{{Short description|American wrestling announcer}} '''Ken Resnick''' (May 8) is an American wrestling announcer who served as an interviewer for the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation.
==Early career== Prior to working in wrestling, Resnick worked in public relations and marketing for the Calgary Cowboys, was the Media Information Director for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, was a sales manager for Chrysler, and was a sports reporter for KTTC in Rochester, Minnesota.<ref name="Press Release" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Minnesota Saints battle to survive |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iq8pAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA22&dq |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=January 1, 1977}}</ref>
==Wrestling== ===American Wrestling Association (1983–1986)=== In late 1983, while covering a celebrity golf tournament for KTTC, Resnick interviewed AWA owner Verne Gagne. Gagne was looking for a replacement for interviewer Gene Okerlund and offered Resnick the job shortly thereafter. Resnick remained with the company until April 1986, with his final appearance coming at WrestleRock 86.<ref>{{cite book |title=WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment |date=2020 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=9780744035100 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLXmDwAAQBAJ |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> Prior to the event, Resnick appeared in a promotional music video for the show entitled the "WrestleRock Rumble". It featured Resnick and other AWA talent rapping verses in a vein similar to ''The Super Bowl Shuffle''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlecrap.com/inductions/past-inductions/ |title=Past Inductions |date=31 December 2012 |publisher=WrestleCrap |accessdate=2013-02-01 |archive-date=2013-02-17 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217020717/http://www.wrestlecrap.com/inductions/past-inductions/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===World Wrestling Federation (1986–1987)=== Following his departure from the AWA, Resnick planned on returning to Chrysler, however his friend Blackjack Lanza convinced him to interview for a job with the World Wrestling Federation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fernow |first1=Bill |title=Ken Resnick Celebrated for Broadcasting Career |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/03/20/ken-resnick-celebrated-for-broadcasting-career/ |website=Slam Wrestling |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> Resnick joined the WWF on May 1, 1986.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zavoral |first1=Nolan |title=Once congenial foes, AWA and WWF now out to pin each other |work=Minneapolis Star and Tribune |date=July 20, 1986}}</ref> His final television appearance as a WWF announcer was on the March 14, 1987 episode of ''WWF Wrestling Challenge''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dixon |first1=James |last2=Furious |first2=Arnold |last3=Dahlstrom |first3=Bob |last4=Ashley |first4=Rick |title=Superstar Series: The Hart Foundation |date=2013 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781291538410 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXG8BQAAQBAJ}}</ref>
===Later work (1987–present)=== Resnick served as an announcer for the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association during the early 1990s. In 1996, he hosted the American Wrestling Federation's syndicated television program ''Warriors of Wrestling''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mooneyham |first1=Mike |title=Alperstein taking different approach with new AWF |work=The Post and Courier |date=October 13, 1996}}</ref> In 2012 he returned to wrestling as an announcer for Traditional Championship Wrestling.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Wrestling Announcer, Ken Resnick Signs With TCW Wrestling |url=https://www.pwmania.com/pro-wrestling-announcer-ken-resnick-signs-with-tcw-wrestling |access-date=25 March 2021 |work=PW Mania |date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> In 2018 he became an announcer for ''Ring Warriors'', a professional wrestling promotion that airs on WGN America and Amazon Prime Video.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Mike |title=Ring Warriors Releases Highlight Reel Trailer in Advance of WGN America Debut |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/120264/ring-warriors-releases-highlight-reel-trailer-in-advance-of-wgn-america-debut.html?p=1 |access-date=25 March 2021 |work=PW Insider |date=September 13, 2018}}</ref>
==Awards and accomplishments== *'''George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame''' **Gordon Solie Award (2026)
==Other work== From 1991 to 1992, Resnick was the announcer of American Gladiators Live Tour.<ref name="Press Release" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=John |title=The Circus Maximuscles |work=Newsday |date=October 18, 1991}}</ref>
In 1996, Resnick was appointed to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission by Governor Arne Carlson. He was reappointed by Jesse Ventura and Tim Pawlenty.<ref name="Press Release">{{cite web |title=Governor Pawlenty Appoints Three to Amateur Sports Commission |url=http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00225/pdf/gr00225-2008.pdf |website=Office of the Governor Tim Pawlenty |publisher=State of Minnesota |access-date=25 March 2021 |date=January 30, 2008}}</ref>
Resnick served as the play by play announcer for the first season of ''RollerJam'', a roller derby program that aired on The Nashville Network.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Manuel |title=One side, wrasslers – Rollerjam's hard-hitting babes have returned |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2VcAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25&dq |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=The Vindicator |date=January 14, 1999}}</ref>
==Personal life== Resnick resides in Edina, Minnesota. He and his mother lost their life savings in a Ponzi scheme run by a former friend of Resnick, Stu Voigt.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bjorhus |first1=Jennifer |title=Federal bank regulators go after ex-Vikings great Voigt |work=McClatchy - Tribune Business News |date=January 28, 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/ken-resnick/]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Resnick, Ken}} Category:People from Edina, Minnesota Category:American professional wrestling announcers