Leon Slater, the youngest X Division Champion in TNA history, joins Battle to talk about his incredible journey from training at nine years old to representing TNA on John Cena's retirement night in front of the whole wrestling world. Leon opens up about the invaluable lessons he's received from Matt and Jeff Hardy, what it was like connecting with Amazing Red before breaking his record, and why a clash with Mike Santana might be the must-see TNA match of 2026.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ladies and gentlemen. It's no battle ground, battle grown Battle
Brown Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
What's up you guys, Welcome back into the battleground. It
is battle and joining us on the show today is
the sensation that everybody and their mom has been talking about.
You can't scroll through social media without seeing this dude's
name mentioned somewhere in some form or fashion. And by
the way, speaking of fashion, he's probably one of the
most fashionable dudes we've ever had on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Give it up for Leon Slater, Join the show. Leon.
How you doing man, I'm good.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I'm good. I'm glad to be back mine. I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Man, it's been a minute since you have been on
the show, So let's dive into this.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I kind of want to go back to the very beginning.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Normally we don't do these kind of things, but you
debuted at fifteen years old. I couldn't figure out what
I was going to do at fifteen years old. How
did that conversation with your parents even sound like that
you're gonna be a professional rest.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
So it's funny because that conversation actually started six years
prior when I started training. Like I was lucky enough
that I've been blessed with the most surportant family and
support system I could ever ask far you know what
I'm saying, And I've always had the wrestling bug. Like
I like to tell people, I slid out of the
womb and took a back boot, straight back, you know
what I'm saying, Like I was born with this, so
(01:22):
as soon I don't you want to say, as soon
as I was old enough, but like as soon as
I was able to direct myself through Google, I was
searching wrestling schools and we managed to find one. So
I hit with my first wrestling training session at nine
years old. I was training every single week since that,
I was doing training shows and then obviously I was
looking enough to make my.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Official debut on the British Indies at fifteen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And an incredible career it has been.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
And the fact that you're just twenty one and you're
just getting started, which is wild. Something else that's really
cool is you've got a background in jiu jitsu. Do
you still sneak some of that into your matches without
people realizing it?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
You know what, I don't often find myself using it
a lot in matches. I'll be real most of the
time because I'm either open the sky or I'm kicking
someone's head off, or I'm dodging and I'm weaving.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
But I will tell you it's very, very handy to
have in the back pocket.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So if anyone wants to get on the ground and
roll around, I'm them, and I'm there in the full
gud I'm there in the side control, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I mean, I know how to look after myself.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
And it was you know what, it was actually a
big helping factor in I suppose me taking to wrestling
so quickly at such a young age. I did jiu
jitsu for five years when I was in primary school
or what you guys would call it elementary school home
throughout that time.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So by the time I started training and then they
were trying.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
To teach me like bumps and all types of different
throws and stuff, I was like, oh, like, this is
what we did over there, but now there's just ropes
around the mats instead. So it was definitely a massive
helping hand and start in my wrestling. And it's nice
to know that if it comes down to it, the
youngest in charge knows how to look after himself a
little you know.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, absolutely, maybe he might bust some of those jiu
jitsu moves on Eric young and and just make him
tap out instead.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Of maybe maybe maybe right.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Now, I gotta ask, because you are the youngest X
Division champion when you go into that room peeking behind
the curtain and you're like, hey, I want this, I
want the title shot, I want this. Were you nervous
or did you just go for it and you talk
to the higher up and say give me this.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I was not nervous at all. Man, I'll be real,
because the X Division was my goal from dad one.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I remember, uh, the first time I told all of
my friends that I got scigned to TNA, I said
to them like, in these exact words, I'm gonna go
there and be this generation's edge Stiles.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm gonna do for this company what EDJ did twenty
years ago. You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
In the first step on that list was to become
the X Division champion. So I was not shy at all.
Of course, I wanted to get my foot in the door.
I wanted to introduce myself, show them what I'm about
a little before I made the pitch. You gotta be
a little strategic with it. Now, you know what I mean,
but I was. I was definitely not shy of letting
the powers that know are the powers that be. No,
(04:07):
that was my goal and I wanted to be the
youngly sex Vision champion of all time. And obviously there
was a lot of tests put on that journey. There
was a lot of obstacles put in my way, but
I managed to conquer all of them and here we are.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Absolutely, And of course you talk about that record books
of being the youngest Exavision champion. Somebody previously before you
that held that was Amazing Red, who We've had conversations,
you and I about Amazing Red. Did you ever talk
to Amazing Red about, hey man, I'm gonna break your record,
but you kind of go to him and talk to
him about it beforehand?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Or what was his response to it?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
So me and Red actually had zero interaction until the
job was already kind of done, you know what I mean.
I remember the first time I met Red was Oh, no,
I lie, Actually I lie. The first time I met
Red was February twenty twenty five at the Jersey Jay Cup.
