3 Count

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=3 Count
type=S
members=Shane Helms
Shannon Moore
Evan Karagias
Tank Abbott
names=3 Count
Three Count
debut=
disbanded=
promotions=WCW|

3 Count was a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which formed in 1999. The group consisted of Shane Helms, Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias and they were given a boy band gimmick. For a brief time, Tank Abbott was added to the group as a manager and enforcer.

History

Creation

Shane Helms and Shannon Moore were brought to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) at the behest of Hulk Hogan, who was granted the authority to bring in a number of young cruiserweights to the roster.Fact|date=February 2007 Almost immediately, Jimmy Hart put them together with Evan Karagias as a group to both capitalize on and make fun of the success of boy bands at the time.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/three-count.html|title=Three Count Profile|accessdate=2008-10-02|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]

Their gimmick was first introduced to the public with vignettes disguised as music videos for their (Hart penned) pop song "Can't Get You Outta My Heart". From there they progressed to performing live on "WCW Monday Nitro", dancing on green circles in the ring and lip syncing their song before their matches. Later on they recorded a new song, "Sing Along With 3 Count", which replaced "Can't Get You Outta My Heart" as their theme music.

The group were received as heels, and after three months captured (together) the WCW Hardcore Championship by pinning Brian Knobbs on February 28, 2000. They lost the title back to Knobbs a month later, when he pinned all three members consecutively, but in the process Moore became the youngest Hardcore Champion in WCW history.

Tank Abbott

After losing the Hardcore championship Moore was legitimately taken out of action with a broken nose. Upon his return 3 Count was joined by David "Tank" Abbot, a (kayfabe) huge fan.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingNewBloodRising/3count.html|title=3 Count see chance to shine|last=Oliver|first=Greg|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=SLAM! Sports] Abbot hung around ringside when 3 Count performed and began protecting them from other wrestlers, and eventually started inserting himself as an (uninvited) back-up dancer during performances. 3 Count's feud with the Jung Dragons continued with a ladder match at New Blood Rising.

Break up

In late 2000, 3 Count began to fall apart, with Karagias leaving the group and joining forces with Jamie Knoble of the also falling apart Jung Dragons. Moore and Helms continued together to feud with the remaining Dragons (Kaz Hayashi and James Yun) and the new team of Karagias and Knoble.

Aftermath

As WCW was slowly dying, Moore and Karagias put aside their differences and formed a tag team which vied for the short lived WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship, but never got their hands on them before the company closed. Helms, however, won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Moore, Helms, and Karagias would go on to the then World Wrestling Federation. The 3 Count trademark is still owned by Turner Broadcasting System Inc. [cite web|url=http://www.findownersearch.com/owner/2235137/|title=Brand Owner: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, INC.|accessdate=2008-10-02|publisher=FindOwnerSearch.com]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Count Down" (Fireman's carry drop (Moore) / "Nightmare on Helms Street" (Helms) combination)

Championships and accomplishments

*Helms and Moore
*NWA Wildside:*NWA Wildside Tag Team Championship (1 time)

*Helms, Moore and Karagias
*World Championship Wrestling:*WCW Hardcore Championship (1 time) – Held jointly among all three members

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/three-count.html 3 Count at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.evankaragias.com EvanKaragias.com (Official Website of Evan Karagias)]
* [http://www.shanehelms.com ShaneHelms.com (Official Website of Shane Helms)]
* [http://www.myspace.com/2bmeprinceofpunk Official Myspace of Shannon Moore]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/hurricanehelms/ Gregory Helms's WWE Profile]
* [http://www.myspace.com/gshelms Official Myspace of Gregory Shane Helms]