5 best matches of Josh Alexander's X-Division Championship reign

Josh Alexander has had an exceptional run as IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion this year. The Walking Weapon defeated Ace Austin and TJP in a three-way match to win the title at Rebellion 2021. After months of successful title defenses that stole the show on television and pay-per-view, he became the fifth man to invoke Option C for a shot at the IMPACT World Championship.

Alexander has been on quite the journey in 2021. Following a remarkable run in The North tag team with Ethan Page, he ventured into singles competition after Page left IMPACT Wrestling. He has beaten a who's who of competition in the X-Division before making the challenge to Christian Cage coming up at Bound For Glory.

With the biggest match of his career coming at Bound For Glory next month, The Walking Weapon's run should be looked at closely to see where it ranks among the best champions in the history of IMPACT Wrestling. In this article, let's take a look at the five best matches of Josh Alexander's X-Division Championship reign.

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#5. Josh Alexander vs. Black Taurus for the X-Division Championship - IMPACT Wrestling Homecoming

Josh Alexander faced a litany of challengers heading into IMPACT Wrestling Homecoming. However, none of his opponents had the variety of skills that Black Taurus possessed. The AAA star became a member of the Decay stable and brought a whole different feel to the group.

The crowd was hot for both competitors right at the opening bell. Alexander tried using his submission prowess to take down his large opponent, but Taurus evaded with his lucha libre athleticism and hard strikes. The Walking Weapon had to match Taurus with strikes of his own and his vast array of suplexes to overwhelm the challenger.

Josh Alexander hit his signature running crossbody to the back of Black Taurus sitting on the apron in a fun spot. He pulled off his own aerial attack with a moonsault off the top rope for a nearfall. Taurus hit a twisting splash and a spear for a two-count. Both men traded big moves until Alexander hit a powerbomb backbreaker and the C4 Spike for the win to retain his title.

This was a level of physicality not always seen in X-Division Championship matches. Josh Alexander showed all the ways that he is a superb professional wrestler. He pulled out the suplexes, strikes, high flying and submissions to show his full range. Black Taurus made for a strong opponent who pushed Alexander to his limits.

#4. Josh Alexander vs. Ace Austin vs. Rohit Raju vs. Petey Williams vs. Trey Miguel vs. Chris Bey in an Ultimate X Match for the X-Division Championship - IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary

Josh Alexander's X-Division Championship reign met his biggest challenge yet at IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary 2021. The Walking Weapon competed against five challengers in the return of the Ultimate X Match. Ace Austin, Rohit Raju, Petey Williams, Trey Miguel and Chris Bey all had their own abilities and strengths to walk away with the gold.

This contest lived up to the Ultimate X matches of the past with a high-risk spectacle that kicked off this pay-per-view in a big way. There was high flying right off the bat with competitors taking to the air inside and outside of the ring. Rohit Raju brought humor and intelligence with his unique attempts to take down the title from the wires.

Petey Williams used his experience in the Ultimate X Match to get the advantage including a huge super Canadian Destroyer on Chris Bey, while on Josh Alexander's shoulders. Ace Austin and Trey Miguel both had their highlights, but things came down to Bey and Alexander fighting over the title.

The two men hung from the wires and traded chops while hanging from the X. Eventually, Josh Alexander knocked Chris Bey from the Ultimate X and retrieved the X-Division Championship to win the match. It was high octane and so much fun to watch unfold with all six men looking strong and kicking off Slammiversary superbly.

#3. Josh Alexander vs. Jake Something for the X-Division Championship - IMPACT Wrestling Emergence

Josh Alexander faced his largest challenger of his X-Division Championship run in Jake Something at IMPACT Wrestling Emergence 2021. For much of his reign, Alexander was usually the more powerful wrestler in the ring. However, Something proved that he had the strength advantage and showed that from the start of this bout.

He tossed Alexander around, but the champion used his technical ability to hit some suplexes to get the advantage. The two men traded stiff forearms that rocked each other. They fought inside the ring and at ringside. One of the highlights of this contest was Josh Alexander's signature running crossbody on his opponent on the apron, but Jake Something reversed into a DDT on the floor.

