The X Division
Posted by TWV Guest Columnists
on 11/10/2006
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Guest Column By Sivaram Prasad
On the 26th of June in 2002, something called the X Division began. TNA Wrestling created the World X Division Championship, emphasizing that this was not a cruiserweight-only division. This division was filled with the "pure" wrestlers of today such as Jerry Lynn, Low Ki/Senshi, AJ Styles, Chris Sabin, and so on. On that same night, AJ Styles, one of the most entertaining wrestlers of today, became the first ever TNA World X Division Champion. He would win the title in a Double Elimination Match which also included Jerry Lynn, Low Ki, & Psicosis.By the way, that match reeked of awesomeness.
The X Division continued to be a key part of TNA. It would also lead to the innovative creation, the Ultimate X match, which involved the title or letter "X" for Number One Contender matches being suspended twenty feet high in the air. Participating wrestlers would have to scale four ropes to reach the title. In short, Ultimate X was a cool concept which more often that not showcased great matches.
In 2005, the X Division reached its peak thanks to three men..."The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, and "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe. Many classic matches involving these 3 men would take place:
AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
Ironman Match
TNA Against All Odds 2005
AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels Vs. Ron Killings Vs. Elix Skipper
TNA World X Division Championship
Ultimate X
TNA Destination X 2005
AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe
Super X Cup Finals
TNA Sacrifice 2005
AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
TNA Unbreakable 2005
AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
Ironman Match
TNA Bound For Glory 2005
Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Roderick Strong, & Alex Shelley Vs. Sonjay Dutt, Austin Aries, Chirs Sabin, & Matt Bentley
Elimination X
TNA Genesis 2005
Samoa Joe Vs. AJ Styles
TNA World X Division Championship
TNA Turning Point 2005
Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
TNA Final Resolution 2006
Samoa Joe Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
TNA Against All Odds 2006
Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels Vs. AJ Styles
TNA World X Division Championship
Ultimate X
TNA Destination X 2006
Samoa Joe Vs. Christopher Daniels
TNA World X Division Championship
TNA iMPACT! Thursday Night Debut
What a long list! It gives the appearance of a long, overused feud, but it wasn't simply because the booking was good. The promos were there on iMPACT! when they were needed. Each match got the sufficient amount of buildup.This feud lead to the peak of the X Division, but when it ended, the X Division suffered...big time.
AJ Styles left the division in early April 2006 joining Sting in his battle against Jeff Jarrett. Christopher Daniels regained his title in the Ultimate X Three Way before losing it weeks later to Joe. His last X Division match would be with a surprise opponent, the debuting Senshi. He then went on to chase NWA Tag Titles with AJ Styles ironically.
Samoa Joe took the title...but didn't defend it for two months after a match with Sabu. The division was kept alive by the World X Cup and the battle for the Number One Contender spot. Senshi won the X Title after the Slammiversary PPV from Joe in a Three Way match on iMPACT! pinning Sonjay Dutt. The X Division literally went to sleep with the champ not even appearing often enough on TV. The Kevin Nash/Chris Sabin brought the division back to life...but the big win Sabin needed never came. A feud with Sabin and Senshi began leading up to No Surrender with Sabin copying pranks based off the new
Jackass movie. That was the brainchild of TNA Booking Committee member Jeremy Borash. Not surprisingly, TNA's booking committee was replaced before No Surrender.
Sabin and Senshi's feud continued minus the crap. The duo had an awesome match at Bound For Glory with Sabin winning the title. Only two weeks later, Sabin lost the title...to AJ Styles. Yeah, everyone hates that right now seeing as Sabin turned heel and lost his title ten minutes later.
So why is Styles finally back again in the X Division? Because the booker Vince Russo believes that Styles is ready to become the face of the division once more, coinciding with TNA's move to primetime TV, and early signs suggest that Daniels will be feuding with him.
As much as people are showing disdain at this move by TNA...it might just help the division. The heel Sabin feud with Jerry Lynn and a heel Daniels (hopefully) will be up against Styles. Given the right direction, having both the feuds intertwined, and the correct promos, these two feuds could bring the division back to life once more. The X Division can always produce great matches, but great feuds is what the division needs.
So maybe...just maybe...this could be the best thing to ever happen to the X Division. So instead of assuming this feud will do no good, sit back and watch. It could very well be a whole new beginning for the division and so enough; perhaps a heel Sabin will be ready to go for the title once more.
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sivaram_91@hotmail.com.
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