X Division
The X Division is a high-flying, high-risk, fast-paced style of professional wrestling[1] seen originally in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and since then in various NWA member promotions. Its tag line is that "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits!"[2] The TNA X Division Championship has changed hands fifty two times since 2002, and is currently held by Austin Aries.[3]
History
The high-flying, high risk style of wrestling had become one of the features of World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late '90s. Rather than emphasizing the fact that most wrestlers who perform this style are under 220 lb (100 kg) by calling it a cruiserweight division, TNA decided to emphasize the high-risk nature of the stunt like moves that the wrestlers performed only in TNA where no restraints were placed on them. As such, according to Bob Ryder in The History of TNA: Year 1, they named the division after the X Games. Until 2011, there was no upper weight limit on the X Division or its title, though in practice, most of the wrestlers in this division were cruiserweights, with Sonny Siaki, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Abyss being notable exceptions. To further emphasize this point, the slogan "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits" was used to describe the division. On the August 11, 2011, edition of Impact Wrestling, TNA authority figure Eric Bischoff announced that from that point onwards the X Division would have a weight limit of 225 lb (102 kg).[4] Although it was de-emphasized throughout 2007 and throughout 2009, the X Division is generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA.
A 2005 three-way match between Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles was given the rare rating of 5 stars by the Wrestling Observer.[5]
Kurt Angle believes that the X Division has gone downhill since its peak around 2005. At that time, the division was based on Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles. He also said that he would like to join the X Division, to help it create its own stars, instead of relying on an ex-WWE Superstar.[6]
One of the most intense feuds in the X Division was between A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe. The feud started when Joe won the 2005 Super X Cup, becoming one of the best wrestlers in the division. Both Daniels and Styles disliked Joe, despite having had a feud of their own.[2]
Tournaments
X Division wrestlers are the only TNA wrestlers that compete in the TNA X Cup Tournaments. The first such tournament was the TNA 2003 Super X Cup Tournament, which was won by Chris Sabin. Because of the positive response for that tournament, several more have occurred since.[7]
Ultimate X Match
The Ultimate X match is the signature gimmick match of the X Division. It is very similar to a ladder match, except that two cables criss-cross through the ring, and the item of value is hung at the intersection of the cables. The winner is the one who can jump up to the cables, hand-over-hand their way to the center, and take down the item of value.
It was originally created in August 2003 and pitted Michael Shane, Frankie Kazarian, and Chris Sabin. Since then, twenty-four Ultimate X matches have taken place, some for the X Division championship, some for the TNA World Tag Team Championship, and some with a giant red X suspended above the ring symbolizing something such as number one contender status.
Currently, 26 Ultimate X matches were wrestled.
The following are the list of Ultimate X matches to have taken place in the last 12 months.
| No. | Match | Event, Date and Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazarian defeated Jeremy Buck, Max Buck and Robbie E to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Victory Road March 13, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
| 2 | Alex Shelley defeated Amazing Red, Robbie E and Shannon Moore to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | Destination X July 10, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
| 3 | Brian Kendrick defeated Abyss to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Impact Wrestling July 28, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
Roster
The current TNA X Division roster consists of:
| Real name | Ring name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr. | Austin Aries | Current TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Patrick Martin | Alex Shelley | Former One Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Anthony Nese | Anthony Nese | [8] |
| Brian David Kendrick | Brian Kendrick | Former One Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Joshua Harter | Chris Sabin | Inactive [8], Former Four Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Jessy Ryan Sorensen | Jesse Sorensen | [8] |
| Frank B. Gerdelman | Kazarian | Former Five Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| David Cash | Kid Kash | Former One Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Mark Haskins | Mark Haskins | Inactive [8] |
| Rob Strauss | Robbie E | Former One Time TNA X Division Champion[8] |
| Shannon Moore | Shannon Moore | [8] |
| Michael Paris | Zema Ion | [8] |
See also
References
- ^ Schomburg, Eric. "TNA's Best of the X Division Volume 1: DVD Review". American Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ a b McNamara, Andy. "No limits to second X Division DVD". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ Roelfsema, Eric. "NWA TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION X DIVISION/ TNA X DIVISION TITLE HISTORY". Solie.org. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Boutwell, Josh (2011-08-12). "Impact Wrestling Results - 8/11/11". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
- ^ Wade, Daniel (February 8, 2006). "Mr 5-Star: Samoa Joe". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Caldwell, James (June 22, 2009). "TNA News". PWTorch. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ "TNA X Division Tournaments". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "TNA Roster". Online World of Wrestleing. Retrieved 2009-07-02.