Phase 15- We're cool, we make the girls drool, we (something rhymes with cool), and above all, X Division? We rule!
To say that AJ took kindly to losing Ultimate X 4 to two men, and thus his belt to two men is stretching the truth. In fact, it's breaking it. Because AJ hated it. So much so that he couldn't stop himself from attacking both men in the tag match against Triple X 2 days later on Impact. This however brought Kid Kash out, which led to an all out brawl to end the show.
Now, after consideration, Vince Russo, who was in charge at the time, came up with a great idea to crown the true X Division champ. He was hampered by Shane and Frankie's insistence that they would never fight one on one; they had too strong a friendship to risk that. And they worked well as a team, defeating Lynn and Sabin on the next TNA Weekly PPV. The solution? A 22 man X Division Gauntlet the following week on PPV. The rules were unusual but easy to follow. People entered at regular intervals in randomly selected order (like the Royal Rumble). Elimination occurred by being tossed over the top rope to the floor (like the Royal Rumble). When 2 men remained it became a 1 on 1 match, one fall to the finish (not like the Royal Rumble). After an 8 man tag match on Impact as a preview, the match went down as the main event of the following PPV, August 11th, 2004.
Many men came from all over the world to enter the match (including L.A PARK~~~!), but in the end, it came down, surprisingly, to Amazing Red and Team Canada's Petey Williams, Shane and Frankie being the last two men eliminated before the 1 on 1 match went down. Red and Petey fought hard, but in the end, the most devastating move in the X Division won the day and the belt.
That would be the Canadian Destroyer, FYI.
Phase 16- OH CANADA! You've Got The X Title!
Petey retained the belt the following Impact thanks to a hockey stick shot from his manager, Coach D'Amore. Russo then banned D'Amore from ringside for all Team Canada matches.
That's not good, eh?
But then Dusty Rhodes came out and begged Russo to overturn it (the two in the middle of another power struggle deal), so that he could ‘get him', i.e. D'Amore, and Russo reluctantly agreed.
That's good, eh?
The following PPV, in a defense against Sabin, D'Amore interfered, bringing out Dusty, which distracted the ref long enough for fellow Team Canada member Bobby Rude to interfere leading to the Canadian Destroyer and the win.
That's…enough of that.
The next show saw Williams beat, without D'Amore's help, Eddie Villa, an up and coming young Mexican wrestler, although this was lost when the D'Amore/Rhodes issue flared up again. While Petey was supporting his Coach to try and get Rhodes fired (or at least out of their hair) he watched on as Sonjay Dutt won a #1 contender's match.
He then retained his belt the following PPV, riding high on his being X Division Champ and doing Canada proud. Then, on the final Wednesday PPV in TNA history, Petey sent a message by Destroying AJ Styles. After all, the man was an X Division staple, who better to prove superiority over?
Williams then got a bit of a break, as TNA only having Impact for a few weeks meant that he got a holiday (a hurricane also giving him a break). His first match was an easy victory over Jerrelle Clark, the next a few weeks later another easy win over Jason Caparo, which he finished with the Styles Clash. Thus, a match for the X Division title was signed for TNA's first monthly PPV, Victory Road. Before he got there though, Petey had to go through Jeff Hardy in a non-title match on Impact.
Despite Jarrett, Hardy's opponent at Victory Road watching the match from a ladder, AJ ran in and nailed Petey, allowing Hardy to get the win. The following week, on the last Impact before Victory Road, Petey teamed with Jarrett to fight AJ and Hardy, although they attacked Hardy on the day, forcing Killings to sub for him, but then Hardy ran in, and won the match?
Eh, no-one minded, anyone beating Jarrett was a good thing.
But then, at the first TNA Monthly PPV, Petey Williams, thanks to a hockey stick, the title belt AND the Canadian Destroyer beat AJ, which many considered an upset. But it just went to show Canada's superiority.
Never mind losing the tag titles earlier on.
