Leon Slater has opened up about discovering he would be competing on the same show as John Cena’s retirement match, an appearance that came during a breakout stretch for the young star across TNA and WWE.
Speaking to Extreme Channel, Slater recalled how his schedule in late 2025 had him constantly on the move. While based in the United Kingdom, he was traveling frequently for TNA commitments before also being called to Orlando for NXT appearances. According to Fightful, it was during that period that Slater found out he would be wrestling on Saturday Night’s Main Event, the WWE event in Washington, D.C. that featured Cena’s retirement match.
The appearance capped an extraordinary two years for Slater, who has captured both the TNA X-Division Championship and the TNA World Championship during that span. His presence on the same card as Cena’s final match placed him alongside one of the most significant moments in recent WWE history, even as he continued to build his own resume as a top champion in TNA.
CM Punk Confirms Role in Cena Classic and Worlds Collide
Separately, CM Punk has confirmed his own involvement in WWE’s upcoming December programming tied to Cena’s legacy. Punk responded to a WWE Instagram post announcing that he will work the December 14 edition of Raw, which will feature the John Cena Classic, as well as the Marvel-themed Worlds Collide event on December 15. Punk did not specify the nature of his involvement in either appearance, leaving the exact details of his role on both dates unconfirmed.
The John Cena Classic on Raw and the Worlds Collide crossover event on consecutive nights mark two of WWE’s more notable December dates, with Cena’s retirement continuing to shape surrounding programming even after his final match. Slater’s reflections and Punk’s confirmed involvement both tie back to the broader rollout of content connected to Cena’s send-off, underscoring how central that retirement storyline has remained to WWE’s recent booking across its weekly shows and special events.
Neither Slater nor Punk has detailed specific match plans beyond what has been confirmed, and WWE has not released additional information on the exact format of Punk’s appearances at the Cena Classic or Worlds Collide.
