“It’s not about weight limits, it’s about no limits!”
Hi folks! Today, I bring you an extensive list of all TNA/Impact Wrestling X Division Champions in the company’s history. It has been a little over 20 years since the promotion opened its doors, and one of its biggest assets has been the innovative X Division.
Often praised as a division without limits, the X Division has paved the way for a style of wrestling that has been emulated many times elsewhere. Although high spots have commonly occurred in matches, this isn’t a cruiserweight division. Anyone can challenge in the X Division, including heavyweights and women.
Speaking of which, three women have stepped up to challenge for the X Division title. Athena & Trinity did this in the early days. More recently, Jordynne Grace won an open challenge and was announced as the new champion. However, the champion at the time, Rohit Raju, clarified that the decision was void because the referee never declared it a title match.
Impact placed a weight limit on the division for a short while, and I’ll let you know when that was. Also, the title has changed its name over the years. Before we look at the champions, here are the names the title was/is referred to:
- NWA X Championship (the title originally belonged to the NWA) in 2002.
- NWA-TNA X Championship (not long after the promotion started) in 2002.
- NWA-TNA X Division Championship (unsure when it changed) in 2003.
- TNA X Division Championship (NWA officially passed it down to TNA) from 2003 – March 1, 2017.
- Impact Wrestling X Division Championship (when the company name changed) from March 2, 2017 – August 17, 2017.
- GFW X Division Championship (when the merger with GFW began) from August 17, 2017 – September 18, 2017.
- Impact X Division Championship (after the GFW merger fell through) from September 18, 2017 – present.
#1. AJ Styles — 6 Reigns, 272 days
“1st X Division Champion” – While Styles only just creeps onto the list of the top 10 longest reigning title holders, many fans will agree (me included) that he is the greatest X Division Champion of all time. As the first, he set the bar, and he continued setting that bar higher with each new reign.
AJ Styles was the first to use the title as a stepping stone to the World Championship. Not only that, but he helped to elevate the X Division to be equal to the main event scene. At one point, you could say the X Division Championship almost held as much importance as the World title.
In 2005, at Unbreakable, AJ won a triple threat title match against Christopher Daniels (c) and Samoa Joe. To this day, it is regarded as the greatest match in company history.
What makes AJ’s reigns special were the rivals he shared the ring with. Jerry Lynn. Low Ki. Chris Sabin. Petey Williams. Christopher Daniels. Samoa Joe. Just to name a few! AJ didn’t need to be the World Champion because he elevated the X Division into relevancy. And we could say that he did this so well, that it has been difficult for anyone to repeat the feat. AJ Styles may not be one of the longest-reigning of all time, but he made the X Division phenomenal.
Where Is He Now? – Despite leaving TNA Wrestling on bad terms, Styles looked like he would return to the company following a stint in New Japan. Instead, AJ signed with WWE and remains there to this day.
#2. Low Ki/Senshi — 5 Reigns, 312 days
“Longest Time Between Reigns” – Low Ki is the 5th longest reigning overall and is unlucky to never reach the next level. WWE fans may remember him as Kaval, the winner of the second season of NXT. When he returned to Impact for the fourth time and won the X Division title, he set a record for the longest time between reigns. Nobody can say they won this championship close to 15 years apart.
He came close to getting his big match for the World Championship, which would have happened at Bound For Glory against Alberto El Patron (Del Rio). However, circumstances out of his control lead to his match falling through. What is safe to say about Low Ki is that he helped to form the X Division in its early days, and continued to do so when he had the opportunity.
Where Is He Now? – In 2018, the year after leaving Impact, he debuted for Major League Wrestling and worked there until 2021. During this run, he won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and held it for 205 days. Since late-2021, he worked for House Of Glory and has since won and lost the Crown Jewel title.
#3. Jerry Lynn — 2 Reigns, 84 days
“The Original Veteran” – I think Jerry Lynn’s contribution to the X Division often goes understated. He was a veteran and known name by the time NWA: TNA started and having his expertise proved valuable. When you think of the best singles match wrestlers of the late-90s/early 2000s in the United States, Jerry Lynn has to be in anyone’s top 5.
His feud with Rob Van Dam in ECW meant he was already used to pushing limits and working with high flyers. He didn’t get the big break he was looking for in WWE, so this was his time to pass the torch on to the new blood. I’m sure that AJ Styles, Low Ki, and others are eternally grateful he was there as a mentor.
Where Is He Now? – Lynn is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling as a producer and coach.
#4. Vacant — 12 Reigns
“Now. Then. Forever.” – This guy gets everywhere! Whenever a title needs it, vacant is there to pick up the pieces. Yes, technically there are 49 X Division Champions… and I’m using “Vacant” to bump it up to 50. Want to fight about it?! I’ll send Vacant right on over. But yeah, if you’re more interested in knowing when Vacant made a name for itself, here’s a list of his reigns:
– Jerry Lynn vacated the title on October 9, 2002, because of injury. TNA crowned a new champion on the same night.
– Chris Sabin vacated the title on March 31, 2004, because of injury. TNA crowned a new champion on the same night.
– Eric Young controversially won a title match on December 7, 2008, so Jim Cornette stripped him of it. TNA crowned a new champion at the next PPV, which was a little over a month later.
– Management stripped Douglas Williams of the title because of travel restrictions at Lockdown 2010. They crowned a new champion on the same night.
– Austin Aries invoked “Option C” (more on that later) at Destination X 2012. TNA crowned a new champion on the same night.
– Chris Sabin invoked Option C on June 29, 2013, but on tape-delayed to July 11, 2013. A new champion was crowned a few weeks later, on July 18, 2013.
– Austin Aries invoked Option C again, this time on June 25, 2014, but on a tape-delayed to July 24, 2014. Impact crowned a new champion on June 26th, but fans had to wait until August 7th to see it on TV.
– Samoa Joe vacated the title on September 19, 2014, because of injury. They did not show this on TV until November 12th because of tape delays. Impact crowned a new champion the same day, but fans had to wait until November 19th to see it on TV.
– Rockstar Spud invoked Option C on May 10, 2015. Impact crowned a new champion on June 24, 2015.
– After Lashley unified the World, X Division, and King of the Mountain Championships, he vacated the X Division title on August 12, 2016. This was seen on TV six days later. Impact crowned a new champion on August 13, 2016, but fans had to wait until September 1st to see it on TV.
– Brian Cage invoked Option C on November 11, 2018. Impact crowned a new champion at Homecoming 2019 on January 6th.
– Josh Alexander invoked Option C on September 23, 2021. Impact crowned a new champion at Bound For Glory 2021 on October 23rd.
As we can see, half of the time the X Division title is vacated because of Option C. The other six times were because of three injuries, a unification, a controversial match, and travel restrictions. The longest vacancy in the title’s 20-year history is 56 days after Brian Cage invoked Option C.
Where Is It Now? – No matter the time or place, if a championship is lonely, it will be there. Like a superhero, Vacant will keep the title safe until it’s time to pass it on to the next worthy champion. It does this unselfishly and without judgment, and it will hold as many titles as it needs to because no amount of gold can weigh it down. For long may it reign, and all hail our faceless lord of light.
