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X Division

The X Division is a high-flying, high-risk, fast-paced professional wrestling division[1] utilized in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and in various National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) member promotions. Its tagline is that "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits!"[2]

High-flying, high risk moves are a centerpiece of the X Division

Overview

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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 1990s. 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 X Division would have a weight limit of 225 lb (102 kg).[3] However, when Hulk Hogan became the new on screen GM in March 2012, the weight limit was quietly repealed, as heavier wrestlers like former champion Samoa Joe and eventual champion Rob Van Dam were able to compete for the title.

On the March 21, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, new rules were implemented for the X Division:

  1. A 230 lb. weight limit
  2. All matches will be triple threat matches
  3. In championship matches, whoever gets pinned or is made to submit would be ineligible for the next championship match, while the one who does not will be a challenger for the next X Division match.[4]

On the April 18, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, a new feature called the X Cam was introduced, giving viewers a first-person look at every X Division match.

On the August 22, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, it was announced that the triple threat match rule had been revoked and that X Division matches may also be contested under one on one matches again.

On October 20, 2013, at Bound for Glory, 280 lb. Samoa Joe took part in a five-man Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship. This indicated that the 230 lb. weight limit was also quietly revoked.

Reception

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The X Division was generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA. Due to TNA focusing more on the heavyweight and main event picture, the X Division has been placed on the back-burner in recent memory.

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]

Tournaments

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Main article: TNA X Cup Tournaments

TNA maintains three different styles of tournament referred to as "X Cup" tournaments. The Super X Cup tournament is a standard single-elimination tournament featuring one-on-one matches. The Americas X Cup tournament was a team-format points-based tournament featuring two teams of four wrestlers each, with each team representing a respective country that most or all of the wrestlers are from. Members of the team competed in a variety of matches, including singles matches and tag team matches, which accrued points for their side. The World X Cup tournament was an expansion on the Americas X Cup, in which four teams of four wrestlers competed. In the World X Cup, TNA always hosts a home team for the United States, with other countries such as Japan, Mexico, and Canada being represented by either TNA-contracted wrestlers or wrestlers from a promotion that TNA has a partnership agreement with.

X Division wrestlers are generally 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.[6]

TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2009)

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The tournament was the result of a match for the TNA X Division Championship at Final Resolution between Eric Young and Sheik Abdul Bashir ending in a controversial fashion, with Young winning the championship thanks to the referee's help. Management Director Jim Cornette stripped Young of the belt and announced the tournament to crown the new champion. The tournament final took place at Genesis.

Quarterfinals
(TV - TNA Impact!) 		Semifinals
(TV - Impact!) 		Final
(PPV - Genesis)
         
Eric Young Pin
Sheik Abdul Bashir
Eric Young
Alex Shelley Pin
Alex Shelley Pin
Jay Lethal
Alex Shelley Pin
Chris Sabin 16:38
Chris Sabin Pin
Sonjay Dutt
Chris Sabin Pin
Kiyoshi
Consequences Creed
Kiyoshi Pin

TNA X Division Championship #1 Contender Tournament (2011)

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Main article: Against All Odds (2011) § Tournament bracket

On the January 27, 2011, edition of Impact!, TNA started a tournament to determine a new number one contender for the TNA X Division Championship, held by Kazarian. The tournament consisted of three three–way semifinal matches, taking place on the January 27, February 3 and February 10 editions of Impact!, with the finals, another three-way match, taking place at Against All Odds on February 13.[7][8][9] The finals ended with a double countout, after Jeremy and Max Buck failed to make it to the event due to travel issues.[10]

X Division Showcase

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On the June 16, 2011, edition of Impact Wrestling, TNA started a twelve-man tournament for a contract in the promotion's X Division. The finals of the tournament would take place on July 10 at Destination X.[11]

First round

Finals

  • Austin Aries defeated Jack Evans, Low Ki and Zema Ion (Destination X, July 10, 2011)[15]

TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2012)

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On the June 28, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, TNA announced a tournament for the TNA X Division Championship, which would take place at Destination X, where Austin Aries would vacate the title for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. The tournament was preceded by four qualifying matches featuring wrestlers from the independent circuit.[16] TNA contracted wrestlers Douglas Williams, Kid Kash and Zema Ion were given automatic spots in the first round of the tournament.[17] The eighth and final spot in the tournament would be filled by the winner of a four-way between the losers of the qualifying matches.[18] At Destination X the eight wrestlers will face each other in four singles matches, with the winners advancing to an Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship.[17]

