Leon Slater Doesn't View TNA As A 'Stepping Stone' To Other Promotions

TNA World Champion Leon Slater has dismissed suggestions that stars like him use TNA as a stepping stone to greater things.

TNA Wrestling was once the second-biggest promotion behind WWE before AEW came along, with many wrestlers using it as a platform to move on to other promotions. However, Slater doesn't share that view, as he believes he has used his opportunities in WWE to improve and help grow TNA rather than secure a WWE contract.

"I was on Xplosion every match. I was losing every match. And then I built my way up and I built my way up to the point within TNA that WWE reached out to us," he began while speaking to "Extreme Channel." "I think the difference between me and a couple of other people is that I used my opportunity there, I gained the platform, the exposure, countless lessons learned, and I've brought them back to TNA. And I'll be honest, I wouldn't be TNA World Champion right now if it wasn't for my time in NXT and, you know, those couple of times on the main roster as well because, like I said, those lessons have been invaluable. So, to anyone that thinks TNA is just a stepping stone, I don't think that's the case at all. I think it raised a true partnership where people from our side, from the TNA side, get to go over there and learn a completely new style."

Slater believes that the partnership between TNA and WWE has benefited wrestlers from both sides, with the young stars in "NXT" learning from experienced TNA wrestlers like the Hardys and Nic Nemeth.

The 22-year-old star is viewed by many as the future of pro wrestling and is highly regarded, as evidenced by his world title win in TNA and numerous matches in WWE. It seems WWE is keen to sign him in the future, with reports suggesting that he could make the switch to the promotion and join "NXT" when his contract with TNA expires.