60 Minutes: Impact Wrestling’s Cast Iron Revival of the X-Division
Photo Credit: IMPACT Wrestling
Outside Impact Wrestling. A long time "Jerichoholic", Mick Foley, Kurt Angle & Hardys fan, pop open a little bit of the Bubbly, read what's being written by me with an open perspective & enjoy.
- Impact Wrestling’s build to the big 20. Part 1 - February 25, 2022
- (Exclusive) Rosemary: A Journey through the Valley of Shadows – PART 1 - September 19, 2021
- Revival of the X-Division: Tale of the Tape - June 20, 2021
Change was coming…
2021’s X-Division has capitalised on a long build starting off with the momentum left in December 2018, after then X-Division Champion Brian Cage vacated the title after an extremely impressive run* by cashing in Option C (something that is damaging this title right now & I really hope is removed) & insert himself into the World Title Match at Homecoming 2019.
Over the last 2 years the title has fallen into the hands of Rich Swann, Jake Crist, Ace Austin, Willie Mack, Chris Bey, Rohit Raju & on multiple occasions in between TJP (also returning as Manik late 2020), while also showcasing the long missing “No Limit” factor with big stars such as Jake Something, Acey Romero as well as bringing the Knockouts into the mix once again with Tessa Blanchard & Jordynne Grace gunning for the belt.
The palette as to “who’s required” had become more clear but the starting point to finally say “yes, this is it” would fall onto the shoulders of TJP, who had won the X-Division Title from Rohit Raju in 2020, Ace Austin, who returned to Impact at Genesis 2021 (voted X-Division star of 2020) & Josh Alexander, a former 2 time tag team champion who was now hungry to gain more success on his own.
The Build towards the New Era
An intertwining rivalry between all 3 would take another step closer after Ace Austin beat TJP at Sacrifice, Josh Alexander (who by now has had several matches against both himself) was gaining more momentum going toe to toe, move for move with both in a show stealing X-Division title match at Rebellion. And after knocking Ace Austin off the top of the pecking order by beating him in his rematch, Josh Alexander would go on to face NJPW star El Phantasmo, once again showing the fans that this division is not about how high you fly, but how long you can last against whoever stands in your way & Josh Alexander would beat El Phantasmo at Under Siege.
After Against All Odds, TJP would quickly remind everyone that he still had his eyes on that title and after teaming with Fallah Bahh to pin Josh Alexander (who was teaming alongside fellow Canadian & X-Division pioneer Petey Williams), TJP would once again gain the bragging rights to yet another title shot. By now TJP & Josh Alexander had faced off several times for contention of Ace Austin’s title (when champion) as well as teaming, reluctantly, together against Austin & Madman Fulton, so it was coming clearer that if change was coming 3 would indeed become 2 superstars.
Every match that has had Josh Alexander & TJP (and they’ve had several when Josh Alexander was Tag Team Champion in singles or tag team matches) has been nothing of 5 star quality, highly intense, move for move, counter to counter matching style, the pace could change from a steady “feeling out process” to very fast paced striking, grappling & high flying offensive moves. So the anticipation for another face to face wasn’t going to fail in terms of excitement or quality, but there needed to be a way to break this professional rivalry & so Scott D’Amore announced that would happen in the Iron Man Match.
*An impressive run that helped build Brian Cage’s status on Impact’s roster, to those fans who still doubted him & alongside former X-Division Champion Matt Sydal, he was insuring that the X-Division was getting a lot more of a mix in styles & competitive matches.
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