Last October, I had the chance to interview Leon Slater. He just had his first chance at the TNA X-Division Championship against Speedball Mike Bailey, one year after being signed by TNA Wrestling. “The match of his life,” as he confessed at that time.
The TNA X-Division Championship has been his goal since he signed. This Sunday, at TNA Slammiversary, Slater will have another chance to win the title and make history at the same time. When Amazing Red became TNA X-Division Champion at 21 and 4 days, Slater is only 20 and could break this very old record, something he has never taken lightly.
With Leon Slater, TNA Wrestling bet on his youth and explosiveness to build the future of high-flying wrestling through one of its youngest ambassadors. Last October, Leon Slater was not yet aware of all the friends he would make, all the matches he would shine in, all the other records he would break because breaking one was definitely not enough for the young and confident Leon Slater.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY @ThisIsTNA
THANKS FOR CHANGING MY LYFE pic.twitter.com/OYAI1jRkXU— LEON SLATER (@LEONSLATER_) June 19, 2025
The Youngest Signee and Youngest in Charge
According to Leon Slater himself, he is the youngest wrestler TNA Wrestling has ever signed (although this couldn’t be confirmed). At only 19, after only three matches with the company during its UK tour, Leon Slater signed a long-term contract with the company.
Since 2019, Leon Slater has impressed the crowds wherever he has competed. At his young age, he has worked with PROGRESS, RevPro, Wrestle Carnival, in his native UK, OTT in Ireland, ChocoPro in Japan, and GCW in the USA, among many others. So, it was just a matter of time until a major company signed him.
BIG BREAKING news from our event in Coventry this evening – @LEONSLATER_ has signed a long-term TNA contract! https://t.co/bZXv9m8fWF
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 28, 2023
Over the last 23 years, TNA Wrestling has been known as a talent maker. I won’t come back on AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, or Samoa Joe, who have become wrestling legends. Over the last few years, TNA signed young talents who they were sure would become stars.
I may forget some, but Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Ethan Page, Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, or Wes Lee cut their teeth in the IMPACT Zone to become the ring geniuses they are today, in TNA or somewhere else. Signing Leon Slater at such an early age, with a long-term contract, is just another example of the company’s tradition of nurturing and cultivating talent.
UNREAL WEEKEND WITH MY NEW HOME @IMPACTWRESTLING !!
STARTED THE WEEKEND THE HOTTEST FREE AGENT IN THE UK AND ENDED IT THE YOUNGEST SIGNEE IN TNA HISTORY 😤
BLESSED ISNT THE WORD 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/bdG4TI8aNX
— LEON SLATER (@LEONSLATER_) October 29, 2023
The “Youngest in Charge” is currently one of the five youngest talents to be competing in a major wrestling company worldwide. As of today, Nick Wayne remains an exception, having been signed by AEW before he even turned 18. NXT’s J’Von Evans or ROH/AEW’s Billie Starkz are also among the current youngest active wrestlers.
As talented as a young wrestler can be, he would be nothing without the guidance and support of confirmed producers, wrestlers, and trainers. Leon Slater has found the place he needs to become a star, like AJ Styles, one of his favourite wrestlers, did before.
The Youngest TNA Main-Eventer
Last October, Leon Slater told me, “The Hardy Boys were my guys. I grew up on The Hardy Boys. I am a wrestler because of the Hardy Boys.” Would he have imagined he would become the “third” Hardy, and because of that, he would become the youngest main-eventer in the history of TNA?
Leon Slater didn’t ask for all of that; things happened naturally. The Hardys had a problem with the System, and Slater too. So when the System was attacking the Hardys, Slater was there to make the save. It reached another level when Leon Slater took part in a 10-Man Steel Cage match at TNA Sacrifice, replacing Jeff Hardy, who was defending the X-Division Championship that same night.
A history making night for @LEONSLATER_!
