Leon Slater shocked fans when he stepped up to answer Carmelo Hayes’ United States Championship open challenge on the January 16 episode of WWE SmackDown. The 21-year-old X-Division Champion received a thunderous ovation in his home country of England as he represented TNA Wrestling on WWE television—despite still being under contract. Now, we have more clarity on how this surprising crossover came together.
According to Fightful Select, Slater was originally scheduled to appear on both the January 15 episode of TNA on AMC and the TNA Genesis pay-per-view on January 17. However, those plans were scrapped due to reported visa issues affecting his ability to travel outside the UK. Since Slater was already home in England, TNA granted WWE permission to use him for the SmackDown taping at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
While early speculation suggested that a talent trade involving AJ Styles might have been in play, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Sources confirmed that the situation was less about a formal exchange and more about TNA making the best of an unexpected circumstance.
Slater’s appearance was a big moment—not just for his career, but for TNA as a brand. WWE fans saw him push Carmelo Hayes to the limit in a competitive bout filled with crowd energy and near-falls, even though he didn’t walk away with the title.
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TNA officials remain optimistic about resolving his visa issues soon. As of now, Leon Slater remains under contract with TNA through most of 2026, meaning his SmackDown appearance was a one-off showcase, not a sign of a permanent jump.
Should WWE and TNA do more crossover appearances like this? Did Leon Slater’s SmackDown moment prove that both companies can benefit? Sound off in the comments.
