10 Big Mistakes TNA's New Owners Can't Afford To Make In 2017
6. Burying The X Division
The X Division was always one of TNA’s biggest selling points, and a key component of the company’s best years. Athletes like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels provided the kind of fast, explosive action that fans just couldn’t see elsewhere, and they were regularly pushed to the forefront.
As with all good things in TNA, however, the X Division was slowly dismantled. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff sunk their teeth into the division, tore it apart, and treated the remains as an afterthought. Today, the X Division is a shadow of its former self, and while loaded with talented wrestlers, it has never truly recovered from the its Hogan/Bischoff-induced demotion.
Anthem can’t afford to bury it in 2017. Sure, the X Division isn’t as star-studded as it used to be, but returning it to its former prominence will make stars of performers like Trevor Lee and DJZ. Simply put, these are some of the most exciting wrestlers on the planet, and with WWE’s 205 Live struggling to generate enthusiasm, TNA can step into the niche.
The current X Division stars rarely disappoint in the ring, but they’re given little in the way of storylines and character development. The typical X Division match sees four or five wrestlers thrown together in a hastily-assembled cluster that’s usually a lot of fun, but does nothing to build long-term investment. Increasing their TV time and building cohesive feuds and angles within the division will go a long way to rebuilding its reputation.