Qualifiers Semifinals Finalists Finals
        
Sonjay Dutt Pin
Rubix
Sonjay Dutt
Rashad Cameron Pin
Rashad Cameron Pin
Mason Andrews
Sonjay Dutt
Zema Ion
Flip Cassanova Pin
Dakota Darsow
Flip Cassanova Pin
Zema Ion
Zema Ion BYE
– –
Zema Ion Win
Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King, and Mason Andrews
Kenny King Pin
Lars Only
Kenny King Pin
Douglas Williams
Douglas Williams BYE
– –
Kenny King
Mason Andrews
Mason Andrews Pin
Dakota Darsow, Lars Only, and Rubix
Mason Andrews Pin
Kid Kash
Kid Kash BYE
– –

TNA X Division Championship #1 Contender Tournament (2013)

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Main article: Genesis (2013) § Tournament bracket

On the January 3, 2013, edition of Impact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new number one contender for the TNA X Division Championship, held by Rob Van Dam. The tournament consisted of two singles semifinal matches, taking place on the January 3 and January 10 editions of Impact!, with the finals taking place at Genesis on January 13.

TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2013)

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On the Destination X edition of Impact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated after Chris Sabin traded it in for a shot at the World Championship. The tournament consisted of three three–way semifinal matches, taking place on the July 18 edition of Impact!, with the finals, another three-way match, taking place on July 25, 2013.

SemifinalsFinals
Sonjay Dutt
Homicide
Sonjay Dutt
Petey Williams
Manik
Manik
Greg Marasciulo
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Kenny King

TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2014)

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On the Destination X edition of Impact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated after Austin Aries traded it in for a shot at the World Championship. The tournament consisted of three three–way semifinal matches, taking place on the July 31 edition of Impact!, with the finals, another three-way match, taking place on August 7, 2014.

TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2015)

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On the Destination X 2015 edition of Impact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated after Rockstar Spud traded it in for a shot at the World Championship. The tournament consisted of three three–way semifinal matches, taking place on the June 10th edition of Impact!, with the finals, another three-way match, taking place on June 27, 2015.

SemifinalsFinals
Low-Ki
Crazzy Steve
Low-Ki
Manik
Grado
Grado
Tigre Uno
Cruz
Kenny King

Impact X Division Championship Tournament (2021)

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On the September 23 episode of Impact!, Impact started a tournament to determine the new Impact X Division Champion, since the title was vacated after Josh Alexander invoked Option C to challenge for the Impact World Championship. The tournament consist of three three–way semi-final matches, with the finals, another three-way match, will taking place at Bound for Glory.[19]

First round
Impact!
(September 30, 2021 – October 14, 2021)		Final
Bound for Glory
(October 23, 2021)
8:41[20]Alex Zayne
Laredo Kid
PinTrey Miguel
7:12[21]Black TaurusPinTrey Miguel
Petey Williams13:21[23]Steve Maclin
PinSteve MaclinEl Phantasmo
PinEl Phantasmo
9:38[22]Willie Mack
Rohit Raju

Impact X Division Championship Tournament (2022)

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On October 20, 2022, after Frankie Kazarian vacated the Impact X Division Championship for a shot at the Impact World Championship it was announced that there will be an eight-man tournament to determine who will be the new Impact X Division Champion on November 18, 2022, at Impact Pay-per-view Over Drive.[24]

Quarterfinals
Impact!
Before the Impact
October 21, 2022
(aired October 27 and November 3, 2022) 		Semifinals
Impact!
October 22, 2022
(aired November 10 and 17, 2022) 		Final
Over Drive
(November 18, 2022)
         
Black Taurus Pin
Laredo Kid 8:05[25]
Black Taurus Pin
PJ Black 6:19
Yuya Uemura 8:33[26]
PJ Black Pin
Black Taurus 15:50
Trey Miguel Pin
Alan Angels 8:17[25]
Trey Miguel Pin
Trey Miguel DQ
Mike Bailey 7:02[27]
Kenny King 8:44[26]
Mike Bailey Pin

Ultimate X Match

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Main article: Ultimate X match

The Ultimate X match is the signature gimmick match of the X Division. It is similar to a ladder match except that two cables attached to truss towers adjacent to the ring posts cross above the center of the ring and the item of value is hung at the intersection of the cables. The winner is the competitor who can retrieve the item of value from the cables.

