TNA Wrestling star 'tipped to face AJ Styles' before WWE icon's retirement
A rising TNA Wrestling star is certain he will get a 'dream match' with AJ Styles before his retirement.
The Phenomenal One was a pioneer of the X-Division in TNA before joining WWE in 2016, and now 20-year-old British wrestler Leon Slater, 20, has set his sights on the bout.
Bradford-born Slater, who can make history by becoming the youngest ever X-Division Champion at Slammiversary this month, exclusively told Metro how a clash with Styles would be 'huge'.
The pair met late last year when the former world champion was visiting TNA backstage in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
'The fact that he took time out of his day to watch my match and be gracious enough to give me some feedback afterwards was huge for me,' Slater said.
'So I'm gonna say when, not if, when it happens. I'm gonna be ready for it, man, and it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be legendary.'
Styles has been open about winding down his career, and yesterday Fightful reported he has signed a one-year extension with WWE, which is expected to be his final contract.
While Slater was 'a bit too caught up in the moment' to float the idea of a match directly back in December, fellow Brit Trent Seven stepped up.
'I had Trent Seven by the side of me at the time. He was cheeky enough to mention it,' he laughed, before revealing Styles' reaction in the moment.
He coyly teased: 'I don't really think he heard him. He was like, 'Yeah, that would be cool. That would be cool.' But I don't think he's too familiar with me – but he will be.'
If Slater – who is billed from The 0121, Birmingham's area code – beats current X-Division Champion Moose on July 20, he will become the youngest person to ever hold the title.
He acknowledged a 'huge dream match' with Styles is top of his list after the summer, given his history with the championship.
'To be a part of that lineage, and to be to have my name holding a conversation with people like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries – Frankie Kazarian is another one – is something very, very special,' he said.
'I'm trying to live forever in wrestling, I want to be remembered. And I think a match against AJ Styles, especially at the point that I'm in right now, would be another step towards that.'
Despite Slater being so young, he's already a veteran of sorts, having started training aged nine, and growing up obsessed with wrestling.
'Everybody would either be like, 'Oh yeah, I'll go into bricklaying, I'll be a plumber, I'll go into electricity'. Or like, 'maybe I want to be a footballer,'' he recalled.
'But I was always like, 'he wants to be around to be a wrestler'. Everybody knows this, from like preschool to secondary school, 'he wants to be a wrestler.''
It wasn't easy, and Slater can still remember a moment in training during his very early teens when he was struggling with a 'running drill' complete with 'drop downs and leapfrogs and clotheslines and flow overs and all the rest of it'.
One day, he just 'burst into tears' – immediately comforted by his pals – and it's amazing to see where he is seven years later, working with WWE 'idols' the Hardy Boyz and emulating their daredevil stunts.
In April, Slater made waves on social media when he leaped off a giant 15-foot structure in an Ultimate X match, crashing to the floor at ringside when his opponents failed to catch him.
'I knew that's what I wanted to do. And then when we got there on the day, I realised it was a lot higher than I thought it would be,' he laughed.
Despite online fury in the aftermath of the fall, which could have ended in disaster after his fellow wrestlers didn't soften the landing, Slater immediately showed Jeff Hardy the footage.
'I was like a kid in a candy shop, man. I get to run up to one of my idols and show him the clip of me trying to, like, emulate what he was doing 20 years ago,' he beamed.
'He was the first person I ran up to, and he was doing his paint at the time. 'What do you think?' He went, 'That's badass, man'.
'For me, that's for me, that means more than all of the online storm that was around it, whether people caught me or not, that moment right there was, was it made it for me.'
Slater also leaned on viral wrestling star Joe Hendry for advice on how to navigate the social media maelstrom, describing the TNA – and occasional WWE – star as a 'big brother figure'.
Thankfully, amidst his rise to the top, the young star a 'great team' supporting him from fellow wrestlers to family including his mum, sister and girlfriend.
'It's pretty daunting,' he admitted. '[But] everyone is keeping my head straight… I'm sure there's going to be ups and downs, but I'm taking the punches as they come.'
