His next feud was against a newly formed masked faction called "Aces & Eights", where he was pointed as the interim general manager after Hogan hiatus due to a back injury. The feud led to a match at Bound for Glory alongside Bully Ray, where they were defeated by the Aces & Eights, following interference from a man who was afterwards unmasked as Ray's longtime partner, the returning Devon. As a result of their win, the Aces & Eights earned full access to TNA. On the following episode of "Impact Wrestling", Sting defeated Devon via disqualification, following interference from the Aces & Eights. On the November 8 episode of "Impact Wrestling", Sting was sidelined with a storyline injury, after being put through a table and beaten with a ball-peen hammer by DOC, a member of Aces & Eights.