TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Super X Cup Tournament was a professional wrestling
X Cup tournament
held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
. Then X Division Champion Christopher Daniels
provided guest commentary for a number of the matches, where he coined the unofficial nickname for the tournament: "The Christopher Daniels Invitational".
The tournament began with eight wrestlers, and culminated in a final match live at Sacrifice on August 14, 2005. The tournament was won by Samoa Joe
, who won a shot at Christopher Daniels
for the TNA X Division Championship
at the Unbreakable
pay-per-view
.
The other participants in the tournament were Sonjay Dutt
, Matt Bentley
, A.J. Styles
, Alex Shelley
, Shocker
, Chris Sabin
and Petey Williams
.
episodes on July 22 and July 29, 2005. The semi-finals of the tournament were televised on the August 5 and August 10, 2005, episodes of TNA Impact!.
The tournament brackets were:
. Daniels was tossed out of an attempt to put Joe in the Angel's Wings. A.J. Styles came out and attacked Daniels in kind. As a result of the melee, TNA Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko
added Styles to the match at Unbreakable.
A.J. Styles won the match and the X Division Championship by reversing the Angel's Wings by Daniels into a bridge pin combination. Samoa Joe was not defeated, but did not win the X Division title. Joe would not win the title until Turning Point, over A.J. Styles. This match is considered by many wrestling fans to be the best match in TNA history, and it got a rare 5 stars rating by Dave Meltzer
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
X Cup tournament
TNA X Cup Tournaments
The TNA X Cup Tournaments consist of various types of X Division tournaments that feature wrestlers and/or Teams from all over the World competing in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to fight for a trophy or a group of trophies.-History:...
held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
. Then X Division Champion Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
provided guest commentary for a number of the matches, where he coined the unofficial nickname for the tournament: "The Christopher Daniels Invitational".
The tournament began with eight wrestlers, and culminated in a final match live at Sacrifice on August 14, 2005. The tournament was won by Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, who won a shot at Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
for the TNA X Division Championship
TNA X Division Championship
The TNA X Division Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. It is primarily defended in TNA's X Division—a style based on a fast-paced, daredevil type of wrestling...
at the Unbreakable
TNA Unbreakable
Unbreakable was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which took place on September 11, 2005 from the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
.
The other participants in the tournament were Sonjay Dutt
Sonjay Dutt
Retesh Bhalla is an American professional wrestler of Indian Punjabi descent, better known by his ring name, Sonjay Dutt. He is best known working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is also known for his stints with Combat Zone Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and other various independent...
, Matt Bentley
Matt Bentley
Matthew James "Matt" Bentley is an American professional wrestler best known for his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling by the ring name Michael Shane. He was trained by his cousin, former World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Shawn Michaels, and he took the name Michael Shane as a play on...
, A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Alex Shelley
Alex Shelley
Patrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
, Shocker
José Luis Jair Soria
José Luis Jair Soria is a Mexican professional wrestler, who wrestles under the name Shocker. He has in the past branched out into the United States, working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre :...
, Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
and Petey Williams
Petey Williams
Peter "Petey" Williams III is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a two time X Division Champion and a former captain of Team Canada. Williams Currently Wrestles for Lucha Libre USA...
.
Results
The quarterfinals of the tournament were televised during the TNA Impact!TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
episodes on July 22 and July 29, 2005. The semi-finals of the tournament were televised on the August 5 and August 10, 2005, episodes of TNA Impact!.
- Quarter-Final: Samoa JoeSamoa JoeNuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
defeated Sonjay DuttSonjay DuttRetesh Bhalla is an American professional wrestler of Indian Punjabi descent, better known by his ring name, Sonjay Dutt. He is best known working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is also known for his stints with Combat Zone Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and other various independent...
(July 22)- Joe forced Dutt to submit with the Coquina Clutch.
- Quarter-Final: A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
defeated Matt BentleyMatt BentleyMatthew James "Matt" Bentley is an American professional wrestler best known for his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling by the ring name Michael Shane. He was trained by his cousin, former World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Shawn Michaels, and he took the name Michael Shane as a play on...
(w/Traci BrooksTracy BrookshawTracy Brookshaw is a Canadian professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and professional wrestling referee, better known by her ring name Traci Brooks. She is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she has spent most of her career.-Early life:Brookshaw grew up on a...
) (July 22)- Brooks distracted the referee while Bentley went for one of her shoes to knock out Styles.
- America's Most WantedAmerica's Most Wanted (professional wrestling)America's Most Wanted was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of "Wildcat" Chris Harris and "Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm, who competed in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
came out and James StormJames StormJames Allen Cox is an American professional wrestler who competes under the ring name "The Cowboy" James Storm. Since 2002, Storm has been employed by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he, along with A.J...
gave the Superkick to Bentley while the referee was still distracted by Traci, allowing Styles to get the pin.
- Quarter-Final: Alex ShelleyAlex ShelleyPatrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
defeated ShockerJosé Luis Jair SoriaJosé Luis Jair Soria is a Mexican professional wrestler, who wrestles under the name Shocker. He has in the past branched out into the United States, working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre :...
(July 29)- Shelley pinned Shocker after a La casita/head-scissor pin combination.
- Quarter-Final: Petey WilliamsPetey WilliamsPeter "Petey" Williams III is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a two time X Division Champion and a former captain of Team Canada. Williams Currently Wrestles for Lucha Libre USA...
defeated Chris SabinChris SabinJoshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
(July 29)- A-1Alastair RalphsAlastair Charles Ralphs , better known as A-1 , is a Canadian professional wrestler and former bodybuilder.-Early life:...
came out and distracted the referee. - Williams pinned Sabin after a hockey stick shot and a Canadian Destroyer.
- A-1
- Semi-Final: Samoa Joe defeated Alex Shelley (August 5)
- Joe caused Shelley to pass out after a Muscle Buster followed by a Coquina Clutch.
- Semi-Final: A.J. Styles defeated Petey Williams (August 10)
- Styles pinned Williams with a small package.
- Final: Samoa Joe defeated A.J. Styles (Sacrifice)
- Christopher Daniels interfered and attacked Styles
- Joe forced Styles to submit to the Coquina Clutch.
The tournament brackets were:
Aftermath
On the August 19 episode of Impact!, Christopher Daniels tried to assault Joe with the X Division belt after Joe's match with Jerrelle ClarkVincent Clark
Vincent Jerrelle Clark is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Early life:...
. Daniels was tossed out of an attempt to put Joe in the Angel's Wings. A.J. Styles came out and attacked Daniels in kind. As a result of the melee, TNA Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko
Larry Zbyszko
Lawrence "Larry" Whistler is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Larry Zbyszko. Zbyszko is perhaps best known for his feud with his mentor, wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino during the early 1980s....
added Styles to the match at Unbreakable.
A.J. Styles won the match and the X Division Championship by reversing the Angel's Wings by Daniels into a bridge pin combination. Samoa Joe was not defeated, but did not win the X Division title. Joe would not win the title until Turning Point, over A.J. Styles. This match is considered by many wrestling fans to be the best match in TNA history, and it got a rare 5 stars rating by Dave Meltzer
Dave Meltzer
David A. Meltzer is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Sports Illustrated senior writer Frank Deford has praised Meltzer's work, saying that "Meltzer, I believe, is the most accomplished reporter in sports journalism." Meltzer has written for the Oakland Tribune, the Los Angeles...
.