The Aces and Eights (TNA 2013)

[Ashy Larry]

TNA should have went all-out on that angle. There was so much more that could have fixed their problems with the Aces and Eights storyline. As opposed to the rookies who didn't last, they could have had established talent or guys who had a biker look. What if they made it more Sons Of Anarchy-ish and had them feud with rival biker gangs. It would have been better than what we got. Instead we had a lot of rookies get their asses handed to them by Hogan, Sting, and Angle. James Storm would have made a great member (even Gunner), especially with this theme www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQci8JFK6eg It was a great concept that had potential, but it became a flop of big proportions.Their lyrical theme song was better than the instrumental version.

[JTG Fan]

I liked Sons of Anarchy for it's first few seasons, but trying to ripoff the show wholesale and put it into TNA was always going to fail. I wasn't watching SoA because I thought motorcycles and beer drinking was just so f***ing cool, I watched it because it had an interesting story arch. I still don't know what the f*** Aces and Eights was even trying to accomplish as a group in their very long, drawn out arrival in TNA.

[Sephiroth]

Brooke Tessmacher's ass.

That is all.

[Deleted]

The beginning of the angle as very good, IMO. The mystery of who the group members were, what their intentions were, etc, was an interesting concept. They just dragged it out way too long. Bully winning the title at BFG and then dropping it to the conquering hero (Hardy, Styles, whoever) at Lockdown would have been much better.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

The instrumental version of their theme is awesome. It was hilarious Knux always wrestled with his wallet in his pocket. Second worst stable behind Immortal though

[kingoftheindies]

The angle actually was okay at the beginning but they stretched it out WAY too long

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

They made me excited for when DOC would finally rebel against Mr. Anderson and Bully Ray and become a huge mega-babyface.

So of course, they didn't resign DOC and instead gave the role of the rebel to the most natural slimy heel in the company in Anderson.

[JoDaNa1281]

Sept 13, 2014 14:40:09 GMT -5 @conebone69 said:

The beginning of the angle as very good, IMO. The mystery of who the group members were, what their intentions were, etc, was an interesting concept. They just dragged it out way too long. Bully winning the title at BFG and then dropping it to the conquering hero (Hardy, Styles, whoever) at Lockdown would have been much better.

I thought Bully should've won at BFG & held it till Lockdown too, losing to Hardy or Aries, then winning it back at Slammiversary & hold it until BFG, where he loses it to AJ. From their debut until BFG it was a good angle, but after up to Lockdown, with the exception of the occasional reveal, was pretty bad. Then Lockdown till about Slammiversary was pretty good(Bully really helped the group after being revealed as it's leader), but after that, it just fell apart as they just lost members left & right. So, it had it's good & bad, but dragged on too damn long.

[Deleted]

I still have nightmares about their theme playing all of the goddamn time. The horror!

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

Sept 13, 2014 17:11:07 GMT -5 @akeem said:

I still have nightmares about their theme playing all of the goddamn time. The horror!

I heard someone wanted to hear their theme

[Deleted]

Sept 13, 2014 16:00:24 GMT -5 JoDaNa1281 said:

Sept 13, 2014 14:40:09 GMT -5 @conebone69 said:

The beginning of the angle as very good, IMO. The mystery of who the group members were, what their intentions were, etc, was an interesting concept. They just dragged it out way too long. Bully winning the title at BFG and then dropping it to the conquering hero (Hardy, Styles, whoever) at Lockdown would have been much better.

I thought Bully should've won at BFG & held it till Lockdown too, losing to Hardy or Aries, then winning it back at Slammiversary & hold it until BFG, where he loses it to AJ. From their debut until BFG it was a good angle, but after up to Lockdown, with the exception of the occasional reveal, was pretty bad. Then Lockdown till about Slammiversary was pretty good(Bully really helped the group after being revealed as it's leader), but after that, it just fell apart as they just lost members left & right. So, it had it's good & bad, but dragged on too damn long.

