Fixing TNA: The X-Division and Tag Teams

One thing that has bugged me about TNA throughout its existance has been the X-Division. No, not the wrestling or wrestlers, those aspects have been fine for the most part; however, they made it a point to create a separate "division" and not define any different rules. What makes the X-Division that much different from, say, any old midcard title contenders' list? It may seem like a minor annoyance, but it's that lack of attention to detail that just compounds the bigger problems, which for a fed like TNA, isn't good to begin with. So why don't we start by defining the X-Division, shall we?

After the jump...The X-Division will go from TNA's de facto midcard talent dump to actually having rules of its own. When the action is in the ring, the rules are strictly enforced. Five counts are strictly enforced, rope breaks, no closed fists, undressed turnbuckles are an automatic match stoppage, etc. Out of the ring, anything goes though. No DQs when out of the ring, no countouts. However, a match can only finish inside of the ring. Yeah, it sounds simplistic, but has there ever really been a set of rules like that? Probably not. Aaaaanyway, now that the division has been defined, it's time to define the roster.

Basically, the goal is to get together a roster that is credible enough that the announcers can sell the division as on par with the World Championship division and that the fans and analysts can credibly believe that it's on par with the North American/upper midcard without having to mix the two too much. Of course, if, say, Homicide or someone get over huge, they can intermingle. The divisions wouldn't be set in stone, but you'd have guys that for a time are really "X-division" guys and then guys who are "North American" guys. With that being said, here's the roster:

X-Division Wrestlers: Homicide, Bryan Danielson, Austin Aries, Kenny Omega, Elijah Burke, Consequences Creed, El Generico, Delirious, Shark Boy, Suicide, Tyler Black, Kevin Steen

This might seem like a fridge-raid on the ROH/PWG crowd with a few guys sprinkled in, but I think this is the group that brings the X-Division back to the prominence it had with Samoa Joe, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels all feuding over the belt. Basically, you have a mix of some of the guys who are there already (Homicide, Suicide, Shark Boy, Consequences), sprinkle in one guy that the WWE really whiffed on (Burke) and then supplement it with guys from the indies who can bring something unique to the table.

Danielson and Aries give the division gravitas with the indie and hardcore wrestling fans, which is really who TNA should be going after in the first place. They're pretty much the cream of the crop when it comes to indie main eventers, well, outside of Necro Butcher and Claudio Castagnioli, but they're also on board in the NA division, and nothing says they can't float back and forth between "classes" either. Danielson as the crown jewel for the X-Division, coming in with the moniker and character of being the best wrestler in the world today, automatically gives the announcers a selling point that puts the X-Division "in-character" on par with the World Championship. Danielson can also work both sides of the fence, working heel against gimmicky guys like Suicide, Omega and Generico, and assuming a natural face role when put up against long-time rival Aries

You know my very high opinion of Aries, and really, given his insane charisma, he could be the number one heel in TNA within two weeks if they really let him loose. In a company looking to differentiate from having nothing but statuesque musclefucks in the catbird seat, Aries is the perfect poster child. He's short, but he's lean, can wrestle and has as much personality as guys like Jericho, Piper, Savage and Cena.

Omega is quirky, but in wrestling, quirky works sometimes. I mean, remember when Saturn got over by acting like a amnesiac, hanging around a mop and saying "You're welcome" all the time? If that elicited even one laugh, then this:



...and this:



...and this:



...and this:



...and everything else this guy does would make him so over that audiences' eyes would collectively bleed due to the sheer and utter awesomeness being perpetrated.

Whereas Omega would be over on just quirky awesomeness, El Generico would provide sheer likeability and face charisma. The way he carries himself in the ring makes you want to cheer him, even if you've never seen him before or even know his name. Plus, he's got a wicked fucking awesome finisher. His indie tag team partner, Kevin Steen, is pretty much what Samoa Joe was in the X-Division, only in my estimation, better both in ring presence and workrate. Plus, they could tag together in a pinch if they've got nothing better to do at the moment.

Elijah Burke is one guy that the WWE missed the boat on it seems. Many people raved over him; I barely got to watch him, but what I saw was pretty good. I'll admit this though. I just don't get Kofi Kingston though. I mean, he's not horrible, but he seems so bland at times, like he just kicks and acts happy. I have to wonder what Burke could have done given Kingston's push. Oh well, the WWE's loss will be my TNA's gain.

Delirious and Tyler Black round out the roster. Both guys ooze strange charisma, but in different ways. Delirious is more comedic with his outlandish ring attire, gibberish-speak (even so he's still better on the mic than Jeff Hardy!) and spastic ring movements, while Black plays up the goth-emo more with his srs bsnss move names and black and red attire motif. Both guys could be serious stars if given the chance, and I'd take that risk.

Next up is the tag team division. TNA's tag division as-is is better than the WWE's but that's not really all that hard to be. It can be better. The best thing is that they do have a good base, but a base that needs to be allowed to breathe without the fucking Dudley Boys stifling them. Aaaanyway...

Tag Team Wrestlers: Motor City Machine Guns, Beer Money Inc., The British Invasion, The Young Bucks, The American Wolves, Da Soul Touchaz

Again, TNA has a decent base. Beer Money is over, the MCMGs are talented and the British Invasion have promise. Three tag teams are good, but for the division to really take the lead among the mainstream, it could use a few more to challenge and amaze.

Enter the Young Bucks, the American Wolves and Da Soul Touchaz. The American Wolves, Eddy Edwards and Davey Richards, are ROH's current Tag Team Champions and indie darlings, but the Young Bucks and Soul Touchaz are more on the unknown side. The Bucks are a team of brothers, Nick and Matt Jackson, who resemble a younger Hardy Boyz in look. The difference between them and the Hardyz? Well, both of them are better workers than Jeff for one, and they actually wear real ring attire instead of what you'd probably find at Goodwill. If you want a taste as to what they can do, order the DGUSA PPV and witness what will probably end up being my match of the year for 2009: The Bucks against CIMA and Susumu Yokosuku.

Da Soul Touchaz are based out of Chicago's Elite Pro Wrestling. I saw them work King of Trios night one, and they were a pretty good, kinetic tag team with a real sense of fun about them. Plus, it would give TNA an in in Chicagoland.

The final installment will cover the Knockouts and the loose ends.