Chad Fortune

{{Short description|American professional wrestler, football player (born 1967)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| headercolor =

| name = Chad Fortune

| full_name = Chad A. Fortune

| image = Chad Fortune Captain America Driver (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Fortune in 2014

| fullname =

| nationality = American

| residence = Valparaiso, Indiana

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|08|13|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Roswell, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Monster truck driver

| years_active = 1986 — 1992 (football)
1994 — 2000 (wrestling)
2000 — 2019 (Monster Jam)

| website =

| country = United States

| alma_mater = Louisville

| sport = Monster Jam

| team = Soldier Fortune

| retired = 2019

| module =

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Chad Fortune

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 81

| position = Tight end

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|08|13|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Roswell, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft =

| height_in =

| weight_lbs =

| high_school =

| college = Louisville

| undraftedyear = 1990

| pastteams = * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1990}})*

Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1990}})*
Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1991}})*
Frankfurt Galaxy (1991—1992)
Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1992}})*
Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1992}})*
Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1992}})

}}

Chad A. Fortune (born August 13, 1967) is an American former monster truck driver, football tight end and professional wrestler in both the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Football career

Fortune played tight end at the University of Louisville from 1986 to 1989.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110224193119/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/lou/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/records-wherearetheynow Louisville UofLSports.com - University of Louisville Official Athletic Site] In 1987, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 16 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown. In 1988, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 35 receptions for 339 yards and four touchdowns. In 1989, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 30 receptions for 353 yards.{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/chad-fortune-1.html |title=Chad Fortune College Stats |website=Sports-Reference.com |access-date=March 10, 2017}} He was a 1989 first team All-South Independent, 1988 Second team All-South Independent

Following his college career he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts but was released prior to the start of the 1990 season.For the RecordWashington Post. August 18, 1990 Fortune spent time on the practice squad of both the Miami DolphinsDolphins Defense Next Test for Cards Victor Lee, Palm Beach post November 1, 1990 Mentions release and Colts during the 1990 season.Wagner Might Be Cure For Bears' Receiving IllsDan Pompei. Chicago-Sun Times.September 8, 1992. Section Fortune for Bears. He competed in the Philadelphia Eagles 1991 training camp, but the team released him to clear a roster spot for Kenny Jackson.Special Team for Him Jets assistant Roberts has soft spot for Birds Kevin Mulligan. Philadelphia Daily News. August 3, 1991.

Fortune was signed at various points of 1992 preseason, with the Washington Redskins,Redskins notebook: Team gives boot to 12, including punter. Richard Justice. Washington Post. August 25, 1992 Dallas Cowboys,Signings of Rice, three key Redskins, may affect game, salaries Richie Whittstar. Fort Worth Star-Telegram August 26, 1992 and Chicago Bears. He was on the Bears practice squad at the start of the 1992 season, missing some time due to an allergic reaction caused by a bee sting.Stinson Bares Latest Predictions Dan Pompei Chicago-Sun Times. October 1, 1992. Mentions injury He was promoted to the main roster, and spent part of the 1992 season as the team's third string tight end.Behind the wheel is an ex-Chicago Bear Nancy Moffett, Chicago Sun-Times May 23, 2003

Fortune was also a starting tight end for the Frankfurt Galaxy during both their 1991 and 1992 seasons.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news|title=News - Around the NFL - NFL.com|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=March 16, 2017}}

Professional wrestling

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Chad Fortune

|birthname = Chad A. Fortune

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|names = Chad Fortune
Travis

|alma_mater = University of Louisville

|height = {{height|ft=6|in=5}}

|weight = {{convert|240|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|8|13|mf=y}}

