Aces & Eights | Wrestling With Wregret

It was one of the longest, most popular and most polarizing storylines in the history of TNA/Impact Wrestling ... ACES & EIGHTS! Featuring gang beatings, swerves, a wedding, betrayal, and MASKS!
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[@JMFabiano]

Jake Roberts should have been the leader....he warned us all back in 1999 that he has aces and eights...

[@rexsexson5349]

And when you have 21 i have 22.

[@gordonirvine726]

He had two uh those too....

[@justinhillenburg9286]

And Blackjack, he has too many of those, too.

[@rayorbison4699]

He had a couple of Blackjacks, actually.

[@outstandingdogmarron9890]

Dalton Wake up common mistake made by people who aren’t pros, just add Kurt Angle to the mix and it’ll make sense.

[@TheMellowFilmmaker]

"We're not cowards" He says while backing away.

[@TheFriendlyWeirdo]

TheMellowFilmmaker And also badly acting.

[@alexdelarge703]

And wearing a bandana and sunglasses to cover his face

[@hrodriguez561]

Irony???

[@dannyhipolito817]

@@alexdelarge703 intimidating 😒😒

[@SteamyLinguini]

You know who else could have saved Sting? Robocop.

[@The80sWolf_]

SteamyLinguini Or in these days Iron man?

[@Beatnu3000]

There was a Robocop movie in 2014 that needed promoting, best to get a head start in 2012

[@IsoEsa66]

The Four Horsemen want nothing to do with ... Robocop?

[@normang3668]

The Shock Master?

[@LuckyDT]

IsoEsa66 That’s right, the Horsemen want nooooo part of...... Robocop?!

[@connie1617]

that “boy did i get sidetracked” joke is one of the best deliveries Brian’s ever done

[@bloodbuzzohio7924]

I literally just spent the last 20 minutes combing through his videos to find that joke because it randomly came to my mind

[@BeardedBruh]

Yeah, I was watching on the bus home, and just lost my shit for a second. People stare. Thanks, Brian, an adult watching wrestling on the bus, with earbuds hidden under my hood, wasn't weird enough, I had to also be the guy laughing hysterically out of nowhere. 😂

[@QuicklimeTime]

TNA losing TV deals is like a lizard losing its tail. They'll have another in a matter of weeks.

[@GaryTurbo]

Now they're on AXS

[@theshakter]

And its 1.0 rating

[@chubbycatfish4573]

It's only a matter of time until they end up on the Weather Channel and make that old SNL sketch true.

[@Regent192]

@@chubbycatfish4573 wait snl did a skit on tna??

[@chubbycatfish4573]

@@Regent192 www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/el-nino/2861308

[@Psmgamer]

Bully Ray turning heel was the best thing about Aces and Eights.

[@evanrules3635]

Bully Ray being leader made no sense fighting ace's and 8s for months and he is all of sudden is the leader

[@iobeast]

@brandon roberts Agreed. I thought it was obvious Bully would turn on Jeff and reveal himself to be the President of Aces & Eights

[@satan3959]

The problem with the stable is that a stable should benefit the vast majority of the wrestlers involved in the stable. The only people that got anything out of the stable were Bully and Anderson. Plus they had some jokes in the stable like Garret Bischoff and Wes Brisco. DOC had potential, but he saw the writing on the wall and took off to Japan

[@davezanko9051]

But that said just it: the stable turned out to be an ego trip for Bully, which is exactly why it fell apart. And that's not a bad thing. The villains do need to get their comeuppance, and that being due to their own self-destructive flaws is a good way to do it. They stretched it out a bit too long, and included UFC guys for no reason whatsoever, but it was a logical end.

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

@@iobeast I knew it was him right when he proposed to Brooke Hogan.

[@the1flym459]

If you’ve got 21, I’ve got 22. You wanna play blackjack, I’ve got two of those, too. You wanna play aces and eights, maybe I’ve got too many of those too

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

+The 1flym *LOL*

[@mrwhopee]

When I go to a casino, and I go to gamble, I have to accept losing. Do you?

[@johnkoho1245]

But if you got 22... then you lose, you go busto. 21 wins, and that means you're a loser.