Petey then proved it again by winning his 5 way match on the Best Damn Wrestling Show Period Special Part 2. He then got ready to fight Sabin, who had won a shot at his belt by winning another Ultimate X on Part 1 of the BDWSPS. Sabin beating him and Shane in a non title three way on Impact was not part of the plan, but Petey recovered, even in Sabin had proved he could counter the Destroyer.
Then, at the event, Sabin…countered the Destroyer. So what was Petey to do?
Why, pull out a pair of brass knuckles (Canadian Made, of course) and imprint them on Sabin's forehead. A 3 count later, and Petey was STILL X Division Champion.
Hooray!
This pissed people off. Sure, the match was awesome, but brass knuckles? BRASS KNUCKLES? AJ, speaking for all, declared this to be, well, bullshit. Sorry, bullcrap. So AJ challenged Petey to a match at the first PPV of 2005, Final Resolution. A match where brass knuckles would be a bit useless.
Ultimate X.
Add in Sabin who qualified by beating Daniels, and who was thus a hot pick since he had experience at winning them, and you had a hell of a match. But in the end, as Petey and Sabin played tug o war, AJ prevented another example of dual champs by springboarding up and grabbing the belt to once again win the X Division Title.
Phase 17- It's All About Style.
On the first Impact afterwards, Christopher Daniels, upset about how he had missed out on chance after chance, challenged AJ. AJ accepted. Rhodes, as Director Of Authority, made it the main event of the show, and then AJ failed to beat Daniels in the 10 minute time limit all matches usually had on Impact in their FSN days. Thus, Daniels got a proper title shot at the next PPV, Against All Odds. In a 30 minute Iron Man Match
This was about everything important that happened before the event, both men training hard and focusing on their opponents, both knowing what was at stake, and since it would go 30 minutes… They trained damm hard. AJ did have a match or two due to contractual obligations, but he won them, despite focusing on Daniels. And then the fateful day arrived, and the two men fought for 30 minutes.
And the match ended in… a 1 all draw? Dammit…
But then DOA Rhodes came out and restarted it with Sudden Death in effect. Yes! And then AJ, despite bleeding copiously, pulled the win out with a Styles Clash.
Daniels, telling everyone how Styles got lucky (after all, Daniels won the first fall, ergo if it had been a normal match, he would have won), didn't spend long bitching, rather throwing his hat into the Ultimate X match announced for the next PPV, Destination X.
(Man, the ‘X' button on my keyboard's wearing out here.)
AJ was in the match, naturally, after retaining the belt over Kid Kash leading up the show. Daniels, despite saying he was in, had to qualify on the last Impact prior to the show, which he did by beating Sabin. He thus joined the other two qualifiers, Elix Skipper and Ron Killings, both formidable opponents in their own right. The match was different from normal however. It started as a tag match until one man lost. Then it became a triple threat. Only after a second man was eliminated, did the Ultimate X part start. AJ and Skipper beat Daniels and Killings (Daniels and Skipper, formerly XXX, were unable to tag due to being forced to never tag again due to a cage match against America's Most Wanted) when Skipper pinned Killings. Then Daniels pinned Skipper in the 3 way. And then, finally, Daniels achieved his destiny and won the belt, thanks to AJ getting the belt down, the ref not seeing him, and Daniels stealing it, holding it tight when the ref came to, and thus being awarded the match.
Phase 18- The Ascension Is Complete.
Daniels first post-title win match was a non-title match against Clark, who he beat easily, before claiming he had beaten everyone. Skipper, his former partner, then issued a challenge. Daniels forced him to qualify in a #1 contender's fatal 4 way elimination match. Skipper outlasted Petey Williams, Michael Shane and Chris Sabin, winning the match and a title shot at Lockdown for the belt.
The following week, we learnt that it, like all the other matches, would be inside the steel cage. The two men took this in their stride, both looking to one up the other with words, false pinfalls on Mikey Batts, and general brawling. But in the end, Daniels retained the belt over his former partner at Lockdown.
