Leon Slater ended last year’s Slammiversary with the X Division title and a memorable ‘pass the torch’ moment. He hopes to win gold again this year and can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next.
Slater spent 298 days as champion, tying the record for longest single reign of all time. He told WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard that he remains incredibly proud of the growth he made in that time, noting that he’s become more of a man since he beat Moose for the title.
“I think the X Division title reign that I just had is one of the runs that I look back on very fondly throughout my entire life and my entire career,” Slater explained. “I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go. But I’m definitely more of a man than I was when I first won the belt. And I’m definitely a 10 times better performer and a better wrestler than I was when I won the championship.”
Leon Slater’s title reign saw him compete on TNA and WWE programming
Slater pointed out how being champion afforded him a number of special opportunities. This includes competing on SmackDown and at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. The latter show was not only John Cena’s last match, but it was also the first time the reigning X Division Champion had ever been on a main roster WWE PLE.
“There was so much special stuff that I got to do that was first-time and record-setting. And this isn’t even the stuff I’ve done in TNA,” Slater said. “The matches I had in TNA were some of the best of my career. Whether it was the one with Myron Reed, the one with Je’Von, all three of them with Cedric, the Rich Swann one, there were so many matches I’m proud of.
“I think the main sticking point of this reign is the growth I’ve had throughout it,” he added. “I’m excited to see where the journey takes me next.”
Leon Slater is headed to Slammiversary with one goal in mind
Slater’s next stop is the Ultimate X match and a chance to regain the X Division title from Cedric Alexander. Slater prides himself on being a tape-study guy and guessed he’s seen “about 70 percent” of every Ultimate X match to take place. Last year, he says he got a bit distracted and caught up in the moment of his first Ultimate X match at Rebellion. This time, however, he’s going in believing the only result is him winning gold again.
“You could put 100 people in that match. I’m winning it as far as I’m concerned. I’m getting my title back. That’s 100%. That’s the mindset I’m going in with, and I feel like that’s the mindset you have to go in with in a crazy match like Ultimate X,” Slater said. “I think last year at Rebellion, I got caught up in the moment of it. But now I’m a little more mature, and I’m a little wiser to the game.
“Heading into Slammiversary, my focus is on climbing those cables and getting my X Division title back. It could be four, it could be six, it could be 66, it could be 6,000. You can put however many people you want in there. You can put whatever type of names you want in there. But the end result is going to be the same, and that is Leon Slater regaining his X Division Championship.”
Slater’s aforementioned ‘pass the torch’ moment involved TNA icon AJ Styles praising him as the next generation. Since then, the pair have shared a public mentor/student relationship. They also competed in the ring against each other at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Recently, Styles called Slater a special talent and believes it’s “a matter of time” before he ends up signing with WWE.
Leon Slater is completely focused on Slammiversary right now
Slater addressed the rumors that he could join WWE and said that manifestation has played a big role in keeping him focused. Blocking the noise out can be difficult, especially with his name getting more buzz in the past few weeks. However, right now, he’s putting his phone down, blocking it out as best he can, and staying focused on Slammiversary.
“I think something that’s been super helpful for me is manifestation and visualization. The position I’m in right now is something I’ve always pictured myself doing, and it’s a position I’ve pictured myself being in since I was nine years old when I started training, and even before that. So nothing really ever feels like it’s out of this world crazy. It just feels like, okay, this is the point where this is happening, and then maybe in a few months this is the point where that’s going to happen. I try and picture it all in my head before it happens.
“And again, something that’s been super helpful for me, regardless of all the rumors about where I’m going next or if I’m staying in TNA or whatever the case may be, is as soon as I put this phone down, it all disappears and I’m back in real life. So heading into Slammiversary, the biggest show of the year, that is 100% of my focus right now. I’m focused on what I’m doing, I’m focused on smashing it with TNA, and then whatever will be will be.”
TNA Slammiversary takes place on June 28 at the Agganis Arena in Boston. TNA will also make a final stop on the road to Slammiversary at the National Western Center in Denver for two nights of TV tapings on June 6 and 7. Tickets for all events are available on the TNA website.
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