In 2012, TNA introduced a number of new concepts such as Gutcheck, Championship Thursday and Open Fight Night. The height of success for each of these concepts is different but all of them bring a unique format to the world of IMPACT Wrestling. One year later and TNA is attempting to introduce new concepts, all of which have had to do with the X Division.
Following Lockdown, TNA announced that the X Division many grew to love would be introducing new rules to shake things up. The X Division has had its highs and lows, its great matches and its stars as well as its embarrassments. The X Division was the attraction for TNA in 2002 when they had little star power. As the company grew in prominence over the years, the focus on the X Division dwindled with only a few "hope spots" in between.
First the focus was to fill wrestling with high-flying action that WCW and the Cruiserweight Division brought a few years earlier. Afterwards, TNA wanted to make the X Division a glorified independent scene by bringing in many of the top indie wrestlers to go all out. From there, the X Division was coined for its "stuntmen" and daredevils who were "adrenaline junkies" and did the high-risk spots for the rush. In 2010, Eric Bischoff and Co. implemented a 220 lbs weight limit which in turn turned the X Division back into the modern-day Cruiserweight Division. It comes at no surprise that TNA Creative is trying to give the X Division its own identity once again, this time bringing the risk vs reward aspect to the forefront. While gimmicky, it may just accomplish that.
The first change was a 230 lb weight limit. This makes sense as the division will be for the smaller wrestlers who use high-risk arsenals in favor of power moves. Some wrestlers won't be able to participate such as Samoa Joe, Abyss and others but with the new attitude, that isn't a problem.
Probably the most unique change was the 3-Way rule where all official X Division matches would be 3-Way Matches. What this change does is turns matches from story-based contests to nonstop action athletic affairs. This forces the stars to always be on their toes as not only do you have multiple opponents coming from all sides, but you have the potential of losing the match without getting pinned.
The sports-based idea comes in at that point. You start with Contender's Matches pitting 3-Men against each other. One will be a former championship challenger, one will be from the pool of X Division stars. You win the match, you qualify for a title shot. You lose the match, you fall into temporary obscurity. If you don't get the pin or aren't pinned, you stay put for the next contender's match.
The championship match is much of the same. The winner of the contender's match will wrestle against the X Division Champion and the man who wasn't pinned in the last championship match. The one who gets pinned will move down the ladder while the winner is X Division Champion.
This new X Division isn't about storytelling or building personal grudges, its about total nonstop action. The X Division is about the set up. You win you stay relevant but if you lose you fall down the ladder.The most interesting part of the X Division is its new open door policy. Ever since the evolution of the division was introduced, we saw a new breed of X Division roster. A number of fresh and old faces returned to vie for the X Division Title.
The X Division roster is now stacked with potential of only getting better. Kenny King, Zema Ion and Christian York remain from the old X Division. They are joined by Petey Williams, Sonjay Dutt, Mason Andrews, Chris Sabin, Ra'Shad Cameron, Rockstar Spud and Suicide. Other potential names like Rubix, Puma and Lince Dorado could possibly join these ranks.
Now there are some new ideas that I haven't taken to quite yet. The X Cam seems like a gimmick that adds nothing to the matches. It is pretty much a low quality camera angle that makes me dizzy. The Draft War Room is great idea that hasn't played out yet. The idea of the fans determining what wrestlers, matches, stipulations etc will take place on the show could possibly join Open Fight Night and Championship Thursday as a newly recurring format. It is still a few weeks away from really doing what its supposed to.
While I do have my gripes about things the X Division isn't delivering, I am liking what they are delivering.
