The Aces & Eights – Hit..?
This one really goes either way, because the Aces & Eights has had so many hits and misses within its own entity. The group gets a lot of criticism for using internet-proclaimed “nobodies” like Luke Gallows or Mike Knox, but there’s a lot of hypocrisy in those statements. You can’t whine and moan all day about wrestling companies pushing part-timers and old guys, and then continue to complain when TNA brings in fresh faces and up-and-comers for a fresh start.
I’m not a huge fan of Ken Anderson; I personally find his mic work to be annoying, and long-winded. But he does appeal to a lot of people, and he’s a pretty good athlete between the ropes. Keeping him with the Aces & Eights, rather than do the beyond obvious face turn and redemption angle was brilliant. Anderson hadn’t really found a comfortable place on Impact until he donned the cut.
Brisco and Bischoff get a ridiculous amount of heat (or apathy) from internet fans, and some of it is valid; they have a long way to go as rookies in this business. But with the hate they receive, you’d have though TNA put them in the World title picture right off the bat. In Aces & Eights, we’re given digestible doses of both Garrett Bischoff and Wes Brisco, and they get to work a hot angle with a ton of exposure, without being over-utilized.
The only really problem with Aces & Eights that may land it in the “miss” category is how long they’ve been at it without taking a ton of ground. TNA would go months without a new reveal, and they’d pull the same interference angles every single week. By and large, they’re still doing it. But Bully Ray has been the club’s saving grace; without him, the whole angle would have failed months ago. The question is, going forward, does the group have room left to grow? Have they exhausted all their swerves, all their creative ideas, and big reveals? I think there’s more potential there, but it will come down to the creative team, and whether they can put something worthwhile together.
Check out part two of this three-part feature celebrating TNA Slammiversary!
