Crazzy Steve says winning the IMPACT X-Division Championship isn't a specific goal he has in mind, but he'd be open to it. He describes how he's more of a story-based wrestler, as opposed to the X-Division's brand of fast-paced action.
Steve has spent several years with IMPACT; his initial run kicked off in 2014 and ended when he left the company in 2017. He returned to IMPACT in 2020, and he has been featured there ever since. Steve previously won the tag titles with Abyss, but he has yet to win more gold in the company.
Speaking with Bill Pritchard of WrestleZone, Steve was asked whether he'd like to focus on the X-Division. In response, he noted that while some fans may want him to chase the title, winning the gold hasn't been a goal of his. Instead, he'd be just as happy to have a consistent storyline. He also stated that, if the opportunity to win the the title came along, he would take it with the best intentions in mind.
“I will say there is a core group of the fan base that definitely wants me in that X-Division hunt or to see me with the X-Division Title. It’s never really been a goal of mine. I guess you can prejudge that based off my size, that that would be a thing, but it really isn’t. If the opportunity was to come my way, I would take it with the best intentions in mind, but that is not something that motivates me as far as a wrestler is concerned. I would be just as happy, if not more happy, with just a storyline that carries on from week to week to week, that builds from pay-per-view to pay-per-view with a single character. That would do something for me. The idea of me having the X-Division Title, I think, is intriguing. I don’t know where I would do with it, but I would be excited to have that opportunity just as much as anything else, I suppose," Steve said.
He went on to describe how, if he held the title, his run would be different from what fans are used to. Steve noted that wrestlers like Chris Bey, Ace Austin, Trey Miguel, and Laredo Kid currently showcase its athletic offense, and while his work speaks for itself, he admitted that they can do the style better. For that reason, he would make a potential reign with the title its own thing.
“I also think, if I was to hold the X-Division Title, it would be different in the sense of, when you think of the X-Division Title matches in 2022, there’s a certain [level] of athleticism that the audience has a preconceived notion is already be involved, with your Mike Baileys, your Ace Austins, your Chris Beys, Laredo Kid, Trey Miguel, all these guys. These guys are all far more athletic than I am for various reasons. They’re younger, they have 20/20 vision. So I think if I was to hold it, it would be a different style or pace. I’m not saying I’m not athletic. Obviously my work speaks for itself. But there’s a reason why I don’t do a lot of things that those guys do because they do it better, and there’s no way I can compete with that style. Again, that’s not to say that I wouldn’t take the opportunity and make it my own thing, and it could be just as successful as any other X-Division Champion, but those are my initial thoughts going into a scenario like that," Steve said.
Steve concluded by emphasizing that the X-Division has built up its reputation over the years, and given the level of athleticism involved, its style is not his bread and butter. Instead, he stated that he leans more into the story-based side of wrestling.
"There is a preconceived notion when it comes to these X-Division matches, and rightfully so. We’ve been giving it to the audience for years, but I have never really put myself in that category because to me, those guys [have] a lot more athleticism and stuff that goes into that match, whereas I’m more of a story-based performer. At least, that’s my bread and butter. I can do that style, it’s not my favorite style," Steve said.
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