[@lordswine7962]

THINK ABOUT IT!! Haha oh Jake.

[@MrBoogiemoney]

That promo was good imo. drunk or not, Jake the snake is a God when it comes to promos.

[@NickDepp]

Disappointed you didn't mention the A8 funeral where Soma Joe handed beers out and then took the beer from angle and was like "none for you Kurt"

[@normang3668]

Soma Joe? Does he put himself to sleep?

[@kaynic2539]

I still go back and watch that but to this day😂😂

[@Chrisssss45]

Where can I find a video of it?

[@claymathewselevator8121]

To the Aces&Eights may you ride your mopeds to the shores of Valhalla-Samoa Joe

[@coryfusting9294]

The Aces & Eights funeral was one of the funniest things ever in TNA. Eric Young crying. The previously mentioned bit with Joe and Angle. The deadpan seriousness of it all.

[@wstine79]

There will be 3 things that will survive the apocalypse: Cockroaches, twinkies, and TNA/ IMPACT wrestling.

[@marvellesaulsberry]

How dare you stay alive meme

[@silenceenigma587]

@@MrSFblack He technically isn't wrong

[@freezetasticvoyage19]

Impact has nothing to do with tna these days. Tna is dead. #dealwithit #blamedixiecarter

[@bigchief8493]

@@MrSFblack damn chill tf out virgin! So what he likes WWE.

[@jonhufford6980]

And keith richards

[@ArchmageOfAnarchy]

"We are not cowards" *BACKS AWAY*

[@BluThundr]

Man you never talked about the aftermath promo between Anderson and Bully Ray, with the funeral for Aces & Eights, that was amazing.

[@acewillingham]

I agree

[@beneddu]

Well that was technically after the storyline was over ;) But Tenay stealing Brooke's underwear was hilarious

[@JaimeD.]

@@beneddu And Samoa Joe's speech was a thing of beauty. 😎

[@UltimateOmegaRed]

Bully Ray: "Put the vest back on!" Taz: "Make me!" Bully Ray: "PUT THE DAMN VEST BACK OOOON!" Taz: "MAKE ME!" This was from an ACTUAL TRANSCRIPT!

[@sophieschollsreinkarnation5078]

Put your shirt off! Put your shirt off! Put your shirt off!

[@donaldgarner3986]

In the movie Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith; Chan continuously yells at the child to remove his jacket. And put it back on. There is an actual scene in the movie where Jackie is yelling "Jacket Off" at a child. 😖

[@zemox2534]

Put the damn jacket on!!!!!! Take the damn jacket off!!!!!

[@carybeweary7209]

@@donaldgarner3986 😳.....yeah...that was not.....good

[@TyMarshall007]

Once you ride with the Aces and Eights you'll never walk alone

[@stephencatchdudeknight4623]

🤲

[@FrontRowCentral]

Bruh imagine if Batista signed with TNA at the time? Perfect line to introduce him

[@Christian988.]

😂😂

[@sinicalypse]

NO SCOUSERS ALLOWED! GO WALK ALONE OVER THERE! ALNE LIKE ACEY, I SAID!

[@TyMarshall007]

@@sinicalypse glad someone got the You'll Never walk alone part when I heard when Bully Ray said that i was like Liverpool FC

[@RyanPelley1]

The inclusion of the "they don't know the secrets" clip made my morning.

[@DasKame]

"She is a Stunt Granny"

[@mikkozak]

Should have shown a clip of Hogan getting beat up with "she's a stunt granny"

[@blackdynasty06]

This was right after the OSW review of that show for me.

[@BigEOT3]

Ryan Pelley Between Brian’s Classic review and the recent OSW Review Of Exposed, I’ll never get tired of hearing Norbert/Salem talk about stuff like that.

[@Lythgoemania]

Always love it whenever that doc gets referenced

[@god3atgod]

13:28 just say it, D-Lo has the head shape of a ninja turtle 😂

[@SamsarasArt]

Oh my God lmfao

[@jeffreyboyce5048]

He really do

[@TheCeltic91]

Oh god he really does 😂

[@lworthy2518]

Well *DAMN!* 😆

[@pieman12345610]

Holy shit

[@johansvanborg5870]

Having the group fall apart as a storyline seems like a better idea then just going 'til no-one wanted them anymore.

