Ultimate X match

The Ultimate X match is a type of professional wrestling match created by Impact Wrestling (formerly Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, TNA), mainly used in their X Division. It is considered the signature match of the X Division.

"Ultimate X" redirects here. For the Marvel Comics series, see Ultimate Comics: X.

Match format

Ultimate X is contested by three or more wrestlers of the X Division. Two cables, connected to metal structures rising from the four corners of the ring, cross 15 feet above the middle of the ring.[1] Similar to a ladder match, an object (usually a championship belt or a large red "X") is suspended from where the cables cross. The winner is the first person to take possession of the hung object. After TNA made the transition to a hexagonal ring in June 2004, the cables were suspended from the four turnbuckles that were not perpendicular to the entrance ramp.

TNA official Don Callis received on-screen credit for the idea for the Ultimate X match. The tagline "No Limits and No Ladders" was added to the first match to emphasize the change. In this first match, bare steel wires, which were not secured in the center, were used above the ring, allowing them to bounce separately and causing the belt to tear off twice, requiring it to be reattached. In all future matches, standard ring cables were used, and the ropes were secured at their crossing.[1] Matches are typically referred to by number ("Ultimate X1", "Ultimate X2", etc.). TNA has not noted the numeratical order by name, however. This has only been practiced by fans since X4. The Ultimate X match type is a match type in the TNA Impact! game, released in September 2008.

Rule nuances
AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels reaching for the championship belt during an Ultimate X match.

After Ultimate X4, in which Michael Shane and Kazarian pulled the championship belt down at the same time, it was ruled that if both combatants land on the mat while still holding the object, they are declared "co-winners".[2]

During Ultimate X6, Chris Sabin and Petey Williams detached the belt at the same time when A.J. Styles jumped from the top rope to snatch the belt from them while they were still hanging from the ropes, taking sole possession and landing on the mat, winning the title.[3]

During Ultimate X7, the belt was initially pulled down by A.J. Styles; however, Christopher Daniels hit Styles with his Angels Wings finisher and took the belt away from Styles, and was declared the winner because the referee was knocked out, and did not realize that Styles first detached the title.

During Ultimate X8, the object (the red "X") was partially detached, but both Chris Sabin and Michael Shane fell, and the X dropped, untouched, to the ground. Referee Mark "Slick" Johnson stopped anyone from taking it and had officials rehang it. When it fell later, it fell into the waiting arms of Petey Williams and he was declared the winner. The decision was held up, as this was not the planned finish, and a rematch was held (Ultimate X9) soon after.

Although Ultimate X matches are considered no-disqualification, interference and the use of weapons are rare. Wrestlers are not allowed to use a ladder as a way to grab the object, although technically they may use one as a weapon. In Ultimate X14, however, Team 3D got away with using a ladder because the referee was knocked out.

Variations
DJ Z and Manik reaching for the championship belt during an Ultimate X match in 2015.

Ultimate X4 was the first match of its kind to take place in a hexagonal ring.

Ultimate X7 used a variation of the rules, called the Ultimate X Challenge. The match began under standard tag team rules, yet once a decision occurred, the wrestler who lost the decision was eliminated from the match. The remaining three competitors then wrestling under Three way dance rules to eliminate another competitor. The remaining two competitors then wrestled the Ultimate X match to determine the ultimate winner.

Ultimate X11 was the first tag team Ultimate X match. It was contested by two teams (for the NWA World Tag Team Championship) in a way similar to a Texas Tornado match with all four competitors attempting to obtain the object (one of the two title belts). The team of the wrestler that retrieves the belt won the match and the title.

Ultimate X12 was the first Ultimate X Gauntlet match. It began as a ten-man Gauntlet for the Gold, with entries at timed intervals and eliminations allowed. Elimination occurred when a competitor went over the top rope and hit the floor. After all 10 participants have entered, the wrestlers still eligible in the match attempted to obtain the object (the red "X") and win the match. This time, the normal Ultimate X structure was replaced with the Elevation X structure. The Elevation X structure has been used in all matches since Ultimate X17.

Ultimate X14 was the first six-man tag team Ultimate X match. It was held at Final Resolution 2008, pitting Team 3D and Johnny Devine against X Division Champion Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns. Team 3D broke an "unwritten rule" by using the ladder to retrieve the X Division Championship.

Ultimate X19 was the first non-televised Ultimate X match, taking place at a live event in London, England.

Ultimate X20 was the first Ultimate X match since Ultimate X3 to take place in a four sided ring.

Ultimate X21 was the first Ultimate X match to feature only two wrestlers and the first that could also be won via submission.

Elevation X

Elevation X was a variant of Ultimate X that combined the standard match with a scaffold match. It took place only twice, in 2007 and 2008, both at Destination X. In the shape of giant X, the platforms were raised 15 feet above the ring. The two participants would start at the ground level, climb their way up, and finish the match there. The loser is the wrestler who falls from the scaffold into the ring below. After 2008, the match would no longer be contested due to safety concerns. Rhino has participated in and won both matches as he defeated AJ Styles the first year and James Storm in the second and final year of the match. After the match was scrapped, the scaffolds would be occasionally used for Ultimate X matches, especially when there was a high number of wrestlers in the match.

