TNA's Best of the X Division Volume 1: DVD Review
Eric Schomburg
October 23, 2005
TNA, Total Nonstop Action, has been on a roll as of late. With a hit show on Spike TV, action figures, t-shirts, successful pay per views, and selling out the ?Impact Zone? every time, it was only fitting to establish a DVD collection to polish TNA?s success.
TNA?s ?Best of the X Division Volume 1" is one of those DVD?s that just oozes entertainment and excitement.
TNA?s X Division is a fast paced version of professional wrestling; however, as Mike Tenay would say, it?s not about weight limits, it?s all about NO limits. A lot of people will recognize this kind of wrestling mostly in Japan, Mexico, and in extinct companies such as WCW and ECW.
If you?re a fan of ?sports-entertainment? or professional wrestling and you have YET to witness TNA?s X division then you are missing the future of professional wrestling.
Wrestlers such as Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Petey Williams, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley, Sonjay Dutt, Shocker, and other great TNA X Division wrestlers are the backbone of TNA. This DVD introduces, elaborates, and concludes what the X division is, and by the time you?re done watching the DVD you?re exhausted, in awe, and have a new found respect for the wrestlers that put their very life on the line to put on a good match.
The first match introduces pretty much every X Division wrestler with a 20 man battle royal. The idea of the match is the same as a WWE Royal Rumble. Every minute a new wrestler comes in and mixes it up with the rest of the group. Every time a person gets thrown over the top rope, that man is eliminated. Some surprise wrestlers make their appearance such as La Park, who some would remember as ?La Parka? from WCW. It seems that AAA, a Mexican wrestling organization, have learned from Vince McMahon how to screw over a wrestler by trademarking that wrestler?s name.
The second match is actually one of my favorite wrestling matches of all time. It?s the match from TNA?s pay per view, ?Victory Road 04,? in which AJ Styles faced off with the ?Canadian Destroyer? Petey Williams. Let me go ahead and say that both of these guys are the future of professional wrestling, because this match alone can be named as match of century. I?m not marking for TNA, I?m stating facts, watch this match if you don?t believe me that it?s one of the best wrestling matches ever, especially the ending of the match. It?s just plain SICK!
Continuing with the Williams vs. Styles match. For those not familiar with TNA, but familiar with WWE/WWF, AJ Styles will remind you of a Bret Hart, it seems like he knows every move, every counter, and every way to beat an opponent. Petey Williams will remind you of the late Owen Hart. You even look at Petey Williams and he resembles a little of Owen Hart. Both Petey and Owen have been known for devestating piledrivers, and like Owen, Petey plays a hell of a heel, and has the skills as well as the character to get over with the fans. However, what Bret and Owen have in common with Petey and AJ is they have great chemistry and can pull off one hell of a match.
Another match that both Styles and Williams were participants in is what is known in TNA as the Ultimate X Match. This time it puts another great wrestling talent in Chris Sabin along with an innovative match that reassembles a ladder match, only there is no ladder. I?ve heard of this match time and time again, and to be honest when I?ve seen clips of it I thought the idea was a little silly. After watching it, this match isn?t so silly, it?s AWESOME!
The idea of this match is that there are two ropes ascended high above the ring in the form of an X. In the middle of those ropes is the X Division championship. The first man to get the belt wins. Here?s the catch, there is NO ladder to climb, and getting the belt is not as easy as it sounds. The ropes are ascended so high that the wrestler would literally have to climb to the top turnbuckle and then jump, grab the ascended rope, and then proceed to climb over to the belt.
This particular match was too awesome for words, it needs to be seen. What I will say is there is a spot in the match in which AJ Styles literally gets kicked off of the ascending ropes and fell back-first from the ascending ropes all the way down to the ring. To understand how this bump can be uncanny, imagine falling from the roof of your house all the way down to the ground and landing back-first.
TNA understands how awesome the Ultimate X match is, and in case someone is only introduced to the match, they get a treat in having another Ultimate X match on the DVD.
