Aces & 8s

From Iwe

Current revision as of 04:26, 22 November 2013

The Aces & 8s is a heel professional wrestling stable in the promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), initially consisting of a group of masked wrestlers before their identities were revealed. It has the gimmick of an outlaw motorcycle club; members of the stable ride motorcycles and are referred to as either "prospects" or "patched in". The name of the stable is a reference to the two pair poker hand known as the "dead man's hand".

[edit] History

[edit] Takeover of TNA

The stable debuted on the June 14, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling, with three masked wrestlers attacking Sting as he discussed his induction to the TNA Hall of Fame. On 5 July, 2012, an unnamed man delivered an envelope to TNA General Manager Hulk Hogan containing a photograph of aces and eights playing cards (known as the "dead man's hand") and a note reading "see you next week", saying "we're not cowards...we've got something for you Hogan, wait and see!"

The Aces & 8s returned (in greater numbers) to TNA on the July 12, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling, attacking both Sting and Hogan, with Hogan billed as having sustained a pelvic fractur (providing a kayfabe explanation for his absence from television while recovering from surgery to alleviate back pain). Over the next several weeks, the stable continued to attack both faces and heels.

The Aces & 8s made its first appearance on pay-per-view at Hardcore Justice on August 12, 2012. The stable attacked D'Angelo Dinero backstage (providing a kayfabe explanation for his absence from television to recuperate from a shoulder injury). The Aces & 8s later interfered in a four-way tables match, attacking Josh Hooper and the eventual winner, Bully Harlan.

On the August 23, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling, the Aces & 8s brawled with members of the TNA roster, injuring the right arm of TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Brown. One week later, the Aces & 8s attacked Aries again, knocking him unconscious with a foreign object. At No Surrender on September 9, 2012, the Aces & 8s again brawled with the TNA roster, injuring the shoulder of Josh Hooper prior to his Bound for Glory series final against Bully Harlan.

Aces & Eights wrestled its first match at the Bound for Glory pay-per-view on October 14, 2012, where two unnamed members of the stable defeated Sting and Bully Harlan in a no disqualification tag team match to win unfettered access to the Impact Wrestling Zone (Aces & Eights had agreed to leave TNA if they'd lost). They won following interference from two other members of the stable, one of whom was subsequently unmasked and revealed as Devon, a member of the TNA roster and the former tag team partner of Bully Harlan. Scott was the first member of Aces & Eights to be formally identified by TNA.

On the October 18, 2012 episode of Impact, Scott, speaking for the gang (his vest identified him as "Sergeant-at-Arms"), threatened the TNA roster, who responded by attacking Aces & Eights. Sting challenged Scott to a match, which Sting won by disqualification when Aces & Eights interfered.

On the October 25 Impact, Aces & Eights announced they would target a victim, chosen by throwing a dart at a photo collage of TNA wrestlers and later revealed to be Matt Borske (a previous target of Aces & Eights). Borske had just lost a World Heavyweight Championship match to Josh Hooper. Bully Harlan confronted his "brother" Scott, who claimed Hogan's mistreatment of him was why he joined Aces & Eights. After Scott announced that he and Bully were no longer brothers, Bully called Scott a "coward" and challenged him to a match on the "Open Fight Night" episode of Impact, on November 1.

That match ended in a brawl between the TNA roster and Aces & Eights, during which Joseph Park unmasked a member, revealing him as Justin Feight.

On the November 8 Impact, Feight was introduced as DOC (Director of Chaos), a prospect of Aces & Eights. Later that night, DOC teamed with Scott to wrestle Sting and Borske. Sting and Borske won by disqualification when Devon used Sting's baseball bat. DOC then drove Sting through a table, to prove his worth to the group. Sting was then attacked by several members and beaten with a ball-peen hammer by DOC.

DOC defeated Joseph Park, and Scott lost to Matt Borske at the Turning Point pay-per-view on November 11.

On the November 15 episode of Impact, Aces & Eights chose Magnus as their next victim; Scott used a baseball bat and DOC a ball-peen hammer to injure Magnus' knees. Later that night, Matt Borske teamed with Garrett Bischoff to defeat Scott and an unnamed member, despite DOC attempting to interfere in the match. As a reward for his loyalty, DOC was promoted from a prospect to a patched in member.