I suppose our first official meeting, but we didn't really
(05:03):
have time to chop it up. He was busy doing
his tournament matches. I was busy doing my tournament matches.
You know, everyone's resting two three times a day, so
it's hectic. But the first time that we properly met
and really had chances to sit down and talk was
actually at Summerversary.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Obviously, it was in New York.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
It's in his back guard, and that guy's run New
York for the past twenty years, you know what I'm saying.
So being in his city about to break his record,
I'm not gonna lie like. I was very curious to
how he would take it. But I have nothing but
positive words to say about Red. He's been nothing but
supportive and nothing but complimentary. I remember telling him actually
(05:39):
before I went out for the match, that I want
to make him proud, because obviously, in my heart and
in my mind, I knew that I was going to win,
and I said, I want to do the record proud,
and I want to do you proud. And he came
to me after the match and he told me that
I did, which was a very very cool thing for me.
And it was so cool that he brought me to
House of Glory to our last October. Me and him
(05:59):
had a a singles match for the Exhibition Championship. I
believe it was in his home promotion of House and Glory,
which was again another extremely cool moment for me, not
only walking into that match as the Exhibsion champion, facing
an exhibition legend, but facing the guy that previously held
the record that I broke. So yeah, I have nothing
(06:20):
but positive words to say about amazing, right.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, absolutely, And speaking of legends and positive words, one
of the legends that you've been very linked to here
recently with TNA, Matt Hardy had some very nice things
to say about You had your back, so did Jeff.
What is something that Matt's or Jeff has told you
that has stuck with you.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
That's a difficult one because I've been very, very lucky
to spend a lot of time with Matt and Jeff,
and I've heard them tell a lot of stories over
the past year or so. I've been taught a lot
of lessons over the past year or so. But I
think the most important thing that they've ever taught me
(07:02):
is that is how to be smart with my body.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
You know what I'm saying. And as a young wrestler
that wrestles my style.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
You always hear like veterans and coaches and older people
tell you about this stuff, but it never really hits
the same because like these people, they haven't done the
stuff that Matt and Jeff have done. And obviously I
try and take something and off everybody. I'm open to
all advice. But when Matt and Jeff Hardy, two people
that are legendary for falling off things, crashing and burning,
doing these crazy stunts and putting their body at risks
(07:31):
for the past twenty thirty years, and telling you this like,
it means a whole lot more, you know what I'm saying,
And not only that for me as a young wrestler,
like I'm a very, very visual learner. I'm a visual learner.
So you can tell me something and I'll take it
in and I'll listen. But if you show me something,
I'll understand it. I'll be able to replicate it, you
know what I'm saying. So it was one thing to
(07:54):
be told, oh, you got to slow down here, you
got to like maybe don't do the cornerpost dive or tonight,
maybe save that for the next week or whatever the
case is. It's one thing to be told that, but
then when you see how Matt and Jeff were applying
those lessons, like whether it was going through strategy for
the six month tags that we've done, or watching them
kind of strategize and plan for their for their.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Tag title defenses.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
You know what I'm saying, It's been very interesting for
me and it's been an invaluable experience for me to
see how those how those philosophies actually translate into into
the practice of wrestling, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, absolutely, And you talk about wrestling, and one thing
that's been really awesome is just to watch Leon Slater's
career over the past year. I mean, you've been on TNA,
you've been on NXT, you're on the indies, You're bounce
between all these different promotions, and obviously everybody has their
own way of doing things.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
How do you reset between all that?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Truth be told, I don't like the past. Like you said,
the past year has really been a crazy one. You
know what it was. I had a sort of an
unlucky turn of events this year, But looking back on it,
I think it was actually very helpful for me, especially
in terms of a reset. Like I'm sure everyone heard
about the visa issues and the passport complications at the
(09:13):
start of this year as to why I had.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
To miss some time with TNA.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
But that being said, I got to spend like a
solid month and a half at home, which is the
most time that I've spent at home in a long,
long while, you know what I mean. And obviously, as
my indie schedulers started to slow down a little bit,
as I'm trying to you know, put into practice the
lessons that Matt and Jeffery teaching me about saving my
body and being smart, you know, I've found more time
(09:36):
to reset. Whereas before I was on the road two
three times a week, I was living in Orlando for
a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You know I'm saying, I was here, there, and everywhere.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And don't get me wrong, I was extremely, extremely thankful
for that schedule because I'd rather be too busy than
not busy enough and be wondering where my next booking
is coming from, you know what I'm saying. But I
think again, like going back to what I was saying
before about my family and my support system, they always
make it super easy for me to reset, whether I'm
at home.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
For three hours or three days or three weeks.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Like as soon as I touch bass, whether that's a
phone call, a fast time, or whether I'm here at
home like I am right now, they always make me
feel welcome and they always give me the reset that
I need.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So I'm extremely thankful for my family as well.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure. Family obviously a very big important thing.
