Published: 3 seconds ago by SP3 | Last Updated: 3 seconds ago by SP3
Born in Harlem, New York and now living in the Bronx, Sid Pullar III aka SP3 is a lifelong wrestling fan who has been covering the industry for over nine years as a podcaster and writer. His passion for the industry has been documented with over 3,000 videos on YouTube and 8,000 written pieces across multiple outlets, such as WrestleTalk, Sports Illustrated and more.
@TruHeelSP3
WWE
Leon Slater will have one of the toughest decision of his career this year.
After establishing himself on the TNA Wrestling roster over the past two years, Slater will become a free agent in late 2026.
While it is possible that he could re-sign with TNA, many believe “The Youngest In Charge” will either be signing with WWE or AEW.
Thanks to the TNA and WWE partnership, Slater has already made his mark on the NXT brand.
This has led many fans to assume Slater will be signing with WWE when he leaves TNA, but there have been signs that this isn’t a foregone conclusion as of late.
Leon Slater’s last months in TNA Wrestling?
Coming into 2026, Leon Slater was the reigning TNA X-Division Champion.
Having become the youngest X-Division Champion ever, Slater was on the cusp of more history.
With a 298-day reign, Slater was one day away from breaking the record as the longest reigning X-Division Champion of all time when he lost to Cedric Alexander on the May 14 TNA IMPACT.
After months of fighting to get back to his title, Slater will now face Alexander for the X-Division Title inside a Steel Cage at TNA Lockdown 2026.
However, Slater had to put his most valuable accolade to do so with “The Youngest In Charge” putting his X-Division Title reign up for grabs.
With this stipulation, there is a chance TNA could have Slater lose and erase his historic run from their record books.
These particular moves feel bizarre if Slater intends to leave TNA and head to their partner in WWE.
When fans saw these decisions, it has led to speculation that Slater’s decision is not quite as clear as most thought.
History of high profile free agents choosing between WWE and AEW
Over the past seven years, there have been various notable names that have had to make the decision between WWE and AEW.
This started with Chris Jericho signing in 2019 and has extended to the likes of Kevin Knight in 2025.
In 2024, All Elite Wrestling were able to win a bidding war for Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Monè and Will Ospreay.
Meanwhile, WWE beat out AEW for The Motor City Machine Guns and Stephanie Vaquer that same year.
Considering all the crossover between rosters, it has become fascinating to see who chooses between the two major promotions.
Leon Slater becomes the latest noteworthy star to have this same decision.
At just 21 years old, Slater could set himself and his family for a lifetime with this signing.
Regardless of the choice, Slater has a lot of factors to consider with each company.
What should Slater choose: WWE or AEW?
When choosing between WWE and AEW, Leon Slater has to consider every aspect of the two promotions.
With WWE, Slater has some familiarity from his appearances on NXT and John Cena’s Final Match.
After making an impact on NXT, it would not be surprising to see Slater join the young crop of talent on the WWE roster right now.
Being so young in his career, Slater would benefit from additional time working at the WWE Performance Center.
Having everything WWE has to offer will only make this transition easy for Slater.
Whether it be on his own or reuniting with Je’Von Evans, Slater has a ton of potential in WWE if they signed him.
Now looking at All Elite Wrestling, this is some intrigue in Slater signing there.
Considering his in-ring style, Slater feels like someone who could fit in nicely with the AEW roster.
The fast-paced, high octane style of AEW would be looked at as a positive to someone like “The Youngest In Charge.”
There has been some recent success with TNA stars transitioning to All Elite Wrestling.
From Speedball Mike Bailey and Josh Alexander to Ace Austin and The Rascalz, these stars have added some necessary depth to the AEW roster.
However, Slater is someone who is so young and could join the next generation of top stars for the promotion.
Placing him alongside Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight and Nick Wayne, Slater could excel for years to come in AEW.
With the world at his fingertips, Slater will be one of the most compelling free agent decisions of 2026.
To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!