The second Ultimate X match has AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, ?Primetime? Elix Skipper, and Ron ?Truth? Killings. This match was just as awesome as the last Ultimate X match in which the match starts out as a tag-elimination match; in other words, who ever loses out of the four men, they leave the match as the match continues. Then after another man is eliminated, then the last two men can retrieve the X Division Championship. There is actually a spot in the match in which Daniels climbs the ascending ropes and literally does a backflip to knockout Styles and Skipper. It got a huge pop from the fans, and an ?oh my God? from me. It was awesome. The ending of the match was ingenious, you?ll have to see it to believe it.
The Best of the X Division is an excellent DVD for those wanting an all action DVD. A couple more great matches are included. Matches such as AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels? Ironman match, and the Samoa Joe vs. Chris Sabin match.
I can?t say that all of the matches were great, because while most of the matches were great, some I just skipped through. For example, the Chris Sabin vs. Christopher Daniels match was a good match for Impact, but when you compare that match to the rest of the matches of the DVD, it?s mediocre at best.
Another complaint I have with the DVD is there is two matches missing from what is advertised on the back of the box. The triple threat match between AJ Styles, Petey Williams, and Chris Sabin is missing. This is NOT the Ultimate X match, but there was supposed to be a regular triple threat match and alas there isn?t. Another match that is missing is the AJ Styles vs. Johnny Devine match. However, while those matches were missing, two bonus matches were added. So, really, TNA redeemed themselves by putting two bonus matches, but it?s not a good idea to advertise matches that are not on the DVD.
Another complaint I have with the DVD is that no TNA X division wrestler, except for Jerry Lynn, are interviewed about any particular matches, not even a commentating while the match is going on. However, with a company called Total Nonstop Action, it?s understandable while there was more action than talking.
The bottom line is that the X division is an exciting division in which men put their bodies on the line for a chance at gold, glory, or both. Unlike some wrestlers who tell English newspapers that TNA and the X division isn?t wrestling, I beg to differ.
TNA IS professional wrestling, not some guy who calls himself the ?Animal? yet he wears cheap suits and can only have a good match if Triple H is carrying him. Saying that those in the X division have no talent is laughable, especially when you compare their matches to some botched matches on Smackdown pay per views.
TNA?s Best of the X Division Volume 1 is an excellent DVD for anyone who wants great wrestling action with no gimmicks needed.
You can purchase the Best of the X Division at retail stores, or you can go to,http://www.shoptna.com
TNA?s Best of the X Division Volume 1 = 9 out of 10
TNA?s ?Best of the X Division Volume 1" is one of those DVD?s that just oozes entertainment and excitement.
TNA?s X Division is a fast paced version of professional wrestling; however, as Mike Tenay would say, it?s not about weight limits, it?s all about NO limits. A lot of people will recognize this kind of wrestling mostly in Japan, Mexico, and in extinct companies such as WCW and ECW.
If you?re a fan of ?sports-entertainment? or professional wrestling and you have YET to witness TNA?s X division then you are missing the future of professional wrestling.
Wrestlers such as Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Petey Williams, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley, Sonjay Dutt, Shocker, and other great TNA X Division wrestlers are the backbone of TNA. This DVD introduces, elaborates, and concludes what the X division is, and by the time you?re done watching the DVD you?re exhausted, in awe, and have a new found respect for the wrestlers that put their very life on the line to put on a good match.
The first match introduces pretty much every X Division wrestler with a 20 man battle royal. The idea of the match is the same as a WWE Royal Rumble. Every minute a new wrestler comes in and mixes it up with the rest of the group. Every time a person gets thrown over the top rope, that man is eliminated. Some surprise wrestlers make their appearance such as La Park, who some would remember as ?La Parka? from WCW. It seems that AAA, a Mexican wrestling organization, have learned from Vince McMahon how to screw over a wrestler by trademarking that wrestler?s name.
The second match is actually one of my favorite wrestling matches of all time. It?s the match from TNA?s pay per view, ?Victory Road 04,? in which AJ Styles faced off with the ?Canadian Destroyer? Petey Williams. Let me go ahead and say that both of these guys are the future of professional wrestling, because this match alone can be named as match of century. I?m not marking for TNA, I?m stating facts, watch this match if you don?t believe me that it?s one of the best wrestling matches ever, especially the ending of the match. It?s just plain SICK!