Ultimate X matches
No. Match Stipulation Event Date Location Ref
1Michael Shane defeated Chris Sabin (c) and Frankie Kazarian For the TNA X Division ChampionshipWeekly PPV 58 August 20, 2003 Nashville, Tennessee
2Chris Sabin defeated Michael Shane (c), Christopher Daniels and Low Ki For the TNA X Division ChampionshipWeekly PPV 76 January 7, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee
3Chris Sabin (Team TNA) defeated Petey Williams (Team Canada) and Hector Garza (Team Mexico) For the 2004 TNA World X CupWeekly PPV 96 May 26, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee
4Michael Shane and Frankie Kazarian defeated A.J. Styles (c) For the TNA X Division ChampionshipWeekly PPV 105 July 28, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee
5Chris Sabin defeated Elix Skipper and Sonjay Dutt Number one contender to the TNA X Division ChampionshipThe Best Damn Wrestling Event Period November 10, 2004 Orlando, Florida
6A.J. Styles defeated Petey Williams (c) and Chris Sabin For the TNA X Division ChampionshipFinal Resolution January 16, 2005 Orlando, Florida
7Christopher Daniels defeated A.J. Styles (c), Elix Skipper and Ron Killings For the TNA X Division ChampionshipDestination X March 13, 2005 Orlando, Florida
8Petey Williams defeated Matt Bentley and Chris Sabin Number one contender to the TNA X Division ChampionshipBound for Glory October 23, 2005 Orlando, Florida
9Petey Williams defeated Matt Bentley and Chris Sabin Number one contender to the TNA X Division ChampionshipTNA Impact! November 3, 2005 Orlando, Florida
10Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe (c) and A.J. Styles For the TNA X Division ChampionshipDestination X March 12, 2006 Orlando, Florida
11A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels defeated The Latin American Exchange (Homicide and Hernandez) For the NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNo Surrender September 24, 2006 Orlando, Florida
12Christopher Daniels defeated Jay Lethal, Kaz, Homicide, Sonjay Dutt, Shark Boy, Elix Skipper, Puma, Senshi and Petey Williams Number one contender to the TNA X Division ChampionshipVictory Road July 15, 2007 Orlando, Florida
13The Latin American Exchange (Homicide and Hernandez) defeated Triple X (Senshi and Elix Skipper) Number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipBound for Glory October 14, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia
14Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) and Johnny Devine defeated Jay Lethal and The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) Final Resolution January 6, 2008 Orlando, Florida
15Volador Jr. (Team Mexico) defeated Daivari (Team International), Kaz (Team TNA) and Naruki Doi (Team Japan) For the 2008 TNA World X Cup TournamentVictory Road July 13, 2008 Houston, Texas
16Suicide (Christopher Daniels) defeated Alex Shelley (c), Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed For the TNA X Division ChampionshipDestination X March 15, 2009 Orlando, Florida
17Amazing Red (c) defeated Homicide, Daniels, Suicide (Frankie Kazarian), Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin For the TNA X Division ChampionshipBound for Glory October 18, 2009 Irvine, California
18The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Lethal Consequences (Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed) Number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipTNA Impact! October 22, 2009 Orlando, Florida
19Doug Williams (c) defeated Daniels, Suicide, Amazing Red and Chris Sabin For the TNA X Division ChampionshipLive event January 30, 2010 London, England [4]
20The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Generation Me (Jeremy Buck and Max Buck) Number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipDestination X March 21, 2010 Orlando, Florida
21Douglas Williams defeated Brian Kendrick by submission For the TNA X Division ChampionshipVictory Road July 11, 2010 Orlando, Florida
22The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) TNA Impact! August 5, 2010 Orlando, Florida
23Kazarian defeated Mr. Anderson TNA Impact! October 21, 2010 Orlando, Florida
24Kazarian defeated Jeremy Buck, Max Buck and Robbie E For the TNA X Division ChampionshipVictory Road March 13, 2011 Orlando, Florida
25Alex Shelley defeated Amazing Red, Robbie E and Shannon Moore Number one contender to the TNA X Division ChampionshipDestination X July 10, 2011 Orlando, Florida
26Brian Kendrick defeated Abyss For the TNA X Division ChampionshipImpact Wrestling July 28, 2011 Orlando, Florida
27Austin Aries defeated Chris Sabin and Zema Ion For the TNA X Division ChampionshipImpact Wrestling June 14, 2012 Orlando, Florida
28Zema Ion defeated Kenny King, Mason Andrews and Sonjay Dutt For the TNA X Division ChampionshipDestination X July 8, 2012 Orlando, Florida
29Kenny King defeated Zema Ion, Rubix and Mason Andrews X-Travaganza January 12, 2013 Orlando, Florida
30Chris Sabin defeated Kenny King and Suicide For the TNA X Division ChampionshipSlammiversary XI June 2, 2013 Boston, Massachusetts
31Manik defeated Greg Marasciulo and Sonjay Dutt For the vacant TNA X Division ChampionshipImpact Wrestling July 18, 2013 Louisville, Kentucky
32Chris Sabin defeated Manik (c) Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe and Austin Aries For the TNA X Division ChampionshipBound for Glory October 20, 2013 San Diego, California
33Low Ki defeated Rashad Cameron, Kenny King, Ace Vedder, Sonjay Dutt and Tigre Uno X-Travaganza 2 April 12, 2014 Orlando, Florida
34The Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) defeated The Revolution (The Great Sanada & Manik) and The BroMans (DJZ and Jessie Godderz) For the TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipImpact Wrestling January 31, 2015 London, England
35Rockstar Spud defeated DJ Z, Kenny King, Tigre Uno, Crazzy Steve and Manik X-Travaganza 3 February 15, 2015 Orlando, Florida
36Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy defeated Beat Down Clan (Kenny King & Low Ki), Ethan Carter III & Bram, and Bobby Roode & Austin Aries For the vacant TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipImpact Wrestling March 16, 2015 Orlando, Florida
37Tigre Uno (c) defeated DJZ, Manik, and Andrew Everett For the TNA X Division ChampionshipBound for Glory October 4, 2015 Concord, North Carolina
38Eddie Edwards defeated Mike Bennett (c), DJZ, Mandrews, Trevor Lee, Braxton Sutter, Rockstar Spud and Andrew Everett For the TNA X Division ChampionshipImpact Wrestling June 15, 2016 Orlando, Florida
39DJZ defeated Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett, Rockstar Spud, Mandrews and Braxton Sutter For the TNA X Division ChampionshipImpact Wrestling September 1, 2016 Orlando, Florida
40The Helms Dynasty (Trevor Lee & Andrew Everett) defeated The BroMans (Robbie E & Jessie Godderz) X-Travaganza 4 July 14, 2016 Orlando, Florida
41Low Ki defeated Andrew Everett and Trevor Lee Impact Wrestling May 18, 2017 Orlando, Florida
42Rich Swann defeated Ethan Page and Jake Crist and Trey Miguel For the vacant TNA X Division ChampionshipHomecoming January 6, 2019 Nashville, Tennessee
43Johnny Impact defeated Ace Austin, Dante Fox, Jake Crist and Pat Buck Number one contender for the Impact X Division ChampionshipUnited We Stand April 4, 2019 Rahway, New Jersey

