Chris Sabin Recalls The Challenges Of The First Ultimate X Match

In 2003, TNA/IMPACT introduced the Ultimate X match during its weekly pay-per-view events. The first Ultimate X featured Michael Shane, Chris Sabin, and Frankie Kazarian battling for the X Division Championship.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Sabin recalled the difficulties of the first Ultimate X bout. 

“The first Ultimate X match we did, they weren’t even prepared. They put these posts — they didn’t have the structure set up yet. We went there the day before to see the structure, climb it, see how sturdy it was. They put these long poles in the corner posts, just these long poles, and had the cables going across. Frankie climbed up, grabbed onto the middle, tried to hang on it, and the posts bent in. They were scrambling to figure out a way to build the structure,” he said.

Sabin noted that TNA switched to the light trust structure after seeing that the poles wouldn’t work earlier in the day. 

“We didn’t have any experience with it. We didn’t get to climb on the structure at all or get a feel for it. Basically, the first time the match happened, it was the first time we were climbing on it. We were just hoping that it stayed together,” he recalled.

Michael Shane was victorious in the first-ever Ultimate X match. Sabin competed in the first three Ultimate X matches and has competed in 17 total, winning eight. 

Elsewhere during the interview, Sabin discussed the possibility of going to WWE. You can find his full comments by clicking here.

If you use any of the quotes above, please give a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.