[@thomasjenkins7506]

all i can think of is DX and NWO, and i agree

[@KalebCenite]

Dont forget in the Loser Leaves match AJ Styles got the biggest pop as he sort of returned to his phenomenal one gimmick and that was a really big pop

[@juliandibenedetto3498]

Kaleb Cenite yeah unforgettable moment, comes out to the heel music then takes off his hood to reveal the true AJ

[@KalebCenite]

@@juliandibenedetto3498 that's the part I was saying was the best part of it.

[@MrSFblack]

That was the beginning of TNA/Impact Wrestling's return to prominence

[@joeydecesari8211]

Gives me goosebumps every time

[@NickDepp]

Mike tennay lost his shit on commentary

[@toastydanny9136]

I almost forgot that Sting used to cosplay as the Joker.

[@mydislikedoesntmatter6537]

Joker sting was best sting 😂

[@DasKame]

I almost forgot that Sting was a white Surfer Dude Wrestler

[@enigmaskull3495]

Joker Sting lives on in Sami Zayn now.

[@handsolo1209]

@@enigmaskull3495 - In the same way that a 5 course Gordon Ramsay meal lives on as a huge turd now.

[@rexsexson5349]

Worst! Sting! EVER!

[@NecesaryEvil]

“3 men cosplaying as the same Road Rash character” 🤣🤣🤣💯

[@spykeso9]

I was never fan of TNA 2009-present but I do remember what impact. The Aces of Eights had in wrestling , a fact that they’re still remembered today.

[@thomasofone]

So are Virgil and Sapphire. Whats your point?

[@pendafen7405]

Same. Imo TNA was at its finest in the early-mid 2000s, and people overlook that to focus on stables like A&8.

[@Taalsman]

"We're not cowards!" *Backs away quickly*

[@timbartschwolfman]

I remember watching Mr Kennedy defeating Bully Ray to disbanded the Group

[@melchardcaranto4675]

KENNEDY!!!!!!

[@enigmaskull3495]

KENDERSON!!

[@phatboy4321]

ANNEDY!!!

[@shawnwbronx]

The Tito Ortiz reveal was one of the worst in wrestling history.

[@carybeweary7209]

Augest 1st warning! I tuned in for that crap expecting Low Ki or something lol! I wish Brian or Wrestlecrap would cover it.

[@shawnwbronx]

I'm shocked he didn't mention it during this video. If someone was only a wrestling fan they would have no idea who came out.

[@Ticketman99]

@@shawnwbronx And that's many people. MMA fans would be laughing their asses off😂

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

+Sh Wh #FACTS

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

@@carybeweary7209 I remembered that.

[@Hellwyck]

"Yo! We're not cowards!!" *throws the envelope on the desk and backs away quickly*

[@thetruej7872]

Aces & 8s were so underrated.

[@TyMarshall007]

i'm going to get hate for this I still got one of the Aces and 8s T-shirts

[@carybeweary7209]

I didn't like them much but liked Bully and Anderson. Also,stings promo at the time about him wanting a no holds barred match where he scared bully.

[@acewillingham]

I agree they most definitely was I enjoy the entire angle during that time people can say what they want about it but honestly Eric Bischoff and Impact Wrestling put this angle together very well and it was done the right way yes I will admit yeah the Aces & Eights had its flaws but looking back at it now. This angle was awesome to me that was the last time Impact Wrestling was really good

[@christophernicholson20]

I feel like the Undertaker should have been behind this storyline. His biker gimmick imagine if he was revealed as the leader of the aces and eights

[@antfrancis9941]

The funeral of aces & eights was pure tv gold. Hilarious 😂😂😂

[@TyMarshall007]

TURKEY

[@ilikethecokev2]

Mike Tennay: Why're you crying? EY: (sobbing) I don't know!

[@alfonsomilla4775]

TNA : Because a swerve that makes sense is just a waste of time.

[@geedee1264]

They brought Miss Tessmacher into the group just so Bully Ray could call her Brooke on the phone.._ that was it. Tazz' explanation for joining " How could I say no to joining something bigger than myself?"..Absolutely embarrassing.

