TNA Impact! Wrestling: Aces and Eights in Control; Daniels and Styles Shine

The Thursday, Aug. 16 edition of Impact! Wrestling opens with Austin Aries coming out to the ring. Aries talks about how he proved people wrong by beating Bobby Roode twice and that he is the face of TNA Wrestling. He turns his attention to Aces and Eights before Jeff Hardy interrupts his segment.

Hardy says he will win the Bound For Glory Series and believes a match with Aries will be stunning to watch. Hardy calls out Aces and Eights but instead gets Bully Ray.

Ray makes the claim that James Storm is behind the group and explains why. After Ray says he will win the Bound For Glory Series, Aries fires back and says he may have something to do with Aces and Eights.

Suddenly, Aces and Eights appear on the screen and say they will make an impact later on the show. 

Samoa Joe vs. Magnus in a Bound For Glory Series match

Your winner via pinfall, Samoa Joe. A decent opening match with both wrestlers getting almost an even amount of moves in the ring. With the victory, Joe receives seven more points.

Match Rating: 3/5

Madison Rayne comes out to the ring and is in a very happy mood after regaining the TNA Knockouts title. Rayne praises referee Earl Hebner and asks him to enter the ring. Brooke Hogan interrupts Rayne and bans Hebner from refereeing anymore of the Knockouts matches.

Rayne, who becomes rattled, demands Hogan to enter the ring. As Hogan enters the ring, Aces and Eights suddenly appear. Bully Ray, Aries, Hardy, Sting and some of the Impact! Wrestling roster come racing to the ring to make the save.

Back from commercial break, Sting proposes a match for next week against Aces and Eights at the beginning of the show.

Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles in a Bound For Glory Series match

Your winner via pinfall, AJ Styles. This was a terrific singles match between Daniels and Styles. Both wrestlers, who have competed against each other numerous times, really shined on this edition of Impact! Wrestling. After the match, Styles attacked Daniels one last time before Kazarian could pull him out of the ring.

Match Rating: 4.5/5

Sting, who is pacing backstage, talks with Hulk Hogan. Hogan tells Sting that he is ready to take on Aces and Eights next week and that he will make his return to Impact! Wrestling.

After commercial break, Bobby Roode arrives to the ring. Roode says he had the chance to get back his TNA title. Roode claims he truly defeated Aries at Hardcore Justice and begins to blame almost everyone for his loss. He drops the microphone in the ring and leaves.

Miss Tessmacher vs. Madison Rayne for the TNA Knockouts Title

Your winner and new Knockouts champion, Miss Tessmacher. That was a very short title reign for Rayne. Without the help of Hebner, Rayne was unable to get the job done. A pretty decent Knockouts title match to watch. Having the belt back on Miss Tessmacher could indicate she will have a longer title run.

Match Rating: 3/5

Bully Ray vs. Jeff Hardy in a Bound For Glory Series match

Your winner via pinfall, Jeff Hardy. During the match, two members of the Aces and Eights tried to attack Ray and Hardy but Sting, Aries and Kurt Angle chase them away. 

After Hardy scored the victory, Aces and Eights appeared again and attacked Storm to close Impact! Wrestling.

Match Rating: 3.5/5

My Thoughts on Impact! Wrestling:

This was yet another very solid episode of Impact! Wrestling. The show featured plenty of very good wrestling matches to watch and most of the program went along smoothly. 

Although Aces and Eights did its job at the end of the show to attack Storm, the segment felt a little predictable on what would occur. With Storm no longer in the picture to be the leader of Aces and Eights, this allows more mystery on who is the actual person behind the group.

Impact! also did a good job hyping next week's opening match and the return of Hulk Hogan. With what seems to be another good show in place for next week, Impact! Wrestling has certainly found its creative groove on Thursday nights. 

Overall Impact! Wrestling Rating: 4/5