The championship is named after TNA's X Division. A division which emphasizes high-flying, high-risk, fast-paced matches including speciality matches often fought for the X-Division championship.
Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a predetermined match. There have been 109 reigns among 54 wrestlers.[3]
Since 2012 under a concept known as option C the current X-Division champion can chose to vacate the title in exchange for a future match for the TNA World Championship. This has occurred seven times in the championship's history, with three matches resulting in wins.
The TNA X Division was established on June 19, 2002 at Total Nonstop Action's first weekly PPV event with a Six Man Tag Team match resulting in Jimmy Yang, Jorge Estrada, and Sonny Siaki—collectively known as The Flying Elvises—defeating A.J. Styles, Jerry Lynn, and Low Ki.[1][8] Later that day at the taping of the next weekly PPV event, TNA introduced the X Division Championship—then known as the X Championship—to showcase the division more prominently.[1][8] The division is described as wrestling reinvented, as it takes traditional wrestling and mixes it with the fast-paced, high–risk style of wrestling incorporated in cruiserweight divisions and lucha libre.[8] The division was until 2011 promoted under the motto "It is not about weight limits, it is about no limits" by commentator Mike Tenay.[8][9][10][11] On the August 11, 2011, edition of TNA's primary television program, 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).[12] Following Hulk Hogan becoming the new on-screen General Manager in March 2012, the weight limit was ignored on June 10, 2012, at Slammiversary when the 280 lb (130 kg) Samoa Joe was allowed to challenge for the belt.[13][14] In October 2012, the weight limit was officially repealed when 237 lb (108 kg) Rob Van Dam challenged for, and eventually won, the title at Bound for Glory. In March 2013, the X Division was given a new set of rules, which meant all matches were wrestled in Triple Threat format, and a new weight limit of 230 lbs. This proved to be extremely unpopular with fans, and the rules and weight limit were repealed once again in August of that year.[15][16]
The Total Nonstop Action X Division has multiple styles of match types used to showcase the talent within the division and to defend the TNA X Division Championship in more marketable matches. Three of the matches used in TNA are the Ultimate X match, The Steel Asylum, and the Xscape match.
The Ultimate X match was introduced in 2003.[17] It involves multiple competitors racing to retrieve the X Division Championship or a giant red letter "X", which is suspended above the ring by two cables.[11][17] The cables are attached to posts that stand behind the turnbuckles of the ring.[11][17] These cables intertwine to form an "X" over the center of the ring.[11][17] This match has become successful in TNA; it was featured in the 2008 DVD "TNA: Ultimate Matches", released by TNA Home Video.[18]
The Steel Asylum made its debut in May 2008 at TNA's Sacrifice PPV event, under the name "The TerrorDome".[19] It was used once again in October 2008 at their Bound for Glory IV PPV event, under the new and current moniker "The Steel Asylum".[20][21] As of November 2024, this match has only been used to determine the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship.[19][21] The layout of the match involves the ring being surrounded by a giant red steel barred cage with a domed ceiling.[20] The only way to achieve victory is to escape the cage through a hole in the center of the ceiling.[22]
The Xscape match is the third specialty match primarily used in TNA. It is held annually at TNA's Lockdown PPV event in April—an all–steel cage format PPV event.[23][24][25][26][27] The first two Xscape matches were held to determine the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship, while, since 2007, it has been contested for the X Division Championship.[23][24][25][26][27] The contest involves four to six participants. To win this match, two or more participants—depending on how many are involved in the encounter—must be eliminated by pinfall or submission leaving only two participants.[24] These two men then race to see who escapes the cage first to claim victory.[28]
Creation
The championship was created and debuted before the main event at the taping of TNA's second weekly PPV event on June 19, 2002; the event aired on June 26, 2002.[1] Later, A.J. Styles defeated Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Psicosis in a Four Way Double Elimination match to be crowned the inaugural champion;[29] this match was announced as being for the NWA X Championship on the onscreen graphic while the ring announcer stated it was for the "NWA–TNA X Championship".[1][30] Afterwards, the title was renamed the NWA–TNA X Division Championship and then shortened to just the TNA X Division Championship.[3] It is the oldest title in Impact Wrestling.
Option C is a concept in which the current X Division Champion may voluntarily vacate the championship in exchange for a World Heavyweight Championship match. It began in June 2012 when then-champion Austin Aries said that he was not satisfied with being just the X Division Champion, which led to then-General Manager Hulk Hogan offering him a match for the World Heavyweight Championship, but only if he first vacated the X Division Championship. Aries agreed to Hogan's terms, on the condition that future X Division Champions be given the same opportunity.
Josh Alexander defeated Kazarian to retain the Impact World Championship.
Championship Tournaments
TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2009)
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.
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.[31] TNA contracted wrestlers Douglas Williams, Kid Kash and Zema Ion were given automatic spots in the first round of the tournament.[32] 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.[33] 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.[32]
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 single semifinal matches, taking place on the July 18 edition of Impact!, with the finals, a three-way match, taking place on July 25, 2013.
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.
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 single semifinal matches, taking place on the June 10th edition of Impact!, with the finals, a three-way match, taking place on June 27, 2015.