[@RoyalFusilier]

"Come on, bro, people can see 'logical thinking' coming a mile away, bro. Stories have been told the same way forever. So I said to myself, bro, how do I really do something nobody could ever predict? Simple, bro. Do something nobody would ever think of, because it's deeply, painfully stupid. I'm telling you, bro, it's ratings gold. I hate JBL."

[@Ticketman99]

A swerve is _not supposed_ to make sense...until hindsight makes it make sense. If a swerve made sense from the get-go, it's not a swerve anymore. Now stop asking for "unpredictability' ever again.

[@alfonsomilla4775]

I was quoting Brian on one of his other videos. Lol

[@Ticketman99]

@@alfonsomilla4775 Lol then someone tell him what I just said😅

[@TheDoubleA12]

This makes me want to see a review of Immortal. Pretty please?

[@carybeweary7209]

Oh man. I think that is the worst stable in wrestling history. Or at least the worst in TNA/Impact

[@MrJtl2002]

Yeah Immortal was terrible

[@jcaceres516]

Fortune?

[@b_side8669]

Jose Caceres a four horsemen complete rip off wannabe of a stable sheesh to me that Stable was awful in tna/impact wrestling ‘s own history it made the immortal’s stable look like a fucking Genius idea

[@dylanogg347]

@@carybeweary7209 It has contenders for the worst in Impact. But there have been plenty more disappointing stables in the long history of Professional Wrestling.

[@ArticulatedDoom]

5:13 the preacher in leather pants sounds like the start of all of Mark Wahlberg's music career.

[@MrSFblack]

How ironic that Aces and 8's was the brain child of Eric Bischoff, who was desperately trying to catch lightning in a bottle for a 2nd time with another NWO like storyline. And just like NWO, the Aces and 8's started out hot but eventually outlived their usefulness and faded into oblivion.

[@gamechanger700]

Wasn't Russo booking at that time

[@patrickbooth5091]

Araf Zaman 15 minutes in the video Zane says Russo was nowhere in charge at this point in time

[@geedee1264]

Bischoff was known to love Motorbikes, once he saw Sons of Anarchy that was probably it

[@RollysonMason]

@@patrickbooth5091 apparently information recently came out he was secretly rehired

[@jenniferrenolds2226]

Youre a smart. Do better. You can't

[@SmashBrosOdyssey64]

I'm glad someone else appreciated the Aces and Eights. They were a cool group, and the storyline was decently executed.

[@NickCorvello]

I think one of the most fascinating things about this storyline and TNA's climate at the time is that AJ's "lone wolf" gimmick and storyline had an interesting twist from the Sting version in that every major stable at the time was trying to recruit AJ. I remember hearing that the Main Event Mafia tried recruiting him and I remember the episode where Daniels and Kazarian tried to recruit AJ to their group "Addiction". And I also remember in that segment that AJ contemplated the offer for a bit before not answering.

[@JDotWill]

Taz joining was so damn stupid too. It started off as a cool moment but they very next week it made him look soft because he threatened to sue the company if anyone touched him

[@jgbcreations9368]

Yup. No wonder why they quietly wrote him off as the weeks progressed.

[@DominoMarama]

They missed a chance with the calling anyone out ("Throwback Thursday"?) when they were in UK during Aces and Eights stuff. It would have been a fun segment to play up the difference in countries law to break the Teflon Taz contract and call him out.

[@jonathonbartos5420]

6:30 Ah, what a wonderful "Clue" reference that is! It made me smile.

[@JKReacts]

Fire Breathing Horse. Me with Money! I'm DEAD!

[@Eddiebhoy1888]

Jesus I loved this era of TNA, I don't even care how much fun gets made of it. Aces and Eights were badass to me.

[@RenzStyles]

It was a great storyline in paper. Once all the members where revealed, it went to shit.

[@sethstrattan7380]

No it went to shit when bully Ray was revealed to be the leader.

[@micahwatkins8425]

I so agree 100 percent.

[@robdadon6818]

When i first saw them i was like wtf then they grew on me i loved aces and eights hell in gta online i ride with the aces and eights on my back and my bike

[@SAM-ru4vx]

But seriously in the beginning it was what wes brisco, doc gallows, and bischoff jr, Russo jr, do brown. It was going nowhere until Bully ray took over.

