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; former X Division champion Samoa Joe weighs nearly 290 pounds).
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 and 2006, 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" (in some ways mimicking the Code of Honor used by Ring of Honor). A.J. Styles confronted Samoa Joe, accusing him of breaching the code by violently attacking his tag team partner Christopher Daniels following their victory at TNA Genesis.
The X Division 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 letter X) 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: Six-time TNA X Division Champion, the only man to win the title more than four times, and a two-time Ultimate X Winner.
- Christopher Daniels: Three-time TNA X Division Champion, three-time Ultimate X Winner, and longest reigning X Division Champion to date.
- Samoa Joe: Two-time TNA X Division Champion, TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament Champion, the heaviest wrestler to hold the X Division Championship, and had a 17-month undefeated streak in TNA.
- Petey Williams: TNA X Division Champion (second longest reign, succeeding Michael Shane (Maverick Matt)), and two-time Ultimate X Winner.
- Jerry Lynn: Innovated the X-Division during its first appearances in TNA, and was Team USA captain for the TNA 2004 World X Cup Tournament.
- Chris Sabin: Four-time X Division Champion, three-time Ultimate X Winner, MVP of the TNA 2004 World X Cup Tournament, and was Team USA captain for the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament.
- Maverick Matt and Kazarian: Two-time X Division Champions, the only men to co-hold the championship.
- Low Ki/Senshi: Two-time X Division Champion.
- Alex Shelley:Advises Kevin Nash on the X Division.
- Jay Lethal:Part of Team USA of the 2006 World X cup
- Sonjay Dutt:Part of Team USA of the 2006 World X cup