Watch #TNASacrifice on TNA+: https://t.co/1GrcYv6zfO pic.twitter.com/XF5Ok87VbB
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 15, 2025
At Sacrifice, Leon Slater was in the main event and made history as the youngest wrestler to be in a TNA PLE main event. That was huge, but the story doesn’t end here. At Rebellion, it was a bad night for the Hardys but an unforgettable night for Slater and the fans.
The Nemeth brothers defeated the Hardys to become the new Tag Team Champions. Earlier the same night, Leon Slater was competing in the Ultimate X match for the X-Division Championship. His Swanton 450 from the top of the Ultimate-X structure was worthy of anything the Hardys have used us to. The crowd was nuts.
.@LEONSLATER_ is INSANE! Swanton 450 from the top of Ultimate X!
WATCH #TNARebellion LIVE on TNA+: https://t.co/AzedGbtoWN pic.twitter.com/gYeMYQ4UIh
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 28, 2025
What Leon Slater didn’t know was that the Hardys were watching backstage and enjoying the show. The Hardys have become fans of the young kid who has been a fan of them since an early age. Slater was on Cloud nine, without knowing more was coming.
As Jeff Hardy couldn’t compete in Canada, Matt Hardy needed a partner at Under Siege for the Tag Team Championship rematch against the Nemeths. He chose Slater. Sadly for them, the Nemeths are dirty players, but Hardy and Slater made one hell of a match. Since then, the Hardys and Slaters have become more than just a team; they have become friends for life.
POETIC dive from @LEONSLATER_! @MATTHARDYBRAND
WATCH #TNAUnderSiege on TNA+: https://t.co/0fNfj6Z7gJ pic.twitter.com/G50Wkl9TMR
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 24, 2025
The Youngest TNA X-Division Champion?
Just before I talked to Slater, he already had a chance to make history when he earned a X-Division title chance against Speedball Mike Bailey. He came up short, but he made a statement. The 2003 Amazing Red record could fall, anywhere, anytime.
To beat Amazing Red’s record, Leon Slater has to win the X-Division title before September 30, 2025. That means if he doesn’t win at Slammiversary, he will still be able to break the record in the weeks to come. The current X-Division Champion is Moose, a member of the System, a faction with which Leon Slater has had numerous issues in the past. If the Hardys will, be there for their friend, so will the System.
The X-Division Championship match at #TNASlammiversary is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
Meanwhile, .@TheMattCardona needs backup from The System to defend TNA against #WWENXT’s Darkstate but they want nothing to do with it.#TNAiMPACT
WATCH on TNA+:… pic.twitter.com/tOV5OjJQmN
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) July 11, 2025
Also, Slater faces one of the greatest wrestlers in TNA today. Moose is a massive pillar of TNA. He is as agile as he can be strong. He has been part of the company’s history, just as Slater is now. When he made his debut eight years ago, Moose had the potential of a Champion, but he had to cut his teeth in the iMPACT Zone like any other. He has been an absolute beast in the ring since.
Will Leon Slater break another record at Slammiversary by defeating Moose? We’ll find out on Sunday night (well, Monday morning in France). If not, Slater could have other opportunities weekly on IMPACT or at PLEs, such as Emergence on August 15 or Victory Road on September 26.
Nygma would say, “It has to happen at Slammiversary.” TNA turning 23 (remember that Slammiversary was the company’s anniversary show, at first) with a record broken and a new X-Division Champion would be awesome.
We all know everything is possible in wrestling, so Nygma would not be wrong. But, for sure, Leon Slater is made to become a star, on Sunday night or later.
The X-Division rewrote the rules — now @LeonSlater_ looks to rewrite history.
At #TNASlammiversary, the youngest in charge challenges @TheMooseNation for the X-Division Title, aiming to become the youngest champion ever.#TNAiMPACT
WATCH on TNA+: https://t.co/n87MfBOch5
WATCH… pic.twitter.com/dgD5h9JVxH— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) July 11, 2025
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