[@cline90]

James Storm should have been the leader. The Two Dudleys, Anderson and D’lo made no sense but the rest of the members I was fine with. It did do wonders for Bully Ray though.

[@mooretoys94]

Think about it this way Zane. Bully Ray being the leader of Aces & Eights was the perfect swerve. it's like when you read a comic book of The Joker's devious schemes, and Batman comes in and sees him being attacked (the Joker that is) by his own henchmen. the first thought in batman's eyes is, "what is this ruse?" Bully Ray pulled off a big scheme. it's like the whole time Hulk Hogan is distracted with Aces & Eights, bully is getting close to Brooke which ultimately brings him closer to Hulk which is ultimately the enemy of the Aces & Eights and they want power, and control. Bully Ray wants the gold everything he was doing was building him to that point while building an army the Aces & Eights right and he was right there under Hulk's nose the whole time. If you wanna give an open mind about it

[@tryhardmoo]

I just want to acknowledge, that this time period, was arguably the best work of Bully Ray’s Career (as a singles competitor). For example, watch his full promo from lockdown when he is revealed as the leader. Like... holy shit, that was absolutely amazing.

[@jacksterling9258]

The guy training me to wrestle wrestles for Impact. I love that I actually get to call watching it "homework" 😂

[@austinrutledge7531]

Who's training you?

[@jacksterling9258]

@@austinrutledge7531 Josh Alexander

[@Ticketman99]

17:51 Bellator, Mr Zane, Bellator pulled both guys off the show. Sure, both of them were former UFC light heavyweight champions, but don't let that confuse you.

[@jasondeveraux6150]

"He's A Stunt Bully..."

[@TheDAExperience]

Credit has to given for the reveal of AJ as the fifth member to join the team to take out Devon. Him coming down to his lone-wolf music just to pull back his hood and Get ready to fly starts blaring was a great moment.

[@quantumcadence142]

lol Yes, Brian. That analogy makes WAY too much sense...

[@venomousnate7263]

I liked the intro with Gregory Iron. Really inspirational. And great vid Brian.

[@LoganSewell83]

The moral lesson using Scarface as an analogy earned you an instant like.

[@81rbutler]

This was so huge when it happened. I remember everyone couldn't figure this out. This was very exciting while it lasted and they really did pull off a great storyline.

[@ThandrieDavis]

I lived in Boston in 2013 and the Aces & Eights angle was enough for me to spend money to attend Slammiversary. The No DQ match between Sting and Bully Ray -- featuring the Pull Back The Ring Padding And Do A Piledriver spot for the very first time -- was freaking incredible. It really felt like there was a chance TNA might succeed. Alas. =/

[@Falcnuts]

TNA lives

[@ThandrieDavis]

@@Falcnuts It's been an amazing run for the company in the 4+ years since I wrote that comment.

[@StoogeClub]

The last thing to happen in human history is somehow going to be an Impact Wrestling match. The aliens who dig up the graves of humanity are even going to say WTF ?? Seriously that thing didn't die in 2005 ??

[@SnipingIsFun]

A lot of TNA's best stuff came after 2005 though

[@SnipingIsFun]

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 I mean a lot of great matches, wrestlers, and storylines.

[@carybeweary7209]

Garex wormuloyd will be talking to his fellow aliens about them on the Earthling Cinema spin off,Earthling Sportings.

[@wifilostconnection5992]

2005 was thier best year tho

[@enigmaskull3495]

Aces & Eights: Jake Roberts’s Favorite Stable.

[@round105]

They have 21 he has 22 and you wanna play blackjack well he has two of those two, they are aces and eights well he has to many of those too

[@marvellesaulsberry]

If Joey Ryan was the leader it wouldve been called Aces and 8... Inches

[@alishastephenson1437]

Okay, that got a pop out of me. 😂

[@enigmaskull3495]

I can see Joey Ryan coming out with Aces & Eights and his Dick Druids.

[@NintendoPsycho]

Joey blows.

[@PohTrain]

Joey said he only has 6

[@marvellesaulsberry]

@@PohTrain what a show off bragging about his 6 inches

[@LightyKD_]

PLEASE do more Impact Wrestling videos. This commentary of Aces and Eights was very enjoyable!

