TNA X Division Championship
The current TNA X Division Championship belt
Details
Promotion	Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
Date established	June 19, 2002[1][2]
Current champion	Leon Slater
Date won	July 20, 2025
Other names
NWA X Championship (2002) NWA–TNA X Championship (2002) NWA–TNA X Division Championship (2003)[3] TNA X Division Championship (2003–2017, 2024–present) Impact Wrestling X Division Championship (2017) GFW X Division Championship (2017) Impact X Division Championship (2017–2024)
Statistics First champion A.J. Styles[1][3] Most reigns Chris Sabin (10 reigns)[2][3][4] Longest reign Austin Aries (298 days)[3] Shortest reign Eric Young,Chris Sabin, andRockstar Spud (<1 day)[5] Oldest champion Frankie Kazarian (45 years, 64 days) Youngest champion Leon Slater (20 years, 296 days) Heaviest champion Abyss (350 lbs)[6] Lightest champion Rockstar Spud (140 lbs)

TheTNA X Division Championship^[7] is a men'sprofessional wrestling championship created and promoted byTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). It debuted on June 19, 2002, at thetaping of TNA's second then-weekly pay-per-view (PPV)event.^[1] The current champion isLeon Slater, who is in his first reign.

The championship is contested in TNA'sX Division, which emphasizes fast-paced, acrobatic wrestling, traditionally featuringcruiserweight wrestlers. However, heavyweights includingSamoa Joe,Kurt Angle, andAbyss have also won the championship at various times in the division's history. There have been 111 reigns among 55 wrestlers.^[3]

Since 2012, the X-Division Championship has also allowed the current champion to vacate the title in exchange for a future match for theTNA World Championship, which is promoted as "Option C." This has occurred seven times in the championship's history, with three matches resulting in wins.

The TNAX Division was established on June 19, 2002 at Total Nonstop Action's first weekly PPV event with aSix Man Tag Team match resulting inJimmy Yang,Jorge Estrada, andSonny Siaki—collectively known as The Flying Elvises—defeatingA.J. Styles,Jerry Lynn, andLow Ki.^[1][8] Later that day at the taping of the next weekly PPV event, TNA introduced the X Division Championship—then known as the X Championship—to showcase the division more prominently.^[1][8] The division is described as wrestling reinvented, as it takes traditional wrestling and mixes it with the fast-paced, high–risk style of wrestling incorporated incruiserweight divisions andlucha libre.^[8] The division was until 2011 promoted under the motto"It is not about weight limits, it is about no limits" by commentatorMike Tenay.^{[8][9][10][11]} On the August 11, 2011, edition of TNA's primary television program,Impact Wrestling, TNA authority figureEric Bischoff announced that from that point onwards the X Division would have a weight limit of 225 lb (102 kg).^[12] FollowingHulk Hogan becoming the new on-screen General Manager in March 2012, the weight limit was ignored on June 10, 2012, atSlammiversary when the 280 lb (130 kg)Samoa Joe was allowed to challenge for the belt.^[13][14] In October 2012, the weight limit was officially repealed when 237 lb (108 kg)Rob Van Dam challenged for, and eventually won, the title atBound for Glory. In March 2013, the X Division was given a new set of rules, which meant all matches were wrestled in Triple Threat format, and a new weight limit of 230 lbs. This proved to be extremely unpopular with fans, and the rules and weight limit were repealed once again in August of that year.^[15][16]

The Total Nonstop Action X Division has multiple styles of match types used to showcase the talent within the division and to defend the TNA X Division Championship in more marketable matches. Three of the matches used in TNA are theUltimate X match,The Steel Asylum, and theXscape match.

• TheUltimate X match was introduced in 2003.^[17] It involves multiple competitors racing to retrieve the X Division Championship or a giant red letter "X", which is suspended above thering by two cables.^[11][17] The cables are attached to posts that stand behind the turnbuckles of the ring.^[11][17] These cables intertwine to form an "X" over the center of the ring.^[11][17] This match has become successful in TNA; it was featured in the 2008 DVD "TNA: Ultimate Matches", released byTNA Home Video.^[18]
• The Steel Asylum made its debut in May 2008 at TNA'sSacrifice PPV event, under the name "The TerrorDome".^[19] It was used once again in October 2008 at theirBound for Glory IV PPV event, under the new and current moniker "The Steel Asylum".^[20][21] As of November 2025, this match has only been used to determine the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship.^[19][21] The layout of the match involves the ring being surrounded by a giant red steel barred cage with a domed ceiling.^[20] The only way to achieve victory is to escape the cage through a hole in the center of the ceiling.^[22]
• TheXscape match is the third specialty match primarily used in TNA. It is held annually at TNA'sLockdown PPV event in April—an all–steel cage format PPV event.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} The first two Xscape matches were held to determine the number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship, while, since 2007, it has been contested for the X Division Championship.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} The contest involves four to six participants. To win this match, two or more participants—depending on how many are involved in the encounter—must be eliminated bypinfall orsubmission leaving only two participants.^[24] These two men then race to see who escapes the cage first to claim victory.^[28]

