Leon Slater has reflected on the significance of appearing at John Cena’s final WWE event, describing the opportunity as an “unbelievable feeling” and a major point of pride in his career.
The TNA World Champion was part of the December 2025 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, a show built around Cena’s final WWE appearance. The event also provided a platform for a collection of younger performers alongside established names, and Slater was among the talent chosen to take part despite being contracted to TNA at the time.
Slater teamed with Je’Von Evans in a tag team match against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. The bout brought together two emerging high-flyers with a pair of accomplished WWE veterans, while Slater’s inclusion also stood out because he arrived as TNA’s X-Division Champion rather than as a WWE roster member.
A rare chance to represent TNA on a major WWE night
Speaking on the I Love Wrestling Podcast, Slater explained that the scale and setting of the assignment made it especially meaningful. He noted that several young wrestlers were featured around the event, naming Sol Ruca, Oba Femi and Evans among those he associated with that group.
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“It was an absolutely unbelievable feeling, man. Not only to be one of, I think there was eight of us. I believe it was me, Sol, Oba, and Je’Von,” Slater said.
For Slater, the distinction was not merely being given a spot on a high-profile WWE card. It was receiving that chance while carrying a championship from another promotion. He said that dynamic made the appearance feel like both a personal endorsement and a show of faith from TNA.
“But out of those, you know, kind of four or five people, not only having the chance to be one of those four or five people, but to be one of those four or five people and not even work for WWE. I was the X-Division Champion contracted to TNA at the time. So that made it even more special for me that not only TNA trusted me to represent them on such a big stage, but WWE wanted me to represent TNA and myself on such a big stage and wanted me to represent the future of the industry on such a big stage on such an important night, like John Cena’s final match.”
That perspective captures why Slater’s role carried added weight. Wrestlers regularly view a major television booking as an opportunity to impress, but Slater was also conscious of appearing as a representative of the TNA locker room and of the X-Division title he held. The match was an opportunity for him to show his ability in front of a WWE audience without leaving behind the identity he had established in TNA.
The appearance also placed Slater in a ring with Styles, one of the most decorated and influential performers of his generation, and Dragon Lee, whose fast-paced style has made him a natural fit for the kind of athletic match Slater has become known for. Teaming with Evans gave the contest another layer, as both men have been identified as wrestlers with substantial upside.
John Cena’s approach left a lasting impression
Slater also spoke warmly about his interaction with Cena during the event. Cena’s last WWE show naturally carried enormous emotional importance, not only for the fans who have followed his career but for the wrestlers invited to be part of the occasion. For Slater, getting time with Cena was a dream scenario.
He said Cena did not make him feel separate from the WWE talent because of his TNA contract. Instead, Slater felt that Cena recognized the ability of the young wrestlers around him and treated the interaction as an opportunity to offer perspective.
“He sees the talent, and, you know, getting the chance to meet him and pick his brain for the small time that I did, it really was a dream come true, man,” Slater said.
That kind of moment can resonate long after a single match ends. Cena’s career has spanned multiple generations of WWE, and he has worked with performers from a wide range of wrestling backgrounds. Slater’s comments suggest that the brief conversation mattered as much as the exposure that came with competing on the same event.
It is also notable that Slater framed the night in terms of the industry’s future. Cena’s farewell created a natural contrast between one of modern wrestling’s defining stars and the group of younger athletes receiving opportunities on the card. Slater was not claiming a place within WWE’s full-time roster; rather, he viewed his selection as a chance to stand beside fellow emerging names while representing the wider wrestling landscape.
Slater’s WWE appearances have continued
The Saturday Night’s Main Event tag match was not Slater’s only WWE exposure. Since that appearance, he has made additional appearances in both WWE NXT and on the main roster. Most notably, Slater wrestled Carmelo Hayes on WWE SmackDown, continuing a run of visibility beyond TNA programming.
Those appearances do not change the central point of Slater’s reflection: at the time of Cena’s final WWE event, he was a TNA-contracted champion receiving an invitation to perform on one of WWE’s most meaningful nights. That circumstance is why he repeatedly emphasized the trust placed in him by both sides.
TNA’s X-Division has long been associated with innovation, speed and wrestlers eager to establish themselves on major stages. Slater’s opportunity allowed him to bring that association into a WWE environment, while his later NXT and SmackDown matches have ensured that the December 2025 event was not an isolated appearance in front of WWE viewers.
For Slater, however, the Cena connection remains the defining part of the memory. The chance to wrestle during a farewell event for a performer of Cena’s stature, speak with him backstage and gain a small amount of advice was a landmark experience. As Slater made clear, being there as TNA’s X-Division Champion made the occasion even more special.
His comments underline the personal significance of the booking: it was a chance to compete, to represent his promotion and championship, and to be part of an event marking the end of Cena’s WWE career. For a young champion continuing to build momentum across TNA and WWE appearances, that is a memory with lasting value.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.