View More »
Watch TNA Wrestling via TNA+. UK and Ireland fans can get a free month using the special LEONYIC code. Slammiversary airs on July 20, 2025.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Huge WWE SmackDown spoilers for tonight's episode as 'best ever star' returns
MORE: The Last of Us fans fear show is 'ruined' after creator quits before season 3
MORE: South Park faces major blow after 2-year wait for new season
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon fans have same complaint as they fume at BBC's Carlos Alcaraz coverage
Carlos Alcaraz beat Andrey Rublev in an engrossing match at Wimbledon on Sunday night, but viewers on BBC One were annoyed by the way the broadcaster decided to show it Viewers who watched Carlos Alcaraz's win over Andrey Rublev on BBC One were left annoyed on Sunday evening by the broadcaster's decision. Alcaraz reached the last 16 at Wimbledon with a stunning performance that saw him come from a set down, yet not everyone was able to enjoy it in the same fashion. The defending champion had to be at his best to overcome 14th seed Rublev, who flew out of the traps to take the opening set. But Alcaraz went toe to toe with the Russian and wrestled back control to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 under the roof on Centre Court. He will face Cameron Norrie in the next round after the Brit beat Nicolas Jarry in a five-set epic earlier on Sunday. Those inside Centre Court were transfixed on the action, with Alcaraz and Rublev trading some eye-catching rallies at extreme intensity. But many who tuned into BBC One to watch the match were irritated by the way the broadcaster went about it. While iPlayer was up to speed with the live action, BBC One was well behind, meaning anyone who was on social media or checking the score elsewhere would have received spoilers. The problem arose because BBC One had been showing the end of Norrie's engrossing win over Jarry. And when they changed to Alcaraz's match, they decided to start further back so viewers could see Rublev winning the first-set tie-break. It meant a hefty time delay, which didn't go unnoticed on social media. 'The tie break happened 20 minutes ago,' one viewer noted on X. Another bemused viewer wrote: 'Why is BBC coverage of Alcaraz and Rublev behind? They're onto the second set yet only just showing us the set one tiebreak???' Someone replied: 'Exactly my thinking? Why not show it live?' 'Another blunder from the BBC. We're watching the first set when they're a 3rd through the 2nd,' another annoyed fan added. Thankfully, what they did see was some stunning tennis between two of the most exciting men in the game. Alcaraz served superbly, hitting 22 aces past his opponent to go with his 41 winners in the match, which took two hours and 43 minutes. There were some jaw-dropping rallies and displays of clean hitting as Alcaraz came back from a slow start, which had seen him 4-1 down in the first set. 'It is just about belief in yourself. It doesn't matter if you are set down,' he said. "Tennis can change in one point. One point can change a match completely. You have to stay there all the time, be strong mentally." Alcaraz will have a day off on Monday before playing Norrie on Tuesday at the All England Club.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Cameron Norrie survives fiery Nicolas Jarry clash to reach Wimbledon quarters
Norrie is the last British player standing after taking down the towering Chilean qualifier 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-7 (7) 6-7 (5) 6-3 in four hours and 27 minutes. The 29-year-old led by two sets and had a match point in the third, but was pegged back to a fifth with Jarry firing down 46 aces among 103 winners. But Norrie, who did not drop serve all day, converted his second match point – more than two hours after his first before dropping to the ground in celebration. Jarry had complained to the umpire about the time Norrie was taking between first and second serves, and at one point seemed to mimic his opponent by stopping and starting his service action. It backfired, though, as the South American sent his serve too long and double-faulted. When quizzed about Norrie's excessive bouncing of the ball, Jarry kept his cards close to his chest. He said: 'He's very competitive, so he knows how to make the most of the important games, the important part of the match.' Norrie said he was unaware the 6ft 7in giant from Santiago was making a point – or giving one away as it turned out. 'I thought he was maybe a little bit tight on that second serve,' he said. 'I actually didn't even notice he was upset with that. I want to settle before I hit my second serve. I don't want to rush into it and hit a quick double.' The pair had words at the handshake, and their conversation continued for some time under the umpire's chair. Norrie said: 'I think it's a big match for both of us, we really wanted to win. It was obviously frustrating for him to lose. 