Is Rob Van Dam The Last Best Hope For The X Division?

[Jack-Hammer]

As we all know, Rob Van Dam defeated Zema Ion to become TNA X Division Champion at Bound for Glory. RVD's victory comes about to end what I think most people would regard as Zema Ion having a lackluster run with the championship.

For several years now, the X Division has been little more than a shadow of its former self. The X Division itself is among the most common complaints I've heard and read regarding TNA. After all, how many threads or posts have there been in the last 3 years or expressing hope and desire that TNA will ultimately get back on track with the X Division? Austin Aries 8 month reign as champion was the overall strongest reign of an X Division title holder in years, but that was due almost entirely to Aries' personality and ability rather than the same handful of wrestlers he continuously defeated in one match variation or another. Now that Aries no longer is the X Division Champion or competes in the X Division, whatever momentum he was able to generate has long since evaporated and the X Division as a whole went back to it's usual level of irrelevancy.

Now that RVD is the X Division Champion, those familiar hopeful thoughts have blossomed once again. Since RVD came to TNA back in 2010, a lot of fans have wanted to see him in the X Division as his move set seems very much at home there. In terms of name recognition, RVD is the top star in the history of the X Division. It's true that Kurt Angle held the title 5 years ago but it was in a match at Hard Justice in which Samoa Joe had the X Division & tag titles. Angle never really competed in the X Division and lost the belt less than a month later.

In the grand scheme of things, RVD is a pretty big star that has a good sized following. Personally, I think the X Division is a much better place for him as I've just never really seen the guy as a main eventer. If the TNA brass isn't willing to muster the effort to revamp the X Division with someone like RVD as the champion, then maybe TNA should just scrap the X Division altogether and create another mid-card title, or just have the TV title as the only mid-card championship. I'm not a huge RVD fan but I do believe that he could do a lot for the X Division if TNA actually allows it to happen. The only other guy on the roster that could possibly generate as much interest for the X Division is AJ Styles, but I don't see him heading back to the X Division ranks. In my opinion, it'd be a better use for him than to see him placed into yet another feud, probably with Kurt Angle this time, that we've already seen numerous times that'll drag on for much of the next year.

 

[MINISTRYrising]

I think having RVD in the X division is a good thing. Tna were doing nothing else with him and having a big name like RVD as the champion can only improve the division in my opinion. All they need to do now is bring in some talent for RVD to feud with and the division will look a lot stronger.

 

[ABMorales787]

Good for the division? Yeah. Last hope? Well that's just silly. Why does a brand of cruiserweights need saving? I get the X Division has its history, but the days AJ, Joe and Daniels were 6 and half years ago. 1 year with one long feud and people think the belt is dying because it's not like back then. Aside from Robbie E, the only problem the belt ever had was simply lack of airtime. Doug Williams, Homicide, Kaz, Jay Lethal, fine champs they were. RVD will be no different and any young guy to go against him gets a great rub.

 

[Tesla Tank]

Personally, I'd like to see the division showcase more young and creative talent. It's a shame a lot it seems to be let go.

Don't get me wrong, I like RVD, but I see him more in an extreme rules environment than the fast paced X-Division.

 

[UFOcalling]

The idea of "scrapping" the X Division all together isn't something I want to see happen. I'd be more for the idea of scrapping the TV Title, and letting TNA go back to when the X Division was their only other singles title (for men, at least).

It seemed to me that the X Division was going to lose a lot of it's steam when it got a weight limit attached to it (I believe it was 220lbs and under), but that didn't really happen. Once Austin Aries got his hands on the title the weight limit seemed almost completely irrelevant. I say that because with Austin as champ, the X Division never really seemed like a "Cruiserweight Division". As Jack-Hammer hinted at, that was mostly due to the charisma of Aries. Aries also made the belt seem very prestigious, especially toward the end of his run. I think part of that was the length of his reign, but also because of Austin's charisma and wrestling ability. Of course, adding the "Destination X" thing every year (where the XD Champ could trade in the title for a shot at the WHC) didn't hurt things at all, either.