Daniels then had to contend with his next challenger, the Mexican Wonder, Shocker, at the next PPV, Hard Justice. Daniels won, relatively easily. He asked for the next challenger. Both Michael Shane and Chris Sabin answered the call, both brawling with Daniels after he beat Cassidy Riley in a non-title match on the following Impact. Thus, both men got a shot, the match signed for Slammiversary as a triple threat match. All 3 men got some time off as Impact went off the air, and thus they were able to train hard without having any big matches to interrupt the training. The match was under elimination rules, and despite both girls at ringside (Traci Brooks for Shane, Trinity for wanting to kick Traci's hot ass), Sabin eliminated Shane, and was then eliminated by Daniels.
Daniels then began the Webcast period of TNA by beating Skipper to retain the belt. He then waited for someone to step up to challenge him. That turned out to be Petey Williams, who pinned Daniels in a tag match on the last Impact before No Surrender (the match already signed by that point, but the pinfall made Daniels take notice), while teaming with Eric Young to beat Daniels and his partner, some guy called Samoa Joe…
But Daniels ended up winning the match, pinning Petey while Joe looked on after the Best Moonsault Ever. Daniels then seemed to get the next PPV, Sacrifice, off, as a Super X Tournament seemed to take up all his challenger's time. Daniels quickly found out that yes, while he had no title match, he did have A match, a non-title match against the fan chosen rising (ROH star), Austin Aries, the chosen man over Matt Sydal, Roderick Strong and Jay Lethal. Daniels, after beating Aries, just, then joined in for commentary for the finals of the Super X match, and thus saw Joe and AJ fight in a hellacious match, and Joe come out on top. Thus, Daniels assumed that Joe would be his next opponent; so on the next Impact afterwards, the internet saw Daniels attack Joe with the belt. But then AJ ran out and brawled with both men.
Thus, since all 3 men had problems with each other, a triple threat match was signed for Unbreakable.
One MOTYC Main Event Later, and Daniels' record setting long title reign was over, thanks to AJ Styles.
Phase 19- AJ is Champ.
Thus, AJ was X Division Champ as TNA began broadcasting on Spike TV. Daniels was annoyed at this, saying that it was his belt. He proved this by winning a triple threat match on the second Spike TV Impact, beating Matt Bentley (a.k.a Michael Shane, a lawsuit forcing him to revert to his real name) and Austin Aries. Daniels then challenged AJ to pick any 3 X Division wrestlers, and he would beat them in 15 minutes, since he was unstoppable and unbeatable and lots of other uns. AJ knew just who to pick.
The following week, Daniels pinned Shark Boy in a minute and a half. He then pinned Dutt in 10 and a half minutes. But then AJ's third choice was…AJ himself. The men brawled till the time went out. Thus, another 30 minute iron match between the two men was signed for the next PPV, Bound For Glory 2005. And in that match, AJ won 1-0 when he pinned Daniels with a Styles Clash with 2 seconds to spare.
This really pissed off Daniels, but he was forced to move on. Styles on the other hand had to fight an old foe in Petey Williams, who by virtue of winning the Ultimate X rematch on the TNA Prime Time Special won the title shot at Genesis, the next PPV. Petey won an important match prior to the show, a ‘Finisher' match where the object was, first man to hit his finisher won. Styles Clash vs. Canadian Destroyer. Thus, Petey hitting the Canadian Destroyer on Styles won him the match.
Then Styles went and won the title match at Genesis despite Samoa Joe, with his Chris Daniels' Blood stained towel around him, watching. Thus, AJ, mentioning the X Division Code, challenged Samoa to a title match at the Turning Point PPV. He vowed to end Joe's winning streak.
He ended up as just another Bitch to be choked out, as Joe won the match and the title.
Today- Choking Bitches Out, 24/7!
