There are times that friends fight. There are times that friends make up. Then, there is Austin Jordan and Ace Armstrong. Austin Jordan and Ace Armstrong were closer than most brothers. This friendship, also, found Ace and Austin taking the roles of teacher and student, respectively. Austin wanted to follow his dream of becoming a professional wrestler and he knew that 3Count Pro Wrestling Academy would be where his career needed to start. Ace was the head trainer at the time and took Austin under his wing. Austin would transition from referee to wrestler in the winter of 2016.

As time went on, Austin became a force in the Carolina wrestling scene. During his short time in wrestling, “The A Game” captured championships from various promotions. Most notably, he won the 3Count Next Level Championship in November of 2017 and the 3Count Pro Heavyweight Championship in December of 2018. More importantly than titles, Austin gained the love and support of every fan that he came in contact with him.

As Austin gained fame, it seemed that Ace began to fade into the background. The sense of pride and joy that a teacher should have for his pupil’s success seemingly turned into jealousy and anger. The strong brotherhood was in jeopardy and neither man knew the path it would take. For most, the belief is that the deterioration of this bond started at Country Santa Clash 2018 when Austin Jordan realized his dream by defeating Ken Magnum for the 3Count Pro Heavyweight Championship. However, no action would be taken that night. The timeline of events are below:

In February at “Game On”, Ace acted out his jealousy by attacking his best friend after Austin had successfully defended his newly won championship. Not only did Ace just attack Austin, but he held the champion hostage while asking Commissioner Eric Boughman for a championship match. After having the match granted, Ace attempted to end the career that he had a hand in starting by delivering a piledriver onto a steel chair.

Austin thought he’d get his revenge in March at Boiling Springs High School, but Ace would just get away. Austin chased Ace out of the building during a 6 man tag match.

Ace’s antics continued in April as Ace was forced to defend his #1 Contender’s spot against Bebop at Opportunity Knocks, but Ace prevailed. After another successful defense, Ace attacked Austin. This time Austin was prepared and began to fight back. Austin had to fend Josh Powers, as well. This gave Ace the chance to catch Austin with another devastating piledriver. This set the stage for the championship match set to take place at “Collision Course” in May.

This was it. The time had come for Ace and Austin, teacher and student to meet one on one for the 3Count Heavyweight Championship. The match was a physical and personal battle. As you would expect, Austin was out for blood, but Ace was playing mind games. As he had Austin down, Ace grabbed the microphone and said to Austin, “I would say to be a man like your father, but we know you’re just as pathetic as he is.” Austin is a family man and this caused him to snap. Ace was pummeled with punch after punch until the referee disqualified Austin for not stopping before the 5 count. Unfortunately for Ace, “The A Game” believes in an eye for an eye. He grabbed a steel chair and after a couple of shots to Ace’s back, Austin returned the favor and delivered a piledriver on the steel chair!

During the summer, Ace’s legal team refused a rematch unless Commissioner Eric Boughman added the stipulation that Austin could lose the championship via DQ. After much deliberation and Austin Jordan’s determination to get another shot at his former mentor, the match was granted and set to take place in August at “Aftershock”.

At “Aftershock”, we saw this feud go to a whole new level. After the referee was inadvertently knocked out, Ace kicked Austin low. He, then, went to get the championship belt. Instead of hitting Austin, Ace threw him the belt and laid down as if he had been hit. When the referee came to his senses, he called for the bell and declared Ace Armstrong as the new 3Count Pro Heavyweight Champion. Obviously distraught and heart broken, Austin lost control and accidentally put his hands on Commissioner Eric Boughman. This gave Commissioner Boughman no choice, but to suspend Austin Jordan indefinitely.

In September at “Back to School Bash”, Austin Jordan was nowhere to be found as he was serving his suspension. Ace had his first title defense against Jax N. Saine and was able to squeeze out a victory using the piledriver. As Ace was addressing the crowd, a fire truck pulls up to the building. Out jumps “The A Game”. He hits the ring and takes Ace down. Then, Commission Boughman makes the announcement that Austin Jordan’s suspension and made the rematch for the 3Count Pro Heavyweight Championship for “Mission: Possible” in November.

November. “Mission: Possible”. Main Event. The match where this was suppose to all end, but the hatred between these former friends could not be contained. When Austin had the match won, Ace proceeded to run into the crowd to get away from the challenger. They fought all through the crowd and the referee through the match out. As they made their way back into the ring, security came in to break up the two. Commissioner Eric Boughman got in between the two and announced that this will all come to an end on December 14th at Country Santa Clash.

