Impact Wrestling: Top five factions in history

2. Aces & Eights

The formation of Aces & Eights was one of the best-constructed angles in recent Impact history.

In the beginning, they did not reveal their identities and targeted the biggest names in the company – Sting and Hulk Hogan. Three masked men attacked Sting, on the June 14, 2012, episode of Impact. The following month – Hogan received a mysterious letter that contained a photograph of the ‘dead man’s hand’ playing card, along with the message “see you next week”. Seven later, the renegades attacked the Hulkster, taking him off television for a while. The angle was fresh and intriguing, everything a fan wants from a storyline.

Slowly members of the biker group began revealing themselves – Wes Brisco, Mr. Anderson, ‘The Director of Chaos’ Luke Gallows, ‘Vice President’ D’Lo Brown, Knux, Taz, Garett Bishoff, and ‘1st Srg. at Arms’ Devon were apart of the faction.

Over the next few months they targeted other members of the Impact roster including Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, D’Angelo Dinero, Austin Aries, and Bully Ray. Bully Ray, who was dating Brooke Hogan at the time, was trying to get revenge for Hulk but was overpowered – Aces & Eights had strength in numbers.

During their promo’s,  Aces and Eights, often mentioned a “higher power” within their ranks  and that man was revealed to be Bully Ray – during his match with Jeff Hardy at Lockdown 2013. Ray used a hammer, given to him by Devon, and won the World Heavyweight Championship – he was the ‘President’ of Aces & Eights and admitted he used Hulk and Brooke Hogan to get his hands on the title. It was a great swerve.

Over the next few weeks, Bully Ray released several videos explaining how and why he put his master plan together, it was gripping stuff.

The group was forced to split, when Bully Ray lost to former member Mr. Anderson, at Turning Point. The faction had run its course but Aces & Eights was a highlight of Impact Wrestling when the company had lost all momentum.