#5. Syxx-Pac (Sean Waltman) — 1 Reign, 14 days
Along with Scott Hall, Syxx-Pac jumped over to TNA in its early days. After Jerry Lynn vacated, he defeated Kid Kash, Tony Mamaluke, The S.A.T., Ace Steel, and A.J. Styles in a ladder match. It didn’t last long though, as AJ Styles defeated him for the title two weeks later.
Where Is He Now? – Sean Waltman has been retired for a few years and has spent it rarely appearing on talk shows for WWE. He was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame twice, as part of the stables D-Generation X and the New World Order.
This year, he came out of retirement and wrestled as Joey Janela’s tag partner in Game Changer Wrestling. After turning on him, Waltman lost a singles match to Janela a month later. It is unknown if he plans to work more matches.
#6. Sonny Siaki — 1 Reign, 63 days
“First Samoan Champion” – Not much can be said about Sonny’s reign. He defeated Jerry Lynn in late 2002 but then lost it two months later. It did little to help his career. Before TNA, he was a graduate of WCW’s Power Planet after being trained by Paul Orndorff and Dusty Rhodes.
Where Is He Now? – After failing to get through WWE’s developmental system from 2005 to 2007, he returned to the independent scene. He donated one of his kidneys to his brother, and the doctor told him he couldn’t wrestle anymore. Siaki officially wrestled his last match in early 2009. After retiring, he got a job working for UPS.
#7. Kid Kash — 1 Reign, 77 days
“First TNA X Division Champion” – In 2003, the company gradually moved away from its partnership with NWA. As a former ECW and WCW star, Kid Kash served as a reliable stand-in. When you consider how much time he spent in the X Division, it’s surprising he didn’t get more reigns, but it just goes to show how much talent there was.
Kash’s work impressed WWE enough to sign him to a deal from 2005 to 2006, so he must have been doing something right.
Where Is He Now? – Kash has wrestled sporadically since 2013. His last recorded matches were for Impact during its Xplosion tapings in March 2020. He lost a tag match with Johnny Swinger to Manik & Suicide, and a singles match to Moose.
#8. Amazing Red — 3 Reigns, 122 days
“Youngest Champion” – Most fans remember the title reign shown above when Don West acted as his manager. However, his first reign (which lasted two weeks) came in 2003 when he was just 21 years old.
Amazing Red is often named among the most athletic and exciting X Division wrestlers. Will Ospreay and others call him their inspiration for his innovation. His biggest win was over Samoa Joe for the title in 2009. Red won it again in 2010 but held it for only two days.
Where Is He Now? – Despite announcing his retirement in 2019 because of a neck injury, he returned and has since wrestled sporadically for House of Glory, New Japan, and Warrior Wrestling.
#9. Chris Sabin — 8 Reigns, 432 days
“Most Reigns, Longest Overall & The Master Of Ultimate X” – Chris Sabin is the undisputed king of the X Division. AJ Styles may be the most popular, but in terms of sheer numbers, Chris Sabin holds the record for most reigns, along with holding the title longer than anyone.
He used the title as a stepping stone to the World title, although this didn’t go over as well as some hoped. Why? Probably because fans always saw him as an X Division or tag team guy, so Sabin as World Champion was out of place.
When fans talk about Chris Sabin, the first thing they think of is his partnership with Alex Shelley as the Motor City Machine Guns. While the team is arguably the most popular team in company history, individually, Chris Sabin is way more than that. He is an everlasting presence in the X Division, since winning the title in 2003, all the way to the eighth time in 2013. Not only that, but Sabin is an Ultimate X specialist.
When Ultimate X was first introduced, Chris Sabin was almost always part of it. Because of this, he has appeared in 17 of the 47 (to date) Ultimate X matches. He won 8 of those, which is a record unlikely to be beaten. He has been in over double the amount of Ultimate X matches to his closest rivals in this field. It’s fair to say that this match type used to be more common back in the day, so he may have had an unfair advantage over present-day talent. Still, it gives him something that no one may ever beat.
Innovating Ultimate X hasn’t just inspired male wrestlers, but female wrestlers too. At this year’s Hard To Kill PPV, the Knockouts worked their first Ultimate X for the Knockouts Championship. After the show, Chris Sabin was there to take a picture with the competitors. While many fans will always think of Motor City Machine Guns when they see Chris Sabin, his peers may see him as the biggest pioneer of the X Division and Ultimate X. Decades from now, the next generation will see how his work created a legacy for them to follow.
Where Is He Now? – Sabin is one of a few TNA Originals who still actively works as a competitor for Impact Wrestling. At 40 years old, he still has enough in the tank to work for several more years. There’s more to come.
#10. Michael Shane — 2 Reigns, 154 days
“Most Underrated?” – I don’t know, maybe it was just me, but I always respected the hell out of Michael Shane. Considering TNA had a stacked roster of athletic types, Shane did very well for himself as a heel. He wasn’t afraid to talk or cut corners, but he could go in the ring, too. And he had to be good because his cousin Shawn Michaels trained him.
I’d love more feedback on this because I feel much like Roxxi Laveaux in the Knockouts Division, Michael Shane should have been significantly more. It could be a case of being lost in the shuffle when TNA picked up Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe.
Where Is He Now? – Shane has been semi-retired since 2008. After working a squash match on WWE TV, he started a rock band with his friends, and they do gigs in Florida. His last match was in 2015 for Global Force Wrestling.
#11. Frankie Kazarian (& Suicide) — 5 Reigns, 239 days
“Double Duty” – There are two guys on the list who won the X Division title not just for themselves, but for the “Suicide” character. I don’t want to include Suicide as a separate entry, just because several people have portrayed it over the years, and I’d rather give credit to those who won the title when they were him.
Chris Sabin recently stated that Kazarian was one of his biggest rivals in the early days. They had some brilliant matches, and they worked their first in many years last month. Kazarian may not have dominated, but he was always a go-to guy. If you need someone to run with the title and produce some quality matches? He’d reliably deliver, and he still does.
Where Is He Now? – He helped the Impact Originals to defeat Honor No More at this year’s Slammiversary but is actually on loan from All Elite Wrestling. Where he goes from here is up in the air.
#12. Petey Williams — 2 Reigns, 310 days
“Best Finisher” – In his prime, Team Canada’s lead guy was a force to be reckoned with. Some of the best X Division matches of all time involve Williams facing Styles and Sabin, which I believe gets overlooked because of later matches between Styles, Daniels, and Joe.
It’s a little disappointing that Petey never got further than being an X-Division guy. Part of it could have been because he was paired up and made somewhat of a joke with Scott Steiner as “Little Poppa Pump”, but maybe he just got unlucky? He didn’t connect with the fans like Styles, nor did he have the longevity of Sabin. What he has is his finishing move, which has inspired a new generation of talent.
It kills me to see it used as a mid-match, near-fall move to pop the crowd. The Canadian Destroyer was, and should always be, a devastating finisher you don’t kick out of. Because if you can kick out of that… you can kick out of anything, and then it cheapens everything. I don’t think Petey ever wanted his move to be cheap like this, but at least he has left a mark on the industry.
