Firstly, I think this is a great decision because now the title has been theoretically elevated from a low card to a secondary championship that is a legitimate stepping stone to a shot at TNA's biggest prize. It's great for the belt and the division. Hopefully this will give more big name talent that are eligible to compete for the belt the incentive to do so because if they can hold on to the belt up to Destination X, they will have the chance to give up the belt in order to jump to the front of the contenders queue and receive a shot at the World Title. Now, while this is a great move by TNA, it does raise some questions and potential problems that I am going to address and hopefully resolve throughout this column.
With this move, it gives the wrestlers under 225 lbs. the opportunity to win their division's championship, and granted they can keep it until Destination X, they can trade the belt to get an immediate World Title match at Destination X. Thats great for them, but to steal a line from Raven - what about them, what about the heavyweights?
Also, what about the TV Title? TNA has not only raised the value of one of their two mid-card singles titles, but also a reward for being in possession of the title at a certain time. Once again, while this is a great move for the X Division Title, it gives the wrestlers no real reason to pursue the TV Title that, if they win, they must defend every week and not even earn a guaranteed World Title shot as a reward at some point in the future.
These are the only two negatives that I can find with this decision, but there is a solution to both that I think will result in even better things.
As I pointed out above, the over 225 pounders dont have a specific title for their weight class like the under 225 pounders do, who also have a championship that gives them a huge opportunity that the heavyweights do not. My solution: well, it goes something like this.
Have Hulk Hogan come out at some point in the next few weeks and address the new stipulation to the X Division Title and how it affects a certain group of guys in the locker room. Have him say how he feels it's such a great opportunity that he believes it's only fair that this great opportunity is made available to the heavyweights as well as the X Division wrestlers. Have him mention how the “heavyweight” in World Heavyweight Title means nothing in today's business because guys who aren't heavyweights are allowed to challenge for the title regardless of how much they weigh. So as of right now, the World Heavyweight Title is known simply as the TNA World Title, and whomever holds the belt is the pound-for-pound best wrestler in the world.
Have him then announce that the Television Title is officially retired and in its place will be the TNA Heavyweight Title. Then he can say how they have a division specifically for wrestlers under 225 lbs, so now they will also have a division for guys over 225 lbs, and like the X Division Title, whomever is the Heavyweight Champion at Genesis will have the chance to trade in that title in order to receive a shot at the TNA World Championship and win the biggest prize in Impact Wrestling. Let him finish by saying that for years, championships like the U.S. Title and the Intercontinental Title have been stepping stones to the World Title for some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and now in Impact Wrestling they are going to guarantee that tradition for years to come.
Well, that's my idea. Make sure you share your thoughts on this idea as well as your thoughts on the new stipulation to the X Division Title in the comments below. Also feel free to follow me on Twitter @MisterTNA and as always....have a good day.
