Welcome to Five Count...

Stone Cold vs Vader at the Skydome in 1997

Welcome to fivecountwrestling.com

I can't really tell you why, but from the first moment I saw it, I loved it.

However, it all started with one man. My dad, Terry Edwards.

When I was four years old, my dad took me to a Woolworth's and said I could pick out any toy I wanted. I had just fallen into wrestling while flipping channels on Saturday afternoon.

My dad built his own hot rods. He did the wiring, engine work, upholstery, and was the handiest person I've ever known. So he was hoping I'd pick a remote control car or a model truck of some sort.

But, much to his surprise, I picked Hulk Hogan's action figure off the wall. I was hooked. And he wasn't upset. He loved wrestling.

He had two dogs named Whipper in his life. Named in honor of his childhood hero, Whipper Billy Watson. He'd regale me with stories of watching wrestling with his auntie and her cursing at The Sheik. He'd tell me about Sweet Daddy Siki and Billy Red Lyons. So I was the perfect age when the WWF was really kicking off.

I was lucky, I had a dad who wanted to take me wrestling matches . We went to events in Toronto, Newmarket and Owen Sound. I was lucky enough to be in the crowd for Hulk Hogan vs Paul Orndorff at Exhibition Stadium. He always knew guys with satelliate dishes so we could watch the pay per views and we had cable early, and there was always wrestling on. I watched everything. WWF, NWA, AWA, Stampede Wrestling, BC All Star Wrestling. I couldn't get enough.

We lost him about a year and a half and I've been trying to figure out some sort of legacy project in his memory. He loved wrestling. Even when he was getting sick, he would still be sure to call me to let me know WWE night on A&E was coming up.

I started a podcast about a year ago with my friend George from Dallas, Texas. George is built like a bear but he's got a heart of gold. I'm from Collingwood, Ontario Canada, about 90 minutes north of Toronto. We started a podcast called Five Count and we call ourselves the North-South Connection. We create top five list on a variety of topics about wrestling.

I've also been journalist for 23 years. I have a journalism diploma from Humber College and I've written for community newspapers, The Packet & Times, Orangeville Citizen, Welland Niagara News and the Collingwood Connection. I've won several Ontario Community Newspaper awards and I currently write for Simcoe.com and Metroland Media, which switched to an online only platform in early 2024. I have written about everything: murder, council strife, crime and court, sports, obitutaries, business and finance, food and drink, real estate and fires. I've interviewed prime ministers and premiers, celebrities and even some professional wrestlers.

I have also spent the last 20 years as a promoter for Rock Solid Wrestling under the leadership of my good friend and mentor Mark Bartolucci. He's a 29-year veteran and has wrestled all over Canada and the United States. He's earned the respect of every wrestler he works with. He's a leader for us in Ontario. He's honest and a man of his word and he cares about this business and takes time to mentor young wrestlers.

I've promoted events in dozens of towns with more hits than misses. I've helped put up the ring, set up chairs, ring announced and even promoted a show on a beach where the top rope broke 3 seconds in.

I've been able to work with a lot of wrestlers and I believe have gained a reputation as a good promoter. I've promoted some of the all time greats and since 2012 our Wrestling Night in Collingwood event has raised thousands for the Special Olympics including $5,000 in 2024. I call us the best promotion you've never heard of. We do old school, family-friendly pro wrestling. We have an excellent crew of Ontario wrestlers, some of whom have wrestled in TNA, AEW, ALL JAPAN etc. We present a quality show.

I'm telling you this because this site is going to be unique.

I have a long career as a journalist and in wrestling and I believe I have the ability to tell interesting stories.

We're going to write about wrestling culture. I want to do stories about wrestlers you may not have heard of and some you may have forgotten. I want to do stories on podcasters, merch sellers, promotions, collectors and events. I want to do stories on wrestlers who need help, fundraising campaigns and obituaries. We'll have top 5 lists and follow ups from our podcast but we will feature other people's podcasts.

This site will be credible. We're going to source stories, get interviews and our subjects and readers can expect honesty and integrity, fairness and accuracy.

Along with George, I have enlisted a few contributors.

My friend Chris Simon is an award-winning journalist in Ontario and is a lifetime wrestling fan with amazing knowledge. He's currently an editor for InnisfilToday.ca.

My friend Ben McCully is a jouralism graduate and has a 20-year career in Radio and is currently the afternoon drive host for Rock 95, the biggest radio station in Simcoe County, Ontario. He's also a veteran wrestler and is better known as Asher Benjamin, the top manager for Rock Solid Wrestling.

They will be writing pieces for the site and we will be on the lookout for other contributors.

Thank you for reading, I hope you continue to do so.