Where Is He Now? – After years of loyalty to Impact Wrestling as an on-air talent and backstage worker, WWE signed him as a producer.
#13. Christopher Daniels (& Suicide) — 4 Reigns, 280 days
“The Biggest Rival” – What skyrocketed the X Division to the top was a combination of AJ Styles’ popularity and Christopher Daniels’ heat. The “Fallen Angel” got the title and held it for a record (at the time) of 182 days. As obnoxious as he was skilled in the ring, fans tuned in and respectfully hated Daniels. They wanted to see someone beat him, but they also knew he deserved to be the champion.
He was the antithesis of AJ Styles. They made an excellent tag team, but even better enemies. When you think about Impact Wrestling feuds, AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels tops it. Daniels was AJ’s nemesis, and then you throw in the next guy on the list? Pure gold. Because of his X Division run, fans often name Daniels among the greatest wrestlers never to win the World title in the company.
And I almost forgot to mention the Suicide character. He and Frankie Kazarian brought the character to life and even shared a title reign. You should also know that Daniels is the second most successful competitor in Ultimate X. With 5 victories from 8 appearances, that’s a pretty impressive record! He didn’t work as many as Sabin but won more often than not. Christopher Daniels in Ultimate X was always a threat, and pretty daring. Some fans will remember that dangerous spot… you know which one!
Aside from that, we know that the X Division peaked around the time Christopher Daniels got the title. When we look back on the history of Impact, you cannot do so without the Fallen Angel.
Where Is He Now? – Still wrestling! You can find him working for NJPW Strong, and rarely for AEW and the independents. His day job is being the Head Of Talent Relations for All Elite Wrestling.
#14. Samoa Joe — 5 Reigns, 350 days
“First Multi Champion” – We’ve talked about his rivalry with Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles, but from 2005 to 2006, Samoa Joe took his career to the next level. He had been undefeated in singles matches since his debut, and his X Division encounters made him an exciting prospect for new signing Kurt Angle. He would lose his undefeated streak to the Olympic Gold Medalist, but it cemented his place as one of the company’s biggest stars.
Not long after this, he won the X Division Championship for the third time, and the tag team titles, making him TNA’s first multi-champion. He later lost them to a familiar foe but could move on from the X Division, for now. Joe got two more reigns down the road, one in 2009, and his last in 2014. He’s the third-longest champion overall and is one of the most ruthless and strongest the division has ever seen.
Where Is He Now? – He is the current ROH World Television Champion working for Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling.
#15. Jay Lethal — 6 Reigns, 294 days
“First African-American Champion” – As he’s had to do his entire career, Jay Lethal worked super hard to earn what he has. After being noticed for his work in JAPW and Ring of Honor, TNA signed him for the X Division. Being brought in at the end of 2005 meant he struggled to get anywhere because the division was headed by heavy names AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and his mentor, Samoa Joe.
At Slammiversary in 2007, he defeated Chris Sabin to claim the title for the first time but lost it two days later to Joe. After the title went through a feud with two of TNA’s biggest stars, Lethal picked up a shock win at No Surrender over World Champion Kurt Angle, to claim the title for a second time. This victory was way more lucrative for Lethal, and he kept on winning the championship up to his departure in 2011.
What Lethal did for the X Division title was bring entertainment value. The love triangle between him, Sonjay Dutt, and SoCal Val brought a different type of attention to the X Division. During his tenure, Lethal grew as a performer, in the ring and out. His Randy Savage and Ric Flair impersonations are legendary. By 2011, he was ready to move up the ladder, but the company wasn’t ready for him, so he moved on to ROH. Lethal grafted harder than ever before to become the face of the company.
Where Is He Now? – Ironically feuding with the man who mentored him, Samoa Joe, over the ROH Television Championship while under contract to All Elite Wrestling.
#16. Kurt Angle — 1 Reign, 28 days
“All The Gold!” – His Hall of Fame career has had many accomplishments, but Kurt Angle did in TNA what he couldn’t do elsewhere. He won all the gold! At one point, he was the TNA World, IWGP (IGF) Heavyweight, TNA Tag Team, and the X Division Champion.
Angle defeated Samoa Joe in a Winner Take All match to achieve this. He would later lose the X Division title to Jay Lethal because of a fluke roll-up. But as far as title reigns go, Kurt Angle solidified the title’s worthiness on the same level as others. The X Division title is better, having had his name on the list of its history. It’s true. It’s damn true.
Where Is He Now? – Retired. Angle made a surprise video appearance congratulating Impact Wrestling on its 20th anniversary at Slammiversary. He now hosts “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast with Conrad Thompson.
#17. Johnny Devine — 1 Reign, 20 days
“Hot Shot” – TNA tried to get Johnny Devine over by involving him in stables like Paparazzi Productions (w/ Alex Shelley, Kevin Nash & Austin Starr/Aries), and Raven’s Serotonin. With one last-ditch effort, they partnered him with Team 3D (Dudley Boyz). Devine defeated Jay Lethal for the X Division title, with Brother Ray’s help.
20 days later, he lost it back to Jay Lethal in a six-man tag with Team 3D. He had one singles defense, which he lost by DQ to Homicide. So, not only did Devine fail to win the title cleanly by himself, he never defended it clean either. Ten months later, he left the company because he didn’t find wrestling fun anymore. He’s had only four recorded matches since then, with the latest happening in 2017.
Where Is He Now? – Devine is listed as a semi-retired wrestler. He also acted as a doctor on a TV show in 2014. There are no other known details.
#18. Sheik Abdul Bashir (Shawn Daivari) — 1 Reign, 84 days
After serving as a manager (for Muhammad Hassan & The Great Khali) and occasional wrestler in WWE, he signed with TNA and changed his name. This was his chance to prove he could do this as a serious singles wrestler, and Bashir did pretty well drawing heat as an anti-American. At No Surrender 2008, he won the title by defeating Petey Williams and Consequences Creed.
In 2009, he formed a promising stable with Eric Young called The World Elite. This served as an international heel stable that wasn’t about being anti-American (Kevin Nash was its only American member), but more about showing the rest of the world’s potential. It was more about uniting the world, although doing so for the benefit of power.
By the end of 2009, Bashir saw that the management and creative teams were changing hands. As Jeff Jarrett would no longer be his boss, he requested and was granted his release two weeks before Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff’s debuts.
Where Is He Now? – Daivari is in a unique position of having three jobs. He works for WWE as a producer, and occasional wrestler/manager for Major League Wrestling, and runs a wrestling school with Ken Anderson, brother Ariya Daivari, Molly Holly, and Arik Cannon. Not long before getting his job with WWE, Daivari made several appearances for Impact Wrestling.
#19. Eric Young — 1 Reign, Less than 1 day
“Shortest Reign Overall” – One of the longest-serving originals has won many of Impact’s championships. The title he won controversially was the X Division Championship when he beat Sheik Abdul Bashir with Shane Sewell’s help. Jim Cornette did not like how it went down, so he vacated the title almost immediately. Still, it goes down in the history books as a win for “Showtime” Eric Young.
