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 numeratical 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 58August 20, 2003
X2 	Chris Sabin defeated Michael Shane (c), Christopher Daniels and Low-Ki to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Weekly PPV 76January 7, 2004Nashville, Tennessee
X3 	Chris Sabin defeated Petey Williams and Hector Garza to win the 2004 TNA World X Cup 	Weekly PPV 96May 26, 2004Nashville, Tennessee
X4 	Michael Shane and Frankie Kazarian defeated A.J. Styles (c) to become TNA X Division co-champions 	Weekly PPV 105July 28, 2004Nashville, 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 PeriodNovember 10, 2004Orlando, Florida
X6 	A.J. Styles defeated Petey Williams (c) and Chris Sabin to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Final ResolutionJanuary 16, 2005Orlando, Florida
X7 	Christopher Daniels defeated A.J. Styles (c), Elix Skipper and Ron Killings to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Destination XMarch 13, 2005Orlando, 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 GloryOctober 23, 2005Orlando, 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, 2005Orlando, Florida
X10	Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe (c) and A.J. Styles to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Destination XMarch 12, 2006Orlando, 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 SurrenderSeptember 24, 2006Orlando, 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 RoadJuly 15, 2007Orlando, 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 GloryOctober 14, 2007Atlanta, 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 ResolutionJanuary 6, 2008Orlando, 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 RoadJuly 13, 2008Houston, Texas
X16	Suicide (Christopher Daniels) defeated Alex Shelley (c), Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Destination XMarch 15, 2009Orlando, 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 GloryOctober 18, 2009Irvine, 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, 2009Orlando, Florida
X19	Doug Williams (c) defeated Daniels, Suicide, Amazing Red and Chris Sabin to retain the TNA X Division Championship 	Live eventJanuary 30, 2010London, 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 XMarch 21, 2010Orlando, Florida
X21	Douglas Williams defeated Brian Kendrick via submission to retain the TNA X Division Championship 	Victory RoadJuly 11, 2010Orlando, 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, 2010Orlando, Florida
X23	Kazarian defeated Mr. Anderson 	TNA Impact!October 21, 2010Orlando, Florida
X24	Kazarian defeated Jeremy Buck, Max Buck and Robbie E to retain the TNA X Division Championship 	Victory RoadMarch 13, 2011Orlando, 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 XJuly 10, 2011Orlando, Florida
X26	Brian Kendrick defeated Abyss to retain the TNA X Division Championship 	Impact WrestlingJuly 28, 2011Orlando, Florida
X27	Austin Aries defeated Chris Sabin and Zema Ion to retain the TNA X Division Championship 	Impact WrestlingJune 14, 2012Orlando, Florida
X28	Zema Ion defeated Kenny King, Mason Andrews and Sonjay Dutt to win the vacant TNA X Division Championship 	Destination XJuly 8, 2012Orlando, Florida
X29	Kenny King defeated Zema Ion, Rubix and Mason Andrews 	X-TravaganzaJanuary 12, 2013Orlando, Florida
X30	Chris Sabin defeated Kenny King and Suicide to win the TNA X Division Championship 	Slammiversary XIJune 3, 2013Boston, Mass.
X31	Manik defeated Sonjay Dutt and Greg Marasciulo to win the TNA X-Division Championship 	July 25th iMPACTJuly 25, 2013
Category:Professional wrestling match types
Category:Match types
Category:Total Nonstop Action Wrestling