Another standout moment was Alexander hitting a record 10 straight German suplexes that completely changed the control of this X-Division Championship match. Something fought back though and hit an amazing dive to the outside. Back in the ring, Josh Alexander got the ankle lock, but Jake Something used his strength to make it to the ropes.

Alexander hit his C4 Spike on the apron, sending Something to the outside. However, he broke the 10 count to continue the match. Just when Alexander thought he had control, Something hit a powerbomb, but the champion came back with a second C4 Spike for the win. It was simply a fantastic bout that made both men look like beasts and one of IMPACT Wrestling's best matches of 2021.

#2. Josh Alexander vs. Chris Sabin for the X-Division Championship - IMPACT Wrestling Victory Road

The most recent X-Division Championship for Josh Alexander proved to be one of the toughest tests of his career. The Walking Weapon went out on a quest to prove himself as the greatest X-Division Champion of all time. To prove this, he made a challenge to any and all former champions to face him.

This IMPACT Wrestling Victory Road showdown pitted Alexander against one of the all-time great X-Division Champions in Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns. The contest kicked off differently from previous defenses for Alexander with a slow start as neither man wanted to make a mistake. There was plenty of counter wrestling with both men being proficient in technical ability.

Sabin is an eight-time X-Division Champion and has faced the best that has come into the division over the course of two decades in IMPACT Wrestling. He showed this here by having an answer to anything and everything that Josh Alexander brought to the table. He attacked Alexander's previously injured neck and had a focused gameplan.

Josh Alexander kept looking for the ankle lock, but Chris Sabin countered every attempt at the move. The latter got a back bridge for a two-count and kicked the head gear off of Alexander's head, which he responded with the C4 Spike for the win out of nowhere. It was a stellar encounter that was paced tremendously and had a fully invested crowd that responded to everything.

#1. Josh Alexander vs. TJP in an Iron Man Match for the X-Division Championship - June 3rd, 2021 IMPACT on AXS TV

Josh Alexander kicked off an excellent run as X-Division Champion with a competitive rivalry with TJP. The two men started this series of matches before Alexander's title win at Rebellion. TJP defeated The Walking Weapon in a brilliant television match earlier in the year before Alexander got his win back in a non-title bout.

Ace Austin inserted himself in their series and became the X-Division Champion by beating TJP. However, a three-way opener for Rebellion 2021 saw Josh Alexander defeat Ace Austin and TJP to claim the gold. Following Alexander beating Ace in a return match, it seemed nothing was in the way of Josh and TJP to finish off their feud.

Scott D'Amore and IMPACT Wrestling management decided that the best way to settle the score between the two competitors would be to see who the better wrestler was once and for all. Their X-Division Championship Match was made a 60-minute Iron Man Match on the June 3rd, 2021 episode of IMPACT on AXS TV.

To give the two men more than enough time, IMPACT Wrestling had Josh Alexander and TJP start their Iron Man Match on Before The Impact. The bout started out slow, with both men using their technical wrestling skills to the test. They were evenly matched until the first fall came following a roll-up exchange with Alexander getting the first fall.

He tried to keep the control and pace of the Iron Man Match for the remainder of the one-hour time limit. Everytime TJP would put together offense, The Walking Weapon would cut him off and take the advantage. With time running out, he locked TJP in the ankle lock. However, the latter reversed his body and rolled up Alexander to get his first fall as time expired.

With the two men tied at one fall apiece, the sudden death came into effect. Josh Alexander and TJP traded big moves and were firing on all cylinders. Alexander hit a moonsault for a two count and then a powerbomb backbreaker for another nearfall. He finally hit a C4 Spike for the decisive fall to win the Iron Man Match and retain the X-Division Championship.

These two men showcased why they are two of the very best wrestlers in IMPACT Wrestling. TJP is such a well-versed competitor who had a wide range of skills, while Josh Alexander might be the most complete wrestler in the game today. This was not just the best encounter of Alexander's X-Division Championship reign, but it might be the best match for IMPACT Wrestling in 2021.