[@Arbal3st]

The best moment of the A&E storyline was AJ Styles finally going back to being not a tweener.

[@spencerbuzzard1260]

I stopped watching TNA around the time this story began, if those episodes of Impact ever go up on Impact Wrestlings streaming service I think I'll go back and watch them

[@beneddu]

I think they are?

[@jimbobjones9330]

Those vignettes were the 100% BEST job of retconning an angle I've ever seen. The whole angle had grown stale by that point (after starting super hot), but then those videos amazingly brought it back to awesome. I wish that whoever produced them (and wrote them) would do more of that. Because I can unironically say that they were one of the best things in wrestling ever. And then it kept going, and I finally gave up on TNA for good (after supporting them since the absolute first weekly PPV in 2002)

[@The_General_Zubas]

4:10 Everyone always forgets.... Scarface Dies in the end.

[@sonicstarman9663]

The Aces & Eights storyline was what revived my interest in wrestling, and for that I will always have respect for IMPACT Wrestling

[@thehorrorhound6575]

“When you ride with the aces and eights: you never walk alone!” This is one of my all time favorite wrestling storylines ever, I was 18 when it started back in 2013 and I watched every week of TNA/ impact with baited breath for a biker gang faction in wrestling FINALY DONE RIGHT, (not to mention my favorite GTA storyline is the lost and damned. I’m a big fan of biker stories done well) I made sure to download the patches for the group on WWE 13’ so I could make all the characters myself and put my own CAW in and make a universe story of my own with them. This was a good time to be a wrestling fan.

[@PKSunset]

They could of gotten Motorhead to do their entrance theme lol “The Aces & Eights, The Aces & Eights!”

[@e93sports80]

A song from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3

[@ricardonb6375]

@@e93sports80 Not to be a dick, but the lyrics said "The Ace of Spades," not "The Aces and Eights."

[@fightmaniac7635]

It was Bellator who pulled Ortiz and Jackson out not UFC.

[@Ticketman99]

Jackson and Ortiz are former UFC champions...so I could give him a pass for confusion😅

[@KB-qk1ic]

Same thing I wanted to post

[@GaryTurbo]

It's very strange since they're known for sharing talent

[@Ticketman99]

@@GaryTurbo The thing is, both Jackson and Ortiz got injured

[@truckpalumbo4430]

Jackson would smash Ortiz

[@monkeyman5866]

Aces & Eights? Wait, are we playing poker?

[@NotsoseriousNick]

Do they have 22?

[@samlaskowski9537]

Cause I got 23.

[@DrZuluGaming]

If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man. You win some, lose some, it's all the same to me.

[@Ariurotl]

Nice, I wanted to see your take on this storyline for a long time. As for the winding-down period of the stable, at least a) it kinda made sense in a "fall of an empire" sort of way, and b) people were actually being written off ON TV and didn't just disappear not to be mentioned again. It was a more or less organic end to the storyline.

[@masterchiefwasdonedirty9705]

My favorite part of Aces and 8s is where they interfere on a match Bobby Roode was in, don't attack him, Bobby Roode escapes and says "It Pays to be Roode" as the show ends; hinting that he is either their leader or that he has hired them to be his mercenaries. TNA would never follow up on this

[@ariel8865]

Lol D lo head shape sold him out before the reveal

[@higorsilva9818]

The development of that storyline was pretty amazing. Devon's heel turn, Taz's heel turn, Bully Ray's heel turn... I didn't see any of them coming. A&8 made me even interested to watch Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC.

[@apallok54]

I love impact wrestling. Always have. Missed the TNA from 2005 to 2013

[@etoxedge8736]

TNA really is the unkillable cockroach of wrestling and I'm all here for it

[@ryankirk7642]

Impact has been great as of late

[@carybeweary7209]

@@ryankirk7642 I'm glad it's coming back to a channel I actually have. Man October is going to be filled with wrestling. I love it!

[@ryankirk7642]

@@carybeweary7209 same man I've honestly been enjoying Impact for a couple years now. Eddie Edwards really surprised me as Champion. I always thought he was gonna be the background guy with Davie but he's been amazing as a singles competitor

[@pendafen7405]

we were always here

[@pokehybridtrainer]

This aged wonderfully.