And like you said, having a month off obviously did
wonders for you. You were able to, you know, rest
your body and not be out there, and it gets
you to prolong your career. And you know, speaking of careers,
I mean again, twenty one years old, you've got legendary
people putting their name out there. For Leon Slater, think
(10:41):
about it, AJ Styles, the Hardy's Amazing Red just to
name a few.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Again, does that add pressure.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That you have those legends talking highly about you or
is it more of motivation for you?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I'll be honest, it's neither.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Like I don't feel the pressure and it's not motivation
because I feel like since they one, since I've started training,
since before that, I've always pictured myself in this position
that I am now and beyond you know what I'm saying,
Like I pictured myself. I've always said I want to
be the greatest of all time. I want to complete wrestling.
I want to go everywhere, I want to do everything,
and by the end of it, I want to say
(11:17):
that I'm the best and I've completed it, you know
what I'm saying. So for me, it's not motivation, because
I already have my motivation, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I feel like I'm already on the track that I'm on.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
And don't get me wrong, it does spur me on,
like when you hear Jeff Hardy saying you're his favorite wrestler.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Like it's cool. It's cool, right, get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
But it's definitely not pressure because I think as I've
grown up and as I've kind of matured, and as
I've had more experience operating on this level, these guys
kind of go from like idols to my peers. Now,
you know what I'm saying, which is something I still
have to pinch myself from like every other week that
I'm calling Jeff Hardy and my Hardi and Nick Namath
(12:00):
just styles my peers.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Like it's mad, but you have to separate the fanboy
side from like the professional side, you know, what I'm saying.
So when I'm in the locker room, I don't see like,
oh my god, my Ardi, Jeff is matt Is, Jeff
is Nick. You know what I'm saying. So it definitely
means a lot to me to earn the respect from
my peers and have them, you know, like you said,
put that put their name out on the line for
me and and sing my praises in the media or
(12:23):
on podcasts or and promos. And it's something I'm definitely
taking as a as a positive on my journey here,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And you you mentioned that you want to be the
greatest of all time, which you're on the track record
of doing that, and speaking of another person who's the
greatest of all time, John Cena, And you got to
represent TNA on John Cena's Final Night, which was awesome.
What was that feeling like being able to represent TNA
on such a big stage.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
It was a It was a mad one.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
You know, it was really really wild because it was
it almost feels like a dream when I look back
on it, you know what I mean, Like again, I
repeat myself, but I have to pinch myself to confirm
that was real, you know what I mean, Like let
alone being a WWE superstar and being on that card,
because I think there was far or five matches, So
(13:16):
if we're talking about spots available, we're talking ten to
fifteen maximum. You know, I'm saying on such an iconic night,
I like I was saying to my friends and like
my family, like WrestleMania happens every year, Some Muslam happens
every year, and that doesn't take away from how huge
that is. But there's only one John Cena and there's
only one John Sena retirement rachelle you know what I mean.
So the fact that I don't even work there, and
(13:38):
I was on John Sena's last show as the Exhibion Champion,
coming out with it around my neck representing my brand
and my people, it was something that I hold very
very close to my heart, you know what I mean,
And it's something I'm very very very proud of. And
like I said, man, it really doesn't feel real like
that whole day from walking in the building and meeting
all of these, you know, these main roster superstars that
(13:59):
I've grown up watching, like the the people backstage, it
was a Who's who? K angle was that iv D
was that on the taco was that like everybody to
ever exist? It seemed like was that you know what
I mean. So to be surrounded by that and then
to have the match that we had and obviously it
was it was a dream come true, especially with it
being Aja and having Javonne and Dragon that as well.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
It was. Yeah, it really was. It was the best
tay of my life. Man, I'll be real. It was great.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, And it was awesome to watch on TV for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And you could just see, like when you're talking about
mentioning all the people backstage, it's like you have to
forget that, Hey, I'm working and I'm not a fan
in this moment. But it was you know, you mentioned
RVD by the way, and you've talked about it. You've
been vocal that you want to, you know, wrestle against
RVD and also somebody who you've tagged with, Jeff Hardy.
(14:48):
Are we any closer to getting maybe a match with
you and RVD, maybe you and Jeff Hardy? And what's
that moment gonna feel like when you step in the
ring and you're face to face with rv D or
Jeff Hardy.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I think that that would be the pinnacle of what
I suppose we were just talking about, right, like of
having to shut that fanboy side of me out and
lock in and go to work, you know what I mean.
