TNA Impact! Wrestling Recap: Aces and Eights Work Towards Adding AJ Styles

The Thursday, April 4 edition of TNA Impact! Wrestling, which for the second straight week aired from Jonesboro, Ark., began with an introductory video package recapping the latest events on the show.

Aces and Eights, led by D-Lo Brown and Devon, opened Impact! Wrestling by arriving to the ring. In the ring, Mr. Anderson held up a black leather jacket and called out AJ Styles to join Aces and Eights. After Devon spoke, D-Lo Brown took control of the microphone and held up a letter he received from TNA management. Brown announced that his contract was terminated by the company, which was met with "you got fired" chants from the crowd.

Kurt Angle walked down the entrance way and quickly took down Brown. As members of Aces and Eights entered to save Brown, Samoa Joe, Joseph Park, Eric Young and Magnus stormed to the ring to help Angle.

Match No. 1: Gail Kim and Tara vs. Velvet Sky and Taryn Terrell with special guest referee Joey Ryan.

Your winners via pin fall: Gail Kim and Tara. Unfortunately, this match really got TNA on the wrong side of the road. Ryan never clicked as a special guest referee, as he was too fascinated with the women in the ring. Hopefully people will not see the Knockouts division in this kind of match again.

Match Rating: 1/5.

After a commercial break, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode were joined by Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez. As TNA announcer, Jeremy Borash, set the tone for the Tag Team titles contract, Aries proposed to revamp the contract. After both mutually accepted the changes, Aries and Guerrero wrote down their pre-match speculations.

Borash announced that if Aries and Roode successfully defend their belts, Guerrero and Hernandez must break up as a tag team.

Match No. 2: Adam Pearce vs. Magno.

Your winner via pin fall: Adam Pearce. A decent match between the two, although Magno appeared to miss a few spots. Pearce used the ropes to nail the victory, which could go against him when the Gut Check judges vote on the match.

Match Rating: 3/5.

Backstage, Mr. Anderson meets with Styles and attempts to recruit him to join Aces and Eights.

Hulk Hogan comes out next and walks towards the ring. Hogan calls out Styles to join him in the ring. Styles, who was still holding an Aces and Eights jacket, met with Hogan. Hogan told Styles he understands about his frustrations and failures in TNA last year. He continues to speak, giving Styles a confidence booster and asked "The Phenomenal One" to join Team TNA.

Suddenly, Storm interrupts and blames Styles on not helping him fight Aces and Eights. Storm tries to have Styles remember his accomplishments and faults. He tells Styles that his attitude has gone south. Styles draws closer to Storm but quickly turns away and leaves the ring.

Match No. 3: Sonjay Dutt vs. Mason Andrews vs. Petey Williams.

Your winner via pin fall: Petey Williams. Williams looked impressive in his return X-Division match to TNA. Fortunately, this match helped the turn the show around slightly after a poorer start.

Match Rating: 3.5/5.

Match No. 4: Devon, Wes Brisco, D.O.C., Mike Knox and Garett Bischoff (Aces and Eights) vs. Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Eric Young, Joseph Park and Magnus.

Your winners via pin fall: Aces and Eights. Solid main event match with plenty of action all around the ring. Good victory for Aces and Eights, as they are beginning to string up consecutive wins.

Match Rating: 3.5/5.

Bully Ray, who entered from the crowd, held high his TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt before speaking inside the ring. The Heavyweight Champion strongly hyped his Full Metal Mayhem match with Jeff Hardy next Thursday. Ray moves forward and calls out Hogan's daughter, Brooke, to the ring.

Brooke arrives to the ring and is immediately questioned by Ray why she wasn't wearing her wedding ring. Ray tells Brooke that at the Lockdown pay-per-view, she should have been cheering him instead of getting angry for joining Aces and Eights.

Holding a yellow envelope, Ray hands it to Brooke. Brooke opens it and pulls out a front-row ticket to next week's Impact! Wrestling show. As Ray insulted Brooke, she slapped him on the face. Hardy erupts towards the ring and begins a brawl with Ray as Impact! Wrestling fades to black.