Leon Slater Apologizes To Fans After Missing Impact’s AMC Debut & TNA Genesis

TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater may not have been able to make it to Dallas, Texas, for Genesis 2026, but he did address fans via a video message during the show.

As previously reported, Slater was pulled from Thursday Night iMPACT’s AMC premiere and the Genesis PPV due to visa issues. He was initially scheduled to defend his title against Myron Reed on iMPACT and then again against Moose and Cedric Alexander in a Triple Threat Match at Genesis.

While Leon’s match against Reed was eventually canceled, Joe Hendry replaced him in the Triple Threat Match at Genesis. Amid all this, Slater competed on WWE SmackDown this Friday, answering Carmelo Hayes’ Open Challenge for the US Title. Fightful Select later reported that TNA allowed WWE to book him, given that the show was in London and Slater was stranded at home.

At TNA Genesis, Leon Slater addressed fans via a video message. He apologized for not making it to the abovementioned events but maintained that things were neither in his nor TNA’s top brass’ control. He then thanked Joe Hendry for stepping up and replacing him in the Triple Threat Match before promising Moose and Alexander that they would get their shots at the X-Division Championship once he returns to the US.

“Yo, TNA family, it’s the boy, the youngest in charge. Your youngest ever X-Division Champion, Leon Slater, here, and I just want to apologize for not being able to be at the AMC Premiere on Thursday, and unfortunately, I’m not going to be with you guys tonight at Genesis. And it’s something that’s out of my control, something that’s out of senior management’s control.

“But I do want to say a thank you real quick to my brother Joe Hendry for stepping up and taking my spot in that crazy Triple Threat match tonight. As far as Moose and Cedric Alexander go, I’m going to make sure that those two guys get a shot at my X-Division Championship as soon as I’m back,” Leon Slater said.

Check out his statement below (via TNA’s X)

A message from TNA X Division Champion @LEONSLATER_!

Watch #TNAGenesis LIVE on TNA+: https://t.co/VpWjSXHwKZ pic.twitter.com/lofQHucBD5

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 18, 2026

Hendry emerged victorious at Genesis, pinning Cedric Alexander following his signature Standing Ovation move.