Like rv D and Jeff were, you know, two of
my top three guys growing up.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So for me to have a one on one with
either of those.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Guys and Matt, like Matt again is in this conversation
as well. I was lucky enough to tag against Matt
and Jeff with Cedric a couple months back at TNA,
and that was extremely surreal being on the opposite side
of the ring from those guys. So I can't even
imagine what a one on one would look like, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
And like rv D and Jeff and Matt, all these
guys are wrestling like they were twenty years ago, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Like it's actually pretty terrifying how well these guys are
are aging. They're aging like very very fine wine, if
I do say so myself. And obviously I'm only getting better.
I'm getting bigger, stronger faster as time goes on. So
I feel like the longer we wait for this, the better.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
It's going to be. In the more anticipation it's going
to have when it does happen.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I'm getting ghostbumps just thinking about it, just standing across
the ring, and it's it's Leon and RVD, and it's
Leon versus Jeff and it's Leon.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Which leads me to the next question.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Because we're always talking about fantasy booking, and last time
we had you on the show, we all had that
dream match of Leon versus Javon. Well, we got that
dream match and it was incredible and it was everything
that we expected it to be.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
What's the next dream match now.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
That you want to get in the ring with somebody
who is currently out there right now.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
That's a real, real tricky question, man.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
I think Javon was the dream match for so long,
and I was so focused on on on getting that match,
and when that match did happen, I was so focused
on making that the best that it could possibly be.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I guess my mind was kind of clouded to everyone else.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
But now that I'm thinking about it, there is actually
one guy and it's very very possible, and it's very
very possible they could up in this year, and that
guy is Mike Santana. I think me and Mike have
been the two best guys that TNA has to offer.
And I'm throwing stuff Riley in there as well, and
Nick Nammat and obviously we have all these other great guys,
(17:07):
but especially the last six months, I think, especially since
I've I've had the Exhibition Championship, Uh, Mike Santana has
been the guy for TNA, you know what I mean.
And I've personally been chasing him to be the guy
in TNA. And I feel like it's only amount of
time until with clashing heads, whether that's for for my title,
whether that's for his title, I feel like for me,
(17:29):
that's a match that has to happen this year so
we can see who the best, uh that TNA really has.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh, that would be incredible because I mean when you
guys were here in Nashville a few weeks ago, you know,
there there was that that talks of, you know, Will
Leon cashing options seeing on Mike Santana, how can they
how can they coexist in a tag match? And you know,
I think that's gonna be a fun match when we
finally get it. Leon versus Mike Santana, whether it's title
(17:58):
versus title, whether you can options see I know that
we'll go ahead and say that it'll get more than
a five star review from Meltzer.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Absolutely, Man, absolutely, and you know options, he's always still
on the table. Man, Like you said, whether it's for mine,
whether it's for his. I think it's it's a much
that has to happen sooner rather than Leo.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
As we're coming to the end of our interview, we
always like to have fun towards the end. Because we
got through all the business part and we talked all
the things that we need to talk about.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
This is where we get to have some fun.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I know, Leon Slater knows a lot of people, and
Leon Slater's probably got some interesting contacts in his phone.
If there was somebody we looked through your phone right now,
go through your contacts and we FaceTime them, who would
be the first person you would click FaceTime and would answer?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And can we try it?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
This is a tough question, is it?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Because I have a lot of people that I can
press the button fall, I don't know how many people
are gonna pick up, not only because it's me, but
or on a different time zone, especially right that comes
to mind, it's probably Joe Henry. You know, me and Joe,
Me and Joel like this. I think me and Joel
(19:07):
like this. I guess about to find out, right, I
guess about.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
To find out.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So, so we we have to say his name and
he'll appear. So let's see if it works.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Okay, Okay, here we go, Joe Henry. Let me are
we are we trying to get a fast time here? Yeah?
Let me try first time him? Okay, here we go.
Where is he?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We'll see if it really works. When you say Joe
Hendry's name, does he really appear?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Say his name and he appears?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
It's like beatlejuice.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Yeah, come on, Joe.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Come on, Joe, we said your name three times.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
It's not looking good. It's not looking good. It's not
it's not looking good.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
No, come on, Joe, save us, Joe Hendry.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
We're just say his name and he appears.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
He's a false prophet, confirmed, John, No, Joe Hendry's a
false prophet.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
What can I say? What can I say?
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Well, we at least gave it a try. Watch.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I guarantee you when we're done with this interview, he'll
call you back and be like, hey, what's up to
right now?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
There, Joe, Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Guys, say his name
and he will not appear. Apparently he doesn't work on
the UK time zone.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That's what it is. He's moved to America now he
doesn't work on his time zone anymore.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Leo Slater is our guest on the show right now. Man,
it's an honor and privilege to always have you on.
We're looking forward to seeing what twenty twenty six is
gonna do for you.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Before we let you go, you want to say anything
to the fans watching or listening to this right now?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Absolutely, man, I want to thank every single one of
you lot. Man.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
You know, I'm a twenty one year old kid from Bradford.
