Match Point: NXT’s Oba Femi vs TNA’s Leon Slater – NXT Championship Match (NXT New Year’s Evil 2026)

If Leon Slater Becomes NXT Champion

Leon Slater is a man of his word. He promised to become the new youngest X-Division Champion in the history of TNA Wrestling. At TNA Slammiversary 2025, he defeated Moose and did it. Doing what Moose was not able to do nearly a year ago would be quite ironic. Another irony is the fact that Moose called for his TNA Slammiversary 2025 rematch six months later, at TNA Genesis 2026. And the 3-Way stipulation could benefit him, as too many interferences are possible.

Also, suddenly, a simple rematch could turn into a Winner Takes All match, with Moose competing for the NXT Championship and the TNA X-Division Championship. We could imagine the same when we know Slater faced Je’Von Evans at TNA Bound for Glory 2025. Because DarkState ruined the match, Evans could also ask for a rematch, and why not a Winner Takes All one?

In the Fatal 4-Way match to determine Femi’s opponent at NXT New Year’s Evil, Leon Slater was an outsider. Dion Lennox or Myles Borne had my vote on that night. And Slater made it. He flew his way to a NXT Championship title chance. After WWE Saturday Night Main Event XLII, Femi, Slater, Evans, and Sol Ruca impressed the company’s officials.

Slater made it clear: he may be only 21, but he is not afraid of Oba Femi. As he said after the Fatal 4-Way match, “Youngest in Charge, I don’t play about. I’m a record breaker, a moment maker, the youngest X-Division Champion in TNA history. No part of my mind thinks I can’t break another record and make another moment.”

If Oba Femi Retains

According to Bill Apter and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, Oba Femi could be the next Brock Lesnar. Even if Femi refuses comparisons, this one came at a moment when Lesnar is said to be retiring this year, possibly in his hometown. For sure, like Lesnar, Femi is a phenom. His incredible raw athleticism has made him the Ruler of NXT for the last two years.

With a record 272 days as NXT North American Champion, an Iron Survivor Challenge Winner, and already a 2-time NXT Champion, The Ruler has already established himself as one of the preeminent forces in the industry (even if he thinks the opposite). There is no telling the heights that he can reach in WWE. That may be the reason why, even if he retains at New Year’s Evil, his time on NXT is clearly coming to an end.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes opened the door for the NXT Championship to shine in his main roster debut match at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII. WWE officials were “unbelievably impressed” by Femi’s recent outings on the main roster. So impressed, in fact, that the company has now aired vignettes for him on both SmackDown and RAW, an indication that his full-time call-up is just around the corner.

Officials also view Femi on the same level as Bron Breakker, which is a huge comparison. Bron Breakker is currently being groomed as one of WWE’s next major stars. If Femi is seen in the same light, his long-term ceiling is incredibly high. While WWE hasn’t announced when or where he’ll land, the momentum is clear: Oba Femi is coming, as long as we give him some time to leave NXT the same way he honored it.

What About Ricky Saints, Je’Von Evans, and NXTNA

Over the last few weeks, the feud between Oba Femi and Ricky Saints involved Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater. Saints wants the NXT Championship gold back around his waist, by defeating Femi again if possible. Evans seeks revenge on Saints for making him lose his chance to become NXT Champion. Also, Slater and Evans may have teamed up recently. Evans could turn heel and then chase the X-Division Championship, which DarkState prevented him from winning, and the NXT Championship, which Slater could have won.

First, let’s hope not one of them got involved in the match. It has to be a fair win, with a nice handshake. Second, everything will happen after, depending on who becomes Champion. Je’Von Evans is also very close to making his main roster “real” debut. If Femi wins, Evans could have another title chance and more issues with Ricky Saints. If Slater wins, he will have two rosters running after him, including Saints and Evans, like in the final scene of “The Benny Hill Show” TV Series. Time will tell.

Trick Williams captured the TNA World Championship; Jacy Jayne and Kelani Jordan became TNA Knockouts World Champions. The TNA X-Division Champion, the company’s flagship title, being the NXT Champion makes sense. If TNA Wrestling has to capture an NXT singles Championship, it has to be the man who holds the title that represents the company the best. The X-Division is TNA Wrestling’s DNA, something that has never been replicated elsewhere.

As I stated in my last match point, Hegel said that History is made of histories, like stories or moments. Watching this match will make you become a part of History. On Tuesday night, Oba Femi and Leon Slater will open the door for more stories and build the History of the wrestling business. History clock never stops, as Voltaire stated, “I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker.” I think that’s what “Clockmaker” Leon Slater would call making moments.

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