[@iandude1]

I attended BFG in 2013 during the AJ vs. Dixie storyline (not Claire Lynch, the one about him threatening to leave with the belt), and I remember they did a backstage segment with a still heel Bully at the time, teasing the A&8 return. Never happened, but stuck out in my memory nonetheless.

[@vgtrp]

I don't think Impact Wrestling moving to AXS TV will affect New Japan that much. I think there's room on the channel for both as well as Women of Wrestling.

[@ryankirk7642]

In today's generation of fans if you slap a WWE or Impact logo on something they'll instantly hate it. Doesn't help that every Wrestling KZbinr has to play for their approval either.

[@medes5597]

@@ryankirk7642... What? How does that relate to Axs showing new Japan?

[@ryankirk7642]

@@medes5597 Because, people are saying that Anthem is gonna kick NJPW off and now they're shitting on Anthem and Impact. That's what it has to do with it. Even though it's definitely not what Anthem is gonna do.

[@MaiFiinta]

thanks.. by doing this you created a piece of history and you showed all the people that were involved that their work still maters

[@nickperry1730]

I love the little tributes to "Clue" sprinkled throughout Wregret history

[@knoblesavage9080]

I love that the vignettes with aces with aced the leader was wearing a leather cut with the word “Prospect”

[@TheRealFandjango]

Thank for covering them. TNA gets alot of shade thrown their way, rightfully so but this was so memorable. I forgot about how they set James Storm in the beginning and would have probably been better had he been the leader. I remember thinking Bully Ray was the VP due to his size. How no one figured out Wes Briscoe is a mystery, he was literally the only one on the roster at the time with that hair.

[@LuckyDT]

TNA/IMPACT - “The Company Who Lived!”

[@Xehanort10]

So it's the Harry Potter of wrestling?

[@JaimeD.]

@@Xehanort10 I wouldn't be surprised at this point.

[@tthomaselli2]

3:03-3:11.; That's what I immediately thought of when I first saw this story-line while talking to a friend of mine... "If an episode of 'Sons Of Anarachy' & the stereo-typical biker gang/bad-ass biker met a pro wrestling story-line, The Aces & 8's is pretty close to what that would look like." was a basic paraphrasing what I said to him.

[@DenOfVipers]

"But just like communism, Jimmy was a red herring" is an understated line by the Zman, here.

[@randomnerdery6511]

Zane... how did you totally gloss over TNA trying to recreate Crow Sting with Lone Wolf AJ? Styles even hung out in the back rows of the audience! I always felt like Angle's DUI arrest and subsequent trip to rehab were the true killers of this angle, as TNA hotshot AJ replacing Angle in a major multi-man tag match, killing the build AJ was getting, emulating Sting.

[@fuscinula]

"Just like communism, he was a red herring". Nice Clue reference, Zane.

[@TheMikeLucid]

This was an awesome spotlight on an era of impact that deserves attention. People crap all over that company and yea, sometimes they deserve it just like any other company. But they have shown they aren't afraid to try things. Great video. Hope to see more

[@wHw_Syxx]

The Aces & Eights funeral was the best thing especially the part with Angle lol.

[@elsavargas421]

In reality bully Ray is dating velvet sky my third favorite female wrestler next to Christie hemme and Gail kim

[@chriscothron3606]

Elsa Vargas Dat Ass

[@ChattGM]

I honestly didn't know that and found out recently and was like YO FOR REAL? Okay. Good for him. He definitely winning lol

[@LuckyDT]

Elsa Vargas This is good to know that Christie Hemme is one of your three favorite female wrestlers. Really appreciate this! Cheers!

[@misslaura199]

@@ChattGM he did the ice bucket challenge with her in 2014 which was funny and he referred to her as the future Mrs Dudley in his wwe hof speech, she's also defended him a lot on twitter against some wrestler I can't remember who it was but she wasn't happy that someone was having a go at her man

[@TheOnemanmoshpit]

Really? There must be a huge age gap.

[@AHeroAlmost]

You have to watch Sons Of Anarchy ... And where do I get a fire breathing horse ??

