WWE legends Hardy Boyz declare 21-year-old English wrestler is ‘future of the business’

The Hardy Boyz are two of the all-time greats – and they think one of the UK’s own can reach those same heights.

Real-life brothers Matt and Jeff, who currently hold the TNA Wrestling Tag Team Titles, having risen to fame and become legends in WWE, have heaped praise on 21-year-old Leon Slater as the ‘future’ of the entire industry.

The Bradford lad is X-Division Champion, continuing a legacy built by icons like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, and he was hand-picked for John Cena’s final show at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Speaking exclusively to Metro, Matt said: ‘Leon is the future of the business. He’s 21, but mentally, he acts and thinks like a 30-year-old. ‘He’s way ahead mentally, which is one thing that I probably respect the most about him. We have lots of love for Leon, man.

‘We’re so happy that we were able to cross paths and meet each other in this crazy profession of pro wrestling.’

As well as impressing on TNA, Leon has appeared for WWE on NXT and SmackDown, as well as teaming with fellow 21-year-old prodigy Je’Von Evans in an epic sprint against Styles and Dragon Lee.

Meanwhile, Matt and Jeff recognise that the industry is always evolving, and 28 years after their WWE debut, the duo are seeing their own children show an interest in following in their footsteps.

‘My oldest and youngest are into it pretty big. My middle guy is super creative,’ Matt smiled. ‘He’s like, “I don’t know if I wanna get beat up like that, Dad, but can you insult people and make money in wrestling? You can? That’s awesome!” ‘

And Jeff’s daughters could make the Hardy Girlz a reality one day, which is something he’s wanted since before the Women’s Tag Titles were introduced in 2018.

‘When I saw that on TV, I was like, “Oh my God, they have Women’s Tag Team Championships. What if I have the first tag team of the Hardy Girlz?!” It would be incredible.’

His eldest daughter is already ‘just so naturally talented with acting’, and while she hasn’t started training yet, it’s on the cards.

Jeff smiled: ‘She’s asked me about it several times recently, like, “Dad, you still think about maybe getting that ring one day?” So it’s maybe not too late, and the Hardy Girlz may very well be a thing in the future!’

The Hardy Boyz are equally certain they’ll be back in WWE in the future, having appeared on NXT last year and even held gold on the show.

‘We’re in constant negotiations with WWE about doing some more stuff,’ Matt revealed. ‘We will do more with them.’

He admitted the whole thing is a ‘fun’ process, while any comeback would have to be in a way that still benefited TNA.

‘It was very important to us to stay at TNA as opposed to becoming a WWE full-time act [again],’ he explained. ‘In TNA, we’re going to be put in a position to succeed, and we can contribute, and we can help the company grow and be better.

‘And the relationship with WWE has been great. Anytime we’ve interacted with Shawn Michaels, he was absolutely awesome – Triple H, whoever, we’ve got along with everybody really good.

‘I think you’re going to see some more cool Hardy Boyz moments in WWE before it’s all said and done in 2026.’

That said, the Hardyz are very much focused on TNA, and working with the likes of The Righteous, who were set to team with the late, great Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda), but plans changed months before his death aged 36 in August 2023.

‘Windham would have loved to have been able to sink his teeth into Vinnie and Dutch, no doubt,’ Matt smiled. ‘The thing I really enjoy the most about them is how committed they are to the bit, and that’s what’s important whenever you’re playing a character in pro wrestling.

‘You really have to become that character, especially when the red light is on.’

When it comes to character-work, the Hardyz are in a tricky spot where they want to evolve, and even become bad guys again, but after an illustrious career, fans have certain expectations.

‘I am kind of in that Ricky Steamboat category,’ Jeff acknowledged. ‘It’s hard to make people hate me.’

However, he teased: ‘I’m looking forward to this year, maybe leaning into a little more egotistical side of the Hardyz. Not only saying we’re the GOATs, but knowing we’re the GOATs, an in-between heel and face type of thing.’

The Hardyz are ultimately just grateful for their legacy, their fans, and the opportunity to work at a high level with TNA.

‘We don’t have anything to complain about, and if we did complain, nobody would listen anyway,’ Matt laughed. ‘We took so much pride in trying to be in the vanguard of talent that was pushing TNA forward, trying to secure a big media rights deal [with AMC].’

He added with another grin: ‘It’s a good time right now for TNA, and it’s a good time for the Hardy Boyz.’

UK fans can watch the Hardy Boyz and all things TNA Wrestling on the TNA+ app.

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