Summary

Leon Slater has opened up about his January 16 WWE SmackDown match against Carmelo Hayes, describing it as one of his most memorable in-ring experiences to date. Slater stepped up to answer Hayes' open challenge for the United States Championship that night, and while he couldn't dethrone the champion, the match left a strong impression on the British star.

Speaking to SunSport, Slater reflected on how the Wembley crowd lifted him during the contest. As a homegrown talent wrestling in front of a UK audience, Slater heard fans chanting "he's one of our own" during the bout, and the moment stuck with him. He also praised his natural chemistry with Hayes as something that elevated the match.

Quote from Leon Slater

"I'll be honest, that's probably the most comfortable I ever felt in a WWE ring because I felt like I was with my people, you know what I'm saying, like I remember. There was one point where Carmelo [Hayes] was punching me in the face or something, like, I was getting battered, but I remember hearing, 'he's one of our own, he's one of our own.' Then I was like, 'OK, right, we're really at home. We've got the chants going and everything!' Me and Melo hit it off, man. I feel like our chemistry [in the] ring was on a different level. I'm glad we got to deliver that night in Wembley."

Slater's Place in the WWE Picture

Slater's showing in the US title challenge was notable for a wrestler still carving out his spot on the main roster. Getting a title match opportunity on SmackDown in front of a Wembley crowd is the kind of high-profile TV slot that can shift how creative views a talent. Slater's connection with UK audiences in particular is a real asset, and the combination of a strong crowd response and visible chemistry with a credible opponent like Hayes is the sort of performance that can stick in the minds of bookers.

His previous run with TNA's X-Division title has already established him as someone comfortable in fast-paced, spotlight matches. If WWE continues to lean on UK events or looks to build new faces around the midcard, Slater's name will keep coming up.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.