My life is not supposed to be like this. I'm
not supposed to be where I am, but I am
where I am because of you guys and all your support.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
So I appreciate you lot making noise.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Let's make some more noise in twenty twenty six, and
thank you again
Ladies and gentlemen. It's no battle ground, battle grown Battle
Brown Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
What's up you guys, Welcome back into the battleground. It
is battle and joining us on the show today is
the sensation that everybody and their mom has been talking about.
You can't scroll through social media without seeing this dude's
name mentioned somewhere in some form or fashion. And by
the way, speaking of fashion, he's probably one of the
most fashionable dudes we've ever had on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Give it up for Leon Slater, Join the show. Leon.
How you doing man, I'm good.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I'm good. I'm glad to be back mine. I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Man, it's been a minute since you have been on
the show, So let's dive into this.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I kind of want to go back to the very beginning.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Normally we don't do these kind of things, but you
debuted at fifteen years old. I couldn't figure out what
I was going to do at fifteen years old. How
did that conversation with your parents even sound like that
you're gonna be a professional rest.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
So it's funny because that conversation actually started six years
prior when I started training. Like I was lucky enough
that I've been blessed with the most surportant family and
support system I could ever ask far you know what
I'm saying, And I've always had the wrestling bug. Like
I like to tell people, I slid out of the
womb and took a back boot, straight back, you know
what I'm saying, Like I was born with this, so
(01:22):
as soon I don't you want to say, as soon
as I was old enough, but like as soon as
I was able to direct myself through Google, I was
searching wrestling schools and we managed to find one. So
I hit with my first wrestling training session at nine
years old. I was training every single week since that,
I was doing training shows and then obviously I was
looking enough to make my.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Official debut on the British Indies at fifteen.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And an incredible career it has been.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
And the fact that you're just twenty one and you're
just getting started, which is wild. Something else that's really
cool is you've got a background in jiu jitsu. Do
you still sneak some of that into your matches without
people realizing it?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
You know what, I don't often find myself using it
a lot in matches. I'll be real most of the
time because I'm either open the sky or I'm kicking
someone's head off, or I'm dodging and I'm weaving.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
But I will tell you it's very, very handy to
have in the back pocket.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So if anyone wants to get on the ground and
roll around, I'm them, and I'm there in the full
gud I'm there in the side control, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I mean, I know how to look after myself.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
And it was you know what, it was actually a
big helping factor in I suppose me taking to wrestling
so quickly at such a young age. I did jiu
jitsu for five years when I was in primary school
or what you guys would call it elementary school home
throughout that time.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So by the time I started training and then they
were trying.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
To teach me like bumps and all types of different
throws and stuff, I was like, oh, like, this is
what we did over there, but now there's just ropes
around the mats instead. So it was definitely a massive
helping hand and start in my wrestling. And it's nice
to know that if it comes down to it, the
youngest in charge knows how to look after himself a
little you know.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, absolutely, maybe he might bust some of those jiu
jitsu moves on Eric young and and just make him
tap out instead.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Of maybe maybe maybe right.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Now, I gotta ask, because you are the youngest X
Division champion when you go into that room peeking behind
the curtain and you're like, hey, I want this, I
want the title shot, I want this. Were you nervous
or did you just go for it and you talk
to the higher up and say give me this.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I was not nervous at all. Man, I'll be real,
because the X Division was my goal from dad one.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I remember, uh, the first time I told all of
my friends that I got scigned to TNA, I said
to them like, in these exact words, I'm gonna go
there and be this generation's edge Stiles.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm gonna do for this company what EDJ did twenty
years ago. You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
In the first step on that list was to become
the X Division champion. So I was not shy at all.
Of course, I wanted to get my foot in the door.
I wanted to introduce myself, show them what I'm about
a little before I made the pitch. You gotta be
a little strategic with it. Now, you know what I mean,
but I was. I was definitely not shy of letting
the powers that know are the powers that be. No,
(04:07):
that was my goal and I wanted to be the
youngly sex Vision champion of all time. And obviously there
was a lot of tests put on that journey. There
was a lot of obstacles put in my way, but
I managed to conquer all of them and here we are.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Absolutely, And of course you talk about that record books
of being the youngest Exavision champion. Somebody previously before you
that held that was Amazing Red, who We've had conversations,
you and I about Amazing Red. Did you ever talk
to Amazing Red about, hey man, I'm gonna break your record,
but you kind of go to him and talk to
him about it beforehand?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Or what was his response to it?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
So me and Red actually had zero interaction until the
job was already kind of done, you know what I mean.
I remember the first time I met Red was Oh, no,
I lie, Actually I lie. The first time I met
Red was February twenty twenty five at the Jersey Jay Cup.
I suppose our first official meeting, but we didn't really
(05:03):
have time to chop it up. He was busy doing
his tournament matches. I was busy doing my tournament matches.
