Kester's TNA Impact Rundown: Jeff Hardy calls for Full Metal Mayhem, Aces and Eights is slowly being rebuilt, and Hulk Hogan and Sting bicker

By Ryan Kester

Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy

Bully Ray continues to shin in his heel role. He really is helping Aces and Eights with his mic work, and I like how TNA hasn't overused him in the past few weeks. His longer promos will mean more and carry a greater weight if TNA keeps this up consistently.

Hardy looks better on the mic than he has in quite some time and he has a renewed energy in his matches now that he's in front of a live crowd. I think seeing Hardy in a chase mode is helping him tremendously as he was stuck in a rut with his title reign.

Aces and Eights

TNA is making baby steps with Aces and Eights. They're having a better discipline by having the group not lose as much, but they're still getting chased off by the babyfaces they're paired with. It makes the group more into a collection of annoyances that can be dangerous when they have you outnumbered, but they're still not a threat when paired with an equal opposition.

Honestly, I would be ok with a group like that. In many similar ways, WWE's The Shield has been beaten back multiple times, but they're treated like a smart group that is deathly efficient at getting their two-man advantage even when they're fighting man-to-man. My issue stems from the disjointed storytelling.

TNA is having its announcers and Aces and Eights talk about dominating TNA. That simply isn't what they've been allowed to do for months. When you talk about that type of dominance and deliver cheap victories and retreats, it makes it impossible for the group to be taken seriously. Sure, it can be annoying to see someone talk themselves up when they can't back it up, but that doesn't keep a group hot when they're built to last for an entire year.

Hulk Hogan and Sting

I am not very crazy about this storyline. I respect that Sting and Hogan get great reactions when paired with one another in front of a fresh crowd, but we've seen these two men feud and become friends again far too many times in the past few years. This is already feeling like a stale rehash and they're only a few weeks in.

I was mildly encouraged to see Morgan involved in an ancillary fashion with this feud. There is certainly a chance for him to get some rub from all of this, but TNA is going to need to push him further into the forefront for that to be effective.

Overall Show

Last night's show was solid, but it wasn't the most exciting show. We got a few long matches and plenty of build for future shows, but it was at the expense of making last night's effort feel like a memorable evening.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.