Continuing with the Williams vs. Styles match. For those not familiar with TNA, but familiar with WWE/WWF, AJ Styles will remind you of a Bret Hart, it seems like he knows every move, every counter, and every way to beat an opponent. Petey Williams will remind you of the late Owen Hart. You even look at Petey Williams and he resembles a little of Owen Hart. Both Petey and Owen have been known for devestating piledrivers, and like Owen, Petey plays a hell of a heel, and has the skills as well as the character to get over with the fans. However, what Bret and Owen have in common with Petey and AJ is they have great chemistry and can pull off one hell of a match.
Another match that both Styles and Williams were participants in is what is known in TNA as the Ultimate X Match. This time it puts another great wrestling talent in Chris Sabin along with an innovative match that reassembles a ladder match, only there is no ladder. I?ve heard of this match time and time again, and to be honest when I?ve seen clips of it I thought the idea was a little silly. After watching it, this match isn?t so silly, it?s AWESOME!
The idea of this match is that there are two ropes ascended high above the ring in the form of an X. In the middle of those ropes is the X Division championship. The first man to get the belt wins. Here?s the catch, there is NO ladder to climb, and getting the belt is not as easy as it sounds. The ropes are ascended so high that the wrestler would literally have to climb to the top turnbuckle and then jump, grab the ascended rope, and then proceed to climb over to the belt.
This particular match was too awesome for words, it needs to be seen. What I will say is there is a spot in the match in which AJ Styles literally gets kicked off of the ascending ropes and fell back-first from the ascending ropes all the way down to the ring. To understand how this bump can be uncanny, imagine falling from the roof of your house all the way down to the ground and landing back-first.
TNA understands how awesome the Ultimate X match is, and in case someone is only introduced to the match, they get a treat in having another Ultimate X match on the DVD.
The second Ultimate X match has AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, ?Primetime? Elix Skipper, and Ron ?Truth? Killings. This match was just as awesome as the last Ultimate X match in which the match starts out as a tag-elimination match; in other words, who ever loses out of the four men, they leave the match as the match continues. Then after another man is eliminated, then the last two men can retrieve the X Division Championship. There is actually a spot in the match in which Daniels climbs the ascending ropes and literally does a backflip to knockout Styles and Skipper. It got a huge pop from the fans, and an ?oh my God? from me. It was awesome. The ending of the match was ingenious, you?ll have to see it to believe it.
The Best of the X Division is an excellent DVD for those wanting an all action DVD. A couple more great matches are included. Matches such as AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels? Ironman match, and the Samoa Joe vs. Chris Sabin match.
I can?t say that all of the matches were great, because while most of the matches were great, some I just skipped through. For example, the Chris Sabin vs. Christopher Daniels match was a good match for Impact, but when you compare that match to the rest of the matches of the DVD, it?s mediocre at best.
Another complaint I have with the DVD is there is two matches missing from what is advertised on the back of the box. The triple threat match between AJ Styles, Petey Williams, and Chris Sabin is missing. This is NOT the Ultimate X match, but there was supposed to be a regular triple threat match and alas there isn?t. Another match that is missing is the AJ Styles vs. Johnny Devine match. However, while those matches were missing, two bonus matches were added. So, really, TNA redeemed themselves by putting two bonus matches, but it?s not a good idea to advertise matches that are not on the DVD.
Another complaint I have with the DVD is that no TNA X division wrestler, except for Jerry Lynn, are interviewed about any particular matches, not even a commentating while the match is going on. However, with a company called Total Nonstop Action, it?s understandable while there was more action than talking.
The bottom line is that the X division is an exciting division in which men put their bodies on the line for a chance at gold, glory, or both. Unlike some wrestlers who tell English newspapers that TNA and the X division isn?t wrestling, I beg to differ.
TNA IS professional wrestling, not some guy who calls himself the ?Animal? yet he wears cheap suits and can only have a good match if Triple H is carrying him. Saying that those in the X division have no talent is laughable, especially when you compare their matches to some botched matches on Smackdown pay per views.
TNA?s Best of the X Division Volume 1 is an excellent DVD for anyone who wants great wrestling action with no gimmicks needed.
You can purchase the Best of the X Division at retail stores, or you can go to,http://www.shoptna.com
TNA?s Best of the X Division Volume 1 = 9 out of 10
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