Can-Am try-out in Japan, 1986

Before Japan

A team tested in competition

Can-Am had been trialled in several matches in mainland America prior to the tour - including a “no-contest” match against the then reigning WWF Tag Team Champions, the British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith), on November 14, 1986, in Montréal.

Shortly after the Montréal match, Zenk and Martel travelled to Tokyo for the prestigious AJPW Real World Tag League ’86. Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Terry Gordy, Rick Martel and Tom Zenk were among the US wrestlers invited to enter the 1986 league.

American trial vs. British Bulldogs
November 14, 1986

Japanese tournament AJPW Real World Tag League ’86

First league match vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr.
November 22, 1986

Zenk & Martel entrance • AJPW, 1986
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The experiment

Finding the Can-Am style

Zenk and Martel used the tour to test out, in competition, some of their soon-to-be signature moves, including the “catapult splash”. This finishing move highlighted Martel in an aerial dive over the top rope and was used in many of the Japan - and subsequent US - matches.

Zenk and Martel’s first league match was on November 22, 1986, against Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. The team was an instant hit with Japanese fans.

The Can-Am Connection vs. Terry & Dory Funk Jr. • AJPW, November 22, 1986
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The Japanese tour became a live laboratory for the moves, timing and presentation that would define the Can-Am Connection.

Archive match film

Real World Tag League ’86

Tiger Mask II & Samson Fuyuki vs. Rick Martel & Tom Zenk (December 6, 1986)

Embedded match footage • 9 minutes 29 seconds

The decision

An offer - and the beginning of the split

Zenk’s ring work and persona impressed AJPW promoter Shohei “Giant” Baba and chief booker Lord James Blears. Blears offered Zenk and Martel the tag belts and a five-year contract at $5,000 a week each to stay in AJPW. Martel turned down the offer, claiming a prior commitment to WWF.

At this time Zenk was earning $2,500 a week for his role in the Can-Am Connection. Martel had guaranteed they would be earning $5,000 a week each in WWF within six months. Zenk resolved that if Martel’s promise was not realised within that time, he would reconsider AJPW’s offer. The scene was set for the eventual Can-Am split.

A five-year Japanese contract offered certainty. Martel’s WWF promise set a six-month clock running.

Extended image archive

The Japanese record, completed

Additional contemporary Japanese press pages and photographs document the team’s offence, presentation and reception during the tour. Together they complete the surviving visual record of the Can-Am Connection’s Japanese trial run.