[@CarolynDestruction]

Welcome back Aces & Eights!!!!

[@SirBaron14]

Hey Brian! Nice review!! Can you do the Main Event Mafia next?? TNA's best stable to date!!!

[@goonerman6370]

Fortune 4 BOING BOING BOING

[@mydislikedoesntmatter6537]

Ace & Eights was my favorite part of tna at the time until they started getting unmasked

[@owenkorando9595]

Yea

[@ItDoesntMatterReally]

I'd argue that Aces & Eights from a storytelling perspective (granted, in no bankable way possible) accomplished more than the nWo. 1. They created a star with the group in Bully Ray, and helped pull guys like AJ, Anderson, Joe, and Magnus into the bigger limelight where they were considered equals with the likes of Angle and Sting. I honestly prefer that version of MEM over the original because a) it helped put those two on the map b) the original MEM really accomplished nothing other than stroke some big egos and look good in suits and c) Joe looks good in a suit. 2. Despite the departures, at least the A&E storyline had an ending for the faction. nWo is inarguably the bigger draw between the two groups, but it never truly ran it's course. The babyfaces never got the huge victory over the megalomaniacs bent on company domination. Maybe if Hogan were opposed to the black and white from the get-go there would've been a similar result in WCW. 3. The Bully Ray swerve made sense, at least to me, at the time. As soon as Devon was unmasked I was waiting for the other shoe to drop with Bubba. I actually felt insulted when they devoted an entire episode of iMPACT justifying Bully's turn. The marriage to Brooke, gaining Hogan's trust, it was all subterfuge that almost felt transparent to me at times, but I wont lie and say that it didn't keep me on my toes. I expected the turn, and I'd argue it came too late (the wedding would've been the perfect place for it, plus it would avoid weeks of Brooke on TV for no reason as Bully's new and estranged wife), but I never truly knew it was happening until it happen. On second thought, maybe the delay was smart considering that would be the natural means of turning Bully in such a way that pissed off the Hogans. All in all, the faction's existence is bittersweet for me. I spent the better part of a year and a half arguing that it wasn't an nWo clone on the internet. Outside of Bully and arguably Devon, the faction was weak once unmasked. The threat lost it's teeth once you knew the likes of Garrett Bischoff were behind the bandanas.

[@Perfection_Personified]

That intro from Gregory iron was actually pretty funny. It's also nice to hear MLW get some recognition, they're still extremely underrated.

[@Boy123Jim]

I love this storyline. It made Bully Ray, the SUPERSTAR that he was destined to be.

[@Mcelly58]

I feel like the word “War” is used too much nowadays

[@obsoleteworlds]

The Bully Ray reveal may seem illogical at first and a swerve for the sake of a swerve, Brian but consider that for months leading up to that Bully's literal catchphrase was "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" The intent was that he was hiding in plain sight the entire time and even begging the question of the audience.

[@seantheman1886]

Bully was an amazing heel to be fair.

[@tyrellbush3324]

Rampage and Tito was bellator fighters during that time. They were doing it promoting their fight that I don't think ever happened but I could be wrong on that front.

[@Ticketman99]

You're right. What happened was both Jackson and Ortiz got injured so they never fought.

[@teampimpjr]

What are you talking about Bully being the president was one of the worst kept secrets back then everyone knew and just were waiting for the shoe to drop

[@teampimpjr]

@brandon roberts, more importantly, he was trying to win over hulk to be with Brooke and end up with the title opportunity

[@reckless1ify]

I've been waiting YEARS for this episode. Thanks Uncle Brian.

[@PaceBreaker]

Thanks for chronicling this faction and their storyline. I wasn't able to watch any of TNA/Impact so all I could get was recaps online whenever I got curious.

[@elplebeuchiha1996]

No lie. The current Impact Wrestling product is pretty good. (+)

[@lonelyfanboy4833]

Finally, a TNA Video from you!

[@maxbuffkin5625]

My break just became 30 minutes

[@Corvy952]

9:03 “so open minded about his favorite past time” 😂😂 that was great

[@jaymichael3079]

I'm having a pretty rough time mental health wise, but your videos always seem to help. Thank you. It means more than you know, Brian.