Just like my
Seven* Ways to Build a Successful TNA product thread, I've decided to create a bit of a series here with regard to fixing a number of the bigger issues I see in TNA right now.
You are more than welcome to disagree with any or all of the points I make in any of these threads. In fact, I'd encourage it, as the idea is to spark discussion anyway.
That said, here's the next in line for IDR's Seven* Ways!
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IDR's Seven* Ways to Revitalize the X Division
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1.
Admit you have a problem.
Just like drug addicts and alcoholics are asked to do, the first step on the road to recovery is always admitting you have a problem to begin with. If the company refuses to see the errors in their ways, fixing said errors will be next to impossible seeing as management won't feel the product actually needs improvement.
2.
Regain your focus.
The focus of the X Division was always on the fact that it wasn't a limited division, but a division with no limits, and though it was predominantly composed of cruiserweight style wrestlers, unorthodox breakthroughs like Samoa Joe did in fact come through it as well. Regain your focus understand that the point of the XD from the start wasn't simply to employ a group of wrestlers who were capable of doing a shooting star press or a moonsault, though those are often the types used, but wrestlers who were willing to perform feats that simply astonished your audience. If the division has no limits, don't limit it anyone who is willing to perform astonishing and often dangerous moves/spots should not be discredited or barred from competing because they don't fit the prototypical cruiserweight mold.
3.
Establish a new "core", and develop personalities.
I think most of us would agree that the XD is in quite a funk right now (obviously, otherwise, what's the point of this thread?), and I attribute that (poor booking/writing aside) solely to the fact that it's four major stars during it's inception years Jerry Lynn, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels were never actually succeeded by replacements or protégé's of any kind. How exactly is a trend supposed to continue if a next of kin is never established?
That said, a new "core" group needs to be established in order to put a major emphasis on the power of the XD again. While potential acquisitions like Shane Helms and Shelton Benjamin could help in the interim, IMO the division would still lack that staying power required to make it a legitimate division that people actually tune in to see in the same vein they would the heavyweights division, for example. While there are a few names still under contract with TNA who work well in the XD, no one but Brian Kendrick and Samoa Joe are actually worth building around as a means to establish a new core IMO, so my suggestion is to raid the ROH locker room (again), and do everything humanly possible to secure the services of Tyler Black and re-secure the services of Christopher Daniels and Austin Aries. A core of Samoa Joe, Tyler Black, Austin Aries and Christopher Daniels may not be as historic as it's precession of Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Jerry Lynn, but it's far and away a better group than Doug Williams, (Not So) Amazing Red, Brian Kendrick and Franky Kazarian (and I'm a fan of his). Tyler Black alone would easily become the new AJ Styles in that he'd re-revolutionize the division, and become the new face of it.
On top of that, allow the powerful personalities you already own (as well as those you'd purchase) to run wild (no pun intended). Pro-wrestling is a giant soap opera, and often cartoonish. Don't be ashamed of that embrace it. Some of the most powerful names in wrestling history were gimmicky wrestlers who developed a strong personality via their character. Hell, the leader of your three-ring circus is one of them (Hogan)! I think you'd be surprised just how valuable Kendrick is, for example, as a cocky heel were you not to simply job him week-after-week. The same can be said of guys like Jay Lethal, Homicide and Alex Shelley especially.
4.
Water the plant regularly if you expect it to grow.
A six-minute match in which non-XD wrestlers interfere constantly as a means to get their own particular feuds over is not a successful way to establish dominance and prestige in a division as desperate for both as the current incarnation is. Eric Bischoff made note of the fact that one of the things he loved about TNA prior to joining was the XD, yet he (or whoever is actually in charge backstage) never actually puts much of an emphasis on it outside of the PPV matches they schedule every four weeks why? This makes little sense. If you want people to buy into the XD again, give it a legitimate amount of television time on iMPACT!, and let it police itself. If you start putting on quality XD mid-card matches that get the crowd excited again, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised with just how much success the company you took over returns (a bit) to glories it previously owned.
5.
Continue the evolution of innovation.
No, this does not mean every match needs to be a gimmick match, nor does every match need to have a ridiculous high spot or utilize chairs, tables and ladders (among other things), but it does mean that you shouldn't simply sit back and hope that a yearly Ultimate X match will serve as enough to a division who once prided itself on never having limits. Continue the evolution of innovation and shock and awe your audience from time-to-time you'd be surprised just how far a "never before seen" type event/spot can take the progression of the entire division every now and then. Eric Bischoff, from my understanding was one of the primary proponents in developing a number of innovative gimmicks/match-types in the wrestling industry over the last decade including the Money in the Bank match, and the Elimination Chamber match (please correct me if I'm wrong here). If that's true, tap into that potential again and give your audience something they can run home screaming to their friends who don't watch TNA about as a means to get them to.
6.
Do not forget your history.
As I've already noted, guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and others all got their starts in the XD, and even more historic wrestlers like Jerry Lynn,
Sonny Siaki and even Sean Waltman (OK, maybe he really shouldn't be listed there.
) all called the XD home at some point in it's history. Don't just make note of that
utilize it. Use guys like Jerry Lynn especially to sell the division in any way you can, even though he no longer works for your organization. Even so much as mentioning it as a footnote in your broadcast would help to add a lot of credibility to your audience who may not have been watching when Lynn was performing. Pull them in and get them hooked with names they may have known about but may not realize no longer work for your company it won't hurt you. Only the WWE refuses to acknowledge the fact that other wrestling promotions exist. You have no reason to do the same.
7.
Enjoy the success!
Self explanatory.
* OK, so the seventh doesn't really count, but you get the point!