Where Is He Now? – Unsuccessfully challenged Josh Alexander for the World Championship in this year’s main event of Slammiversary. He is the leader of the Violent By Design stable.
#20. Alex Shelley — 1 Reign, 63 days
“Underutilized” – Comparing Alex Shelley’s X Division success to his best friend Chris Sabin’s is night and day. It’s not that Shelley sucked or wasn’t over with the fans. It just seems like he was too busy doing other things. He enjoyed leading stables, whether that be in ROH or TNA, but his career didn’t seriously take off until he & Sabin formed Motor City Machine Guns.
Following the title being vacated, TNA started a tournament to decide the new champion. Alex Shelley defeated teammate Chris Sabin in the final to claim the title. But this was his one-and-only run, before losing it to Suicide in an Ultimate X match. He had been in the X Division since 2005, so it was time to focus on the tag team scene.
Shelley recently wrestled his student Jay White in a singles match on PPV. At Slammiversary, he helped the Impact Originals defeat Honor No More to defend the legacy of the company.
Where Is He Now? – He’s not full-time but wrestles often enough for Impact and the independent scene. Otherwise, his primary job is being a physical therapy clinician, which takes precedence for him over working in wrestling.
#21. Homicide — 1 Reign, 52 days
Homicide often floated around. He could work in the X Division but was mostly known for his tag team success with Hernandez as LAX. His one singles achievement was defeating Suicide after cashing in his Feast or Fired opportunity. He lost the title to Samoa Joe at Hard Justice. It’s unknown when it started, but it was during mid-2009 that he requested his release, but the company wouldn’t grant it.
Instead, Homicide ditched Hernandez to join the World Elite. He was embarrassed (not his fault) in a four-way Xscape match at Lockdown, and did whatever they needed before finally getting his release in August 2010. He has made returns since then, but they were short-lived. Homicide spends more time in other companies. Whatever happened in 2009 really put him off wanting to stay loyal to TNA.
Where Is He Now? – I last saw Homicide work a main event against Jon Moxley for the GCW title. AEW had him on TV for a minute, partnering with Moxley & Eddie Kingston. He spends most of his time defending the NWA Junior Heavyweight title.
#22. Doug Williams — 2 Reigns, 202 days
“First British Champion” – Doug Williams used his time differently. Instead of being happy as champion, he had a mission to prove that proper wrestling is superior to spot monkeys flying around for cheap pops. His arsenal included the use of submissions, brawling, slowing the pace, and stopping anyone from flying off the top turnbuckle.
He’d sometimes cheat too, but he didn’t need to most of the time. Some fans saw Williams as “anti-X Division”, but I never saw it that way. The X Division is about no limits, and Williams was simply pushing his style to the forefront. It may not have been pretty, but it was damn sure effective.
This came not long after the British Invasion tag team success with Magnus (Nick Aldis). Sadly, his reigns garnered little attention because he didn’t have viable challengers. Most of his opponents were nobodies he purposely handpicked so he could easily dismantle them. Had TNA got talents like Desmond Wolfe (Nigel McGuinness) or Bryan Danielson mixing it up with him, it would’ve been a different story.
Where Is He Now? – Since leaving the company in 2014, he worked sporadically on the independent scene. Last year, he signed a deal with the NWA and reunited with Nick Aldis for a match as British Invasion. This month, he and Harry Smith (The Commonwealth Connection) won the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
#23. Robbie E — 1 Reign, 30 days
“Dark Days” – In 2010, with guys like Jay Lethal, Amazing Red, Doug Williams, and many others on hand, TNA management stuck the title on the new kid. Robbie E and Cookie had been on TV for a month before he defeated Jay Lethal for the title. As Cookie had strong ties with J-Woww of Jersey Shore, the company was desperately fishing for mainstream attention through this avenue. They achieved this by having Cookie’s catfight with J-Woww go viral.
A month later, the cheap plug was over, as Jay Lethal claimed back his X Division title. Robbie tried to get it back, but would always come up short. Many fans compared Robbie’s character to that of Zack Ryder and noted how much of a cheap rip-off it was of the Jersey Shore, which most wrestling fans had no care for.
This went to another level when the company introduced Jessie Godderz. Impact paired him and Robbie E together to form The Bromans. They dropped Cookie and found success in the tag division by claiming gold, so this was a much better run. He worked with Impact for 7 years before calling it a day, and while he didn’t get to the top, he was certainly doing better than what he is now.
Where Is He Now? – You can find him as “Mr. Stone” on WWE’s NXT 2.0 brand, managing Von Wagner. Before this, he was more of a comedy act while managing women like Chelsea Green, Mercedes Martinez, Aliyah, and others. It’s safe to say that he’s been nothing but a joke since getting a job with WWE. If that ever changes, then he would have earned it.
#24. Abyss — 1 Reign, 55 days
“Heaviest Champion / Even Darker Days” – When X Division stars began airing their frustrations over the lack of opportunities, Eric Bischoff turned it into an angle. War was declared, only it was very one-sided, as Bischoff regularly buried X Division stars by having Immortal members destroy them. In one match, Bischoff & Matt Hardy took on and embarrassed Generation Me (The Young Bucks).
Abyss needed something to do, so Bischoff gave him a title shot against Kazarian. Predictably, he became the heaviest champion in X Division history. Abyss admitted how little he cared for the X Division. All he cared about was gaining power for Immortal and destroying opponents. It looked like Abyss could hold the title forever, but one man stood up and achieved what many thought was impossible.
Until then, though, the X Division was in the crapper. The company didn’t care for it, and the fans were struggling to get behind it too. There weren’t many left to cheer for, and those who remained weren’t getting opportunities to garner the support.
Where Is He Now? – He currently works for WWE as a producer. Impact still references Abyss whenever they talk about the legacy of the Monster’s Ball match, as that was his specialty.
#25. Brian Kendrick — 1 Reign, 63 days
“Weight Limits” – Many fans knew Brian Kendrick for his time in WWE as a tag team champion with Paul London. He hadn’t been with TNA since 2004, so it was a surprise to see his return in 2010. I think fans respected Kendrick, but he wasn’t over like some of the originals. Despite this, he became the face of the X Division while it was being buried by Eric Bischoff. He stood up to Abyss and eventually won the title, a victory which was celebrated in the ring by much of the babyface roster.
A month later, Eric Bischoff decided the X-Division would have a weight limit of 225 Ib. This was an unpopular decision because anyone who had followed the X Division since its inception would tell you it’s about no limits. It’s not a cruiserweight division! But this is what it became while Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff heavily influenced the creative process. Luckily, leading into this win for Kendrick, we were treated to a new concept that brought promise.
Where Is He Now? – Kendrick was known for his controversial conspiracy theories. Shortly after an announcement that he would wrestle a match for All Elite Wrestling, some of his past comments came to light, and Tony Khan was forced to cancel the booking. Kendrick apologized for his comments, and it’s unknown if he will return to the business. His last match was on an episode of WWE’s 205 Live in 2020.