You know, everyone's resting two three times a day, so
it's hectic. But the first time that we properly met
and really had chances to sit down and talk was
actually at Summerversary.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Obviously, it was in New York.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
It's in his back guard, and that guy's run New
York for the past twenty years, you know what I'm saying.
So being in his city about to break his record,
I'm not gonna lie like. I was very curious to
how he would take it. But I have nothing but
positive words to say about Red. He's been nothing but
supportive and nothing but complimentary. I remember telling him actually
(05:39):
before I went out for the match, that I want
to make him proud, because obviously, in my heart and
in my mind, I knew that I was going to win,
and I said, I want to do the record proud,
and I want to do you proud. And he came
to me after the match and he told me that
I did, which was a very very cool thing for me.
And it was so cool that he brought me to
House of Glory to our last October. Me and him
(05:59):
had a a singles match for the Exhibition Championship. I
believe it was in his home promotion of House and Glory,
which was again another extremely cool moment for me, not
only walking into that match as the Exhibsion champion, facing
an exhibition legend, but facing the guy that previously held
the record that I broke. So yeah, I have nothing
(06:20):
but positive words to say about amazing, right.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, absolutely, And speaking of legends and positive words, one
of the legends that you've been very linked to here
recently with TNA, Matt Hardy had some very nice things
to say about You had your back, so did Jeff.
What is something that Matt's or Jeff has told you
that has stuck with you.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
That's a difficult one because I've been very, very lucky
to spend a lot of time with Matt and Jeff,
and I've heard them tell a lot of stories over
the past year or so. I've been taught a lot
of lessons over the past year or so. But I
think the most important thing that they've ever taught me
(07:02):
is that is how to be smart with my body.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
You know what I'm saying. And as a young wrestler
that wrestles my style.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
You always hear like veterans and coaches and older people
tell you about this stuff, but it never really hits
the same because like these people, they haven't done the
stuff that Matt and Jeff have done. And obviously I
try and take something and off everybody. I'm open to
all advice. But when Matt and Jeff Hardy, two people
that are legendary for falling off things, crashing and burning,
doing these crazy stunts and putting their body at risks
(07:31):
for the past twenty thirty years, and telling you this like,
it means a whole lot more, you know what I'm saying,
And not only that for me as a young wrestler,
like I'm a very, very visual learner. I'm a visual learner.
So you can tell me something and I'll take it
in and I'll listen. But if you show me something,
I'll understand it. I'll be able to replicate it, you
know what I'm saying. So it was one thing to
(07:54):
be told, oh, you got to slow down here, you
got to like maybe don't do the cornerpost dive or tonight,
maybe save that for the next week or whatever the
case is. It's one thing to be told that, but
then when you see how Matt and Jeff were applying
those lessons, like whether it was going through strategy for
the six month tags that we've done, or watching them
kind of strategize and plan for their for their.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Tag title defenses.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
You know what I'm saying, It's been very interesting for
me and it's been an invaluable experience for me to
see how those how those philosophies actually translate into into
the practice of wrestling, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, absolutely, And you talk about wrestling, and one thing
that's been really awesome is just to watch Leon Slater's
career over the past year. I mean, you've been on TNA,
you've been on NXT, you're on the indies, You're bounce
between all these different promotions, and obviously everybody has their
own way of doing things.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
How do you reset between all that?
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Truth be told, I don't like the past. Like you said,
the past year has really been a crazy one. You
know what it was. I had a sort of an
unlucky turn of events this year, But looking back on it,
I think it was actually very helpful for me, especially
in terms of a reset. Like I'm sure everyone heard
about the visa issues and the passport complications at the
(09:13):
start of this year as to why I had.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
To miss some time with TNA.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
But that being said, I got to spend like a
solid month and a half at home, which is the
most time that I've spent at home in a long,
long while, you know what I mean. And obviously, as
my indie schedulers started to slow down a little bit,
as I'm trying to you know, put into practice the
lessons that Matt and Jeffery teaching me about saving my
body and being smart, you know, I've found more time
(09:36):
to reset. Whereas before I was on the road two
three times a week, I was living in Orlando for
a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You know I'm saying, I was here, there, and everywhere.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And don't get me wrong, I was extremely, extremely thankful
for that schedule because I'd rather be too busy than
not busy enough and be wondering where my next booking
is coming from, you know what I'm saying. But I
think again, like going back to what I was saying
before about my family and my support system, they always
make it super easy for me to reset, whether I'm
at home.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
For three hours or three days or three weeks.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Like as soon as I touch bass, whether that's a
phone call, a fast time, or whether I'm here at
home like I am right now, they always make me
feel welcome and they always give me the reset that
I need.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So I'm extremely thankful for my family as well.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure. Family obviously a very big important thing.
