In 1986, Canadian wrestler Rick Martel returned to the WWF with his then tag team partner, American Tom Zenk, as the Can-Am Connection.
The team made their televised debut in WWF on the November 15, 1986 episode of Superstars against the team of Steve Lombardi and Moondog Spot, which they won. The Can-Am Connection contested a series of matches with former WWF Tag Team Champions The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine), the team of Kamala and Sika, and the team of Don Muraco and Cowboy Bob Orton, whom they would face and defeat in the opening match of WrestleMania III. The Can-Am Connection's last feud would be against The Islanders (Haku and Tama), a feud that began on WWF Superstars of Wrestling in the summer of 1987. In this match, the Islanders turned heel by revealing their association with manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Shortly after this match Tom Zenk left the WWF, with the Can-Am wrestling their last match together on July 9, 1987 against the Islanders.