Ways to make the X-Division better?

[SOR]

I see a lot of people here talking about how good the X Division used to be and to be honest I agree that early TNA's X-Division was nothing short of amazing and it was for a really long time.

Now the X-Division is very much a lower midcard belt that doesn't really mean that much anymore. The recent Aries title win adds something to the titles prestige but it seems as if he just wants to cash it in for a World Heavyweight Title shot and Sabin also wanted to do that before Aries won. It now seems as if the X Division Title is only competed for so guys can eventually cash it in for a shot at the World Heavyweight Title.

So I'm going to give a couple of ideas on how to improve the X-Division and hopefully you guys will also. I feel some constructive criticism would be nice.

1. Get rid of the Triple Threat rules. I say this because quite frankly it's not needed at all. I enjoy a Triple Threat spot fest as much as the next guy but you're really limiting the belt when it's a three way belt only. Some fo the greatest TNA X-Division matches have been straight up single matches. This rule needs to be dropped.

2. More X-Division guys to challenge for the belt. At this point you have about 6 guys who compete and 3-4 others who are semi regular. I say bring Petey and Sonjay in as regulars and bring in more challengers. Free Agency pool is kind of rough right now but Paul London would be a good fit and I definitely think Kid Kash should be brought back. A division of Joe, Sabin, Aries, Petey, Sonjay, King, Robbie E, Chavo Guerrero, Paul London, Christian York and Kid Kash could be a "must see" division. There's probably a few really good indy guys out there who could add something also.

3. Get rid of the World Title shot thing. It worked well with Aries in 2012 when he cashed it in and won but that should be the end of it. Vacating a belt for the opportunity at another one does nothing but bury the belt that has been vacated.

So that's my 3 suggestios. What do you guys think? How could the X-Division become "Must see television"?

[kingoftheindies]

I don't mind the Triple Threat rules, but they should get more variety in the guys who can challenge. Kenny King, Sabin, and TJP are 3 nice building blocks, and adding in Zema Ion is good when he's healthy. I guess they can always use Sonjay and Petey as well. But a guy like Christian York just looks so damn slow in the ring when against the other guys.

If I'm TNA I start giving more guys chances. Maybe tryout some indy guys like Rich Swann, Richochet, Stu Grayson (Player Dos/Stupefied), or Uhaa Nation; Guys who add different things but would fit into the style of match TNA wants from the X Division.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Go back to the old rules and scrap the weight limit. The "not about weight limits" was a good concept that made the X-Division different from your run of the mill junior heavyweight division.

[Deleted]

The X Division should be the one place where you're guaranteed a ridiculous spotfest, save the real psychology for upper tier matches and open the shows with guys just flying all around to pop the crowd.

[Reflecto]

The biggest thing the X-Division needs right now is to hire more wrestlers for the division. If they had more wrestlers in the division, the triple threat rules would be less of a problem than they are now since there'd be more turnover from match to match- by contrast, with how small the X-Division roster is now, you see the problem with putting the matches in triple-threats week in and week out.

The World Title shot should be kept- there's nothing inherently wrong with using a title belt and making it clear the champ is de facto number one contender. Maybe tweak it so the X-champ doesn't have to forfeit the title to get the shot [but does if they "win"], but other than that I think the shot itself works

[Banecat]

Jul 2, 2013 11:01:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Go back to the old rules and scrap the weight limit. The "not about weight limits" was a good concept that made the X-Division different from your run of the mill junior heavyweight division.

So heavyweight guys not doing anything better can rule the division? As much as I love Samoa Joe, his X-Division reign killed whatever strides the X-Div was making (outside of a few couplings, only AJ or Daniels stood a chance). Abyss similarly crushed the X-Div and left it in the place it is in today.

[Deleted]

Writing them decent storylines would be a start. Sabin's was ok...with the whole coming back from an injury thing, but outside of that building characters or creating any kind of momentum doesn't seem to be a priority.

I mean, yes - the key apsect is althleticism, but you have to give them a little something in the way of a narrative.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Jul 2, 2013 14:04:08 GMT -5 Banecat said:

Jul 2, 2013 11:01:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Go back to the old rules and scrap the weight limit. The "not about weight limits" was a good concept that made the X-Division different from your run of the mill junior heavyweight division.

So heavyweight guys not doing anything better can rule the division? As much as I love Samoa Joe, his X-Division reign killed whatever strides the X-Div was making (outside of a few couplings, only AJ or Daniels stood a chance). Abyss similarly crushed the X-Div and left it in the place it is in today.

I agree that Abyss should've never been X Champ, but Joe in his prime fit perfectly with that style. Maybe the problem was the lack of similarly talented big men.

