By John Moore, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@liljohnm)
TNA Lockdown
Chicago, Illinois, at Credit Union 1 Arena
Aired live August 23, 2026, on pay-per-view and TNA+
Pre-Show Review
Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt checked in from a table at ringside. Rehwoldt noted that this was the most requested PPV for TNA to bring back. Hannifan noted that currently injured wrestler Chris Bey performed the theme song of this week’s PPV. They sent the show to a hype package for the Jason Hotch vs. Mustafa Ali match…
Gia Miller checked in from ringside (forgetting to code change because she’s in her southern accent). Gia interviewed a fan who was trying to act sassy…
Entrances for the opening match took place…
John’s Thoughts: I really like the new theme Rich Swann’s been using. It’s original music made for him, has a good beat, and also has a little bit of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” sprinkled in. Lionel’s “All Night Long” is a leitmotif that Swann has used all his career.
1. “The Righteous” Vincent and Dutch vs. Rich Swann and BDE. There was no commentary during the match since Rehwoldt and Hannifan weren’t on the headsets. Swann and BDE swarmed Vincent with tandem offense. BDE got a two count after an assisted bulldog. Dutch blind tagged in and swatted BDE out of the air with a clothesline. The Righteous cut the ring in half on BDE.
BDE got a window of opportunity with some kicks and punches. Vincent cut BDE off and told him he’s only trying to help him. BDE rolled up Vincent and used the kickout to tag in Swann, who took down Vincent with Road Dogg punches. Swann hit Vincent with a Lethal Injection and hit Dutch with a Flip Dive. Swann hit Vincent with a Frog Splash for a nearfall. Vincent hit BDE with a hook and took down Swann with a spinning side slam.
BDE broke up Vincent’s pin with a Frog Splash. BDE tagged in and hit Vincent with a rolling Codebreaker and Cody Cutter for a nearfall. Dutch shoved BDE off the top rope and tackled Rich Swann into the announce table. Vincent hit BDE with an assisted Springboard Bulldog (Stratisfaction) for the win.
The Righteous defeated BDE and Rich Swann via pinfall in 7:52.
John’s Thoughts: A lot of BDE matches are predictable, but it’s also a part of his long term character development. The YouTuber turned Wrestler is progressing smoothly with his on-the-job training. He’s someone I hope WWE doesn’t scoop up into the Performance Center because I’d like to see this investment in character development pay off. I also like the Kouhai-Sempai relationship between BDE and Swann. It can possibly lead to a feud between the two in the end? I also can’t wait until they find a way to get Rich Swann back in the main event picture given he’s still peak in the ring and in peak physical condition.
The System were backstage cutting a promo to hype up their Lethal Lockdown match. Cedric Alexander hyped up his match against Leon Slater. They all ended their promo saying that “you cannot beat The System”…
The SUIT Daria Rae joined the pre-show panel. Rae talked about how she likes the young talent in Lethal Lockdown, but she can’t bet against The System. Hannifan asked Rae what went into bringing back Lethal Lockdown. Rae said she made the best business decision for the company. Hannifan noted that Rae wrestled in WWE’s elimination chamber, and asked her what it was like competing in a match like Lethal Lockdown. Rae talked about having to fight against multiple people and the cage structure.
Hannifan sent the show to the Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater hype package. The preshow team gave their thoughts on the match. Rehwoldt claimed that all of Leon Slater’s record breaking footage will be deleted if he loses (oh boy! ugh). Tom Hannifan welcomed former WWE wrestler Candace Michelle. Hannifan asked Candace how she’s felt working with the Knockouts. She talked about working with them backstage and they’ve all been great. She said she’s excited to see what they can bring in a steel cage. The panel continued to talk about the Knockouts on the show…
Tom Hannifan announced Elijah vs. AJ Francis for the opening match of the show. Hannifan sent the show to Gia Miller who interview a “fan” at ringside. The EC3 jacket guy! (I actually got to talk to him at a TV taping recently. Really nice and dedicated TNA fan). EC3 jacket guy predicted that the Hardys will beat the Nemeths…
Entrances for the next match took place. Trey Miguel came out cosplaying as Spider-Man (Wearing the Peter Parker colors with a Miles Morales-like hoodie)…
2. Agent Zero vs. Trey Miguel. Trey went for some of his lucha moves, but Zero kept a firm base and used his size to block it. Trey dumped Zero to ringside. Trey went for a Suicide Dive, but Zero swatted him out of the air. Zero worked on Trey with methodical offense. Zero got a two count after an End of Days. Trey kicked off Zero’s chest and flipped to the top rope to hit Zero with a diving Meteora.
Trey used an enzuigiri to dump Zero to ringside. Trey hit Zero with a step up flip dive. Zero recovered and body slammed Trey on the apron. Trey caught Zero with kicks. Zero deadlifted Trey from his kees and tossed him on the ropes. Trey rolled up Zero with a Victory Roll for the victory.
Trey Miguel defeated Agent Zero via pinfall in 5:12.
John’s Thoughts: Welp? That was a fine enough match. I liked the clash of styles with Trey looking like he hasn’t missed a beat and Zero looking strong with his power moves. Not the biggest fan of Agent Zero losing clean. I get that they protected him a tiny bit because Trey had to pluck a win (I love me some plucky wins from babyfaces), but there’s an aura of mystery behind Agent Zero and you kinda wipe away a bit of that by taking away his invincibility. Zero looked good in the ring here which is why I think TNA needs to protect the big man, especially if he every breaks out to singles competition.
A hype package aired to hype up the Elayna Black vs. Xia Brookside match in Black’s hometown of Chicago. Indi Hartwell joined the pre-show panel. Daria Rae acted annoyed. Indi said she’s next in line for the Knockouts title. Rae said title matches aren’t given, they’re earned. Indi talked about how everyone including the fans know she’s earned it.
Rae said it was her decision to not bring her back to TNA. Indi said that all of Rae’s decisions suck. Rae told Indi to Tread Lightly. Indi said they should change Daria Rae’s name to Diarrhea Rae. One fan in the crowd chanted “Diarrhea Rae”. Indi was a good sport and said “that’s my guy!”. Rae told Indi to watch herself. Rae left and the stagehands were setting up the steel cage…
John’s Thoughts: Indi’s diarrhea joke didn’t catch on, but her giving the one fan that chanted it made me smile. That’s the fun authenticity and positivity that made Indi fun in NXT. I like that TNA didn’t rush the title onto Indi like they do to for most former WWE wrestlers. They always find a way to have her be relevant, while not wrestling for the title, which gives the women’s division storyline depth. Given Daria’s a pretty good wrestler, I wouldn’t mind them booking towards an Indi Hartwell vs. Daria Rae match.
Hannifan sent the show to a Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian hype package. Hannifan and Rehwoldt gave their thoughts on the match…
Main Show Review
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