There must be a winner. There are no shortcuts. There is only one way to win. Your opponent must be incapacitated enough and not able to answer the count of 10. Country Santa Clash will see the 3Count Pro Heavyweight Champion, Ace Armstrong, defend his championship against his former student and best friend, “The A Game” Austin Jordan in a Last Man Standing Match!! After this match, both men will never be the same. Only one man can walk out as champion. That man will be the the 3Count Pro Heavyweight Champion and the LAST MAN STANDING!

It has been a crazy few months at 3 Count Pro Wrestling.  As we head into Mission Possible 2017 here are 4 things we know.

1.  Ken Magnum was taken to his limits by Mikal Judas on September 30.  This footage is so brutal we are not able to post it to YouTube at this time.  Ken Magnum has been on one of the most impressive runs in 3 Count history taken on opponents of all sizes and styles.  Will he physically and mentally be ready for his yet to be named opponent on November 18th at Mission Possible?
2. Austin Jordan was thisclose to becoming the Next Level champion at Next Level 2017.  Entering as #1 of 6 he lasted until the very end when Ostgard took advantage and scored the pin.  In his hometown, at his home church, Austin Jordan will get the one on one title shot he has earned.  Will the hometown advantage be enough to carry this rising star to the Next Level?
3. The Sons of Steel have the tag team titles on lockdown.  Even though their trophy was smashed to pieces by the Chosen 2, Brice Anthony and Boomer Payne continued their win streak and dominance of the 3 Count Tag Team division.  Who is next in line at Mission Possible?
4. Ace Armstrong and JC Harper were not on the same page at Next Level.  Only time will tell if the Ace Armstrong way leads to new heights for this tandem.  In the meantime, what awaits them at Mission Possible?  Will they be competing as a tag team for the first time or as singles competitors?

You can keep up with all the 3 Count Pro Wrestling on our YouTube channel.  Next Level 2017 matches will be added soon.

You can purchase tickets to Mission Possible and Country Santa Clash 5 featuring Arn Anderson at this link.

It has taken me more than a week to even begin wrapping my head around everything that transpired at Locked and Loaded 2017.  Before the dust even settles 3 Count Pro Wrestling will return to the Liberty Rec Center for Emma KAPPS night on April 22, 2017.

1.  JC Harper is now the Next Level Champion.  Are there words to fully describe the transformation of this young man over the past few months?  Not only is he a wrestler coming into his own, but he has tapped into something dark and other worldly that makes him an even more dangerous competitor than before.  He won’t have much time to celebrate as he defends his title in a ladder match at Emma KAPPS night.
2. Anthony Jannazzo debuts.  Here’s a man who has won titles everywhere he has been.  His victory over Zuka King and declaration that he is here for titles has put everyone on notice.
3. James Drake wants the whole world to know he’s the best big man in wrestling.  With a victory over Steven Hunter and his impressive 2016 James Drake has put himself in title contention.  He is someone to keep your eye wherever he wrestles in 2017.
4. The Sons of Steel and Team Y2x are not playing games.  What started out as simply 2 teams trying to stake their claim as the #1 team in 3 Count has become nothing short of a blood feud.  The post-match attack on an already injured Brandon Paradise with Nick Kismet zip-tied to the ropes set a tone that the crowd in Liberty was not ready for.  Neither was I.  Now, we have a Steel City Street Fight to try and settle things once and for all on April 22.  Will Paradise be recovered?  Can Liberty contain the violence?
5. Ken Magnum and Ace Armstrong wrote a final chapter to their rivalry that will not soon be forgotten.  Now, a newly focused Ken Magnum enters his second title reign with a long list of challengers that does not include Ace Armstrong.  Ace must start from the bottom and who knows when we will see him in the title picture again.  Will Ace even be able to compete in April after taking 4 Full Clip DDT’s from Magnum?  Who will Ken’s first challenger be?
6. Tim Smith shocked the world.  While Ace Armstrong struggled to get to his feet, his father returned to 3 Count and, in a surprising move, helped his son to the back.  Everyone in Liberty was left speechless.  After seeing that Ken Magnum and the Sons of Steel weren’t on the same page during the title match and watching Tim turn his back on Ken to help Ace who knows what will happen next?  On April 22, Tim Smith will address all of 3 Count and we will finally get some answers as to where he’s been, what he’s been doing, and what’s next for he and Ace?

