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One of the most dangerous yet innovative matches in professional wrestling returns on July 17th at IMPACT Wrestling's Slammiversary pay-per-view event.
The Ultimate X match was first seen in 2003, on one of TNA/IMPACT Wrestling's then weekly pay-per-views. It captivated many watching around the world, and became a signature of IMPACT Wrestling's X-Division.
The match set-up itself sees four rising metal structures attached to the ring posts, with two cables sent from one corner to the other, creating an X above the ring. The only way to win the match is by retrieving the object or championship belt hanging in the middle of the cables above the ring.
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It is a high-risk match that requires ultimate athleticism and strength, as no ladders are used to retrieve the prize in the middle of the cables. The only way to retrieve it is by scaling the cables with your hands, or in some cases hands and legs.
Prior to Slammiversary 2021, there have been 44 Ultimate X matches in total, mainly battling for the X-Division Championship, but there have been instances where the IMPACT Tag Team Titles have been defended. To date, there have been no women's Ultimate X matches.
IMPACT Wrestling will revive the Ultimate X match at Slammiversary 2021 on July 17th as Josh Alexander defends the X-Division Championship against Trey Miguel, Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Rohit Raju and TNA/IMPACT Wrestling legend and the master of the Canadian Destroyer, Petey Williams.
That being said, let's take a look at 5 wrestlers you forgot competed in the Ultimate X match.
#5 Ron Killings (R-Truth)
What's up!? That's right, Ron Killings (R-Truth) competed in the Ultimate X match during his run with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling.
The host of Truth TV and the master of the dance break made his Ultimate X debut at Destination X in 2005, competing against Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles and Elix Skipper for the X-Division Championship.
Unfortunately, the former member of the 3Live Crew was the least experienced in Ultimate X heading into the match, and this would end up being Killing's one and only time competing in this match type.
Following the event, James Caldwell of Pro Wrestling Torch described the Destination X 2005 Ultimate X match as "absolutely amazing."
Three years later, Ron Killings left TNA/IMPACT Wrestling and joined WWE, where has been performing ever since.
#4 Consequences Creed (Xavier Woods)
Before being a member of the greatest tag team in WWE history, Xavier Woods, or Consequences Creed as he was known in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, was competing in Ultimate X matches.
The first time Creed stepped into the Ultimate X match was for the X-Division Championship, in a losing effort against Suicide, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal.
There was no time for blowing trumpets or throwing pancakes into the audience, it was serious business for one-half of the Lethal Consequences team.
Teaming with Jay Lethal, Creed competed in his second Ultimate X match on an episode of IMPACT!, to be crowned No.1 Contenders for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
This marked only the second time that an Ultimate X match had aired on network television on IMPACT!
Lethal Consequences ultimately lost the match, to the ever-present Detroit team The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin).
Leaving IMPACT Wrestling in 2010 with a 0% win record in Ultimate X, Creed, now known as Xavier Woods, moved onto WWE and has teamed with Big E and Kofi Kingston in The New Day since 2014.
#3 Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick has competed all over the world from Japan to Europe, and it was during his time with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling where he got a taste of Ultimate X.
Kendrick, who once streaked through the crowd in an episode of WWE SmackDown and is a former WWE Cruiserweight and WWE Tag Team Champion, faced Ultimate X for the first time at Victory Road 2010.
The man with a plan competed against then X-Division Champion, British born Doug Williams, in the first-ever Ultimate X Submission match.
How did that match work? Well, the only way to win was by either retrieving the X-Division Championship suspended above the ring, or making your opponent tap out in the ring.
Don't worry, there weren't any submission holds being applied on top of the cables.
The second time Kendrick stepped into an Ultimate X match was against 'The Monster' Abyss, on an episode of IMPACT Wrestling in 2011.
On this occasion, Kendrick picked up the victory and walked out (somehow) still the X-Division Champion.
#2 EC3
Even though being a (storyline) family relation of then TNA/IMPACT Wrestling owner, Dixie Carter, EC3 was not immune from competing in Ultimate X.
After being released by WWE in 2013, Ethan Carter III saw his popularity and character grow after signing for IMPACT Wrestling, becoming a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion during his tenure.
It was in March 2015 where he competed in his one-and-only Ultimate X match for the vacant TNA World Tag Team Championship on an episode of IMPACT Wrestling.
He teamed up with Bram to take on Matt and Jeff Hardy, the Beat Down Clan which consisted of Kenny King and Low Ki, and the team of Bobby Roode and Austin Aries.
Even though it was a losing effort and wasn't in the top one percent, it once again showed that the big guy physique worked well in Ultimate X, and was not just exclusive for the high flyers of IMPACT Wrestling's X-Division.
EC3 exited IMPACT Wrestling and returned to WWE in 2018. He was then released in 2020, before returning to IMPACT Wrestling for a short stint.
#1 Team 3D (The Dudley Boyz)
D'von, get the tables! But it wasn't going to go as swimmingly for the tag team all the way from Dudleyville.
The Dudley Boyz, known as Team 3D in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, became embroiled in rivalry in 2008, trying to eliminate the X-Division from the company.
The only way for Bubba Ray and D'von could do this, was to step inside the X-Division's marquee match for themselves, and so they did at Final Resolution.
Adding Johnny Devine to their team, it became a Six-Man Tag Ultimate X match against The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin), which saw Team 3D come away with the victory.
Although it looked like it was all over for the X-Division, the division was saved the following month at Against All Odds, where Jay Lethal and The Motor City Machine Guns defeated the trio in a Street Fight rematch.
The Dudley Boyz can add this feat of competing in Ultimate X to their Hall of Fame resume, being one of the greatest tag teams of all time.
