Zach Gowen

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Template:Short description Template:Update Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler Zachary Mark Gowen (born March 30, 1983) is an American professional wrestler and promoter. He is primarily known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment from 2003 and with other promotions such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Ring of Honor (ROH) and Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling (XICW).

Gowen's left leg was amputated when he was eight years old. He was the second amputee to compete in WWE after Kerry Von Erich.<ref name="OWW"/>

Early life

Gowen was diagnosed with cancer as a child, and lost his left leg due to amputation at the age of eight.<ref name="OWW"/> He was a fan of professional wrestling from a young age, and cites Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio as two of his favorite wrestlers.<ref name="Wojcik">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gowen is an alumnus at Churchill High School in Livonia, Michigan, Class of 2001.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

After being trained by Truth Martini, Gowen made his professional wrestling debut on March 16, 2002, in a loss to Martini.<ref name="OWW"/> While training Gowen made the decision to wrestle without his prosthetic leg as he found it difficult to wrestle with the "dead weight".<ref name="Wojcik"/>

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. On the January 29 NWATNA PPV, Tenacious Z defeated Truth Martini in a dark match. On the February 5 NWATNA PPV, Tenacious Z defeated B.G. James. On the February 12 NWATNA PPV, Tenacious Z, Ron Killings and Jorge Estrada defeated BG James, Glenn Gilbertti and Mike Sanders. Afterwards Gowen left TNA, opting not to sign an official contract on the advice of Martini, who advised him WWE were likely to offer him a contract.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> In February 2003, Gowan signed a development contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).<ref name="OWW"/><ref name="auto"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next month, Gowen wrestled at the Slammiversary pay-per-view, losing in a six-way match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared on TNA Impact!, wrestling Mikey Batts to a no contest before leaving the promotion once again later that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World Wrestling Entertainment (2003–2004)

He made his World Wrestling Entertainment debut on the May 15, 2003 episode of SmackDown! as a planted fan in the audience, who attempted to help Mr. America when he was being attacked by Roddy Piper and Sean O'Haire. During the segment, Piper pulled off Gowen's prosthetic leg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This began a short collaboration of Gowen and Mr. America, and a feud pitting the two against Roddy Piper and Sean O'Haire. This storyline culminated at the Judgment Day pay-per-view on May 18 when Mr. America, accompanied by Gowen, defeated Piper, who was accompanied by O'Haire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gowen's partnership with Mr. America put him on bad terms with Mr. McMahon, as McMahon was convinced Mr. America was Hulk Hogan in disguise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the June 26 episode of SmackDown!, McMahon told Gowen that if he would join his "Kiss My Ass Club", he would be awarded a WWE contract. Instead Gowen attacked McMahon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, Gowen and Stephanie McMahon were put in a match against Big Show on the July 3 episode of SmackDown!, in what McMahon 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 both Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, Gowen and Stephanie McMahon defeated Big Show, winning Gowen a contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gowen's win further fueled the ill-feelings toward him from Mr. McMahon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This feud culminated in a one-on-one match between the two at Vengeance on July 27 in which McMahon defeated Gowen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gowen then lost several singles matches to wrestlers including Shannon Moore, Nunzio, and John Cena, with Gowen being attacked by Matt Hardy, Moore's mentor, following each loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The storyline was cut short on the August 21 episode of SmackDown!, when Gowen defeated Brock Lesnar by disqualification after Lesnar broke Gowen's leg in storyline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gowen was absent from television for nearly a month, returning in an interview on the October 2 episode of SmackDown! promoting his in-ring return for the following week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his in-ring return, Gowen lost to Moore following interference from Hardy, reigniting their feud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, Gowen and Hardy faced off in a singles match at No Mercy on October 19, which Gowen won.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the October 23 episode of SmackDown!, Gowen lost to Tajiri in a singles match, and afterward was attacked by two of Tajiri's associates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gowen did not return to WWE television due to suffering an injury, and was later released from his WWE contract on February 4, 2004.<ref name="OWW"/><ref name="Wojcik"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Independent circuit (2004–present)

Following his release from WWE, Gowen decided to focus on his education and work limited professional wrestling dates.<ref name="Wojcik"/> He appeared for several independent promotions, including Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (IWA Mid-South) where he played the character of an egotistical heel (villain).<ref name="Wojcik"/> Gowen was part of the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup in 2004.<ref name="Wojcik"/>

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, Gowen and his mystery partner Krotch defeated "Michigan Invasion" members Truth Martini and "Amazing" N8 Mattson to become new AAW Tag Team Champions.<ref name="AAW">Template:Cite web</ref> They then lost the championship to Trik Davis and Conrad Kennedy III in a four-way elimination match on June 16, 2007.

