Doug Furnas
Encyclopedia
Doug Furnas is a former American
professional wrestler
and powerlifter
. Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling
in the early 1990s. Furnas was also a longtime mainstay of All Japan Pro Wrestling
with tag team partner Philip Lafond.
(400 kg/881.75 lb) and deadlift
(347.5 kg/766 lb) in the 110 kg / 242 lb weight class, which he set on March 26, 1983 while attending the University of Tennessee
. He is also one of the few men to achieve a total of 2400 pounds, with a total of 2403 (1090 kg) on June 28, 1987 in Bloomington, Minnesota
while competing in the 125 kg/275 lb weight class. Furnas also holds the Tennessee state records for the squat (985 lb), deadlift (821 lb), and total.
in late 1986, a "guest" of the promotion's during a card at the civic center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He watched promoter Bob Polk get assaulted by Kevin Sullivan
, then the manager for the New Guinea Headhunters, until he could bear no more, and injected himself into the situation, effectively beginning his pro wrestling career.
In his run in Continental, Furnas would feud with Sullivan, Buddy Landell, and Sid Eudy's
version of Lord Humongous
, as well as Terry Gordy
. Eventually, in late 1989, Continental folded, and by that time, Furnas had left to spend time in All Japan Pro Wrestling
and in World Championship Wrestling
.
Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling
in 1990. In All Japan Pro Wrestling
(AJPW), Furnas teamed with Phil Lafon (known as Dan Kroffat) beginning in 1989. Together they formed The Can-Am Express. Furnas and Kroffat would hold the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
five times between June 1989 and September 1993 when they vacated the title so they could focus on the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
. Their title match on May 25, 1992 against Kenta Kobashi
and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
received five stars from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and was also named "Match of the Year".
Also in 1992, the duo wrestled for Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association
(UWA) as The Can-Am Connection. In Mexico, they held the UWA World Tag Team Championship
twice, trading it with Los Villanos (Villano IV
and Villano V
).
The duo joined Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW) in mid 1996 where they had a series of matches against Sabu and Rob Van Dam
. A few months later, both men made their World Wrestling Federation
debuts on November 17, 1996 at the Survivor Series
pay-per-view. After not getting over, they returned to ECW in late 1997, and won the ECW World Tag Team Title
on December 4 from the F.B.I.
. Their reign would not last long, however, as they lost the belts to Chris Candido
and Lance Storm
the next day. Furnas went on wrestle Masato Tanaka in singles competition at ECW Living Dangerously on March 1, 1998. Furnas came up on the losing end on this particular occasion. He also became one of Rob Van Dam's many unsuccessful challengers, to little fanfare, during Van Dam's record breaking ECW Television Title run. It was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that Furnas, has started to develop an early form of Alzeimer's Disease, which explained him retiring in 2000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and powerlifter
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
. Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
in the early 1990s. Furnas was also a longtime mainstay of All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
with tag team partner Philip Lafond.
Powerlifting
Furnas still holds the men's collegiate national records in the squatSquat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
(400 kg/881.75 lb) and deadlift
Deadlift
The deadlift is a weight training exercise where a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position. It is one of the three canonical powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press.-Overview:...
(347.5 kg/766 lb) in the 110 kg / 242 lb weight class, which he set on March 26, 1983 while attending the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. He is also one of the few men to achieve a total of 2400 pounds, with a total of 2403 (1090 kg) on June 28, 1987 in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
while competing in the 125 kg/275 lb weight class. Furnas also holds the Tennessee state records for the squat (985 lb), deadlift (821 lb), and total.
Professional wrestling career
Doug Furnas began his career in Continental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
in late 1986, a "guest" of the promotion's during a card at the civic center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He watched promoter Bob Polk get assaulted by Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan may refer to:In Politics:*Kevin J. Sullivan , Massachusetts politician*Kevin Sullivan , 106th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut*Kevin Sullivan , White House Director of CommunicationsIn Academics:...
, then the manager for the New Guinea Headhunters, until he could bear no more, and injected himself into the situation, effectively beginning his pro wrestling career.
