Kenny King Recalls Being Told He Was ‘Too Big’ For X-Division While Samoa Joe Was Champion

Kenny King recently related a story about how he was told he was “too big” for the X-Division when Samoa Joe was the champion. King was part of the TNA roster from 2005 through 2006, during which he failed to find traction. He returned to the company in 2012 for a more successful run that included two reigns with the X-Division Championship.

King was a guest on MVP and Dwayne Swayze’s Marking Out podcast and recalled how he was pushing to be part of the X-Division, but was told that he was too big for the division. He noted that at that exact moment Joe, who was the current champion, walked in and shot D’Amore’s point in the foot.

“‘Let me show what I can do,’” King recalled telling D’Amore. “He says, ‘Kenny’ — and this is something that me and Scott (laugh about to this day. [He] says, ‘Kenny, we just had a conversation about you the other day.” He says, “Ah, we really think that you’re not big enough to be in the heavyweight division. But honestly, you’re just too big to be in the X Division.’”

He continued, “As if on cue, door opens up. And Samoa Joe, all 285 pounds of him, walks out with the X Division Championship. Walks past us, ‘What’s up Kenny? What’s up Scott?’ I watched Joe walk past, Scott watched Joe walk past, and I looked at Joe and I’m looking at Scott. But Scott is still looking at Joe because he sees me looking at Joe — ‘Too big for the X Division?’”

King had another run in TNA when it was Impact Wrestling in 2022 and 2023.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Marking Out with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.

The timing couldn’t have been better. 😂 @KennyKingPb2 remembers being told he was “too big for the X-Division” just as Samoa Joe walked into the room. 💀

Stay tuned for this week's NEW EPISODE of @ShowMarkingOut with @The305MVP and @MrDwayneSwayze 💥 Friday, June 12 at AM CT /… pic.twitter.com/rl56hFCP7P

— BZZR (@BZZROfficial) June 11, 2026