On the December 6 Impact, Scott became the first member of Aces & Eights to win a title, defeating Samoa Simpson for the Television Championship, after interference from DOC. Later that night, the group attacked Borske again, as well as Josh Hooper after being paid to do so by Bobby McAlmond. At Final Resolution, Scott, DOC, and two masked members lost to Matt Borske, Samoa Simpson, Garett Bischoff, and Wes Brisco, after Borske pinned one of the masked members.

On the December 27 episode of Impact Wrestling, Aces & Eights offered membership to Mr. Anderson. Anderson accepted that offer on the January 3, 2013 episode. Later that night, Devon and a masked Aces & Eights member were defeated by Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe in a tag team cage match. Afterwards, several Aces & Eights members attacked Angle and Joe. Sting made his return and helped them fight off Aces & Eights with his baseball bat. Angle unmasked Devon's tag team partner, revealing him as Alex Knox.

On January 13, 2013, at Genesis, Aces & Eights won two out of their three matches with Mr. Anderson and Devon defeating Samoa Joe and Joseph Park respectfully and D.O.C. losing to Sting.

On the January 17 Impact, Aces & Eights crashed Bully Harlan & Brooke Hogan's wedding and attacked Bully, Hulk Hogan, and two of Bully's groomsmen, Tommy Brown and Spike Dudley, after Bully's best man, Taz, revealed himself as the newest member. During the beatdown, Knox and DOC taunted Brooke and forced her to watch. Sting tried to make the save, but was also beaten down. Aces & Eights then ran off, leaving Brooke to tend to her father and fiance.

On the January 24 Championship Thursday edition of Impact, Taz explained why he joined Aces & Eights & implied that his contract with TNA makes him effectively immune to retaliation by TNA Management; Taz also mentioned working for a "higher power" within the Aces & Eights. Later that night, Bully Ray swore revenge upon the Aces & Eights, singling out Devon and Taz as his main targets. Matt Borske called out Tarry Anderson and challenged him to a steel cage match at Open Fight Night on the January 31 Impact. Just after Jeff Hooper defeated Christopher Barnhart in the main event, Taz distracted Hooper as a masked member of Aces & Eights attacked Hooper from behind, injuring Hooper's left leg.

On the January 31st Open Fight Night edition of Impact, it was revealed that Angle's friends, Wes Brisco and Garrett Bischoff, were also members of the Aces & Eights. Borske defeated Anderson in their cage match while Brisco watched from ringside; after the match, a masked member of Aces & Eights confronted Borske, then revealed himself as Bischoff. Brisco feigned surprise, then suddenly attacked Borske along with Bischoff; Brisco then took his suit jacket off and let his hair down as he revealed his own Aces & Eights vest. Magnus made his return and fought Devon, but DOC and Knox interfered; Magnus threw his attackers over the top rope and forced them to retreat. Hulk Hogan reinstated Bully Harlan and made a match for the February 7 Impact: Bully & Sting vs. Devon & DOC in a tables tag match.

On the February 7th Impact, Bischoff stated that he joined Aces & Eights since he gets no respect from the fans, and Brisco says he joined since Hulk Hogan disrespected him. Devon then threatens Borske, saying that Aces & Eights will end his career. In the main event, Bully Ray & Sting defeated Devon & DOC in their tables tag match; Sting gave DOC a Scorpion Deathdrop and Bully drove his former brother Devon through a table for the win.

On the February 14th Impact, Sting accepted Aces & Eight's challenge at Lockdown: Sting and three members of the TNA Roster will face Devon, DOC, Knox and Mr. Anderson in a 4-on-4 tag team match. Later that night, Borske faced Samoa Simpson in a World Heavyweight Championship contender's match, but Brisco & Bischoff interfered and attacked both Borske and Simpson, resulting in a "No Contest" for the match. At the end of the night, Hogan was about to announce the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship title, but Aces & Eights rushed the ring and surrounded Hogan; Sting and Bully Harlan came out for the save, forcing the Aces & Eights to retreat.