File:Handicapped Heroes.jpg
The Handicapped Heroes - Gregory Iron (left) and Gowen - at an independent show in April 2014

In a circus-based independent wrestling promotion, Squared Circle Revue, Gowen portrays a one-legged boy, under the ring name, Pogo The 1 Legged Boy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Prime Wrestling, Gowen formed a tag team with Gregory Iron known as "The Handicapped Handguns". The duo defeated The Dead Wrestling Society in January 2013 to become the Prime Tag Team Champions. They held the championship for three months, until losing it to Marion Fontaine and Jeremy Madrox on April 19.<ref name="Primetag">Template:Cite web</ref> As the "Handicapped Heroes", Gowen and Iron also won the Clash Tag Team Championship on April 27.<ref name="Clashtag"/> On October 20, 2013, The Handicapped Heroes regained the Prime Tag Team Championship.<ref name="Prime2tag">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ring of Honor (2006, 2008, 2010)

Gowen made his Ring of Honor (ROH) 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 Age of the Fall. On November 12, 2010, he appeared at an ROH show in Detroit, where he was announced as the newest member of Truth Martini's House of Truth faction. He teamed with ROH World Champion Roderick Strong and Michael Elgin in a loss to the Briscoe Brothers and Christopher Daniels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a tag team loss to Grizzly Redwood and Bobby Dempsey at the following day's event in Toronto, Elgin and Martini turned on Gowen and kicked him out of the House of Truth.<ref name=ROH111310>Template:Cite web</ref>

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2007–2008; 2011–present)

Gowen debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling as a part of their 2007 internet wrestling show SlamTV!.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 1">Template:Cite video</ref> Initially a villain, his hard work ethic and wrestling abilities earned him the respect of the juggalo audience, per storyline.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 1"/> Following a failed attempt to win the JCW Heavyweight Championship from then-champion Trent Acid, Gowen formed the tag team Pimp & Gimp Connection with Human Tornado.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 2">Template:Cite video</ref> The team made an immediate impact and earned themselves a spot in the 8 Team Tag-Team Elimination match for the JCW Tag Team Championship at Bloodymania.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 2"/> They failed to capture the championship after Gowen was eliminated by Doug Basham.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 2"/>

In the following season, Gowen formed a tag team with Conrad Kennedy to compete in the JCW Tag Team Tournament for the vacant championship.<ref name="SlamTV2-1">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Tornado, though, saw villainous manager Scott D'Amore leaving Kennedy's dressing room and grew suspicious.<ref name="SlamTV2-2">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Two weeks later, Kennedy attacked Gowen after the team lost their match against The Bloody Brothers. Human Tornado ran into the ring to save Gowen, forcing Kennedy to retreat to the stage, where Scott D'Amore met with him.<ref name="SlamTV2-4">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The following week, a match was set for Bloodymania II between Pimp & Gimp Connection and Conrad Kennedy with a mystery partner.<ref name="SlamTV2-5">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The match, however, was scrapped after Gowen legitimately no-showed the event.

Gowen returned to the company on March 23, 2011, where he defeated Jimmy Jacobs. He formed a tag team at Up in Smoke with U-Gene, who believed that he could be Gowen's second leg. Though U-Gene cost his team the match by distracting the referee, Gowen forgave him and announced that the team would wrestle again at the next event. On July 28, Gowen and U-Gene defeated the Ring Rydas to win the JCW Tag Team Championship.<ref name="JCWTag">Template:Cite web</ref> However, Gowen forfeited the championship after realizing that U-Gene cheated to win, causing U-Gene to attack him and disband the team.<ref name="JCWTag"/> Both men wrestled each other at Bloodymania 5, with Gowen emerging victorious after U-Gene was caught cheating again.<ref name="JCWTag"/>

All Elite Wrestling (2025)

Gowen made his All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut on the May 8, 2025 episode of Collision as an audience member. During the show, he would be attacked by Ricochet, who proceeded to steal his prosthetic leg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 14 at Dynamite: Beach Break, Gowen was defeated by Ricochet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Gowen attended Eastern Michigan University, where he studied Secondary Education and Mathematics.<ref name="Wojcik"/> He has four children with his wife.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, Gowen competed in the Indianapolis qualifying round of the eighth season of American Ninja Warrior. He fell on the third obstacle, the fly wheels, and did not move on to the city finals.

Gowen released a memoir, "High Risk Maneuvers" in 2018 and currently tours as a motivational speaker for kids.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2023, He delivered a presentation titled "Don't Quit Your Daydream" at Western Nevada College. During this event, he recounted overcoming significant life obstacles, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and self-belief.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Championships and accomplishments

  • 3XWrestling
    • 3XW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • All American Wrestling
  • Blue Water Championship Wrestling
    • BWCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="OWW"/>
  • CLASH Wrestling
  • Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling
  • Cleveland Wrestling Alliance
    • CWA Latino Velez Memorial Championship (1 time)
  • Independent Wrestling Revolution
    • IWR King of the Indies Championship (1 time)
    • IWR Tag Team Championships (1 time) - with Kamikaze
  • Michigan Championship Wrestling Association
    • MCWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Mid American Wrestling
  • Mr. Chainsaw Productions Wrestling
    • MCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gregory Iron<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Prime Wrestling
    • Prime Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Gregory Iron<ref name="Primetag"/><ref name="Prime2tag"/>
  • Pro Wrestling All-Stars Of Detroit
    • PWASD Downriver Championship (1 time)
    • PWASD Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gregory Iron<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Pro Wrestling Syndicate
  • Pure Pro Wrestling
  • Twin Wrestling Entertainment
    • Nacho Cup (2006)
  • Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling

References

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Template:AAW Tag Team Championship Template:Juggalo Championship Wrestling employees

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