GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale Defends Leon Slater After Withdrawing From Indie Bookings Due to WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

As previously reported, TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater will be in action at this weekend’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. He’ll be teaming with Je’Von Evans against World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee.

Due to the matchup being put together a short time ago, it resulted in Leon Slater having to withdraw from some previously scheduled independent bookings he had for wXw in Germany and RevPro in the UK. Fightful Select later reported that wXw sources would prefer earlier communication to avoid reshuffling the cards due to Slater’s withdrawal.

GCW owner and promoter Brett Lauderdale later commented on the rumor via social media, noting that when promoters book contracted talents, it’s done with the understanding that they can be “pulled at any time.” Lauderdale wrote, “When you book a contracted talent, you do it with the understanding that the talent can be pulled at any time for any reason (or no reason).”

He continued, “In this case, it’s inconvenient, but you have to be thrilled for Leon and realize he will now be that much more valuable when he returns.”

Leon Slater teams with Je’Von Evans against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee on December 13 at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. The show is being held at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It airs live this weekend on Peacock in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.

When you book a contracted talent, you do it with the understanding that the talent can be pulled at any time for any reason (or no reason).

In this case, it's inconvenient but you have to be thrilled for Leon and realize he will now be that much more valuable when he returns https://t.co/nhXRCjs00S

— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) December 9, 2025