TNA X Division

[Guest fattyfudge]

So i'm new to TNA, and have only recently just got into watching it religiously, and the main thing i do not understand is the purpose of the X Division Championship.

 

What is the X Division? How do you get classed as being in the X Division? Or is it just a similar midcard title to the US or Intercontinental title in WWE?

 

Another thing i do not understand is when Austin Aries won the title from Sanada on the 10/7 (great match by the way), he cut a promo afterwards saying he was going to cash the title in at Destination X, which i assume is a PPV based around the X Division title (correct me if i'm wrong). So does the title work as a MITB briefcase as well to get a guaranteed title shot? or is it specific to only one PPV?

[Shaun2J 127]

The X-Division is pretty much for guys with flashy, high-flying movesets. They also have their own gimmick matches like the Ultimate X match.

 

The rules as to how the weight limit system works has been implemented and revoked so many times, so anyone can contend for the title but like I said, it's reserved to the smaller guys. Samoa Joe, RVD, Kurt Angle and Abyss have all been X-Division champs.

 

Ever since 2012, the X-Division champion has the option to "cash-in" his title for a World Championship match at Destination-X. The X-Division title is then vacated.

[Guest fattyfudge]

ahhh i see, it's a pretty cool idea, but surely the ability to cash it in kind of defeats the purpose of holding the title in the first place? or is there no other MITB equivalent in TNA?

[Shaun2J 127]

It's only during the weeks leading to Destination X, you're allowed to go with "Option C" as they say. Austin Aries was the first to do it and made a deal that the title can be vacated every year.

 

As to MITB equivalents, there's the Feast and Fired match. Where every corner has a suitcase with World , X-Division, Tag Team title matches and a pink-slip but it's more of a No. 1 contendership you're holding, so no surprise cash-ins.

[Guest fattyfudge]

okay, so i now get why they keep mentioning option C! The Feast and Fired match sounds really cool, but i guess surprise cash ins are a WWE thing anyways

 

Thanks for clearing that stuff up for me!

[Guest Jayfunk]

the X division is basically dead which is a shame , if you want to see some TNA X-Divsion check out 2002-2008, AJ Styles, Joe, Daniels, Sabin, Low Ki, Lynn, Petey Williams, Red, Aries and Lethal these sort of people, it was extremely good back in the day especially if you liked WCW crusiers it was a natural progression to that.

[Guest Matt Black]

the X division is basically dead which is a shame , if you want to see some TNA X-Divsion check out 2002-2008, AJ Styles, Joe, Daniels, Sabin, Low Ki, Lynn, Petey Williams, Red, Aries and Lethal these sort of people, it was extremely good back in the day especially if you liked WCW crusiers it was a natural progression to that.

 

Did the way in which the X Division seemed to wither and die happen to have anything to do with the arrival of Hogan and Bischoff?

 

It's just that it looked to me that when they turned up, innovative stuff like the hexagonal ring was gone, replaced by a traditional square one, and I wondered if their influence took the company in a more old school direction.

Edited July 13, 2014 by Matt Black

[DC 536]

The X Division was an early highlight and the run in the division from Samoa Joe's debut (Slammiversary 1995) until he lost the title in June 2006 was almost perfect.

[Omega 354]

Did the way in which the X Division seemed to wither and die happen to have anything to do with the arrival of Hogan and Bischoff?

 

It's just that after they turned up, innovative stuff like the hexagonal ring disappeared and was replaced by a traditional square one, and I wondered if their influence took the company in a more old school direction.

 

Incorrect, at least in terms of whether the X division died at the same time Hogan turned up. It had been dead for a while before that as they recycled the same matches over and over and generally sanatised the things that made the X division interesting.

 

the six sided ring, and I hate having this conversation, does nothing for TNA. It wasn't their idea for a start and in the end if you look back at most of the matches outside of the steel cage ones they looked terrible, running the ropes is especially awful and you can see how awkward it was for the performers. The return of the square ring was one of the better decision made at the time.

 

Plus hogan and bischoff never really ruined TNA per say, Russo booked it down the crapper aided by the fact that clearly the owners pushed to have all the old stars on as much as possible.

[Guest Jayfunk]

Did the way in which the X Division seemed to wither and die happen to have anything to do with the arrival of Hogan and Bischoff?

 

It's just that after they turned up, innovative stuff like the hexagonal ring disappeared and was replaced by a traditional square one, and I wondered if their influence took the company in a more old school direction.

 

Incorrect, at least in terms of whether the X division died at the same time Hogan turned up. It had been dead for a while before that as they recycled the same matches over and over and generally sanatised the things that made the X division interesting.

 

the six sided ring, and I hate having this conversation, does nothing for TNA. It wasn't their idea for a start and in the end if you look back at most of the matches outside of the steel cage ones they looked terrible, running the ropes is especially awful and you can see how awkward it was for the performers. The return of the square ring was one of the better decision made at the time.

 

Plus hogan and bischoff never really ruined TNA per say, Russo booked it down the crapper aided by the fact that clearly the owners pushed to have all the old stars on as much as possible.

I am not to disagree with you megs :p but I will break a life time rule and say the six sided ring did make the X division style more Unpredictable at least for a while

[dsrchris 190]

The X Division was an early highlight and the run in the division from Samoa Joe's debut (Slammiversary 1995) until he lost the title in June 2006 was almost perfect.

 

I don't remember Joe being in the X-Division for 11 years? :lol

[DC 536]

I don't remember Joe being in the X-Division for 11 years? :lol

I guess it just feels like that Joe was from 11yrs ago. :lol

[Guest Matt Black]

Incorrect, at least in terms of whether the X division died at the same time Hogan turned up. It had been dead for a while before that as they recycled the same matches over and over and generally sanatised the things that made the X division interesting.

 

the six sided ring, and I hate having this conversation, does nothing for TNA. It wasn't their idea for a start and in the end if you look back at most of the matches outside of the steel cage ones they looked terrible, running the ropes is especially awful and you can see how awkward it was for the performers. The return of the square ring was one of the better decision made at the time.

 

Plus hogan and bischoff never really ruined TNA per say, Russo booked it down the crapper aided by the fact that clearly the owners pushed to have all the old stars on as much as possible.

 

So the hexagonal ring went before they arrived?

 

My experience of TNA in that period was so patchy that I have no knowledge of what changes were made in what order.

[DC 536]

So the hexagonal ring went before they arrived?

One of the first things Hogan & Bischoff did was get rid of the six-sided ring.

[Omega 354]

So the hexagonal ring went before they arrived?

 

My experience of TNA in that period was so patchy that I have no knowledge of what changes were made in what order.

 

No they did get rid of it but your question was whether Hogan and Bischoff killed the X division but is was dead before they came in. The X division hadn't really progressed from it;s heights in '06 and by the time Hogan signed in '09 it was just a side show title rather than feeling like a real division. which is such a shame because the X Division was probably as big as "Cruiser weight" wrestling has got in mainstream wrestling as a legit draw.

[Guest Matt Black]

No they did get rid of it but your question was whether Hogan and Bischoff killed the X division but is was dead before they came in. The X division hadn't really progressed from it;s heights in '06 and by the time Hogan signed in '09 it was just a side show title rather than feeling like a real division. which is such a shame because the X Division was probably as big as "Cruiser weight" wrestling has got in mainstream wrestling as a legit draw.

 

Agreed.