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Brit wrestling star who started training aged 9 closes in on record-breaking title reign

EXCLUSIVE: Bradford's grappling star Leon Slater is already the youngest ever X-Division champion, now he is closing in on becoming the longest ever reigning title holder

[Bradford lad Leon is the youngest ever X-Division champion]

Bradford lad Leon is the youngest ever X-Division champion(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

British wrestling star Leon Slater started training at just nine years old and is now on the cusp of a record-breaking TNA X-Division title reign.

The Bradford-born grappler, 21, will become the longest reigning X-Division champion if he beats Cedric Alexander in a two out of three falls match on TNA Impact on Thursday, May 14.

Leon who became the youngest ever X-Division champ when he won the belt from Moose at Slammiversary last year has held the title for 297 days, one short of Austin Aries' current record, and said the honour "means everything" to him.

[Leon is closing in on being a double history maker]

Leon is closing in on being a double history maker(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

He said: "The X-Division is something I grew up on as a TNA kid. The X-Division was always what I loved about TNA growing up.

"So not only to be the X-Division champion but to be a history maker in one way already, being the youngest, and closing in on being the longest, it's a dream come true. And it's a dream I've willed into reality."

Leon's love of wrestling began as a youngster and he told the Daily Star he would travel to training in Wakefield, around 40 minutes from his hometown, and would spend his schooldays dreaming of being a pro wrestler and even drawing ring gear.

[Leon wrestling TNA legend AJ Styles]

Leon wrestling TNA legend AJ Styles(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

He said: "I've been so blessed from the people that have surrounded me ever since that day, my friendship circle, my family circle, have been so supportive.

"I'm very grateful for the way I was raised my mum was an entrepreneur herself so she knows a thing or two about having a dream and making it reality. And this path I'm on right now is always the path I've imagined.

"If you'd asked Leon at any age, whether that was nine, four, three, he would have told you I would be sat here right now with the X-Division championship.

[Leon Slater in action against AJ Styles]

Leon in action against AJ Styles(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

"I've practiced visualisation and manifestation every single day. And I've worked tirelessly every day since I was nine years old to get to this spot, so although it's a spot I'm very grateful to be in, it's a spot I've imagined myself in and visualised myself in many times."

Leon, who first honed his craft on the UK independent circuit, has recently wrestled WWE legend John Cena's last show and grappled with TNA original AJ Styles before he retired.

He added: "I think it goes to all aspects of life, I try to study as many successful people as I can as I'd like to be successful myself. And the one constant they've all said is that you have to be obsessed.

[High-flying Leon has wowed fans everywhere he has worked]

High-flying Leon has wowed fans everywhere he has worked(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

"I've been very lucky that I love my obsession and I love my passion, which is professional wrestling. There is not a moment of any day that I don't think about wrestling.

"From the moment I open my eyes in a morning to the moment I close my eyes at night, professional wrestling and being the best wrestler in the world and of all time is the only thing on my mind."

Leon, who fell in love with TNA from watching clips on YouTube as a youngster, has dazzled fans wherever he has wrestled and is hotly tipped by many in the business to be a major star.

[Leon Slater makes his way to the ring during SmackDown at OVO Arena Wembley ]

Leon Slater makes his way to the ring during SmackDown at OVO Arena Wembley (Image: WWE via Getty Images)

And he has also shared the ring with Attitude Era legends The Hardy Boyz, who he said were "1a and 1b" in his list of favourite wrestlers growing up.

He said: "To get to rub shoulders with those guys and learn off legends like that is an experience I'll never, ever forget. And a real TNA original Eric Young is someone I've forever grown up watching. I remember playing as him on the TNA Impact video game.

"I just recently defended my X Division title against him at Sacrifice in a great match, one that I was very proud of. It really is a dream come true getting to wrestle all these guys that I've grown up watching. It's a very special time for me."

[Leon joked he used to draw ring gear instead of doing homework]

Leon joked he used to draw ring gear instead of doing homework(Image: WWE)

Leon's match at Impact on Thursday is part TNA's build up to its annual Slammiversary event, which celebrates the anniversary of the company's first even in June 2019. And he hopes to go into this year's event as champion, which would take his reign to 12 months.

He was left off the card in 2024 and told us: "It hurt me physically not to be on that card and I made a promise to myself to be on that card at least next year. And on that event, I won the X-Division title.

"So me and Slammiversary have a very special relationship and as we approach Slammiversary 2026, I look to make more history by maybe even capping off this reign. Maybe I do the full 365."

[Leon Slater in action against Dragon Lee]

Leon in action against Dragon Lee(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

But he doesn't feel the weight of that history and channelled his inner Alan Shearer by saying: "Pressure isn't for Leon Slater, pressure is for tires. May 14 is another date in the calendar, it's another match with high expectations.

"It's another match I'm going to smash out of the park and put on the best performance of the night, because that's what I do.

"And once I'm past Cedric, once I become the longest ever X-Division champion, then my focus shifts to Slammiversary and making some more history."

TNA Impact comes from Sacramento, California, this week at 6pm local time (2am UK time). Fans in the UK can watch on the TNA+ app, which can be downloaded here, and also includes access to the full TNA content library for just 9.99 a month or 99.99 for the year. Tickets available here.

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