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, and even the X Division title itself.[28]

References

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  1. ^ Schomburg, Eric. "TNA's Best of the X Division Volume 1: DVD Review". American Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  2. ^ McNamara, Andy. "No limits to second X Division DVD". Slam! Sports. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-07-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Boutwell, Josh (2011-08-12). "Impact Wrestling Results - 8/11/11". WrestleView. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  4. ^ "The X-Division is Evolving! New Rules Announced!". Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  5. ^ Wade, Daniel (February 8, 2006). "Mr 5-Star: Samoa Joe". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  6. ^ "TNA X Division Tournaments". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  7. ^ Boutwell, Josh (2011-01-28). "Impact Results - 1/27/11". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  8. ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-02-04). "Impact: 'They' revealed as Anderson, Hardy battle for title". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-02-11). "Impact: Styles, Suicide, Hernandez return". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-02-13). "Caldwell's TNA Against All Odds PPV results 2/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Anderson vs. Hardy, Genesis re-matches, fluid X Division situation". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  11. ^ a b Keller, Wade (2011-06-16). "Keller's TNA Impact report 6/16: Ongoing coverage of Slammiversary fallout on Spike TV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  12. ^ Boutwell, Josh (2011-06-24). "Impact Wrestling Results - 6/23/11". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  13. ^ Baxendell, Matt (2011-06-30). "Bax's TNA Impact Wrestling report 6/30: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of Impact with 'Limited Commercial Interruption'". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  14. ^ Martin, Adam (2011-06-29). "Spoilers: Impact Wrestling for July 7". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  15. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-07-10). "Caldwell's TNA Destination X PPV results 7/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Styles vs. Daniels, Ultimate X, RVD vs. Lynn". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  16. ^ Caldwell, James (2012-06-28). "Caldwell's TNA Impact Wrestling results 6/28: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - BFG Series, Tag Title main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  17. ^ a b "Exclusive Details On X-Division Title Tournament!". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  18. ^ Caldwell, James (2012-07-05). "TNA News: Updated - final Destination X PPV line-up - how the final tournament slot will be determined". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  19. ^ Guzzo, Gisberto (September 23, 2021). "X Division Title Tournament And More Announced For 9/30 Episode Of IMPACT Wrestling". Fightful. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Moore, John (October 1, 2021). "9/30 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of Christopher Daniels vs. Madman Fulton, Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering vs. Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood for a shot at the Knockouts Tag Titles, Laredo Kid vs. Trey Miguel vs. Alex Zayne to qualify for the Triple Threat match for the vacant X Division Championship, W. Morrissey vs. Eddie Edwards in a Street Fight". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  21. ^ Moore, John (October 8, 2021). "10/7 Impact Wrestling TV results: Christian Cage and Josh Alexander vs. Ace Austin and Madman Fulton, Chris Bey, Hikuleo, and El Phantasmo vs. Chris Sabin, Juice Robinson, and David Finlay, Black Taurus vs. Steve Maclin vs. Petey Williams to qualify for the X Division Championship match at Bound For Glory". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Moore, John (October 15, 2021). "10/14 Impact Wrestling TV results: Moore's review of a Battle Royal to determine the first and last entrants in the Call Your Shot battle royal, Rohit Raju vs. Willie Mack vs. El Phantasmo in a qualifier for the Triple Threat to crown the new X Division Champion, Chris Bey vs. Chris Sabin, Savannah Evans vs. Lady Frost, VSK vs. Rich Swann". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  23. ^ Moore, John (October 23, 2021). "10/23 Moore's Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory live review: Christian Cage vs. Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mickie James for the Knockouts Title, Steve Maclin vs. Trey Miguel vs. El Phantasmo for the vacant X Division Title, Call Your Shot gauntlet". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  24. ^ Thomas, Jeremy. "Full Brackets Revealed For Impact X-Division Tournament". 411mania.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Moore, John (October 28, 2022). "10/27 Impact Wrestling TV results: Moore's review of Alan Angels vs. Trey Miguel in a tournament match for the vacant X Division Title, Chelsea Green, Deonna Purrazzo, and Gisele Shaw vs. Jordynne Grace, Taylor Wilde, and Mickie James, Joe Hendry vs. Raj Singh". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  26. ^ a b Moore, John (November 4, 2022). "11/03 Impact Wrestling TV results: Moore's review of Josh Alexander and Frankie Kazarian vs. "Aussie Open" Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis, Kenny King vs. Mike Bailey in a tournament match for the vacant X Division Title, Eric Young vs. Sami Callihan, Moose vs. Ace Austin". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  27. ^ Moore, John (November 11, 2022). "11/10 Impact Wrestling TV results: Moore's review of Jordynne Grace vs. Gisele Shaw for the Knockouts Championship, Mike Bailey vs. Trey Miguel in a semifinal tournament match for the vacant X Division Title, Mickie James vs. Chelsea Green, Brian Myers vs. Joe Hendry for the Impact Digital Media Championship, Bully Ray vs. Zicky Dice, Bhupinder Gujjar vs. G Sharpe". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  28. ^ "X Division Championship: Manik vs. Greg Marasciulo vs. Sonjay Dutt - July 25, 2013". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
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