A photo of the Ultimate X match.
The Ultimate X match is a type of professional wrestling match created by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), mainly used in their X Division. It is considered the "signature match of the X Division," as stated numerous times by Mike Tenay right before an Ultimate X match begins.
Match format[]
Ultimate X is usually contested by three 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. 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(s).
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. Matches are typically referred to by number ("Ultimate X1", "Ultimate X2", etc.). TNA has not noted the numerical 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[]
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".
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.
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 of the fact that 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 kayfabe knocked out.
Variations[]
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. Ultimate X17 was also contested with the Elevation X structure in place.
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.
Ultimate X matches[]
| No. | Match | Event, Date and Location |
|---|---|---|
| X1 | Michael Shane defeated Chris Sabin (c) and Frankie Kazarian to win the TNA X Division Championship | Weekly PPV 58 August 20, 2003 Nashville, Tennessee |
| X2 | Chris Sabin defeated Michael Shane (c), Christopher Daniels and Low-Ki to win the TNA X Division Championship | Weekly PPV 76 January 7, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee |
| X3 | Chris Sabin defeated Petey Williams and Hector Garza to win the 2004 TNA World X Cup | Weekly PPV 96 May 26, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee |
| X4 | Michael Shane and Frankie Kazarian defeated A.J. Styles (c) to become TNA X Division co-champions | Weekly PPV 105 July 28, 2004 Nashville, Tennessee |
| X5 | Chris Sabin defeated Elix Skipper and Sonjay Dutt to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | The Best Damn Sports Show Period November 10, 2004 Orlando, Florida |
| X6 | A.J. Styles defeated Petey Williams (c) and Chris Sabin to win the TNA X Division Championship | Final Resolution January 16, 2005 Orlando, Florida |
| X7 | Christopher Daniels defeated A.J. Styles (c), Elix Skipper and Ron Killings to win the TNA X Division Championship | Destination X March 13, 2005 Orlando, Florida |
| X8 | Petey Williams defeated Matt Bentley (Michael Shane) and Chris Sabin to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | Bound for Glory October 23, 2005 Orlando, Florida |
| X9 | Petey Williams defeated Matt Bentley and Chris Sabin to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | TNA Impact! November 3, 2005 Orlando, Florida |
| X10 | Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe (c) and A.J. Styles to win the TNA X Division Championship | Destination X March 12, 2006 Orlando, Florida |
| X11 | A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels defeated The Latin American Exchange (Homicide and Hernandez) to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship | No Surrender September 24, 2006 Orlando, Florida |
| X12 | Christopher Daniels defeated Jay Lethal, Kaz (Frankie Kazarian), Homicide, Sonjay Dutt, Shark Boy, Elix Skipper, Puma, Senshi (Low-Ki) and Petey Williams to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | Victory Road July 15, 2007 Orlando, Florida |
| X13 | The Latin American Exchange (Homicide and Hernandez) defeated Triple X (Senshi and Elix Skipper) to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship | Bound for Glory October 14, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia |
| X14 | Team 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 |
| X15 | Volador Jr. (Team Mexico) defeated Daivari (Team International), Kaz (Team TNA) and Naruki Doi (Team Japan) to win the 2008 TNA World X Cup Tournament | Victory Road July 13, 2008 Houston, Texas |
| X16 | Suicide (Christopher Daniels) defeated Alex Shelley (c), Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed to win the TNA X Division Championship | Destination X March 15, 2009 Orlando, Florida |
| X17 | Amazing Red (c) defeated Homicide, Daniels, Suicide (Frankie Kazarian), Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Bound for Glory October 18, 2009 Irvine, California |
| X18 | The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Lethal Consequences (Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed) to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship | TNA Impact! October 22, 2009 Orlando, Florida |
| X19 | Doug Williams (c) defeated Daniels, Suicide, Amazing Red and Chris Sabin to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Live event January 30, 2010 London, England |
| X20 | The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Generation Me (Jeremy Buck and Max Buck) to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship | Destination X March 21, 2010 Orlando, Florida |
| X21 | Douglas Williams defeated Brian Kendrick via submission to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Victory Road July 11, 2010 Orlando, Florida |
| X22 | The 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 |
| X23 | Kazarian defeated Mr. Anderson | TNA Impact! October 21, 2010 Orlando, Florida |
| X24 | Kazarian defeated Jeremy Buck, Max Buck and Robbie E to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Victory Road March 13, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
| X25 | Alex Shelley defeated Amazing Red, Robbie E and Shannon Moore to become the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship | Destination X July 10, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
| X26 | Brian Kendrick defeated Abyss to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Impact Wrestling July 28, 2011 Orlando, Florida |
| X27 | Austin Aries defeated Chris Sabin and Zema Ion to retain the TNA X Division Championship | Impact Wrestling June 14, 2012 Orlando, Florida |
| X28 | Zema Ion defeated Kenny King, Mason Andrews and Sonjay Dutt to win the vacant TNA X Division Championship | Destination X July 8, 2012 Orlando, Florida |
| X29 | Kenny King defeated Zema Ion, Rubix and Mason Andrews | X-Travaganza January 12, 2013 Orlando, Florida |
| X30 | Chris Sabin defeated Kenny King and Suicide to win the TNA X Division Championship | Slammiversary XI June 3, 2013 Boston, Massachusetts |
| X31 | Manik defeated Sonjay Dutt and Greg Marasciulo to win the TNA X-Division Championship | July 25th iMPACT July 25, 2013 |