And like you said, having a month off obviously did
wonders for you. You were able to, you know, rest
your body and not be out there, and it gets
you to prolong your career. And you know, speaking of careers,
I mean again, twenty one years old, you've got legendary
people putting their name out there. For Leon Slater, think
(10:41):
about it, AJ Styles, the Hardy's Amazing Red just to
name a few.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Again, does that add pressure.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That you have those legends talking highly about you or
is it more of motivation for you?
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I'll be honest, it's neither.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Like I don't feel the pressure and it's not motivation
because I feel like since they one, since I've started training,
since before that, I've always pictured myself in this position
that I am now and beyond you know what I'm saying,
Like I pictured myself. I've always said I want to
be the greatest of all time. I want to complete wrestling.
I want to go everywhere, I want to do everything,
and by the end of it, I want to say
(11:17):
that I'm the best and I've completed it, you know
what I'm saying. So for me, it's not motivation, because
I already have my motivation, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
I feel like I'm already on the track that I'm on.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
And don't get me wrong, it does spur me on,
like when you hear Jeff Hardy saying you're his favorite wrestler.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Like it's cool. It's cool, right, get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
But it's definitely not pressure because I think as I've
grown up and as I've kind of matured, and as
I've had more experience operating on this level, these guys
kind of go from like idols to my peers. Now,
you know what I'm saying, which is something I still
have to pinch myself from like every other week that
I'm calling Jeff Hardy and my Hardi and Nick Namath
(12:00):
just styles my peers.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Like it's mad, but you have to separate the fanboy
side from like the professional side, you know, what I'm saying.
So when I'm in the locker room, I don't see like,
oh my god, my Ardi, Jeff is matt Is, Jeff
is Nick. You know what I'm saying. So it definitely
means a lot to me to earn the respect from
my peers and have them, you know, like you said,
put that put their name out on the line for
me and and sing my praises in the media or
(12:23):
on podcasts or and promos. And it's something I'm definitely
taking as a as a positive on my journey here,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And you you mentioned that you want to be the
greatest of all time, which you're on the track record
of doing that, and speaking of another person who's the
greatest of all time, John Cena, And you got to
represent TNA on John Cena's Final Night, which was awesome.
What was that feeling like being able to represent TNA
on such a big stage.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
It was a It was a mad one.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
You know, it was really really wild because it was
it almost feels like a dream when I look back
on it, you know what I mean, Like again, I
repeat myself, but I have to pinch myself to confirm
that was real, you know what I mean, Like let
alone being a WWE superstar and being on that card,
because I think there was far or five matches, So
(13:16):
if we're talking about spots available, we're talking ten to
fifteen maximum. You know, I'm saying on such an iconic night,
I like I was saying to my friends and like
my family, like WrestleMania happens every year, Some Muslam happens
every year, and that doesn't take away from how huge
that is. But there's only one John Cena and there's
only one John Sena retirement rachelle you know what I mean.
So the fact that I don't even work there, and
(13:38):
I was on John Sena's last show as the Exhibion Champion,
coming out with it around my neck representing my brand
and my people, it was something that I hold very
very close to my heart, you know what I mean,
And it's something I'm very very very proud of. And
like I said, man, it really doesn't feel real like
that whole day from walking in the building and meeting
all of these, you know, these main roster superstars that
(13:59):
I've grown up watching, like the the people backstage, it
was a Who's who? K angle was that iv D
was that on the taco was that like everybody to
ever exist? It seemed like was that you know what
I mean. So to be surrounded by that and then
to have the match that we had and obviously it
was it was a dream come true, especially with it
being Aja and having Javonne and Dragon that as well.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
It was. Yeah, it really was. It was the best
tay of my life. Man, I'll be real. It was great.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, And it was awesome to watch on TV for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And you could just see, like when you're talking about
mentioning all the people backstage, it's like you have to
forget that, Hey, I'm working and I'm not a fan
in this moment. But it was you know, you mentioned
RVD by the way, and you've talked about it. You've
been vocal that you want to, you know, wrestle against
RVD and also somebody who you've tagged with, Jeff Hardy.
(14:48):
Are we any closer to getting maybe a match with
you and RVD, maybe you and Jeff Hardy? And what's
that moment gonna feel like when you step in the
ring and you're face to face with rv D or
Jeff Hardy.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I think that that would be the pinnacle of what
I suppose we were just talking about, right, like of
having to shut that fanboy side of me out and
lock in and go to work, you know what I mean.
Like rv D and Jeff were, you know, two of
my top three guys growing up.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So for me to have a one on one with
either of those.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Guys and Matt, like Matt again is in this conversation
as well. I was lucky enough to tag against Matt
and Jeff with Cedric a couple months back at TNA,
and that was extremely surreal being on the opposite side
of the ring from those guys. So I can't even
imagine what a one on one would look like, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
And like rv D and Jeff and Matt, all these
guys are wrestling like they were twenty years ago, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Like it's actually pretty terrifying how well these guys are
are aging. They're aging like very very fine wine, if
I do say so myself. And obviously I'm only getting better.