In his run in Continental, Furnas would feud with Sullivan, Buddy Landell, and Sid Eudy's
Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation...
version of Lord Humongous
Lord Humongous
Lord Humongous is a professional wrestling character who was introduced in Memphis' Mid-South Wrestling by "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart as a heel to challenge the long-time dominant Jerry "the King" Lawler...
, as well as Terry Gordy
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray 'Bam Bam' Gordy, Sr. was a professional wrestler who was best known in North America for being a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.-Career:...
. Eventually, in late 1989, Continental folded, and by that time, Furnas had left to spend time in All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
and in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
.
Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
in 1990. In All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
(AJPW), Furnas teamed with Phil Lafon (known as Dan Kroffat) beginning in 1989. Together they formed The Can-Am Express. Furnas and Kroffat would hold the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
five times between June 1989 and September 1993 when they vacated the title so they could focus on the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
. Their title match on May 25, 1992 against Kenta Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi
Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
is a professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Kikuchi idolized and patterned his style after the Dynamite Kid....
received five stars from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and was also named "Match of the Year".
Also in 1992, the duo wrestled for Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
(UWA) as The Can-Am Connection. In Mexico, they held the UWA World Tag Team Championship
UWA World Tag Team Championship
The UWA World Tag Team Championship is a tag team professional wrestling championship created by the Mexican Universal Wrestling Association and defended there until the UWA closed in 1995....
twice, trading it with Los Villanos (Villano IV
Villano IV
Thomas Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler. Within the stable Los Villanos, he has wrestled for Universal Wrestling Association , Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , and World Championship Wrestling . While popular and successful in Mexico, he frequently performed as a jobber in WCW...
and Villano V
Villano V
Raymundo Díaz Mendoza Jr. is a Mexican professional wrestler who has performed under the name Villano V until he was unmasked on March 20, 2009, after which he became known as "Ray Mendoza, Jr.". Mendoza and is part of the Mendoza family, a well known Mexican wrestling family that includes all...
).
The duo joined Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW) in mid 1996 where they had a series of matches against Sabu and Rob Van Dam
Sabu and Rob Van Dam
Sabu and Rob Van Dam are professional wrestlers who often competed as a tag team in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment's ECW brand. While teaming in the original ECW, the duo was managed by Bill Alfonso....
. A few months later, both men made their World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
debuts on November 17, 1996 at the Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1996)
Survivor Series was the tenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on November 17, 1996 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York....
pay-per-view. After not getting over, they returned to ECW in late 1997, and won the ECW World Tag Team Title
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
on December 4 from the F.B.I.
Full Blooded Italians
The Full Blooded Italians is a professional wrestling stable and tag team that wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and for World Wrestling Entertainment during the mid-2000s.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
. Their reign would not last long, however, as they lost the belts to Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
and Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
the next day. Furnas went on wrestle Masato Tanaka in singles competition at ECW Living Dangerously on March 1, 1998. Furnas came up on the losing end on this particular occasion. He also became one of Rob Van Dam's many unsuccessful challengers, to little fanfare, during Van Dam's record breaking ECW Television Title run. It was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that Furnas, has started to develop an early form of Alzeimer's Disease, which explained him retiring in 2000.
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipAJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
(5 times) with Dan Kroffat
- Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW World Tag Team ChampionshipECW Tag Team ChampionshipThe Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
(1 time) with Phil Lafond
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 138 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997
- Universal Wrestling AssociationUniversal Wrestling AssociationThe Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
- UWA World Tag Team ChampionshipUWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe UWA World Tag Team Championship is a tag team professional wrestling championship created by the Mexican Universal Wrestling Association and defended there until the UWA closed in 1995....
(2 times) - with Dan Kroffat (Philip Lafond)
- USA Wrestling
- USA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- USA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- 5 Star Match (1992) with Dan Kroffat vs. Kenta KobashiKenta KobashiNot to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
and Tsuyoshi KikuchiTsuyoshi Kikuchiis a professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Kikuchi idolized and patterned his style after the Dynamite Kid....
, Sendai, May 25 - Match of the Year (1992) with Dan Kroffat vs. Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Sendai, May 25