#26. Austin Aries — 6 Reigns, 373 days
“Longest Single Reign & Option C” – The former ROH World Champion worked in an X Division Showcase leading into Brian Kendrick’s title shot against Abyss. On the same show, Austin Aries defeated Jack Evans, Low-Ki, and Zema Ion to earn a contract with the company. To be fair, these matches were exciting and more than worthy of the X Division.
Aries had a couple of failed title shots against Kendrick before beating him at No Surrender 2011. He had fans’ support because his ring work reminded them of the golden age of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels. Aries held the title for 301 days before vacating it, which remains the record for a single reign. He is the second longest-reigning champion of all time behind Chris Sabin.
Austin Aries was given two options leading into Destination X, which Hulk Hogan labeled options A and B. I can’t remember what those were, but Aries responded by suggesting option C. This became a tradition for Impact, where the X Division Champion is given the choice of vacating their title to get a shot against the World Champion. Impact originally reserved option C for the annual Destination X PPV, but this changed years later. You can invoke option C when you like, but it’s not Money in the Bank, because you have to give suitable notice to the champion.
Austin Aries won the title several more times, and to date, is the only guy to use Option C more than once. The first time, he defeated Bobby Roode in a classic to win the World title at Destination X 2012. Two years later, after dressing up as Suicide to get the title, Aries failed to defeat Lashley after using Option C. Aries used the X Division title as a stepping stone to greater things, and he succeeded by becoming a three-time Impact World Champion.
I should note that while Aries was champion, the weight limit was ignored when Samoa Joe challenged him at Slammiversary 10.
However, while Aries had some of the most memorable matches, he left the company under controversial circumstances. After losing the World title to Johnny Impact (aka John Morrison) at Bound For Glory 2018, Aries no-sold the finish, flipped off the crowd, Don Callis, shared some colorful words, and then walked out. It was the last date on his contract. Aries showed up to the next set of tapings but was sent home, and they didn’t negotiate a new contract later.
Where Is He Now? – Since leaving Impact, Aries has worked for MLW, NWA, and Control Your Narrative. Controversy has followed him through allegations of sexual misconduct (during the Speaking Out movement) in 2020, and his views on the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, which forced him to deactivate his Twitter for a short time.
#27. Zema Ion (DJ Z) — 2 Reigns, 246 days
Pushing Zema Ion was a bid to push a new generation of the X Division. He won the title in an Ultimate X after Aries vacated, but there’s not much to remember from his first reign. All I can remember is the dangerous spot that paralyzed Jesse Sorensen (or did that come later?), although he has since recovered and is wrestling again.
Zema won the title again four years later, now going by the name DJZ, but again it wasn’t anything memorable. Most fans will remember how annoying he was during his time as the third guy in The Bromans. While Zema struggled to find his footing in Impact, he has since found a place to call home.
Where Is He Now? – You can find him wrestling on NXT 2.0 as Legado Del Fantasma’s Joaquin Wilde.
#28. Rob Van Dam — 1 Reign, 137 days
“Oldest Champion” – By the end of 2012, TNA had already squeezed what it could out of Rob Van Dam in the World title scene. As his style suited the X Division, he took the title from Zema Ion at Bound For Glory. He could do this because Impact had repealed the weight limit restriction. However, he was noticeably demotivated. His reign was less than inspiring, aside from a rivalry he had with Christian York.
TNA built up York well, and the fans were getting behind him, but the booking of the Genesis PPV soured his build. The winner of Kenny King & Christian York would face Rob Van Dam for the title at the same event. York defeated King in ten minutes, but then RVD demanded they have the title match right away. He won the match in five minutes, and Christian York’s career did not recover from this. Although, it seems this was more because of management’s opinion of him than anything RVD did.
After Rob Van Dam lost his title, he left the company in March 2013. He later stated that he left because he didn’t appreciate his coworker’s attitudes. The X Division title reign kept RVD sweet for a while, but he was already thinking about leaving.
Where Is He Now? – He’s likely smoking a spliff and having fun with Katie Forbes. That wasn’t a joke! Seriously though, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last year. He rarely takes bookings to make some money on the side, as he stated that’s all wrestling is to him these days. His last match was with Pro Wrestling NOAH this month.
#29. Kenny King — 2 Reigns, 150 days
Kenny King signed with Impact because he felt that his run with All Night Express was enough to make ROH take him seriously, but that turned out not to be the case. So instead, he entered Impact’s X Division and worked for over six months before beating Rob Van Dam for the title.
He won it again two years later by defeating Rockstar Spud, but neither of his reigns got him to the next level. There’s not much more I can say about Kenny, other than he has all the tools. For whatever reason, he was more of an afterthought.
Remember when I said Impact lifted the weight restriction so Rob Van Dam could win the title? They brought it back during Kenny’s first reign in 2013, only this time the limit was 230 Ib and all matches had to be triple threats. Stupid, right? The fans didn’t like it, but they kept it until August.
Where Is He Now? – After several years away, he recently returned to Impact and sided with the ROH outcast group called Honor No More.
#30. Manik (TJ Perkins) — 2 Reigns, 185 days
“Suicide or Manik?” – During Manik’s first reign, the weight limit and triple threat thing were abolished and thankfully never returned.
TJ Perkins had wrestled in the X Division before, but this was his breakthrough. Impact management wanted the Suicide character to return, but renamed it Manik, possibly to make it more family-friendly? Either way, despite the change, Impact classes this as the Suicide character’s second reign. TJP later changed the look of Manik, and he was still masked, but he looked nothing like Suicide anymore. Was it an improvement? I guess it was alright, but it was far from impressive.
When TJP returned to Impact in 2020, he won the title again, but this time with an updated attire (the one seen above). Suicide showed up, and for a time we saw him and Manik pair up as a tag team. This was short-lived, however, because TJP unmasked and kept on wrestling as the X Division Champion.
Aside from the mild confusion, TJP did very well as the X Division Champion. WWE took notice of his work. TJP was the first Cruiserweight Champion and face of 205 Live when it began.
Where Is He Now? – TJP has been working for New Japan for the past couple of months. Before that, he was taking bookings in MLW, CMLL, and other promotions.
#31. Seiya Sanada — 1 Reign, 110 days
“First Japanese Champion” – Early in his career, Keiji Mutoh (The Great Muta) was a big backer of his student. Through a working relationship with his promotion, Wrestle-1, Impact produced joint events with them. Sanada got a major push, including wrestling in the main event of a Bound For Glory event held in Japan. During a different PPV, Sanada challenged and defeated Austin Aries to become the first Japanese X Division Champion.
The companies reached a deal to give Sanada dual contracts between Impact and Wrestle-1. By May 2015, his Wrestle-1 contract ended and Sanada focused solely on Impact. It slowly went downhill from there, and even more so after turning heel and joining James Storm’s stable, The Revolution.
Sanada was treated poorly by Storm because he kept failing to live up to expectations. Eventually, Storm kicked him out of the Revolution for his poor performance, and was released from the company shortly after.