The championship was created and debuted before the main event at the taping of TNA's second weekly PPV event on June 19, 2002; the event aired on June 26, 2002.^[1] Later, A.J. Styles defeated Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, andPsicosis in aFour Way Double Elimination match to be crowned the inaugural champion;^[29] this match was announced as being for the NWA X Championship on the onscreen graphic while thering announcer stated it was for the "NWA–TNA X Championship".^[1][30] Afterwards, the title was renamed the NWA–TNA X Division Championship and then shortened to just the TNA X Division Championship.^[3] It is the oldest currently active title in TNA.

Option C is a concept in which the current X Division Champion may voluntarily vacate the championship in exchange for a World Heavyweight Championship match. It began in June 2012 when then-championAustin Aries said that he was not satisfied with being just the X Division Champion, which led to then-General ManagerHulk Hogan offering him a match for the World Heavyweight Championship, but only if he first vacated the X Division Championship. Aries agreed to Hogan's terms, on the condition that future X Division Champions be given the same opportunity.

The tournament was the result of a match for the TNA X Division Championship atFinal Resolution betweenEric Young andSheik Abdul Bashir ending in a controversial fashion, with Young winning the championship thanks to the referee's help. Management DirectorJim Cornette stripped Young of the belt and announced the tournament to crown the new champion. The tournament final took place atGenesis.

On the June 28, 2012, episode ofImpact Wrestling, TNA announced a tournament for the TNA X Division Championship, which would take place atDestination X, whereAustin Aries would vacate the title for a shot at theTNA World Heavyweight Championship. The tournament was preceded by four qualifying matches featuring wrestlers from theindependent circuit.^[31] TNA contracted wrestlersDouglas Williams,Kid Kash andZema Ion were given automatic spots in the first round of the tournament.^[32] The eighth and final spot in the tournament would be filled by the winner of a four-way between the losers of the qualifying matches.^[33] At Destination X the eight wrestlers will face each other in four singles matches, with the winners advancing to anUltimate X match for the X Division Championship.^[32]

On theDestination X edition ofImpact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated afterChris Sabin traded it in for a shot at theWorld Championship. The tournament consisted of three single semifinal matches, taking place on the July 18 edition ofImpact!, with the finals, a three-way match, taking place on July 25, 2013.

On theDestination X edition ofImpact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated afterAustin Aries traded it in for a shot at theWorld Championship. The tournament consisted of three three–way semifinal matches, taking place on the July 31 edition ofImpact!, with the finals, another three-way match, taking place on August 7, 2014.

On the Destination X 2015 edition ofImpact! TNA started a tournament to determine a new TNA X Division Champion, since the title was vacated afterRockstar Spud traded it in for a shot at theWorld Championship. The tournament consisted of three single semifinal matches, taking place on the June 10th edition ofImpact!, with the finals, a three-way match, taking place on June 27, 2015.

On the September 23 episode ofImpact!, Impact started a tournament to determine the newImpact X Division Champion, since the title was vacated afterJosh Alexander invokedOption C to challenge for theImpact World Championship. The tournament consist of threethree–way semi-final matches, with the finals, another three-way match, will taking place atBound for Glory.^[34]

On October 20, 2022, afterFrankie Kazarian vacated the Impact X Division Championship for a shot at theImpact World Championship it was announced that there will be an eight-man tournament to determine who will be the new Impact X Division Champion on November 18, 2022, at Impact Pay-per-viewOver Drive.^[39]

In July 2002, the X Division Champion AJ Styles defended the title against Adam Jacobs and David Young at Ring of Honor's Crowning a Champion, the first defense outside TNA.^[43]In May 2003, before theprofessional wrestling promotionWorld Wrestling All-Stars' (WWA) foreclosure, then NWA–TNA X Division championChris Sabin defeatedWWA International Cruiserweight Champion Jerry Lynn,Frankie Kazarian, andJohnny Swinger in aFour Cornerschampionship unification match to unify the X Division Championship with the WWA International Cruiserweight Championship.^[3][44] In Winter 2004, Petey Williams defended the title in various IWA-Mid South events.