Since the X Division seemed to gain so much momentum over the past year, it's made the TV Championship seem like an even bigger joke. We all know the belt's history (it was introduced as the Legend's Title, later renamed the Global Title, then it became the Television Championship), and that belt/championship has never even come close to having the prestige that the X Division Championship had/has. The TV Championship has always seemed like it's been a lower-grade Championship when compared to the X Division Championship, at least to me. In WWF lingo, I look at the X Division Belt as the Intercontinental Belt, and the TV Belt as the European Championship.

There hasn't been any mention of a weight limit on the X Division title in a while, and I hope it's gone for good. Maybe it just quietly faded away, since RVD is billed with a weight over 220lbs (then again, that could easily be kayfabe - and he really is right around 220 if not under). RVD was a good choice to be the X Division Champ right now, but I don't think he's the "last hope" for the Division. Hopefully this is just TNA's way of saying "Yeah, we made a mistake. The X Division Championship is like our "Intercontinental" Championship, sorry we tried to make it our Cruiserweight Belt". Hopefully now TNA Creative will realize that the TV Title will never be looked at as their "Intercontinental" title, which is what it seemed they were trying to do when they renamed it the "Television Title". The X Division title has too much history to just "get rid of it", or try to make it their third tier championship (below the TV belt). Putting the X Division Championship on Van Dam is TNA's way of saying that the belt really is valuable, and it looks as if they now know what the fans knew all along. At least I hope that's the case. If that is the way TNA is looking at the XD Belt again, then having RVD as the Champ is just the beginning of the belt's rise back to being the second most important title in the company (again, I hope).

 

[SpecialFNK]

this had to happen, whether it was now or soon into 2013. when Austin Aries "cashed in" his X division title for a match with the world heavyweight champion TNA came up with this ridiculous thing where the X division champion before Destination X can cash in that title for a world heavyweight match at Destination X. IMO this is just stupid. I have to wonder if this is one of those things where TNA just hopes fans forget because they have no intention of making it happen. prior to RVD winning the X division title, there was NO ONE in the division who should be even whispered as a possible opponent in a world heavyweight championship match.
this is a first step in the right direction to help bring some life back to the X division. RVD is just the first, but there needs to be more. guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, and even Austin Aries returning to the division would help, especially if TNA is going to go through with this thing where the X division champion can cash in for a world heavyweight championship match at Destination X.
as for Austin Aries lengthy title run. was Austin Aries really "that good" or was he that good because everyone else in the division wasn't that good?

 

[THEHEAT]

If TNA continues down the road of not supporting the X division then the belt should become Xtinct and bring in a *TNA United States Championship Belt* (start another thread). Having RVD as the X division champion does give it some potential to stay around for awhile. I could see a RVD vs Aries in a series of matches with the winner earning a shot at the World Championship at Destination X. If the belt is vacated again it would only create another void to fill again next year with who knows what by then. TNA should decide soon to commit to the X division or just let it fold and go with another championship that fits in with the direction the company is taking.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

I now really do think the TV title and X Division titles should be unified. Take the weight limit off, have both champions feud, winner takes all. Then the X Division title becomes the sole midcard title. Really the X Division has no place on the current programming and that has to change because of its legacy! The X Division has RVD...Ion... who else? Doug? It's dead!

So all you need to do is unify both belts then you can have the whole midcard involved.

 

[Bone For Tuna]

Personally, I'd like to see the division showcase more young and creative talent.

I kind of agree with you on this one.

RVD sort of fits the X division I guess but I think as lackluster as Ion's title reign might have been to some, he could have used the win at BFG more than RVD. RVD is someone who is already pretty established meanwhile Ion was somebody they seemed to be building up and being BFG is TNA's biggest show of the year why not give it to a young up and coming homegrown guy? It's not like Hardy/Aries where Hardy basically had to win. Ion could have just kicked RVD in the nuts or something, got the cheap victory, then RVD gets a rematch and they go from there. Then you could have them feud for a little while after, since they didn't really do that leading up to the match. I don't get building him up as champion and then just having him lose the title on the biggest show of the year to a guy he's been feuding with for less than a month.

He beat Kenny King on PPV damnit!

 

[Spinebreaker]

I like the idea of combining the X Division and TV Title. There's not enough airtime for all of it.