Where Is He Now? – Sanada has since become a major star for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Initially getting over as a tag team wrestler, he has recently transitioned into singles competition. Sanada is currently sidelined with an injury, but before this, he was the IWGP United States Champion.
#32. Rockstar Spud — 2 Reigns, 43 days
“Lightest Champion” – Spud is the biggest underdog in X Division history. His Impact career began as a manager for Ethan Carter III, although before that, he had gotten over as a wrestler on the British independent scene. He got his big break by winning the first British Boot Camp over Marty Scurll and The Blossom Twins, despite being more than a handful (he was known for partying and showing up late).
Because he played the cowardly manager so well, his transition to wrestler was difficult for fans to accept. I had seen his previous work, but Spud had to work extra hard to prove that he belonged in this spot. He was often ridiculed and insulted for his size, but his persistence led to him defeating Low-Ki for the X Division title.
After losing the title to Kenny King, he got it back a few months later in a gauntlet. He immediately cashed in Option C, which guaranteed him a World Championship match against Kurt Angle. A month later, he faced Angle on an episode of Impact and had the match of his life. He didn’t win, but Kurt Angle showed his respect afterward.
The X Division has always been a stepping stone to greatness. Some use it well, while others never take the chance. Spud knew he would never be the World Champion, but he can always say he got to wrestle Kurt Angle for the World title. And that’s the beauty of the X Division.
Where Is He Now? – Under the name Drake Maverick, he worked as the General Manager of WWE 205 Live, before becoming a manager on Raw for the Authors of Pain. WWE fans remember him mostly for chasing after R-Truth for the 24/7 Championship. He was then moved to NXT as a wrestler but was released during the COVID pandemic. Maverick produced a heartfelt Twitter video, sharing the love he has for the business, and the appreciation for WWE giving him the chance.
WWE liked the video so much that they asked him to return for a tournament. What they didn’t tell him, is that after winning the thing, he’d be given a contract. Triple H appeared in person immediately after his win and handed him his new contract.
Despite this, he struggled to get regular air time until he formed a new team with Killian Dain. The oddball team gradually gained steam, but WWE later released them. Spud produced another video, but this time it was about returning to his roots. In February, we reported that WWE’s creative team had brought him onboard.
#33. Tigre Uno — 1 Reign, 199 days
“1st Mexican Champion” – As the company looked to downsize following a financial setback, it brought in Tigre Uno to make a luchador star. He ended up setting the record for the longest single reign in recent memory. The problem with that? It was shockingly forgettable.
He could work, but when the company isn’t doing enough to make you care? What’s the point? Tigre Uno should have been so much more, but it’s like they couldn’t be bothered.
Where Is He Now? – Extreme Tiger returned to the independent scene. He was recently booked for matches with Pro Wrestling Noah.
#34. Trevor Lee — 3 Reigns, 339 days
“To The Moon!” – Long before Cameron Grimes took us to the moon in NXT, we knew him as Trevor Lee in the X Division. And man… he was a good heel. As a student of Jeff & Matt Hardy, there was a lot of expectation there. He walked through the door with Gregory Helms as his manager, but as soon as they figured out he could talk, he didn’t need a mouthpiece anymore. He paired up with Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins) for a while, and they won the tag titles.
Trevor Lee was like a breath of fresh air in the X Division. Not since Doug Williams had I hated a champion for the right reasons. I wanted to see him, but I also wanted someone to beat him. So when he turned up in NXT, I already knew what he could do, and I hoped he’d do well.
Where Is He Now? – Since his NXT debut, Cameron Grimes has become NXT North American Champion, and also a Million Dollar Champion (when Ted DiBiase reintroduced it). I’d say he worked best as a heel, but the character was so good that the fans got behind him and he turned face. Now he’s struggling, I think it’s time he goes back to the moon as a heel.
#35. Eddie Edwards — 2 Reigns, 30 days
“Steadily” – Edwards had a slow start to his singles career in Impact. He was best known as one-half of The American Wolves with Davey Richards. When the team split up, Edwards struggled to find his feet. He won the X Division title, but his reigns were short. As a former ROH World Champion, there had been a level of expectation that wasn’t lived up to.
This changed when his feud with Sami Callihan went mainstream. A stray swing of a baseball bat struck him in the eye, and TMZ picked up the story of the vicious blow. Callihan played into it by saying he did it on purpose. He pushed Edwards down a dark path, which morphed Edwards into something else. Eddie became chaotic, violent, and callous. He wasn’t the same man anymore.
Edwards was nothing like he was in the X Division. It turned out that being a typical “wrestler” was holding him back. It took that struggle, along with an unfortunate botch, to make him see what was in front of him. Eddie Edwards as the X Division Champion is not what fans wanted to see. I like Eddie, but he was uninteresting. Like many others, The X Division served as a stepping stone, but not in the usual way.
Where Is He Now? – He is the leader of the ROH outcast group, Honor No More. Since debuting for Impact in 2014, Edwards has become one of Impact’s most consistent and loyal workers. His feud with Sami Callihan elevated him to the point he twice claimed the World Championship.
#36. Mike Bennett — 1 Reign, 1 day
“Above this” – Mike Bennett never wanted to be X Division Champion, but he did so to frustrate Eddie Edwards. While his reign only lasted a day, it was more like 3 weeks because of tape delays.
Since losing it back to Edwards, despite having plenty of motivation, Bennett struggled to reach the main event scene. When he signed with WWE, he was a low-level enhancement talent who, for a while, was being purposely embarrassed on TV by his wife Maria. After leaving WWE, his life has gotten better, more so because he got his substance abuse issue under control.
Where Is He Now? – After working with ROH since late 2021, the company temporarily closed and its talent was out of contract. Impact signed him and several others, and they now follow Eddie Edwards in the outcast group, Honor No More.
#37. Lashley — 1 Reign, 30 days
“Undisputed” – Before Bobby Lashley could realize his dream of becoming the almighty WWE Champion, he had already dominated Impact. During the height of his tenure, the World Champion went on a mission to claim all the promotions singles titles. After defeating Eddie Edwards in a Winner Take All match, Lashley became the World, X Division, and King of the Mountain Champion.
He stood tall as the undisputed champion for a month. While doing so, he insulted all the X Division stars for being beneath him. Lashley was on fire as he was cutting all of his own promos. I haven’t heard him talk better than this in WWE. It was decided that Impact would unify (& deactivate) the King of the Mountain title with the World Championship, and the X Division title would be vacated. To date, this is the last time the World Champion held the X Division title at the same time.
Where Is He Now? – Embarrassing Theory with his poses. Again, I’m not joking. Bobby Lashley is doing well as a babyface in WWE, which is something the company so desperately wanted during his first run.
#38. Sonjay Dutt — 1 Reign, 81 days
“Finally!” – For years, Sonjay Dutt had often been named one of the best X Division stars to never win the title. It became the go-to for heels whenever they wanted to upset him. Through all the matches and opportunities, he had always failed to accomplish his dream. In 2017, fourteen years after making his debut for TNA, Dutt finally won the X Division title by defeating Low-Ki in front of an Indian crowd (he is American with Indian heritage).
