From the return of the ol' six-sided ring for one night to the high caliber of wrestlers performing on the card and even the classic "This is awesome!" chants from the live crowd at the Impact Zone, Destination X 2011 turned out to be one of the most critically acclaimed pay-per-view events of the year. In the aftermath TNA decided to sign a few standout names from previous one-off deals, in an attempt to reinvigorate the X Division in the long run. While that plan worked for a short time, various circumstances led to the entire division, sans reigning titleholder Austin Aries, being put on the backburner.
But like the mythical phoenix reborn from its ashes, the X Division is set to take flight once again, with its future secured by an annual "Option C" stipulation awarding the X Division Champion the opportunity to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at Destination X. The following are some potential details/scenarios for this new flight plan.
THE ROSTER
Without question, the most important element of any division is its talent pool. It isn't always easy to put together the "right" or "best" roster (so to speak) but TNA management has generally shown good judgment in their talent acquisitions for the X Division. Austin Aries' ascension to the main event scene has opened the door for some promising newcomers and established mainstays to carry on its decade-long legacy. And through the process of crowning a new champion in the recent tournament, TNA has stumbled upon a solid base of competitors for the latest incarnation of the X Division. Although the contractual status of some of these talents has yet to be confirmed, a good portion are believed to be signed soon. Keep in mind that last year's signings were not officially announced until late August.
Zema Ion, Kenny King, Sonjay Dutt, Jesse Sorensen
Rubix, Mason Andrews, Kid Kash, Douglas Williams
?? Rashad Cameron, Dakota Darsow ??
Rubix, Mason Andrews, Kid Kash, Douglas Williams
?? Rashad Cameron, Dakota Darsow ??
SIGNED / RELEASED
As plans change and contracts expire, many often ponder about the fate of certain wrestlers and/or any potential new signings. In terms of the current X Division roster, Mark Haskins and Chris Sabin are likely to be gone from TNA. Haskins' performances have been rather disappointing and, in his limited appearances, failed to stand out in any way, shape or form (except for maybe the infamous shooting star botch at Wembley Arena). Sabin, on the other hand, is a well-known entity, but he has been deeply affected by back-to-back injuries and the recent departures of his two closest companions in Alex Shelley and Velvet Sky. Even if Sabin does return, it's hard to tell if he will in fact still be the same performer he's always been.
No doubt the most popular topic of discussion revolves around which free agent wrestlers should be signed to bolster the division. While it would be great to see a boatload of talented independent stars receive an opportunity in TNA, realistically only four to five X Division wrestlers will be featured in two storylines at most on a regular basis. In addition to the base roster, TNA has several affiliations with AAA, Pro Wrestling NOAH, OVW, Ring Ka King and other promotions – all of which have a good number of junior heavyweights that can be brought in for any purpose whether it be as filler opponents or tournament participants.
That being said, my one personal choice signing would be a young British sensation named Zack Sabre Jr. At the age of 25, Sabre has already competed all over the world against some of the best wrestlers in the business and become highly proficient at ring psychology in his matches. He is an outstanding performer and just an all-around likable personality. His style is mostly striking and submission oriented but he's also very athletic with some aerial moves in his arsenal. Sabre would be a fantastic addition to the X Division, in my opinion. If TNA can also sign Sabre's "Leaders of the New School" tag team partner Marty Scurll to double in the tag team ranks, that would be a bonus as well.
FEUDS & STORYLINES
That brings us to the competition itself. There will always be a primary title feud and, depending on the depth of the storylines in the overall product, a secondary #1 contender's or grudge feud. Zema Ion may have become the new X Division Champion, but he doesn't exactly come off as a credible champion because 1) he couldn't beat Austin Aries for the title and 2) he never actually scaled the cables to win the Ultimate X match. Ion should have a solid title reign but at the same time it's hard to imagine that he can hang onto the title until Jesse Sorensen returns (estimated roughly around early 2013). How could things play out? Well.......
Zema Ion successfully defends the title over Kenny King at Hardcore Justice and Sonjay Dutt at No Surrender. Bound For Glory features a #1 contender's X Division gauntlet battle royal with a mix of current and international stars via TNA's working agreements, and a three-way title match between Ion, King and Dutt. Regardless of who wins the battle royal, the Southwest native King wins the title in his neck of the woods.
King goes on to have a nice four-month title reign while Ion rebuilds himself into contention and eventually regains the belt at Against All Odds. As Ion celebrates his victory, Jesse Sorensen appears on the same pay-per-view where he was injured a year ago and declares that he has been medically cleared to wrestle, followed by a staredown with the new champion. Depending on the actual date of his in-ring return, Sorensen spends about a month or two running through a few other contenders before he finally faces Ion inside the steel cage and wins the title at Lockdown. Their feud continues until Slammiversary, where Sorensen finishes off his nemesis and then fulfills his one-year promise by trading in the gold for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at Destination X 2013.
And there you have it. This has been my sort of glimpse into the future of the X Division. I'd like to thank those of you who voted for me during the Write Call. Your support, feedback, etc. is always appreciated.
