It has been the most interesting angle of the Summer but it is time to bring Aces and Eights into the next phase of the story. The attacks have continued for weeks and, while they are getting voiceboxed promo time, I am ready for the group to start it’s reveal. I would start off by having members be unmasked one by one on Impact. Maybe not every week (no I’m not counting Mike from New York) but two unmaskings in three weeks would suit me just fine. The reason that I would do this on television is because it would all lead to a reveal of the Aces and Eights leader at Bound For Glory on Pay Per View. Once the leader is announced, the group can move on to having matches, winning titles, and lead to an Aces and Eights versus TNA Lethal Lockdown match at the Slammiversary pay per view in June. I only reason I don’t do the “Wargames” match at the Lockdown event is because that occurs in April and I would avoid culminating the angle in the same month as Wrestlemania. I had an original idea for who should lead the group when the attacks first started but since then I have changed my mind and tweaked my answer a few different times. Here are some suggestions that I have for the leader of Aces and Eights.
Jeff Jarrett
He was my first choice to lead the group and made sense initially as Sting was the first one to be attacked the day after he was announced as the first inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame. Jealousy from the TNA founder coupled with the fact that Sting was the one who made the match that forced Jeff to “leave” TNA and you have a built in storyline that can be forwarded. I would also have Jarrett as the manager who would only wrestle on occasion as he is getting up there in years and had certainly overexposed himself in TNA in the past. The attack/intimidation of Brooke Hogan can be explained by the fact that she now has the head of the Knockouts role once held by Karen Jarrett. The Karen tie in can also explain the Kurt Angle attack and many of the other beatdowns would be easy to make sense given Jarrett’s long tenure in the company.
Eric Bischoff
It was not long after Eric was forced to leave TNA that the attacks started. Unlike Jarrett, Bischoff serves as a puppet master and not an in ring competitor but is a great heel and excellent promo that could help get the group over as main event. The problem I see with Eric is that he is more recently overexposed than Jarrett and that might hurt the impact (no pun intended) of his reveal as leader. Eric does have the on again/off again issues with Hogan and has a long history of his character being a douche (some would say more than just his character) so orchestrating a series of attacks on wrestlers would not be out of line for Eric.
Abyss
It appeared that TNA was going towards a reveal with Joseph Park and Abyss being one in the same but that has since just stopped. The hoods are in line with the Abyss character and Joe Park Esq. has been doing his “digging” for Hulk and Sting in recent weeks. It’s possible that the investigation by Park is merely a distraction in order to keep him in the good graces of the Hulkster and the Stinger while Aces and Eights “plan more attacks”. Bringing the monster Abyss back as a killer heel would be good as well, since that is the best use of his character. I’m not sure how well Joseph Park would do as a heel but it might be worth a shot.
Bully Ray
Bully Ray has been “Mr. Johnny on the spot” when it has come to many of the group attacks and saves by the TNA roster. Bully has been late on the run in or the guy who has come to the aid of Jeff Hardy and Austin Aries AFTER they have been attacked. The gang has shown enough interest in saying that they will beat on Bully without doing so that it would still make sense as a swerve. With the signing of a new two year contract, the former Dudley Boy will be around TNA for a while so a continued ascension up the card with a gang might be a good move for Ray. In addition, being surrounded by a gang is a great piece to the bully character. At the time that I write this, he is my personal favorite to lead Aces and Eights.
Dixie Carter
And While we are on the subject of swerves. Now I do realize that our prayers were finally answered and “the swerve-master” Vince Russo is no longer with TNA but the owner of TNA leading Aces and Eights would certainly provide a twist that most do not see coming. How would Dixie do as a heel? Who knows. Vickie Guerrero has done fairly well in her role and the authoritative woman that people hate would be a refreshing change for Dixie on television. Hell, she’s basically already a heel to me the way that she carried on during the Claire Lynch (played by Julia Reilly) angle. I’m not saying that I expect TNA to go in this direction but it would give Aces and Eights access to the building and, as things progress, main event matches and influence. Going with Dixie is a risky move but a shake up is what TNA and Aces and Eights need at this point in the story.
Well those are a few of my suggestions. I would assume that we will find out the answers to the questions we ask at or near Bound for Glory. Hopefully TNA can pull this off. I, for one, will be pulling for them.
Agree? Disagree? Did I miss something? I’d love to hear from you at addie@wetalkwrestling.com