The win was so popular that most of the roster came out to celebrate it with him. He later lost it to Trevor Lee, just before Impact was set for a merger with Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling. Only Dutt & Lee were ever called the “GFW X Division Champion” before the merger fell through and they renamed the title the “Impact X Division Championship”.
Where Is He Now? – Acting as a manager for Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh on AEW & ROH programming. He also works as a producer. From 2019 to 2021, he worked for WWE as a producer. And as far as I know, he hasn’t wrestled since a few months after losing the X Division title.
#39. Taiji Ishimori — 1 Reign, 64 days
“Before The Bone Soldier” – Knowledgeable wrestling fans will know that Ishimori has been a member of New Japan’s Bullet Club stable for some time. But before he joined up with them, he made a name for himself in Impact’s X Division.
Ishimori got to Impact because GFW and Pro Wrestling NOAH had a working agreement, so he was permitted to work for Impact. A win over Trevor Lee set him on the path to getting his work noticed by bookers in Japan. After losing his title, he signed with New Japan and hasn’t looked back, although he worked a one-off for Impact at Slammiversary XVI. I always liked Ishimori’s style and losing him was difficult, but that’s the nature of the business.
Note: I should let you know that the X Division Championship went through a stage of crowning new title holders. From 2017 to 2020, 8 reigns after Ishimori all saw somebody new holding the title. Manik (TJP) broke this trend in late 2020. I say this so you know that for the next eight entries on this list; they defeated the previous guy.
Where Is He Now? – Bullet Club for life! He has since won 7 titles, including 3 Junior Heavyweight, 3 Junior Tag Team (w/ El Phantasmo), and a NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (w/ Guerrillas of Destiny).
#40. Matt Sydal — 1 Reign, 191 days
“Third Eye” – Matt Sydal got obsessive about having a third eye. It was strange, but not as much as Josh Mathews being his “spirit guide”. It’s not shown here, but Sydal was a double champion.
His encounter with Ishimori was a title vs. title match, so Sydal was the Impact Grand & X Division Champion. The less said about the Grand Championship (Billy Corgan’s idea), the better. His reign was decent, almost beating that of Tigre Uno’s. But yeah, you might already see why he didn’t hold it longer.
Where Is He Now? – Sydal is currently signed to AEW as a wrestler. He sometimes works singles matches, but usually teams with his older brother Mike Sydal, or more recently, Top Flight’s Dante Martin. And yes. he’s still spiritual. Most won’t know this, but Sydal is a Buddhist and his spiritual influences are Alan Watts and Timothy Leary.
#41. Brian Cage — 1 Reign, 112 days
“The Machine” – Brian Cage entered Impact with considerable hype. There was hope that he could be the heavyweight star the promotion had been looking for. With Bobby Lashley on his way out, it was time to build him up as the next big thing. Within six months of signing, Cage went to Slammiversary and defeated Sydal for the title.
When it came time to invoke Option C, it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would defeat Johnny Impact to become the World Champion. Only, he went to Homecoming and lost. He became World Champion eventually, at Rebellion, but he was then marred by injuries. Despite the recurring injuries, he kept hold of the title until Sami Callihan got him in a steel cage.
Brian Cage used the X Division as a stepping stone, and it initially failed. Yet, it put him in the title picture, and while he achieved what he set out to do, the injuries made it impossible for him to prove why he deserved to be in that spot. He has since struggled to gain momentum because his injuries limit what he can do in the ring.
Where Is He Now? – He signed with AEW and was the lead talent in Team Taz. After being given the FTW Championship, he didn’t get many opportunities to do anything with it. He was eventually kicked out of the group and written off TV.
After many months away, he returned to wrestling on the ROH PPV, Supercard of Honor, now being managed by Tully Blanchard. While he is technically still signed to AEW, he works exclusively for ROH.
#42. Rich Swann — 1 Reign, 194 days
“Redemption” – In early 2019, Rich Swann won the X Division title in Ultimate X after Brian Cage vacated. This was huge for his career because, at that point, he was known for two things. He was a 1) former WWE Cruiserweight Champion, and he’d been 2) arrested for alleged domestic abuse directed at his wife and fellow wrestler Su Yung.
While the reported incident was investigated and they did not charge Swann with anything, the stink on his reputation remained. He needed to wash that off by proving himself. His run as X Division Champion was excellent. I have to admit that he surprised me, and even more so when he used that as a springboard to winning the World title.
Perhaps that step felt a touch too far for some, but Impact’s current management is up for giving chances to anyone who will give everything they have. Swann did this, he put everything into making sure he was a worthy X Division and World Champion. No matter what happens now, he can say that he enjoyed this success after a controversial time. He could still be with WWE had that not happened, so at least something positive came out of the negative.
Where Is He Now? – He is the current Impact Digital Media Champion after defeating Matt Cardona.
#43. Jake Crist — 1 Reign, 93 days
Near the end of Sami Callihan’s time as the leader of the oVe stable, Jake Crist was getting over. He began focusing on himself, much to the bemusement of oVe and got one over Rich Swann to claim the X Division title. It seemed like if anyone other than Callihan would break out as a star from the stable, it would be Jake. We had seen little of his brother Dave, and they did not explain his absence on TV.
During the Speaking Out movement, Dave’s girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. Some of his coworkers had become concerned about him not apologizing after causing injuries. Also, his abrasive behavior had created incidents that got him thrown out of the locker room. Later, Dave was let go from his contract, but Jake carried on for several months until he left in late 2020.
Almost a year later, Jake Crist briefly returned to answer Josh Alexander’s open challenge. After the match, there were talks of bringing him back as a wrestler, and possibly helping the creative team. This fell through because he suggested a return for his brother.
The X Division title was Jake Crist’s crowning achievement. He was on the verge of becoming more, but circumstances (possibly) out of his control may have led to his downfall. But yet, when given the chance to build bridges, the looking out for his brother could be seen as admirable and short-sighted. Family is important, but he had to know they wouldn’t go for that. The company couldn’t take the chance.
Where Is He Now? – He’s working regularly on the independent scene.
#44. Ace Austin — 3 Reigns, 271 days
“Ace Of The Pack” – Early in his first X Division title reign, fans compared him to AJ Styles and other former X Division Champions. That’s a pretty big compliment, and Austin has since proved to be beyond his years. According to the numbers, he sits only 1 day behind AJ Styles in the list of all-time longest-reigning.
Austin is now 25 years old and has settled in the past few years. He is the only recent signing to have won the X Division title several times and challenged for the World Championship. This year, New Japan has taken an interest in him. The important thing for me is that he has already carved out a slimy heel persona. He’s the type who would sleep with your Mother and brag about it later.
There are many years ahead for Ace Austin, and who knows where they will take him. Whatever happens, no matter what we feel about him, we’ll know that he left his mark on the X Division.
Where Is He Now? – New Japan Pro Wrestling has taken notice and he has been recruited into the Bullet Club. Making his name in Japan and learning new ways to work in the ring will be a valuable experience. He’s still an Impact guy, but we don’t know how much we’ll see him after losing the title at this year’s Slammiversary.