Sure, Chris Daniels turning up after the match to get revenge was a problem, but nothing Joe couldn't handle. After all, Daniels had returned from Joe-related Injuries much too early. And thus, at Final Resolution, Daniels lost when AJ threw in the towel for Daniels due to Joe beating him up so much. This angered Daniels, and thus while AJ is the #1 contender, Daniels has a claim to the match. Another 3 way title match seems likely, no matter how much this might piss off Generation Next.
Conclusion
It's a belt. A lump of gold, red paint and some leather.
And yet, it's caused some of the greatest matches thus far this year, decade and, technically, century.
The X Division is about entertainment. This belt is the center of it, the nucleus. Everything revolves around it; it is the rock, the center. It's been fought over by some strange people, in odd matches, but it survives because it brings out the best in wrestlers.
In the end, a chant says it all.
This Is Awesome! This Is Awesome! This Is Awesome!
Writer's Notes
I'd hereby like to say that Future Shock is a very, very good wrestler, and he had nothing to do with screwing over European Assassin.
That good enough for you?
Now, who should I do next? Mail me an answer out of this list:
Fit Finley
Shane McMahon
RVD
Samoa Joe
Joey Styles
HBK
And remember, if you're in Sydney this weekend, come see my first match, please? Details here.
The Dee Spot
Hello boys and girls and welcome to the "I've just watched the rumble with the boys and I'm a little drunk" edition of the Dee Spot.
All I have to say on the Royal Rumble is WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?
(Ed Note: Today for the first time, this section of The Dee Spot will be fed through the "David Orr" filter, due to excessive bad language. If you wish to see it in all it's uncensored glory, change it back yourself. Apologies to Mr. Dee.)
Cena is The Fricking Champion again. Well you know what - FRICK THAT!!!
I did call this happening as few weeks ago when Edge won the belt. FRICK CENA quite frankly FRICK CENA UP HIS STUPID BOTTOM. We all saw this coming, at least I did. I am NOT HAPPY!!!!!! This feces is fricked up. After the greatness that was Edge winning the belt and the greatness that was Mysterio winning, that feces's fricked up.
Parker: (sidekick from the great Dee Spot Experiment) CENA IS A TOOL I HATE VINNIE MAC AND CENA SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!
(Ed Note: Filter off. Sorry again Mr. Dee.
As for the rumble match itself, I was pretty happy with it. That being said, I do have some thoughts.
-I was preying to every god there is for a Y2J return, bit disappointed he didn't.
-I thought 'Taker would make an appearance.
-Thought RVD might win but had a sinking suspicion that he wouldn't, turned out I was wrong. (Wish I had been wrong about Cena regaining the title)
Parker:- Helms won the CW title YAY!!!
That's it; I'm too disgusted at the E to write any more. Parker, you can write this weeks first last and only "Parker Spot"
YAYAYAYAY!!! And welcome to The GREATEST PARKER SPOT EVER!!!!! (Dee: ONLY Parker spot ever)
Damn you John Cena and your spinning title. As of this current writing Kirk Angel is being used as a bitch. Vinnie Mac needs to die in the arse really really soon.
Anyway on to more important things like the Aussie content and such; Myself and JD went down to Sydney to watch the IWA and boy we had some fun. The mini golf was fun. The 3 matches that we saw were unreal. Rob Matrix is a wrestling god not JBL.
YAY ANGLE HIT DAVARI WITH A CHAIR!!!
89gasdfnhivadfbvgerp
That was my head hitting the keyboard after Henry kicked out of the 2 chair hits.
Ummmm rumble over and well after the rumble match itself it went from a 4 star PPV it dropped out well bad...WTF with the 2 title matches. I picked Rey to win it this year when he finished 4th is what ever rumble. (JD and I and Marcus are drunk so we can't remember what year it was.) Anyway there is much more drinking to be done so I am out and JD is out as well.
Sforcina best of luck with your first pro match this weekend.
As Dee says feedback can be sent to him at theraven@tsn.cc and as JD says until next time true believers this is the Dee Spot.........DONE.
