Cedric Alexander retained the TNA X Division Championship at Slammiversary after stealing the belt during the finish of the Ultimate X match, Fox News Digital reported. The outcome came when Alexander pulled the title away while Leon Slater and Amazing Red were suspended above the ring, and officials awarded the victory to Alexander because neither man touched the mat before the belt was secured (Fox News Digital).
How the finish unfolded — Cedric Alexander’s Ultimate X steal
The bout was built around a single objective: retrieve the suspended X Division title from the cables above the ring. Multiple competitors climbed, scrambled and fought on the ropes in a frantic chase for the prize (Fox News Digital).
Early in the sequence, Alexander wrestled with Fabian Aichner and briefly knocked Aichner to the canvas. That opened space for other challengers to climb. Frankie Kazarian, KC Navarro and Mr. Elegance all had moments reaching for the belt, while Amazing Red produced high-impact offense that energized the crowd (Fox News Digital).
Near the finish, Alexander slipped and a scramble left Red and Kazarian in precarious positions. KC Navarro attempted to capitalize, only to be checked by other participants. Red later hit Navarro and Kazarian with a Code Red and launched an ascent toward the cables (Fox News Digital).
Leon Slater intercepted Red during that climb. The two ended up hanging from the cables with the belt unhooked between them, suspended above the ring. Neither Slater nor Red made contact with the mat during the suspended exchange, according to the match report (Fox News Digital).
At that moment, Alexander re-entered the picture. Rather than contesting the suspended pair directly, he reached in and removed the title from Slater’s hands, bringing it down to the canvas. In coverage from Fox News Digital, officials considered the belt secured and declared Alexander the winner because no competitor had hit the mat before the title was reclaimed (Fox News Digital).
Why the finish drew reaction
Observers described the ending as a ‘‘steal’’ because Alexander did not complete the traditional climb-and-grab retrieval while the primary suspended competitors were still engaged above the ring (Fox News Digital). Fans and pundits reacted to the finish for that reason.
The immediate reports noted there was no quoted official referee statement provided in the coverage, which left the ruling and its rationale open to interpretation for some viewers (Fox News Digital). That absence of an on-the-record explanation contributed to debate about whether the outcome matched expectations for an Ultimate X finish.
Because this was billed as the 55th Ultimate X match in TNA history, many expected a definitive, dramatic retrieval. Instead, the rapid sequence and Alexander’s late intervention created a contentious closing that will likely be discussed in follow-up coverage and on social media (Fox News Digital).
Context: Amazing Red’s return and the X Division stakes
One significant subplot was Amazing Red’s return to a TNA ring, his first in roughly 15 years, per the report (Fox News Digital). His appearance added nostalgia and raised the stakes for fans who remember his early X Division work.
The match featured several notable names: Frankie Kazarian, Fabian Aichner, KC Navarro and Mr. Elegance. Each competitor brought a distinct style to a match type that historically rewards aerial skill and timing on the cables (Fox News Digital).
The X Division’s reputation for fast-paced, high-risk finishes means disputed outcomes can quickly become central storylines. Alexander’s retention keeps the title on him and gives other competitors a clear reason to argue for rematches or stipulations to settle any questions (Fox News Digital).
What comes next
Expect TNA creative to use the controversy as momentum. Promoters can build rematch angles, stipulations or segments that force a clearer conclusion. Both Leon Slater and Amazing Red can reasonably claim they were denied a clean victory, which sets up natural follow-ups (Fox News Digital).
For Cedric Alexander, the win preserves his championship status and hands him a storyline advantage: he walks away as the champion while challengers protest the legitimacy of the finish. That dynamic often fuels longer-term feuds in the X Division (Fox News Digital).
Source and match details
This account is based on the Fox News Digital report of the event. The original coverage identifies the contest as the 55th Ultimate X match in TNA history and describes Alexander’s win as occurring when he removed the belt from Leon Slater while Slater and Amazing Red were hanging from the cables above the ring (Fox News Digital).
For the original report, see: Fox News Digital.
Key takeaways
Cedric Alexander retained the X Division title in a finish described by coverage as a high-IQ ‘‘steal,’’ not a textbook climb-and-grab retrieval. The end left room for storyline fallout and rematches (Fox News Digital).
Amazing Red’s return — his first TNA ring appearance in about 15 years — provided a major narrative beat and added historical weight to the match (Fox News Digital).
The bout was the 55th Ultimate X in TNA history, and because of that lineage the disputed finish is likely to be debated and revisited in coming weeks (Fox News Digital).
Frequently asked questions
How did Cedric Alexander win the X Division match?
Alexander secured the belt by removing it from Leon Slater’s hands while Slater and Amazing Red were suspended above the ring. Officials were reported to have ruled Alexander the winner because neither Slater nor Red touched the mat before the belt was secured (Fox News Digital).
Was Amazing Red actually back in a TNA ring?
Yes. Fox News Digital reported that Amazing Red made his first TNA ring appearance in roughly 15 years as part of the Ultimate X contest (Fox News Digital).
What is an Ultimate X match and why was this one notable?
An Ultimate X match requires wrestlers to navigate cables and pillars above the ring to retrieve a suspended object or title. This was billed as the 55th such match in TNA history and drew attention because the finish involved a disputed belt removal rather than a clear climb-and-grab conclusion (Fox News Digital).