Don’t miss Emma Kapps Night on April 22 at the Liberty Rec Center.  Tickets are available at 3countpro.com/store.

Ace Armstrong and Ken Magnum have always been at the top of 3 Count Pro Wrestling.  When the first 3 Count Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion was crowned in December of 2014(with no less than the Nature Boy Ric Flair in attendance) it was Ace Armstrong and Ken Magnum in the triple threat match with Eric Bradford.  Magnum chased Bradford for most 0f 2015 until Bradford was stripped of the title in September for failing to fulfill his contract.  What happened at Westside Rumble 2015 would begin a chain of events that has brought us to Locked and Loaded 2017.  First, Ken Magnum attacked Senior Official and 3 Count Vice President Tim Smith.  Then, at Country Santa Clash 3 it was revealed that Tim Smith and Ken Magnum had been in business together all along.    Just when we thought we had seen the most shocking thing we could imagine Ace revealed at Locked and Loaded 2016 that Tim Smith was his father!  After Ace and Jay Bastista defeated Ken Magnum and Brice Anthony in a tag team match that night, Ace vowed to take the thing that mattered most to his dad and that was Ken’s 3 count Heavyweight Championship.  At Total Control 2016, Ace received his first one on one shot for the title.    He was disqualified for hitting Magnum with the championship belt, but Eric Boughman offered him another title shot after he defeated Tim Smith for Total Control of the company.  Tim showed he would stop at nothing to keep the title as he put out a $10,000 bounty on his son beginning at Redemption.    Though JC Harper failed to collect that night it didn’t stop Boomer Payne from charging the ring from the crowd at Mission Possible.    Tim Smith showed his true colors that night and what started as the rubber match between Ace and Gunner turned into a tag team match between them and Ken Magnum and Brice Anthony.  For Country Santa Clash 4, Eric Boughman announced the rules would be relaxed for the Title match between Ken and Ace.  After a grueling match that went all over the Liberty High School gym Ace emerged victorious as the 3 Count Heavyweight Champion.    There was no honeymoon for Ace as his first title defense was against the New Age Enforcer James Drake at Collision Course 1 in February.  Somehow, someway Ken Magnum convinced the leadership of 3 Count to allow him to be the special guest referee for this match.  Surprisingly, Magnum called the match right down the middle as Ace successfully defended the title before Magnum attacked him after the match.  That brings us to the present.

In wrestling, the champion is usually guaranteed a rematch if and when he loses the title.  When someone remains at the top of the rankings for an extended period of time, as Ace and Ken have done, a title match must be granted.  That’s what makes this match at Locked and Loaded 2017 so important.  Both men have waived the rematch clause.  Whoever loses this match will find himself at the back of the line, so to speak, having to fight their way from the bottom if they ever hope to earn another shot at the 3 Count Heavyweight Title.  We could be witnessing these 2 men battling for the 3 Count Heavyweight Title for the final time.  Whatever happens on March 25th, the careers of Ken Magnum and Ace Armstrong will never be the same and 3 Count Pro Wrestling will find itself in unchartered territory.

Injuries are a part of professional wrestling.  Some are easier to overcome than others.  We found out on February 25 that The Scottish Prince Joshua Oglesby and Stoney Hooker were both injured in the inaugural Next Level Title match at Country Santa Clash 4.  Oglesby suffered torn ligaments in his ankle only a minute into the match while Stoney suffered a bicep tear.  While neither injury required surgery at this time they put the immediate futures of these men, and the Next Level title, in doubt.  Commissioner Eric Boughman informed The Scottish Prince that he would have to defend the title on March 25th at Locked and Loaded 2017 or be forced to forfeit the title.

There were other questions surrounding the Next Level Title.  Who would receive the first title shot?  How would that be determined?  In a stunning move, 3 Count Pro Wrestling made major changes to the planned card for Locked and Loaded.  Fans left Collision Course 1 expecting to see some scores settled in singles matches.  However, Commissioner Eric Boughman has decided to let the bad blood between JC Harper and Austin Jordan plus the rivalry between Ostgard and Tyler Gaines play out in a tag team match with Gaines and Jordan facing Ostgard and Harper. Here’s the catch:  The winning team will be involved in the Next Level Title match that night.  If Joshua Oglesby is able to defend the title then there will be a 3 way match, but, if he is not, then a new Next Level Champion will be crowned in singles competition.