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.[39]
During Christopher Daniels' first reign in mid-2005, he defended the X Division Championship at several Pro Wrestling Guerrilla shows. The first defense happened at All Star Weekend - Night One on April 1 against Alex Shelley, while the second occurred at All Star Weekend – Night Two on April 2 against Chris Hero; Daniels won both encounters retaining the championship.[45][46] At Jason Takes PWG on May 13, Daniels fought A.J. Styles for the X Division Championship and Styles' PWG Championship to a one-hour time-limit draw.[47] Daniels successfully defended the X Division Title two more times in PWG; once at Guitarmageddon on June 11 against El Generico, while once at The 2nd Annual PWG Bicentennial Birthday Extravaganza - Night One on July 9 against fellow TNA wrestler Chris Sabin.[48][49] In September 2005 at TNA's Unbreakable PPV event, the TNA X Division Championship was defended in the main event for the first time at a monthly PPV event; then-champion Christopher Daniels defended the championship against A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe.[50]
On March 4, 2014, The title was defended in Japan as part of Kaisen: Outbreak - a supershow event promoted by Wrestle-1 in partnership with TNA - where the title was won by Wrestle-1 star Seiya Sanada.[53] On March 22, Sanada defended and retained the title on a Wrestle-1 show.[54]
Five Women have unsuccessfully challenged for the X Division Title during its 20-year history. Athena (became the first female challenger on January 22, 2003), Trinity (March 19, 2003), Tessa Blanchard (October 20, 2019, and February 9, 2020), Jordynne Grace (October 20, 2020, and April 1, 2022), and Billie Starkz (October 4, 2022, during Pro Wrestler Revolver).
Championship belt designs
Christopher Daniels with the original design of the X-Division Championship belt.
Kenny King with the 2nd design of the X-Division title.
Tigre Uno with the 2015 design of the championship belt.
In May 2007, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) ended their five-year partnership with TNA, which allowed the NWA to regain control over the NWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships that TNA had controlled since June 2002.[55] TNA then introduced a new TNA X Division Championship belt on the May 16, 2007 edition of TNA's online podcast TNA Today.[56][57][58] Jeremy Borash and Management DirectorJim Cornette, TNA's on-screen authority figure at the time, unveiled the new belt and awarded it to then-champion Chris Sabin.[56]
On July 19, 2013, then TNA President Dixie Carter unveiled a new design for the championship, with blue accents to match the color scheme of the company.[59] On June 16, 2015, TNA tweaked the belt's design by recoloring its accents from blue to green.[60]
On August 18, 2017, the X Division Championship belt was given a complete overhaul to reflect TNA's short-lived change to the Global Force Wrestling moniker. On October 26, 2017, Trevor Lee was seen in a taped segment on Impact! with the title belt re-branded for Impact Wrestling. In 2020, Impact Wrestling redesigned the belt, putting a big red "X" on the center plate (a nod to the original belt), and made red the dominant color.
With the company's return to the TNA name in 2024, a new belt was introduced.
The inaugural champion was A.J. Styles, who won the championship by defeating Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Psicosis in a Four Way Double Elimination match on June 19, 2002 at TNA's second weekly PPV event.[1][3] At 301 days, Austin Aries' first reign holds the record for longest in the title's history.[3] At less than one day, Eric Young's only reign, Chris Sabin's sixth reign and Rockstar Spud's second reign are the shortest in the title's history.[5]Chris Sabin holds the record for most reigns with 10.
Moose is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Mike Bailey on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan during the Impact! tapings to win the title (aired November 7).[61]
^ abcdMartin, Adam (2003-08-21). "Full NWA TNA PPV results - 8/20/03 (New X Division Champion and more)". WrestleView.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2009-07-24. Michael Shane defeated Chris Sabin & Frankie Kazarian in a first ever Ultimate X Match to become the NEW X Division Champion. The rules of this match is that there is poles on all four corners of the TNA ring and 4 cables connected to each pole to form a giant X above the ring. The X Division Championship will be hanging in the middle of that X. No ladders are allowed in the match to the competitors must climb the cables to get belt hanging above the ring.
^TNA Wrestling (2008-09-18). Lockdown 2007: The Xscape Match. Total Nonstop Action. YouTube. Event occurs at 0:00 –0:52. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2009-04-15. eliminations occur through pinfall or submission, until two men are left, with the winner, the first man to escape the cage.
^Milner, John (2005-02-18). "A.J. Styles bio". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2009-07-24. Styles then began wrestling for the newly formed NWA-TNA organization. After teaming with Low-Ki and Jerry Lynn to lose to the Flying Elvises, Styles defeated both of his former partners and Psicosis to win the X Division Championship.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Milner, John M. (January 10, 2013). "Chris Sabin Bio". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2009. On May 14th, Sabin defeated Red and Lynn to win the X Division Championship, a title he later unified with the WWA Cruiserweight Championship, when he defeated Lynn (WWA Cruiserweight Champ), Kazarian and Johnny Swinger in a fatal fourway match on World Wrestling All Star's pay-per-view on May 25, 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^TNA Wrestling (2009-04-29). TNA: A Look At Kurt Angle. Total Nonstop Action. YouTube. Event occurs at 2:07 – 2:23. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2009-07-01. at one time, he not only became the second Triple Crown Champion in TNA history, but the first to hold all three titles at the same time.
^ abTotal Nonstop Action (2007-05-16). The 5/16 "TNA Today" - New X Title Revealed!. Total Nonstop Action. YouTube. Event occurs at 0:25 –1:40. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2009-06-12. Borash: All week long we are debuting the brand new TNA titles for the very first time.... Cornette: X Division Champion Chris Sabin for the official presentation of the brand new X Division Championship belt
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