In the main event, Tyrus defeated Matt Cardona and Trevor Murdoch to win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship.

On August 27, 2022, during the 74th Anniversary Show, it was announced that Hard Times would take place on November 12 at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette, Louisiana.

At Alwayz Ready, then-reigning NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Matt Cardona was forced to vacate the title due to a torn bicep.

Trevor Murdoch - who Cardona defeated to win the title - would regain it in a four-way match against Nick Aldis, Thom Latimer, and Sam Shaw in the main event.

[4] On the August 30 episode of Powerrr, Cardona announced that he would challenge Murdoch for the title at Hard Times,[5] with the match being made official on September 20.

On the September 19 Powerrr, the semifinals began, with Dak Draper and Chris Adonis advancing to the finals after defeating Brian Myers and "Magic" Jake Dumas, respectively.

[8] On the October 11 Powerrr, Draper defeated Adonis and Mason to earn the title match against Cyon at Hard Times 3.

A few weeks later on the September 24 NWA USA, Kerry won a six-way scramble to earn another title match against Homicide at Hard Times 3.

[7] In the weeks leading to Hard Times, EC3 would continue to lambast the NWA for their reliance on nostalgia, while also questioning Latimer's purpose in the promotion.

[22] Three days later on the October 18 Powerrr, during the show's control center segment hosted by Kyle Davis, he announced that NWA President Billy Corgan was impressed by Wrenkowski and Kate enough that he gave that team a title match at Hard Times 3.

Two five-way elimination matches took place on the October 1 edition of NWA USA to determine the two wrestlers who would face off for the title at a later date.