Leon Slater is the new TNA World Champion. Slater defeated Nic Nemeth at Bound for Glory on October 11 at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, in what Wikipedia describes as his Option C world title match.
Option C lets the reigning X Division Champion vacate that title for a shot at the World Championship, Fightful reported. Slater announced he would use it after The Nemeths beat The Hardys for the TNA World Tag Team Titles in the main event of TNA Lockdown.
"OPTION C! @LEONSLATER_ is invoking his right to trade in the X-Division Title to challenge @NicTNemeth for the TNA World Title," TNA Wrestling said in its announcement.
Slater was born on September 27, 2004, which makes him 22. Wikipedia lists him as the youngest holder in the title's history and the first wrestler born in the 21st century to win a world championship in TNA. The previous youngest champion was Tessa Blanchard, who was 24 when she won the title at Hard to Kill on January 12, 2020.
Wikipedia describes Slater as a former two-time TNA X Division Champion. His first reign began when he beat Moose at Slammiversary on July 20, 2025, and lasted 298 days until Cedric Alexander beat him on May 14, 2026, which tied Austin Aries' record for the longest X Division reign. He won the title a second time at TNA Lockdown on August 23, 2026, and that second reign is the one he gave up for the World Championship match.
Nemeth won the World Championship from Mike Santana at Slammiversary on June 28, 2026, so his reign lasted 105 days.
Slater leaves Bound for Glory as TNA World Champion, and Nemeth's 105 day run as champion is over.