Why is the Next Level Title so important?  The person who walks out of the August show as Next Level Champion will receive an automatic shot at the 3 Count Heavyweight Title in September at the Next Level Show.  A new Next Level Champion will be crowned that night in the first ever Next Level match.

Saturday at Locked and Loaded the futures of 5 competitors will be on the line.  Has Oglesby recovered enough to pass a physical and defend the title?  Will the youth of Austin Jordan and Tyler Gaines triumph over the experience of JC Harper and Ostgard?  Will the actions of Collision Course 1 spill over into Locked and Loaded?  Who will walk out as the Next Level Champion?  Get your tickets now at www.3countpro.com/store.

On February 25, 2017, 3 Count Pro Wrestling presented wrestling in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.  The fans in Liberty, SC were treated to an old-school style TV taping for the YouTube generation.  4 episodes were scheduled to be filmed with matches and interviews featuring all of the 3 Count stars.  Collision Course was the beginning of new era of episodic wrestling that would introduce 3 Count to new fans in a way that would grab their attention while giving faithful fans the action and excitement they have come to expect.  No one could have expected all the twists and turns of this amazing night as feuds grew more violent, rivalries became more personal, and the lineup for Locked and Loaded 2017 on March 25 became clearer.

See all the results here.

See all the Collision Course 1 videos here.

Locked and Loaded 2017 will be March 25 at Liberty High School.  Click here for tickets!

3 Count Pro Wrestling starts their 2017 season on February 25th, 2017 in Liberty, SC with Collision Course 1.  Here are 6 things to expect:

1.  This card will have a much different flow than the usual wrestling show.  3 Count is aiming to not only provide the best live experience possible, but to also film 4 episodes of Collision Course for their YouTube channel.  Fans in attendance will not want to miss the opportunity to go back and watch each episode, but fans watching online will not want to miss Locked and Loaded 2017 on March 25.  
2. Ace Armstrong will have his hands full with The New Age Enforcer James Drake in his first defense of the 3 Count Heavyweight Title.  Ken Magnum has invoked his rematch clause for March 25th, but Ace will need all of his attention on Drake who won the Carolina Pro Wrestling Award for Rising Star of the Year in 2016.  Drake will not be in a good mood as he was defeated for the PWX iTV title by Elijah Evans on February 19 at Rise of a Champion 12.  2 men at the top of their game with something to prove means that 3 Count fans will see a match to remember.
3. There will be an injury update from Next Level Champion, The Scottish Prince, Joshua Oglesby.  While it has not been widely report, Oglesby suffered a severe ankle injury in his title victory over Stoney Hooker at Country Santa Clash 4.    Heath Mullikin will have an exclusive ringside interview with the Scottish Prince at Collision Course.
4. JC Harper and Austin Jordan will cross paths at some point.  The animosity between these 2 men is too much for one building to contain.  JC Harper has already issued a warning.  Both men have feature matchups at Collision Course with Austin Jordan facing Tyler Gaines and JC Harper facing Ostgard which leads to…
5. Tyler Gaines and Ostgard will look to continue their winning ways.  Ostgard bounced back from his semi final elimination in the Next Level Tournament to defeat BJ Hancock at Country Santa Clash 4.  Tyler Gaines defeated Tracer X and Rob Killjoy in a fast paced match that had fans buzzing.  
6. The Sons of Steel and Team Y2X will settle their unfinished business.  These teams had a hard fought match at Country Santa Clash 4, but these tag team specialists will be in singles action at Collision Course when Brandon Paradise takes on Boomer Payne while Nick Kismet face Brice Anthony.

Matches signed as of February 23:

1.  Ace Armstrong vs. James Drake for the 3 Count Heavyweight Title
2. JC Harper vs. Ostgard
3. Austin Jordan vs. Tyler Gaines
4. Nick Kismet vs. Brice Anthony
5. Brandon Paradise vs. Boomer Payne

Tickets are still available at www.3countpro.com/store.

Country Santa Clash 4 was a night to remember.

6 incredible matches.  2 Legends honored.   2 Champions crowned.  1 worthy cause assisted.  It was billed as the biggest show of the year and it didn’t disappoint.

Country Santa Clash 4 Results:
Tyler Gaines defeated Rob Killjoy and Tracer X
The Sons of Steel defeated Team Y2X
Ostgard defeated BJ Hancock
Austin Jordan defeated JC Harper
Joshua Oglesby defeated Stoney Hooker to become the first Next Level Champion.
Ace Armstrong defeated Ken Magnum to become the 3 Count Heavyweight Champion.