It’s a understatement to say that World Wrestling Federation fans didn’t see the best of Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon. Mainstays in All Japan Pro Wrestling, they had a stint in ECW before signing for McMahon in 1996. The Can-Am Express were a functional duo, technically sound but lacked charisma to connect with the WWF audience.
The Background: Furnas and LaFon were the survivors in a Survivor Series bout on debut, last eliminating the WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and the British Bulldog. They earned wins over the Headbangers and Fake Razor/Fake Diesel before challenging for the titles at In Your House: Final Four. Cracks were forming in the brother-in-law tag team of Owen and Bulldog, highlighted by Owen dumping Davey-Boy Smith out of the 1997 Royal Rumble and the ‘King of Harts’ protesting his innocence. Given some of the opposition for Owen and Bulldog, they’re up against a team that can hang with them between the ropes but won’t overshadow them in terms of personality and allow them to sell their story. It’s a good mix.
The Action: Worryingly, Furnas and LaFon are already in the ring after an interview with Vader and Paul Bearer. As Bulldog flexes, Owen sneaks underneath and shows off his slammy award. On commentary, JR is hyping up the dissention including being separated in the locker room by WWF officials. Lawler’s analysis of Owen being the driver of the bus and Bulldog sitting in the back is brilliant. Unintentional funny moment as Owen wants to double team, Bulldog starts choking LaFon and Hart picks up his legs… only for Bulldog to wander off down the apron and Owen does a double take. Business picks up with LaFon performing an inside cradle, the referee goes over to Furnas so Bulldog switches Owen on top, only for the ref to catch Bulldog still in the ring and Furnas rolls them back over to the way it started. Owen kicks out at two, then argues with Bulldog. Double team goes awry as Owen strikes Bulldog with spinning heel kick as LaFon ducks. Owen slaps Bulldog, who wipes him out with a clothesline. LaFon covers Bulldog for some reason and gets two despite Owen being the legal man. The crowd are loving the dissention played out. Furnas and LaFon have the chance to show off their moveset as Owen is barely hanging on. An awesome tag team sequence sees the Can-Am Express send Owen into the ropes, he ducks under Furnas but cops a superkick from LaFon, clothesline from behind by Furnas into a LaFon DDT and Doug adds a leg drop. Enziguri turns the tide. Bulldog picks LaFon up for his Running Powerslam but Owen strikes LaFon in the back with his slammy. Bulldog thinks he’s won it with his move but Furnas and LaFon win via disqualification. One of the few very acceptable DQ finishes ever recorded. Clarence Mason tries to calm both of them down as Bulldog throws down the belt, then does the same to Owen’s slammy and he breaks the trophy in half, leading to what looks to be genuine fury from Owen. A really fun match, one of several on the Final Four pay-per-view.
The Aftermath: Far too many heel tag teams meant that Owen and Bulldog sometimes played inevitable faces during this run, including against Vader and Mankind at WrestleMania. The cracks formed between Owen and the British Bulldog would be sacrificed for the formation of the Hart Foundation following WrestleMania 13 in one Raw’s most memorable segments.