|death_date =

|birth_place = Roswell, Georgia

|billed =

|trainer = WCW Power Plant

|debut = 1994

|retired = 2000

}}

=World Wrestling Federation=

Fortune joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Travis and teamed with college teammate Erik Watts (as Troy) as Tekno Team 2000.[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/tt2000.html Online World of Wrestling] Wearing silver smocks and tight zubaz, their gimmick was that they represented the cutting edge of cyberculture. Their tag team made its debut on the May 27, 1995 episode of Superstars in a victorious effort against Brooklyn Brawler and Barry Horowitz.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1385042/bio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915072755/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1385042/bio |archive-date=September 15, 2016 |title=Chad Fortune Biography |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=February 14, 2023}} They wrestled two more matches on television the following month before disappearing from television until July 1995 for the In Your House pay-per-view acting as lumberjacks for the main event. After the pay-per-view they disappeared off of television for a year being sent to United States Wrestling Association (USWA), only to resurface back on WWF television in 1996. They got a WWF Tag Team title shot against The Bodydonnas.

=World Championship Wrestling=

Fortune signed a World Championship Wrestling (WCW) contract in 1997. He wrestled mainly on the taped shows such as WCW Saturday Night and WCW Worldwide. He made his WCW debut on the June 24 episode of WCW Saturday Night in a loss to Joey Maggs. Fortune is also known as the first wrestler to defeat Bill Goldberg in a singles match on July 24, 1997, albeit in a dark match on Saturday Night before Goldberg's television debut.{{cite web |url=https://itrwrestling.com/news/i-was-his-first-loss-chad-fortune-on-being-goldbergs-first-official-loss/ |title="I Was His First Loss" – Chad Fortune On Being Goldberg's First Official Loss |website=ITRWrestling.com |author=Inside The Ropes| date=January 26, 2021}} He and Dale Torborg were briefly a tag team known as "The Pit Crew".[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/c/chad-fortune.html Online World of Wrestling] He would barely perform throughout 1998, returning in early 1999 before again being taken off TV. His last WCW match would come on July 8, 1999, in a loss to The Barbarian. Fortune was one of many wrestlers released by WCW in October 1999.{{'}}Halloween Havoc' may be a timely WCW treat Blackjack Brown. Chicago Sun-Times. October 24, 1999

Monster trucks

In 2000, SFX Entertainment (recently Live Nation, now Feld Entertainment) signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling to bring WCW-based trucks to their USHRA Monster Jam series, which gave Fortune, through wrestling, his start in monster trucks. He was initially an unnamed "spokesman" for the nWo truck, who would give antagonistic interviews while the driver, Rob Knell, acted as being focused on the truck. Many in the industry were vocal against the use of professional wrestling gimmicks for drivers, and the truck only lasted one season.

The following year, Fortune began driving the WCW Nitro Machine truck in the winter season, then bounced around trucks during the summer.[https://www.monsterjam.com/en-US/drivers/chad-fortune Chad Fortune Monster Jam bio] He gave Karl Malone a ride in the WCW Nitro truck and the two became friends. In 2002, Malone signed a deal with SFX/Clear Channel to create a truck called Power Forward. Fortune was chosen as the driver and drove the truck for three years, reaching the World Finals in 2002 and 2003.[http://www.monsterjamonline.com/drivers/Driver.2003-10-28.5220 Monsterjamonline] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810032704/http://www.monsterjamonline.com/drivers/Driver.2003-10-28.5220 |date=August 10, 2007 }}

In 2005, Fortune brought to the table the idea of the Superman truck. The company created the new truck. Based on his professional wrestling background, he decided to dye his hair black and alter his look to match the character of Superman. He was successful in the Superman truck, and made the final rounds of several stadium events. He was then given the "Most Improved Driver" award for 2005.

In 2012, 2013 and 2014 Monster Jam Seasons, Fortune drove the new Captain America truck, one of the two Marvel Comics themed trucks coming back onto the circuit along with Alex Blackwell who was to drive Wolverine. In the 2015 season, Fortune initiated the idea of the "Soldier Fortune" truck honoring the United States Armed Forces. As of 2024, the truck is still running, with a different driver named Kayla Blood (since she served as the Louisiana National Guard).

In 2019, Fortune announced his retirement from Monster Jam.