Can TNA Wrestling Star Leon Slater Become NXT Champion at New Year’s Evil?

At NXT Deadline, Je’Von Evans became the number one contender for Oba Femi’s NXT Championship. The prize for winning the Iron Survivor Challenge was a title match at New Year’s Evil. Evans, however, didn’t want to wait that long. The very next Tuesday, he cashed in his title match opportunity.

He lost the match thanks to Ricky Saints’ interference by pulling on the referee’s leg, negating the pin attempt. It was announced that on December 16, 2025, the episode of NXT, a fatal four-way match would be held to determine Femi’s opponent.

After a tense match, Leon Slater walked away victorious over Dion Lennox, Joe Hendry, and Myles Borne. Now, Slater, a TNA contracted wrestler, can realistically take the NXT Championship for himself. But given the current relationship between NXT and TNA, will that happen, or will outside interference ruin any chance of victory? 

A Slater Victory Gives TNA an Actual Championship 

For months now, the NXT and TNA partnership has been in full swing. There have been definite highs and very deep lows. One constant complaint is the fact that TNA hasn’t really benefited from the partnership at all. NXT has taken all of the belts, with the latest heist being Stacks winning the TNA International Championship.

Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry have fully signed with NXT. With their AMC debut in four weeks, they need some momentum. Having Slater win the NXT Championship would allow Femi to go to the main roster, while boosting TNA’s share in the partnership.

The first NXT title won by a TNA wrestler, being the NXT Championship, would be a great accomplishment. The win would also allow the belt to be defended on TNA programming, so Slater beating Femi would open more doors to new matches and potential new champions. 

The NXT Outsiders are a Dangerous Threat to Slater 

The NXT and TNA partnership is right now in a crisis. There’s no talk of them breaking off the partnership, but things have gone horribly wrong. For the past couple of weeks, NXT outsiders have invaded TNA, attacking wrestlers and disrupting matches.

It got so bad that TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella ordered a five-on-five steel cage match to have a resolution. That match will take place on the December 18, 2025 episode of TNA iMPACT.

With the title match at New Year’s Evil being a WWE champion against a TNA contender, there’s no telling what kind of interference will take place. If the NXT outsiders lose the cage match, it’s clear what their next move will be. Slater had better be super careful, or else there will be a 6 1 attack against him. That will make winning the belt nearly impossible. 

The Stakes are Definitely High for the Match 

People following the NXT and TNA partnership will definitely want to tune into this match. A TNA wrestler potentially winning an NXT title weeks before their AMC debut is a huge deal.

Adding on the fact that it’s the NXT Championship raises the stakes super high. Also, the fact that Slater is 21 years old would make him the youngest NXT Champion of all time. TNA needs this win, so if they want an NXT title, now would be the time to get it. However, this match comes at a time when NXT and TNA relations are worse than ever.