Doug Furnas

Powerlifting career Before becoming a lifter, Furnas was a promising American football player. He attended Commerce High School in Commerce, Oklahoma, earning a state runner up in 1978 before helping the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Norsemen to a NJCAA National Football Championship. Furnas signed with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL), but injuries in training camp caused him to retire from football. Upon starting powerlifting, Furnas initially campaigned as a lifter. At a height of he was actually a bit too tall for the weight class. His 242-pound class competitors tended to be in the 5'6" to 5'8" range. When Furnas allowed his bodyweight to rise to a full 275 pounds, he became the third man in history to total 2400 (after Don Reinhoudt and Bill Kazmaier) and the first man ever to total twice - all achieved at an astonishing 265-275 pound bodyweight. This time deadlifting 826 lbs for a new personal record. Furnas had set 29 powerlifting world records throughout his career. Although it was not widely known during his lifetime, Furnas was allergic to chalk, which prevented him from obtaining an optimal grip on his deadlifts. Furnas still holds the men's collegiate national records in the squat (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 also holds the Tennessee state records for the squat (986 lb), deadlift (826 lb), and total (2403 lbs).

Personal records Done in official Powerlifting full meets with minimal supportive gear

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1989–1996)

In All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Furnas teamed with Dan Kroffat beginning in 1989. Together they formed the Can-Am Express. Furnas and Kroffat held the All Asia Tag Team Championship five times between June 1989 and September 1993 when they vacated the title so they could focus on the 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).

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996)

The Can-Am Express joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in mid 1996; Furnas made his in-ring debut in a losing effort against Rob Van Dam on August 24, 1996 after being revealed as a mystery opponent for the latter. On September 13 he was joined by LaFon and the duo defeated Mikey Whipwreck and Louie Spicolli. On October 26 the duo was defeated by Sabu and Rob Van Dam in Philadelphia, PA.

World Wrestling Federation (1996–1997)

The Can-Am Express made their World Wrestling Federation debuts on November 17, 1996, at the Survivor Series pay-per-view. They feuded with Owen Hart and the British Bulldog and defeated them by disqualification at In Your House 13: Final Four but never captured the WWF World Tag Team titles. In the summer of 1997, Furnas and LaFon were in a car accident which kept them out of action for several months. They returned to WWF that fall where they appeared at Survivor Series (1997) teaming with Jim Neidhart and British Bulldog as Team Canada against Team USA: Vader, Goldust, Marc Mero and Steve Blackman. Furnas was able to eliminate Mero before he was eliminated by Vader. Bulldog would be the sole survivor. After Survivor Series, Furnas and LaFon would make a few more appearances mostly on Shotgun Saturday Night with one match being against the young Hardy Boyz before returning to ECW.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1997–1998)

The Can-Am Express they returned to ECW in late 1997, where they formed a stable of "invaders" from the WWF with Lance Wright, Brakkus and Droz. They won the ECW World Tag Team Title on December 5 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 at Better Than Ever. Furnas went on wrestle Masato Tanaka in singles competition at 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 during Van Dam's record breaking ECW Television Championship run. He was 52 years old. He had been battling Parkinson's disease for many years prior to his death. His death was confirmed by one of his sisters. World's Strongest Tag Determination League Power Award (1991) with Dan Kroffat Extreme Championship Wrestling ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Phil Lafon Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) with Dan Kroffat USA Wrestling USA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) USA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year (1992) with Dan Kroffat vs. Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Sendai, May 25