I'm getting bigger, stronger faster as time goes on. So
I feel like the longer we wait for this, the better.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
It's going to be. In the more anticipation it's going
to have when it does happen.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I'm getting ghostbumps just thinking about it, just standing across
the ring, and it's it's Leon and RVD, and it's
Leon versus Jeff and it's Leon.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Which leads me to the next question.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Because we're always talking about fantasy booking, and last time
we had you on the show, we all had that
dream match of Leon versus Javon. Well, we got that
dream match and it was incredible and it was everything
that we expected it to be.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
What's the next dream match now.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
That you want to get in the ring with somebody
who is currently out there right now.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
That's a real, real tricky question, man.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
I think Javon was the dream match for so long,
and I was so focused on on on getting that match,
and when that match did happen, I was so focused
on making that the best that it could possibly be.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I guess my mind was kind of clouded to everyone else.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
But now that I'm thinking about it, there is actually
one guy and it's very very possible, and it's very
very possible they could up in this year, and that
guy is Mike Santana. I think me and Mike have
been the two best guys that TNA has to offer.
And I'm throwing stuff Riley in there as well, and
Nick Nammat and obviously we have all these other great guys,
(17:07):
but especially the last six months, I think, especially since
I've I've had the Exhibition Championship, Uh, Mike Santana has
been the guy for TNA, you know what I mean.
And I've personally been chasing him to be the guy
in TNA. And I feel like it's only amount of
time until with clashing heads, whether that's for for my title,
whether that's for his title, I feel like for me,
(17:29):
that's a match that has to happen this year so
we can see who the best, uh that TNA really has.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Oh, that would be incredible because I mean when you
guys were here in Nashville a few weeks ago, you know,
there there was that that talks of, you know, Will
Leon cashing options seeing on Mike Santana, how can they
how can they coexist in a tag match? And you know,
I think that's gonna be a fun match when we
finally get it. Leon versus Mike Santana, whether it's title
(17:58):
versus title, whether you can options see I know that
we'll go ahead and say that it'll get more than
a five star review from Meltzer.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Absolutely, Man, absolutely, and you know options, he's always still
on the table. Man, Like you said, whether it's for mine,
whether it's for his. I think it's it's a much
that has to happen sooner rather than Leo.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
As we're coming to the end of our interview, we
always like to have fun towards the end. Because we
got through all the business part and we talked all
the things that we need to talk about.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
This is where we get to have some fun.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I know, Leon Slater knows a lot of people, and
Leon Slater's probably got some interesting contacts in his phone.
If there was somebody we looked through your phone right now,
go through your contacts and we FaceTime them, who would
be the first person you would click FaceTime and would answer?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
And can we try it?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
This is a tough question, is it?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Because I have a lot of people that I can
press the button fall, I don't know how many people
are gonna pick up, not only because it's me, but
or on a different time zone, especially right that comes
to mind, it's probably Joe Henry. You know, me and Joe,
Me and Joel like this. I think me and Joel
(19:07):
like this. I guess about to find out, right, I
guess about.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
To find out.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
So, so we we have to say his name and
he'll appear. So let's see if it works.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Okay, Okay, here we go, Joe Henry. Let me are
we are we trying to get a fast time here? Yeah?
Let me try first time him? Okay, here we go.
Where is he?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We'll see if it really works. When you say Joe
Hendry's name, does he really appear?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Say his name and he appears?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
It's like beatlejuice.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Yeah, come on, Joe.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Come on, Joe, we said your name three times.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
It's not looking good. It's not looking good. It's not
it's not looking good.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
No, come on, Joe, save us, Joe Hendry.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
We're just say his name and he appears.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
He's a false prophet, confirmed, John, No, Joe Hendry's a
false prophet.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
What can I say? What can I say?
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Well, we at least gave it a try. Watch.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I guarantee you when we're done with this interview, he'll
call you back and be like, hey, what's up to
right now?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
There, Joe, Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Guys, say his name
and he will not appear. Apparently he doesn't work on
the UK time zone.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That's what it is. He's moved to America now he
doesn't work on his time zone anymore.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Leo Slater is our guest on the show right now. Man,
it's an honor and privilege to always have you on.
We're looking forward to seeing what twenty twenty six is
gonna do for you.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Before we let you go, you want to say anything
to the fans watching or listening to this right now?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Absolutely, man, I want to thank every single one of
you lot. Man.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
You know, I'm a twenty one year old kid from Bradford.
My life is not supposed to be like this. I'm
not supposed to be where I am, but I am
where I am because of you guys and all your support.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
So I appreciate you lot making noise.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Let's make some more noise in twenty twenty six, and
thank you again
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