X Division
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The X Division is a high-flying, high-risk style of professional wrestling seen in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Its high-flying style had been one of the key reasons viewers tuned into the former-WCW and ECW promotion's cruiserweight divisions.
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[edit] Style
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 moves these wrestlers perform (there is no upper weight limit on the X Division title, though in practice most of the champions have been cruiserweights). Recently, the emphasis of "it's not about weight limits, it's about no limits!" was brought to light when Samoa Joe, who weighs nearly 290 pounds, won the X-Division title.
To further emphasize this point, the slogan "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits" (coined by TNA commentator Mike Tenay during the company's first broadcast) is used to describe the division. Although it was de-emphasized throughout 2004, the X Division is generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA, and was replicated in several independent promotions.
In November 2005, it was revealed that the X Division wrestlers consider that the division wrestlers are governed by an unwritten "code". This was after A.J. Styles confronted Samoa Joe after he had, according to Styles, breached the code by violently attacking his tag team partner Christopher Daniels, following their victory at TNA Genesis.
It is showcased yearly in TNA's DVD series "The Best of The X Division".
[edit] Criticism
The X Division has received some complaints for occasionally being "spotfests"- matches consisting of mainly high risk (i.e. aerial) moves, with little flow or logical transitions between them.
[edit] Ultimate X
The X-Division's special attraction match is Ultimate-X. Similar to a ladder match (usually triple threat or fatal four way), the Ultimate X has the belt (or sometimes a giant red plastic letter X in #1 Contender Matches) hanging in the center of the ring via cables suspended from metal poles.
[edit] X Division titles
As the X Division was developed during a time when TNA was a part of the National Wrestling Alliance, many other NWA promotions adopted their own X Division title.
- TNA X Division Championship (with WWA International Cruiserweight Championship unified into it)
- NWA Canadian X Division Championship
- NWA Cold Front X Division Championship
- NWA Florida X Division Championship
- NWA Mid-America X Division Championship
- NWA Midwest X Division Championship
- NWA New South X Division Championship
- NWA Rocky Top X Division Championship
- NWA Shockwave Cruiser X Championship
- NWA South Atlantic X Division Championship
- NWA Tri-State X Division Championship
- NWA Universal X Division Championship
- NWA Wisconsin X Division Championship
[edit] Notable TNA X Division wrestlers
Over the course of TNA history, several wrestlers have established themselves as prolific performers within TNA's X Division. Amongst those wrestlers are:
- AJ Styles: 6-time TNA X Division Champion being the only man to win the title more than 3 times, Ultimate X Winner.
- Christopher Daniels: 3-time TNA X Division Champion, 2-time Ultimate X Winner, longest reigning X Division Champion to date
- Samoa Joe: 2-time TNA X Division Champion, TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament Champion, and had a 17-month undefeated streak in TNA.
- Petey Williams: TNA X Division Champion (second longest reign), 2-time Ultimate X Winner.
- Jerry Lynn: Innovated the X-Division during its first appearances in TNA, Team USA captain for TNA 2004 World X Cup Tournament
- Chris Sabin: 3-time X Division Champion, 3-time Ultimate X Winner (Most won: X2, X3 ,X5), Team USA captain for TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament
- Maverick Matt and Kazarian: 2-time X Division Champions, only men to co-hold the championship
- Low Ki/Senshi: 2-time X Division Champion