[Straight Edge Scrotum]

Bring back Kevin Nash. Problem solved.

[Orange]

Jul 2, 2013 11:59:41 GMT -5 @akeem said:

The X Division should be the one place where you're guaranteed a ridiculous spotfest, save the real psychology for upper tier matches and open the shows with guys just flying all around to pop the crowd.

On one hand I agree because I've always loved the huge spots that are guaranteed with any X-Division match. On the other hand, though, while I do love the spot monkey-ness of the division, I feel like that's not really fair to tell these guys, the majority of whom are great wrestlers, "just go and flip around to get the crowd excited". I think the important thing to do is find a middle ground between spots and "actual" wrestling, and I think that's been helped out with some of the more recent additions like King and Ion.

However, I'll agree that that division could use more guys, especially if they want to stick with the triple threat rules. I don't mind that rule, necessarily, but it does get old fast when you have the same guys facing each other week in and week out; something easily remedied by bringing some other dudes in.

[Deleted]

Jul 2, 2013 11:59:41 GMT -5 @akeem said:

The X Division should be the one place where you're guaranteed a ridiculous spotfest, save the real psychology for upper tier matches and open the shows with guys just flying all around to pop the crowd.

Agreed. I'm not a huge fan of that style of wrestling, but it's a good way to open a show and live crowds dig the athleticism. Once a wrestler looks like he is too good for the divison (i.e. Aries last year, and possibly Sabin and King down the road), then "promote" them to the heavyweight division.

Not a fan of the 3-way concept either, but I think their reasoning is to get more bodies on TV. They have enough time promoting everyone as is, so that is probably their lazy way of incorporating more guys into the mix.

[Mozenrath]

I never got the 3 way rules aspect. If anything, shouldn't it be 4 way, given it's an X?

[ritt works hard fo da chickens]

The worst times of the X division previously were when they tried to tie it into the heavyweight division. Make the new requirement anybody who has never held the big title is eligible. No Kurt, no Abyss, no demoting AJ or Joe anymore or if you need those guys to revitalize the division keep the Money in the bank aspect they currently have with it but ban previous title holders from being able to cash in.

I think they could also just tie the gut check to it. Two established X guys and a gut check guy in three ways would be more interesting than what gut check is now.

[Deleted]

Jul 2, 2013 14:34:08 GMT -5 Straight Edge Scrotum said:

Bring back Kevin Nash. Problem solved.

Honestly, as silly as the PCS stuff was - it was A LOT of fun to watch. It was kinda like early NXT before NXT even existed (the PCS challenges made more sense than the NXT ones did too). Plus it allowed the X-Division wrestlers to get some mic time in segments and establish their characters a bit.



Lowki was the "Warrior" (Jim Hellwig joke was priceless) who didn't want to play. Shelley was the teacher's pet. Ares was the "Star." Dutt was clearly juicing. Lethal was the fish out of water. If you were going to keep one elder statesmen around in a non-wrestling capacity - I wouldn't mind Kevin Nash, but just to do stuff like the PCS challenges or live out his days as the wackiest GM alive.

[Glitch]

Act like it matters.

[Reflecto]

I think they could also just tie the gut check to it. Two established X guys and a gut check guy in three ways would be more interesting than what gut check is now.

If they can also tie in the won-loss record to the Gut Check competitors, this would be great as well:

-Win the match: GutCheck automatically receives a TNA contract.
-Lose the pinfall: GutCheck fails the test.
-Not involved in decision: goes to the judges.

[Emmet Russell]

Jul 2, 2013 14:17:24 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

Writing them decent storylines would be a start. Sabin's was ok...with the whole coming back from an injury thing, but outside of that building characters or creating any kind of momentum doesn't seem to be a priority.

I mean, yes - the key apsect is althleticism, but you have to give them a little something in the way of a narrative.

They made it a bit harder to write proper stories now that they have the triple threat rule as there's always a third wheel - case in point with Suicide during the King/Sabin stuff. Would of been so much better having a straight-up one-on-one build up and match.

[Deleted]

wait I haven't watched in many months..... all X-Divison title matches are triple threat? that's terrible

[Deleted]

Call me crazy, but just scrap it and focus more on the TV title. I know the X-Division is vintage TNA, but it's identity is so ambiguous and so disagreed upon that I don't think it's ever going to work again.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Give guys actual characters beyond cocky heel and white meat babyface.

Better yet, give some of the guys in the division some TV time outside of those shitty three way matches. Don't tease your audience by showing them how awesome the X-Division could be whenever Destination X rolls around only to go right back to status quo a month or two later.