 8 team elimination match for the (then) vacant JCW Tag Team titles at the Gathering of the Juggalos 2007 which were later won by Mad Man Pondo and the Necro Butcher.

In All American Wrestling, he is also a part of the "Michigan Invasion" heel stable (along with fellow Michigan wrestlers 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.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2007-04.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - April 2007 | accessdate=2008-07-04|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] They would then go on to lose the titles to Trik Davis and Conrad Kennedy III in a 4-way elimination match on June 16 2007.

Ring of Honor (2006, 2008-Present)

Gowen made his Ring of Honor debut on October 7 2006, losing to Delirious in a singles match. Gowen would later return to ROH on February 22 2008 in Deer Park, New York, immediately aligning himself with the The Age of the Fall.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Unisault" (Moonsault using his only leg)
**"Zach Attack" (Leg drop bulldog)
**Springboard moonsault
**Running single leg dropkick
**Modified figure four leglock
**Swinging neckbreaker

*Nicknames
**Z

*Theme music
**"Out of My Way" by Seether
**"The Haunted" by Walls of Jericho (w/h scream intro) as part of Age of the Fall

Championships and accomplishments

*All American Wrestling
**AAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Krotch [cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/All_American_Wrestling.htm | title=All American Wrestling Title Histories| accessdate=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com]

*Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling
**CAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/capw/ | title=Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling | accessdate=2008-07-07|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com]

*Independent Wrestling Revolution
**IWR King of the Indies Championship (1 time)
**IWR Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kamikaze

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2003) [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm|accessdate=2008-07-27|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]
**PWI Rookie of the Year (2003)

*TZW
**TZW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Super Meetsee

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Worst Worked Match of the Year (2006) TNA Reverse Battle Royal at Bound for Glory

Notes

References

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/z/zach-gowan.html Profile at onlineworldofwrestling.com]
* [http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003_/articles/1061304155.php Interview at Lords of Pain]

External links

*MySpace|id=zachgowen|name=Zach Gowen
*imdb name|id=1324906|name=Zach Gowen
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/z/zach-gowan.html Online World Of Wrestling Profile]
* [http://prowrestlingpress.com/gowen.html ProWrestlingPress.com Zach Gowen Interview]