They set it up perfectly for that scenario as well. Aces and Eights injured Hardy in the BFG Series finals, so Hardy had an out for losing. If they had Bully win the title at BFG and be revealed as the leader, they could have had Hardy chase him for months before finally dethroning him at Lockdown to end the storyline. Which would have been perfect timing since I believe they started going on the road shortly after that. The thing that hurt TNA, IMO, was going on the road right after Bully won the title. Jeff was the perfect babyface champion they should have built around as they started touring full-time. He was over as hell, a legitimate big star in wrestling, and the only guy in TNA who could jump to the WWE tomorrow and instantly be a main eventer. Not that Hardy as the champion would have changed much of anything as far as their financial problems, but would have been way more logical.

In that scenario, Aces and Eights could have ended at Lockdown, and then Jeff holds the title before dropping it to Styles at BFG 2013.

The company wanting to prolong the angle, ala Hollywood Hogan/nWo/Sting, was its downfall. Yes, everyone loved hearing the nWo music in WCW every other segment, but no one wanted A&8's in every damn segment for a year.

[Deleted]

Sept 13, 2014 14:18:08 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Brooke Tessmacher's ass.

That is all.

I was there the night she debuted with the group, and even though I've never been a huge fan of hers, I could not believe how ricockulously hot she looked.


On topic, it was stupid. I liked the idea of Bully Ray leading a heel stable, but not these worthless idiots. And I agree about not even understanding what their goal was.

[Sephiroth]

Sept 13, 2014 18:11:47 GMT -5 @therealoblivion said:

Sept 13, 2014 14:18:08 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Brooke Tessmacher's ass.

That is all.

I was there the night she debuted with the group, and even though I've never been a huge fan of hers, I could not believe how ricockulously hot she looked.


On topic, it was stupid. I liked the idea of Bully Ray leading a heel stable, but not these worthless idiots. And I agree about not even understanding what their goal was.

Kudos to you for not having been blinded by the awe inspiring radiance of Brooke Tessmacher's ass.

[Jeff Mangum PI]

Anything that gives us a pro wrestling moment as iconic as this can't be all bad.

[Main Eventer]

Sept 13, 2014 21:36:33 GMT -5 Jeff Mangum PI said:

Anything that gives us a pro wrestling moment as iconic as this can't be all bad.

Love how Christy Hemme reacts to sheer horror of Taz being in Aces and Eights despite the fact you can clearly tell that you can't see the back of his shirt from her angle.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Sept 13, 2014 15:16:29 GMT -5 Brood Lone Wolf Funker said:

The instrumental version of their theme is awesome. It was hilarious Knux always wrestled with his wallet in his pocket. Second worst stable behind Immortal though

I liked their hallway entrance.

[Amazing Kitsune]

I have a soft-spot in my heart for this angle. I especially liked that time that Sting and Hogan teamed up to go into the clubhouse to try and save Joseph Park.

In some respects, it was like Hogan going against the Dungeon of Doom all over again. I say that as a compliment to the angle.

As a quick aside, I thought Hogan's work during this angle is tremendously underrated, especially during the period around the Bully/Brooke wedding.

[Lazy peon]

Sept 13, 2014 15:35:44 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

The angle actually was okay at the beginning but they stretched it out WAY too long

I've heard this about MANY of TNA's storylines.

[Johnny B. Decent]

I think the concept of the idea was actually pretty good, but TNA wasn't the right place to do it.

1. TNA was having back-to-back heel groups with similar goals as Aces and Eights, so it just more of the same

2. It was clear they had no idea who the leader was and how it would end. It was also clear they were writing it as they went along.

3. An outlaw biker group is not the kind of heel group that should rely on moles.

4. Using guys like Jay Bradley, Mike Knox and Drew Hankerson as your members wasn't a bad idea. Guys like Bully Ray and Devon as the moles in charge and also guys like Wes Briscoe and Garett Bischoff were bad ideas.

So, had they had a leader in place and a end game in plan, did not do the silly mole angles, relied more on guys like Mike Knox, and went for rampaging biers who are eventually allowed in just to combat them, I think it would have worked better.

[Rave]

It took them way too long to reveal stuff. I remember fans were picking out the individual members long before their actual reveal, especially when Garett Bischoff forgot to cover his wrist tattoos.

Mentioning that Knux and DOC were in WWE prior made TNA look really bush league, like it always does when they try to pull that crap.

And man did Kurt Angle look like a dumbass.