Walking tall: despite losing a leg to cancer as a kid, the phenomenal Zach Gowen is proving that in the ring he has more than a leg to stand on

Wrestling Digest, Oct, 2003 by Steve Anderson

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IS chock full of tales focused, on accomplishment, failure, happiness, and woe. Whether it's behind-the-scenes action or something played out on television, wrestling can make you laugh, make you cheer, make you boo, or even tug at your heartstrings.

Professional wrestling has also had its share of inspirational stories of those who have overcome obstacles; wrestlers young and old who were faced with real problems and rose above them to go on to great success.

Now we can add Zach Gowen's name to the annals of the inspiring. Like so many of his fellow wrestlers, the 20-year-old Gowen is a physical freak. But what sets Gowen apart isn't the immense bulk of a Brock Lesnar or the dexterity of Rob Van Dam. Gowen is making a name for himself in WWE despite having his left leg amputated seven inches below the hip when he was 12.

Prior to his much-heralded WWE debut, Gowen gained a following with his debut in NWA-TNA as Tenacious Z. In an era where everything is the same, Gowen offered something different. He ambled to the ring, much like any wrestler, to fairly generic entrance music. But before he entered the ring, he stopped outside the apron and removed his leg.

"I feel more mobile that way," he said in a recent interview with The Montreal Gazette. "I can do a lot more without the leg on. It gets in the way, pretty much."

NWA-TNA announcers Don West and Mike Tenay feigned shock at the stunning turn of events. It was more than just the appearance of Tenacious Z, it was what he could do in the ring. The high-flyer employed a lucha libra-style, wowing the fans and confusing his opponents, who underestimated him as an inferior, handicapped opponent.

"I've never seen anyone like Zach, because there's never been anyone like Zach," Tenay said in a recent interview with USA Today. "When WWE fans see Zach execute one-legged moonsaults ... their jaws are going to drop."

And indeed, jaws have dropped. Jaw of not only hardcore wrestling fans, but the casual fans that WWE so desperately needs to bring back into the fold. More importantly, the power structure of WWE's jaws dropped after witnessing his talents and thinking about the potential marketing appeal. Jaws around the world dropped when Gowen made his WWE debut on July 1, 2003, teaming with Stephanie McMahon in a handicap match against the Big Show. And those jaws were on the floor after his thrilling match against Vince McMahon at the Vengeance pay-per-view in late July.

"I was extremely happy and overwhelmed by the response I got," Gowen told The Gazette after his first match." was truly a memorable thing for me."

At the tender age of eight, most children are worried about school or how they'll fill their summer days. Gowen had other things on his mind. He broke his leg while bowling and the injured limb was placed in a cast. When the cast was removed, doctors noticed a grapefruit-sized tumor. A biopsy revealed osteogenic sarcoma. He underwent chemotherapy, which caused him to lose his hair an hearing in his left ear and develop hear liver, and kidney problems. In the end, his doctors recommended the amputation of his left leg seven inches below his hip. For Gowen, the loss of the leg would mean a end to the pain.

Undeterred by his physical challenges, Gowen persevered to overcome the setback. As a teen, Zach became a rabid wrestling fan, watching Hulk Hogan on television in a hospital bed during his six-month recovery. He took his first step toward a ring career by trying out for his high school team at Livonia Churchill in suburbs Detroit, but it didn't work out.

Following high school graduation, Gowen entered a local training school. The honors student earned an academic scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, but only attended for a year. From there, he enrolled in Schoolcraft College in Livonia. During that time, he entered Thunderzone Wrestling Academy. His pro debut was in front of 30 people at a mall outside Detroit.

"The owner of the school basically told me the first day I was there to not get my hopes up," Gowen told The Gazette. "He said, 'Maybe you can become a manager or a referee,' and I'm like, 'No, just give me an opportunity. That's all I ask for. If I can't do it, I can't do it, but I have a pretty good feeling that something good will come out of this.'"

His mother was not enthused about her son's career choice. She tried to deter him and focus his efforts foil-time on a college education. Still, Zach continued to chase an unlikely dream. Gowen would take days off to travel at his own expense to wrestle, not for monetary gain, but for something far more valuable: experience. Word spread of the wrestler whose physical challenge seemed to be just a gimmick. But he backed up his unique situation with burgeoning skills.

After his appearances on NWA-TNA, Zach got "the call." It wasn't an indie promoter. Nor was it the owner of a wrestling school. It was World Wrestling Entertainment and they were serious in their interest in the wrestler known as Tenacious Z. He had enjoyed a cup (or actually more of a sip) of coffee with NWA-TNA and now Gowen was a member of the WWE roster.