Participant List
Superstar Victories Appearances
Chris Sabin 8 17
(Christopher) Daniels / 1st Suicide 5 8
Alex Shelley 4 7
(Frankie) Kazarian / Kaz / 2nd & 3rd Suicide 3 8
Doug Williams 2 2
Eddie Edwards 2 2
Michael Shane / Matt Bentley 2 5
Petey Williams 2 5
A.J. Styles 2 5
Davey Richards 1 1
Brother Ray 1 1
Brother Devon 1 1
Johnny Imapct 1 1
Rich Swann 1 1
Volador Jr. 1 1
Matt Hardy 1 1
Austin Aries 1 2
Hernandez 1 2
Jeff Hardy 1 2
Brian Kendrick 1 2
Rockstar Spud 1 3
Amazing Red 1 3
Puma / 4th Suicide / Manik 1 4
Homicide 1 4
Low Ki / Senshi 1 4
Kenny King 1 5
Zema Ion / DJZ 1 7
Andrew Everett 1 4
Trevor Lee 1 3
Hector Garza 0 1
Ron Killings 0 1
Shark Boy 0 1
Daivari 0 1
Naruki Doi 0 1
Robert Roode 0 1
James Storm 0 1
Mr. Anderson 0 1
Shannon Moore 0 1
Abyss 0 1
Rubix 0 1
Rashad Cameron 0 1
Jessie Godderz 0 2
The Great Sanada 0 1
Braxton Sutter 0 2
Mike Bennett 0 1
Tigre Uno 0 2
Greg Marasciulo / Ace Vedder 0 2
Samoa Joe 0 2
Consequences Creed 0 2
Max Buck 0 2
Jeremy Buck 0 2
Robbie E 0 3
Mark Andrews 0 2
Elix Skipper 0 4
Jay Lethal 0 4
Sonjay Dutt 0 5
Crazzy Steve 0 1
Ethan Page 0 1
Jake Crist 0 1
Trey Miguel 0 1
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gollark: This is *meant* to be an autorouted rail system.
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gollark: The pig goes round forever.
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References
  1. "TNA Wrestling Results: NWA: Total Nonstop Action PPV - August 20, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  2. "TNA Wrestling Results: NWA: Total Nonstop Action PPV - July 28, 2004". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  3. "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling’s Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007. p. 123.
  4. Gerweck, Steve (January 30, 2010). "1/30 TNA Results: London, England". WrestleView. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
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