DuringChristopher Daniels' first reign in mid-2005, he defended the X Division Championship at severalPro Wrestling Guerrilla shows. The first defense happened at All Star Weekend - Night One on April 1 againstAlex Shelley, while the second occurred at All Star Weekend – Night Two on April 2 againstChris Hero; Daniels won both encounters retaining the championship.^[45][46] At Jason Takes PWG on May 13, Daniels fought A.J. Styles for the X Division Championship and Styles'PWG Championship to a one-hour time-limit draw.^[47] Daniels successfully defended the X Division Title two more times in PWG; once at Guitarmageddon on June 11 againstEl Generico, while once at The 2nd Annual PWG Bicentennial Birthday Extravaganza - Night One on July 9 against fellow TNA wrestler Chris Sabin.^[48][49] In September 2005 at TNA'sUnbreakable PPV event, the TNA X Division Championship was defended in the main event for the first time at a monthly PPV event; then-championChristopher Daniels defended the championship against A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe.^[50]

The title was once again defended in the main event of a monthly event at TNA's August 2007Hard Justice PPV event, whereKurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe to win the TNA X Division and theTNA World Tag Team Championship and retain theTNA World Heavyweight andIGF's version of theIWGP World Heavyweight Championship.^[51] This win made Angle the only in the history of TNA to hold every active championship at the same time; TNA World, X Division, and World Tag Team.^[52]

On March 4, 2014, the title was defended inJapan as part ofKaisen: Outbreak - a supershow event promoted byWrestle-1 in partnership with TNA - where the title was won by Wrestle-1 starSeiya Sanada.^[53] On March 22, Sanada defended and retained the title on a Wrestle-1 show.^[54]

In January 2025, TNA andWWE signed a multi-year working partnership where TNA andNXT wrestlers will appear on each other's programming.^[55] On the February 25 episode ofNXT, the X Division Championship became the first championship in TNA to be defended in WWE, whereMoose successfully defended the title againstNXT Heritage Cup ChampionLexis King.^[56]

• 
  Christopher Daniels with the original design of the X-Division Championship belt.
• 
  Kenny King with the 2nd design of the X-Division title.
• 
  Tigre Uno with the 2015 design of the championship belt.
• 
  Trevor Lee with the 2017 design of the belt.
• 
  The 2020 design of the title.
• 
  Moose with his custom version of the belt in 2025.

In May 2007, theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) ended their five-year partnership with TNA, which allowed the NWA to regain control over theNWA World Heavyweight andWorld Tag Team Championships that TNA had controlled since June 2002.^[57] TNA then introduced a new TNA X Division Championship belt on the May 16, 2007 edition of TNA's online podcastTNA Today.^[58][59][60] Jeremy Borash andManagement DirectorJim Cornette, TNA's on-screen authority figure at the time, unveiled the new belt and awarded it to then-champion Chris Sabin.^[58]

On July 19, 2013, then TNA PresidentDixie Carter unveiled a new design for the championship, with blue accents to match the color scheme of the company.^[61] On June 16, 2015, TNA tweaked the belt's design by recoloring its accents from blue to green.^[62]

On August 18, 2017, the X Division Championship belt was given a complete overhaul to reflect TNA's short-lived change to the Global Force Wrestling moniker. On October 26, 2017, Trevor Lee was seen in a taped segment on Impact! with the title belt re-branded for Impact Wrestling. In 2018, Impact Wrestling redesigned the belt, putting a big blue "X" on the center plate, and made blue the dominant color.^[63]

On January 19, 2025 atGenesis, reigning championMoose debuted a new belt for his defense againstAce Austin, having in previous episodes of Impact disparaged the belt's look and calling it "the ugliest title I’ve ever seen in my life."^[64][65] The plates were gold on a burnt orange leather strap, with the words "The System" and Moose's logo on the belt snaps printed in red.^[66] Moose used this design for the rest of his reign.

The inaugural champion wasA.J. Styles, who won the championship by defeating Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Psicosis in a Four Way Double Elimination match on June 19, 2002 at TNA's second weekly PPV event.^[1][3] At 298 days,Austin Aries' first reign holds the record for longest in the title's history.^[3] At less than one day,Eric Young's only reign, Chris Sabin's sixth reign and Rockstar Spud's second reign are the shortest in the title's history.^[5]Chris Sabin holds the record for most reigns with 10.

Leon Slater is the current champion in his first reign. He defeatedMoose on July 20, 2025 inElmont, New York at theSlammiversary to win the title.^[67]

• Total Nonstop Action.TNA Wrestling: Ultimate Matches.TNA Home Video.
• Total Nonstop Action.TNA Wrestling: Year One.TNA Home Video.
• Total Nonstop Action.TNA Wrestling: The Best of the X Division Vol. 1.TNA Home Video.
• Total Nonstop Action.TNA Wrestling: The Best of the X Division Vol. 2.TNA Home Video.

• X Division

• TNA X-Division Championship at Cagematch.net

• Cruiserweight wrestling championships
• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling championships
• X Division championships

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