The knnockout division used to be great, but lack of airtime and talent have destroyed it. The X-Division threatens to go the same way. TNA have a SPECTACULAR gift for not recognising, and wanting to keep, worthwhile talent...

Sabin and Shelley both got injured at seperate points, yet they both disappeared from TV almost entirely. Now Shelley's gone completely long with Amazing Red, Jay Lethal, Petey Wiliams. And who've scome in to replace them? Injured Sonjay Dutt, Kid Kash who's in theTag-Team picture, and half a dozen completely bland, identikit, charisma-less people whohave shown no interest, and been shown no interest.

Have some Talent in the division... And stop firing/letting go wrestlers who are clearly exceptional...

I'm a TNA fan by andlarge, I think WWE programming is stale and lazy, but really hope WWE pick up Jay Lethal and give him the airtime he deserves...

The Tag division is not far behind...

You used to have LAX, British Invasion, Motor City Machine Guns, Beer Money, Gen Me, Team 3D... and more...

Now, Kaz and Daniels, HErnandez and Chavo and sometimes Angle and Styles...

Really? a 3 team Division?

 

[midgensa]

I don't really see it as a last hope ... but it is definitely a good thing for the X-Division Championship.

The X title has been up and down before so I don't think it was in danger of being scrapped or anything, but there is no doubt that Zema Ion was not adding anything to its legacy and that people all know that Destination X will provide another X-Division Champ a title shot and every damn one of us knows for damn sure that was not going to be Ion no matter how hard they tried to convince us.

I think that RVD seriously adds main event credulity to the championship and hopefully with a long reign could make it a strong contender for next to main event status that it has been in the past.

I think that having RVD and Daniels feud over it as Destination X gets closer could be epic. Maybe even throw AJ or Kaz in the mix and you have some top flight names battling over a big prize.

Definitely a chance that this could bring the title back to the top of the card. But I don't think it was on its way to the scrap heap without RVD.

 

[Tesla Tank]

See personally I like Destination X as it's been for the past couple of years, I think to have established talent compete in it wouldn't really differentiate it too much from the other PPVs.

Daniels and RVD has been done before, and they had some great matches, I don't think you need to bring the X-Division title in to the equation with these two.

I personally expect Ion will win the belt back in time for Sorensen's return, their rivalry never really developed and will it be interesting to see Sorensen win the title and get his revenge. In the meantime RVD could use the belt to put someone like Ion or King over.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I don't hold a lackluster run against Zema Ion; the only guys he had to work with were Sonjay Dutt and, for a brief period of time, Kenny King. I'm not saying he's a great talent or anything, but I don't hate him nearly as much as IDR does. I think given some actual competition and an established roster of X-Division stars to trade promos with, he could have probably done a decent job. That being said, with an established roster of talent, Zema Ion probably wouldn't be the X-Division Champion.

Is Rob Van Dam the last savior of the division? Hardly. I don't care if Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat showed up in TNA and said he wanted to put the X back on the map. He'd still have nobody to face, and as a result, it wouldn't actually mean anything. It'd just be Steamboat beating Sonjay Dutt, being off TV for three weeks, beating Kenny King, being off TV for 3 weeks, etc. I know that's a ridiculous comparison, but it holds true.

Plus...Van Dam's not really what I think of when thinking classic "X-Division" star. He's certainly a very athletic wrestler, and his finisher happens to be the best frogsplash in the business. Maybe if they want to make the division a bit more classic light-heavyweight, instead of constant flips and tricks, Van Dam is a good choice. I think Aries started a good thing by being more technical than high flying. Van Dam continues in that same vein. Kenny King is also a pretty decent mix; I am in love with his kicking ability. He's like a grounded Kofi Kingston. You bring in John Morrison - like people have been talking about for over a year - and you've got a great start to a legitimate light-heavyweight division. Unfortunately, that doesn't really differentiate it any from the TV Title picture. But I don't really see a place for the X-Division in today's TNA product, unless they really, really spend time investing in some good talent and writing them actual feuds and stories.