#45. Willie Mack — 1 Reign, 99 days
Unlike his best friend Rich Swann, Willie Mack’s title reign didn’t get him anywhere. He’s supremely athletic for his size, and his ring work is solid. I feel like the only thing holding him back is storytelling. He’s not terrible on the mic, but he’s not the first guy you’d get a microphone for. I assumed that his tag team with Swann would take them to the tag titles, but that didn’t happen.
Mack gave four years of his career to Impact before announcing his departure. I’d like to see a return, but I guess he needs more motivation? It would be interesting to see what he could do as a heel. Otherwise, he’ll always find work because his ring skills are exceptional.
Where Is He Now? – After leaving Impact, he worked a match against Jeff Cobb on NJPW Strong. Since then, he has worked matches on the independent scene.
#46. Chris Bey — 1 Reign, 27 days
He’s in a similar boat to Ace Austin. Chris Bey is young, has tons of potential, is a former X Division Champion, and has unsuccessfully challenged for the World title. He was recruited to Bullet Club long before Austin was, and has since found his “too sweet” place in the group.
When Jay White works on Impact, he often has Bey as his tag team partner. And I’ve already noticed a difference in his confidence level on the mic. His X Division reign may have been short, but it pushed the right buttons to earn him valuable contacts. He’s on the up, and that’s all you can ask for.
Where Is He Now? – Living the good life in Bullet Club while working for Impact and New Japan.
#47. Rohit Raju — 1 Reign, 120 days
“Unbelievable” – When Gama Singh introduced the new stable of Desi Hit Squad, I was anything but impressed. They had a long way to go to make anyone care about them. Yet, through all the dumb comedy and jobbing out to better teams, one man stood out from the rest. Yes, it was Rohit Raju. He was the fall boy. The guy who takes the pin falls so the monster doesn’t have to. And then something amazing happened… Gama Singh vanished and it gave way for Raju to lead.
And then later, after others in the group were let go, Raju was alone and quickly came into his own. He worked harder in the gym, and Raju went from being a joke to someone who could realistically threaten the X Division Champion. I still doubted that he could beat Chris Bey… and then he did! It was shocking, but then something more unbelievable happened.
Raju made it work! He was an entertaining heel champion who made you hate him. And not in the way where you want to turn the channel, but to where you admire the effort. He lasted four months as X Division Champion, which if you’d told me a year before that would happen, I’d have asked what drugs you were taking.
Where Is He Now? – By far the most annoying thing about this is Rohit Raju left the company in January, a year after losing the title. In 2022, you’ll find him either working on independent shows or episodes of AEW Dark. And you know what that is? A glorious waste of talent.
#48. Josh Alexander — 1 Reign, 151 days
“Walking Weapon” – Following the success of his tag team with Ethan Page, Josh Alexander was penciled in as the next big star for Impact. He defeated Ace Austin for the title at Rebellion 2021, and would inevitably invoke Option C at some point. Fast forward to September, and he vacated the title so he could face Christian Cage at Bound For Glory.
This is the latest example of Option C. Three guys have used this to win the World Championship, with the previous two being Austin Aries in 2012, and Chris Sabin in 2013. It was getting a reputation, but Alexander put it back on track as an enticing option.
What makes Josh Alexander different from other champions? He grew up watching TNA and is very knowledgeable of the history and the talent who paved the way. Unlike others who used Impact to gain fame so they could achieve their dream of arriving elsewhere, Alexander’s destination is here. Impact is keen to push him because they know he was loyal to the company before he got in the ring.
Alexander began his wrestling career in 2005, which is the same year AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe had their classic encounter at Unbreakable. Also, he was trained by Johnny Devine, who we know is a former X Division Champion. Because Impact has been around for 20 years, we are seeing those who were inspired by it at a young age, wanting to live out their dream in the same company they grew up with.
Where Is He Now? – Alexander is the two-time Impact World Heavyweight Champion and face of the company. He’s not going anywhere soon.
#49. Trey Miguel — 1 Reign, 182 days
He won the title in a tournament final three-way after Alexander vacated. Trey Miguel has had a strange career with Impact. He began as a trio in The Rascalz, with the two guys who became the MSK tag team in NXT. All three announced they were leaving the company and were given a heartfelt send-off. The kicker is that Miguel returned two months later, and was now on his own.
Impact immediately put him in an odd feud with Sami Callihan, who berated him for leaving and coming back so soon. All the while, it seems like he was trying to help Miguel by bringing some killer instinct out of him. After weeks of mind games, Miguel defeated Callihan at Rebellion in a Last Man Standing match. And then, six months later, he entered a tournament and won the title.
It all fell flat from here. He didn’t have any noteworthy challengers or moments. It’s almost like Impact forgot that they had him in such a high-profile feud. Miguel desperately needed another one, only this time over the X Division title. Nothing materialized, and then he lost the title to Ace Austin at this year’s Rebellion. It was a lackluster reign, and I don’t believe it has anything to do with him. Impact had already pushed Alexander to the World title, so they’re not ready to do the same with anyone else just yet.
Where Is He Now? – Wondering if The Rascalz will ever get back together so they can all be relevant again. Sorry, that was in poor taste. He’s still with Impact working in the X Division, but who knows where he goes from here?
#50. Mike Bailey — 1 Reign, 1+ days
“Current Champion” – I’ve been low key impressed with Mike Bailey’s work since coming to Impact. He’s expressive, works well, and has the tools to be valuable in this business. He won the X Division title at this year’s Slammiversary in a cracking Ultimate X match. If you know nothing about him, let’s get up to speed with ‘Speedball’.
- Bailey has been wrestling since 2006 and is 31 years old, which means he began wrestling when he was 15.
- He has worked for IWS, CZW, Progress, Rev Pro, WXW, DDT, and ROH.
- In 2016, he was banned from entering the United States (he’s Canadian) for five years because he couldn’t wait for his visa to get sorted, and was caught trying to enter the country so he could work a match for Evolve.
- He is married to fellow wrestler and former ROH star Veda Scott.
- He is legitimately a black belt in taekwondo.
- Previously worked under a mask and the name Kitsune.
Conclusion
Well, there you go. 50 TNA/Impact Wrestling X Division Champions… well, if we include “Vacant” or Suicide. This has been a long piece that took several days to make, so I hope you appreciate the effort. There was much to go through, so apologies if there were any errors. I originally meant for this to be a top 10, but I thought… eh, let’s just feature them all. The X Division deserves that.
I hope this can serve as an educational article for any newer Impact fans who would like to learn about its history. There’s no denying that the X Division has had its difficulties, but it has reliably provided exciting wrestling since 2002. The names and faces may have changed, but the point hasn’t. The X Division is about innovation and having no limits, and here’s to another 20 years of that!
With that said, please let me know who your favorite X Division Champions are. Can we do a Top 5 best X Division champions of all time in the comments? That would be cool. If you made it this far without skimming through, you have my utmost appreciation. Thanks for reading!
Also Read: Knockouts: Celebrating 20 Years of Inspiring Women in Impact Wrestling