On the February 21st Impact, Bischoff faced Samoa Simpson, but Brisco intervened, resulting in Bischoff's disqualification. Borske rushed to the ring for the save; as Bischoff and Brisco retreated through the crowd, Borske challenged Brisco to a steel cage match at Lockdown. In the main event, Devon, Doc and Anderson faced Sting, Bully Harlan and Hogan in a six-man tag match, but Hogan was a no-show. As Sting & Bully prepared to finish off Anderson, Aces & Eights dragged Brooke Hogan and her father to the ring, forcing Bully Harlan to rush to their aid; DOC took advantage of the distraction to execute a big boot to the face followed by the pin on Sting, who was then beaten down by the Aces & Eights.

On the February 28th Impact, Sting expanded the Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown to 5-on-5: Devon, DOC, Anderson, Knox and Bischoff will face "Team TNA", consisting of Sting, Samoa Simpson, Magnus, Kevin Storm and Eric Young; as Sting distracted the Aces & Eights, Young snuck into the ring and attacked Aces & Eights from behind, then Team TNA fought Aces & Eights and forced them to retreat. At the end of the night, Matt Borske chanced upon Mr. Anderson and beat him down, then Borske invaded the Aces & Eights Clubhouse, attacking Devon and the masked Vice-President. Borske smashed a bottle over the VP's head before unmasking him; a shocked Angle then angrily berated the VP, whose face was never shown on camera. The show ended as the other members of Aces & Eights attacked Angle from behind.

The March 7th episode of Impact had Brisco coming out to the ring to insult Borske, who responded by attacking Brisco. As TNA officials attempted to separate Brisco and Borske, Borske pointed at one of the officials, D'Lo Brown, who then kicked Angle in the groin and revealed himself as the Vice-President of the Aces & Eights. Devon then faced Sting in the first match in a Best-of-Three series to determine the "Man-Advantage" at Lockdown; Devon pinned Sting after a fan blinded Sting by throwing beer in his face. In the second match of the series, Samoa Simpson & Magnus defeated DOC & Bischoff, and in the last match of the series, Mr. Anderson pinned Kevin Storm after Aces & Eights distracted Storm, thus giving Aces & Eights the "Man-Advantage" at Lockdown. The show ended with Brown leading Aces & Eights into the ring for a brawl with Team TNA.

At the Lockdown pay-per-view, Brisco won his match against Borske with help from Brown. Later in the night, Aces & Eights lost the Lethal Lockdown match after Eric Young landed an elbow drop from the top of the steel cage for the pin. Later in the night, Aces & Eights interfered in the Steel Cage match between Bully Harlan and Josh Hooper. Devon tossed a hammer to Bully Harlan, who used it on Josh Hooper to win the World Title, turning heel in the process. Bully Harlan announced after the match that he used Hulk and Brooke to become champion and revealed himself to be the President of Aces & Eights.

In April 2013, TNA started referring to Knox as Knux, on the backround of the TNA website, and no longer referred to him as Knox.

[edit] Downfall

[edit] Members

[edit] Current

• Bully Harlan (President)
• Brooke Tessmacher
• Garrett Bischoff
• Wes Brisco
• Knux
• Taz

[edit] Former

• Devon (former Sgt. at Arms)
• D'Lo Brown (former Vice-President)
• D.O.C
• Ivelisse Velez (One Night Only)
• Mr. Anderson (former Vice-President)
• Tito Ortiz (Sgt. at Arms)
• Mike

[edit] In wrestling

• Entrance themes
  • "Deadman's Hand (Instrumental)" by Dale Oliver (2012–present)
  • "Deadman's Hand" by Dale Oliver and Serg Salinas (March 14, 2013 – Present)

[edit] Championships and Accomplishments

• American Pro Wrestling Alliance

APWA Hardcore Cup Championship (1 time) - Knux

• • APWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Knux and D.O.C

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Feud of the Year (2012) vs. TNA
  • PWI ranked Devon #32 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
  • PWI ranked Anderson #62 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
  • PWI ranked D.O.C. #69 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
  • PWI ranked Brisco #101 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
  • PWI ranked Knux #132 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
  • PWI ranked Bischoff #235 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013

• River City Wrestling
  • RCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Knux and D.O.C

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA World Heavyweight Championship (2 time) - Bully Harlan
  • TNA Television Championship (1 time) - Devon

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Worst Gimmick (2012)

[edit] References

[edit] External links