Why is it such a great angle when Styles and Daniels get together? Because once upon a time, they had wars in the X-Division, making the title mean something. In five years, you think anybody is going to remember the "epic legacy" of Zema Ion and Jesse Sorensen?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think some have misinterpreted what I meant. I know RVD can't do it all himself. My overall point was that RVD is a big name that brings star power to the X Division. He's someone that's mattered in the eyes of a lot of fans for quite a while. That in and of itself should be motivation for TNA to rebuild the X Division with him at its helm. The way they do that is to build X Division talent. You know, give them some actual match time, maybe a promo segment here and there. Nothing overly innovative, just something to get things moving.

It's true the X Division has been up and down, though it's been mostly down for years. My whole point is that if TNA isn't willing to utilize RVD's presence within the X Division to revitalize it to some degree, then I think it's time to give up hope that the X Division will ever return to even a semblance of what it once was.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I think what is hurting the X division right now is expectations based on what the X division used to be. people expect the X division to be the mid card level.
I've only watched TNA since 2010 when Hogan/Bischoff showed up, so I don't know what the division was really like before that. but I have never been a fan of this X division, based on a STYLE of wrestling. it's basically a cruiser weight division, but not called that.
I think maybe in the early years of TNA the X division was something just to be different than the WWE (along with the 6 side ring). it had a lot of excitement with the types of match you could have. (just guessing here) maybe because TNA didn't have many big name wrestlers that would appeal to casual/general wrestling fans, they wanted some exciting "wrestling" that would appeal to "wrestling" fans.

TNA needs more than just RVD. right now he can have matches against the likes of Zema Ion, Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King, and even Jesse sorensen one he returns. but beating these guys really doesn't do a whole lot for the division. you would expect RVD to beat these guys without any problem.
I never knew who Kenny King was before he came to TNA, but I've seen people say he was really good with ROH and someone with a lot of potential. so I have to wonder, why hasn't TNA been using him? TNA should be building this guy. I don't expect it soon and I see RVD remaining X division champion for awhile, but a feud between RVD and Kenny King could be good if King can eventually beat RVD for the title.
another problem is the X division is in the same type of situation as the Knockouts but actually worse, as it gets very little air time and some weeks no matches at all. it's hard to do anything in the X division when no one from the division is on TV for multiple weeks at a time.

 

[HBsam31]

My first question is what happened to Kenny King? Other than King right now I think RVD is their best hope, but not the last. I agree that the belt needs more airtime. It doesn't matter who the champ is if the belt is not on tv at all. I would like to see RVD feud and defeat all of the contenders with King being the last one, and for them to put on a hell of a feud. I think it is great that RVD is champ now, but I don't think he is the last hope.

 

[Alex]

The X-Division has been in a state for a while. I mean last year and part of this year Austin Aries was carrying the belt, but he was fueding with guys outside the division for the better part of that time. RVD can do the same. RVD can fued with other talents besides X-Divisiom guys (which is Ion, Dutt and King I think) and be seen regularly so the X-Division stays in people's minds.

 

[whoopin' ass]

i think it is a good idea and surprised it took so long. he is a good fit in what was once the X-Division. i think giving it a weight limit was a bad thing for the division as it turned into a cruiserweight division which is not what the X-Division was about. putting RVD in it will put something different in it and hopefully reinvent it back to what it was. TNA just needs to remind people that this is what the X-Division once was and not make it sounds like RVD is changing it. but they will need to bring others into the division who can contribute to that style as well. if it is just RVD, no one will care about the X-Division in a few months.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

I hated Zema Ion as X-Division Champion, he truly didn't deserve it and his entire character makes for painful viewing.

Rob Van Dam is still very consistent, I wouldn't rate him as highly as I would have in the past but he still puts on great performances and the fact hes continually maintained the same character for over a decade and kept his hardcore fan following is impressive. I think he was a great choice to put the X-Division Championship on. But as for helping the X-Division in the long haul, he needs challengers and fast. The X-Division has fallen into forgetful viewing again, unlike when say Aries held the belt and it was one of the most interesting/entertaining segments of the show.

If they can create more challengers for him, and create a legitimate challengers while building RVD as a legitimate X-Division Championship, then we have another thing to care about again. If they simply let Van Dam go from month-to-month defeating rarely seen/heard from challengers with little to no build, which I don't think they'll do considering this is RVD, then the title will remain an afterthought.