Leon Slater won the TNA World Championship on Sunday, defeating Nic Nemeth in the main event of Bound for Glory. At 22, he became the youngest world champion in TNA history, but he is already being linked to WWE.
According to PWInsider, several people in WWE are keeping an eye on Slater’s situation, mainly because the company expected his TNA contract to expire at the end of 2026.
The main question is whether Slater will take the same route as Cruz Montana, formerly known as Mike Santana, who extended his TNA deal by a few months to get a run at the top of the promotion before moving to NXT.
Slater could also have a short title reign, dropping the championship before the end of the year to clear the way for his arrival in WWE.
WWE’s interest in Slater is nothing new, and PWInsider notes that many people behind the scenes have expected the company to sign him for a long time. It is not yet clear whether he will head to NXT as soon as 2027 begins or stay with TNA for a few more months and move to WWE in 2026.
Fightful Select reported in August 2025 that Slater had signed a three-year contract with TNA that began in October 2023 and was set to expire in the second half of 2026. In addition to WWE, AEW is reportedly interested in signing him.
For now, it is business as usual for Slater as TNA World Champion. He is advertised for this week’s Impact tapings in Dothan, Alabama, and is set to make his first appearance as champion on Thursday’s episode.