10 Best TNA X Division Champions Ever
The finest of the finest from the 14-year history of the X Division Championship.
19 June is a very special day for TNA. It was on this day way back in 2002 that the company introduced the X Division Championship, the title that would go on to become their shining beacon as well as the centre of a lot of frustration from fans. The title came into being on TNA's second weekly pay-per-view event, AJ Styles emerging victorious from a four-way double elimination match that also included Low-Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Psicosis.
In the 14 years since, a total of 35 men have held the title over 78 different reigns, with Eddie Edwards the man currently in charge of the belt. For the longest while it represented the high point of TNA programming, with a roster of impressive and athletic young men putting on matches that captivated audiences all over the globe.
By 2012 the title had been devalued somewhat, and 'Option C' was introduced as a result. This meant that whoever was the champion by a certain date could cash in the title in exchange for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Austin Aries was the first man to be faced with this choice, and subsequently defeated Bobby Roode to become the top guy in the company.
Despite losing its luster in recent times, the belt has still represented some of the highest points in TNA history.
To celebrate the 14th birthday of the X Division Championship, here are the 10 best champions in its history.
10. Doug Williams
Reading-born Doug Williams was a very different kind of X Division Champion to what we were used to. Eschewing high flying acrobatics in favour of technical wrestling wizardry, Williams opportunistically snuck his way into the X Division Championship by cashing in Rob Terry's Feast or Fired briefcase on Amazing Red in January 2010.
Despite winning the belt in less than chivalrous circumstances, Williams was a more than credible champion, even to the point of dominance. In fact, his first run with the title could only be stopped by the Icelandic volcano incident in 2010. He returned less than a month after this to reclaim his title by defeating Kazarian, holding it for 113 days before losing it to Jay Lethal.
Williams was different to his fellow X Division competitors, but his type of wrestler is always needed in any cruiserweight style division. Everyone loves a bruiserweight after all.