'I just told him 'man, that was unbelievable level. You competed so well, and I loved the way you kind of responded'. 'I think he just said I was being a little bit too vocal, but I was aiming directly at my team and pulling from the crowd. The atmosphere was so, so good. WHAT A WAY TO FINISH IT OFF! 🤩 Cameron Norrie is into the quarter-finals of #Wimbledon after being forced to a decider by Nicolas Jarry, but he gets it done by winning 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 6-7(5), 6-3 🇬🇧 Just look at what it means 😁 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025 'Honestly, nothing but credit to Nico for his performance. And to see him not only playing at that level, you know, seeing him enjoying his tennis and coming through quallies so easily and dropping guys, so I wish him all the best.' Jarry's charge through qualifying to the fourth round has been one of the stories of the Championships, his ranking having plummeted from 16 this time last year to 143 due to a health issue which has affected his vision and balance. But Norrie's achievement is quite something, too, for a player who had slipped from eight in the world to 91 after a tough couple of years, and who is now on the verge of a return to the top 50. He will have his work cut out to get much further, though, with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz awaiting in the quarter-final.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Wimbledon briefing: Day seven recap, Monday order of play and technology woe
Kartal's loss to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova included an embarrassing malfunction of Wimbledon's new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. The singles quarter-final line-up will be completed on Monday, with Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek all on the schedule. Here, the PA news agency looks back at Sunday's action and previews day eight of the Championships. Cameron Norrie kept the British flag flying at Wimbledon by taking down qualifier Nicolas Jarry in a five-set marathon to reach the quarter-finals. The 29-year-old had a match point in the third set, but was taken to a fifth by the towering Chilean before getting over the line after four hours and 27 minutes. Norrie, a semi-finalist in 2022, is only the third British man to reach the last eight more than once in the last 50 years, after Tim Henman and Andy Murray, and is the last home hope remaining in singles after Sonay Kartal was beaten in straight sets by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. 'They stole the game from me' 😠 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova wasn't happy when #Wimbledon's electronic line-calling system failed ❌ — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2025 Wimbledon officials had to apologise to Pavlyuchenkova and Kartal after an embarrassing malfunction of the new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. Organisers admitted the technology was turned off in error on a section of the court for a game, with the mistake only becoming apparent when a shot from Kartal that clearly missed the baseline was not called out. Had the call been correct, it would have given Pavlyuchenkova a 5-4 lead in the first set, but instead umpire Nico Helwerth ruled the point should be replayed, with Kartal going on to win the game. A Wimbledon spokesperson later said the technology was 'deactivated in error on part of the server's side of the court', the 'chair umpire followed the established process' and both players had received an apology. Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Elise Mertens in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals for an 11th successive grand slam appearance. The victory was her 46th of the season – way ahead of any other player, with only four women managing more wins in the whole of 2024 – but having lost in the Australian Open and French Open finals so far this year, she is desperate to win Wimbledon for the first time. Meanwhile, reigning men's champion Carlos Alcaraz remains on course for a third successive SW19 title. The Spaniard dropped the opening set against Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev, but he fought back to extend his winning streak to 22 matches. Alex De Minaur has been forced to wait for a crack at seven-time champion Djokovic. The pair were scheduled to meet in the 2024 quarter-finals before a devastated De Minaur withdrew ahead of play due to a hip injury sustained in his previous round win over Arthur Fils. Twelve months on, the Australian has an opportunity a round earlier. Centre Court (from 1.30pm)Novak Djokovic (6) v Alex De Minaur (11)Mirra Andreeva (7) v Emma Navarro (10)Jannik Sinner (1) v Grigor Dimitrov (19) Court One (from 1pm)Ekaterina Alexandrova (17) v Belinda BencicBen Shelton (10) v Lorenzo SonegoIga Swiatek (8) v Clara Tauson (23) Heavy rain changing to sunny intervals by late morning, with a maximum temperature of 23C, according to the Met Office.
