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. Hannifan welcomed CM Punk’s good buddy, Ace Steel, who hyped up the Chicago crowd. Hannifan noted that the last wrestling show to happen in this arena was a WCW show. Steel gave his thoughts on the Moose vs. Kazarian match and he predicted Kazarian due to him being a veteran. Ace then gave his thoughts on the Hardys vs. Nemeths match, predicting that Ryan Nemeth will go splat…
Hannifan sent the show to Gia Miller in the cage. Miller talked about how intimidating the steel cage feels. She gave a good and melodramatic explanation of how epic the steel cage is. The pre-show panel were smiling due to how epic Gia got (she sounds like a totally different person when she doesn’t code change. Reminds me of the time she threatened to kill Tessa Blanchard before their match). Hannifan then hyped “The Phenomenal Son” Avery Styles, AJ’s son, appearing on Lockdown. Hannifan and Rehwoldt then hyped up the opening match of the PPV, Elijah vs. AJ Francis. Hannifan closed the pre-show…
John’s Thoughts: While still skippable, the TNA pre-shows are way better than NXT pre-shows. NXT pre-shows run on autopilot and offer no watchable value since all the recap videos appear on the main show. The TNA pre-show has some fun matches, but not too much like AEW shows. They also give good enough recaps to catch up viewers who don’t watch weekly TV while also offering minor storyline development. It’s not a waste of time.
Main Show Review
[Hour One] The show started off with an instrumental of Star Spangled Banner for the National Anthem segment. They then sent the show to the introduction video, featuring a Chris Bey music video where he performed the theme song of the PPV, “Fade Away”…
Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt were on commentary…
Entrances for the opening match took place…
1. AJ Francis vs. “The Drifter” Elijah in a Steel Cage Match. AJ started the match immediately with a running knee strike for a two count. Elijah used a knee to block the Down Payment. Elijah hit AJ with a jumping clothesline for a nearfall. Elijah it AJ with Undertaker’s Old School. Elijah hit AJ with a Stunner for a nearfall.
John’s Thoughts: Now he’s stealing Steve Austin’s moves? He’s been using Undertaker’s moveset and pulled out a Brock Lesnar F5 on Thursday. This guy really wants to be a WWE 2K create-a-wrestler.
AJ turned the tide a bit by tossing Elijah several times into the steel cage. Rehwoldt hyped up how there was no give in the steel cage. AJ staggered himself after running into the cage after Elijah dodged. AJ held on the cage to block a Sunset Bomb. Elijah pulled harder to hit Francis with the Sunset Bomb for a two count. Elijah shoved Francis off the top rope and hit him with an Elbow Drop for a nearfall.
Elijah climbed to the top of the cage and went for a Super Old School off the top of the Cage scaffolding. AJ dragged Elijah and then climbed up to the top to trade strikes with Elijah. Francis used a headbutt to knock Elijah down. Elijah staggered AJ and hit him with a Super Brainbuster from the top of the cage. Francis kicked out at two. A random dude wheelchaired Expressions to ringside.
Elijah tossed Francis into the cage to block a spear. AJ reversed an Old School into a Cash Out for a good nearfall. AJ ordered the referee to open the cage, and he did. Hannifan claimed you can’t win the match via escaping the cage in this match. Elijah dragged AJ back in the ring and hit him with an F5 for a nearfall. Elijah went to close the door, and Expressions slammed the door in Elijah’s face.
Francis gave Elijah a spear for a two count. Expresssions took off the neckbrace and was totally fine and not injured. He started elbow dropping his jacket like he was Ric Flair. Elijah did a tightrope into a Canadian Destroyer. Expressions broke up Elijah’s pin. Elijah tossed Expressions several times into the cage. Elijah hit Expressions with a Tombstone Piledriver. While Elijah was getting up, Francis hit Elijah with a Moonsault followed by the Down Payment Chokeslam for the victory.
AJ Francis defeated Elijah via pinfall in 13:29.
While Francis had his back turned, Home Town Man handed Elijah a guitar. When Francis turned around, Elijah hit Francis with a Super El Kabong from the top rope.
John’s Thoughts: A really good match with a bit of a contrived finish. Lots of hard work by both men. Elijah is going a bit overboard, stealing other wrestlers finishers with no context, but he did put on a good performance overall. AJ Francis is criminally underrated as an in-ring talent and he’s consistently one of my personal favorite wrestlers to watch on PPV. He delivers and goes above-and-beyond when needed. I loved this match until they went a little bit overboard getting Expressions involved. Expressions is decent, but he comes off as a discount-bin Lil Yachty (and that’s a fact because Lil Yachty is an international superstar while Expressions is a YouTuber that comments on soccer). I like Francis getting the win and hope they move on because I feel like the new creative team can utilize AJ’s range of talents to put on some entertaining TV.
Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt checked in on commentary and thanked injured wrestler Chris Bey for providing the theme song for the PPV. The commentary team ran through the advertised card of the show.
Gia Miller interviewed Allie and asked her if she found a tag team partner. Allie said she called, texted, and even used a Ouija Board to try to call Rosemary, and heard nothing back. She said she made more calls and found someone to team with her. Allie said we’ll all find out when The Elegance Brand finds out…
A taglines graphic aired for the Knockouts Tag Title match. The Personal Concierge made his entrance. He said the Elegance Brand shouldn’t be locked up like felons, because the fans are felons and should be locked up. The Concierge said when they win the tag titles, they’ll leave Chicago like The Bears did. He said he’s also been hanging out with the Green Bay Packers…
The Elegance Brand trio made their entrances dressed up as sexy cops. Tom Hannifan said “Mr. Elegance looks like a male stripper who’s about to quit” (Great line!). Allie made her entrance first. Her mystery partner was her former tag team partner Kiera Hogan who came out with some very cool looking princess gear. Hannifan noted that Kiera was a former tag team champion with Tasha Steelz…
2. Allie and Kiera Hogan vs. “The Elegance Brand” M by Elegance and Heather by Elegance (w/Mr. Elegance, The Personal Concierge) in a Steel Cage match for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships. Allie dominated M to start the match. Kiera and Heather tagged in. Kiera hit Heather with a neckbreaker. Allie tagged back in. Allie and Kiera worked on Heather with tandem offense. Allie got a two count on Heather. Mr. Elegance tried to scale the cage. The distraction allowed Heather to hit Allie with a baton. The heels cu the ring in half on Allie for a bit.
Kiera tagged in and hit Heather with a Hip Attack in the corner. Kiera hit M with a hip attack on the rope. Kiera kicked off M to hit her with a leg drop. Allie slammed Heather. M gave Allie a Michinoku Driver. Kiera hit M with Spear and took herself out. The Concierge grabbed handcuffs at ringside. Heather was so petite, that she slipped out of one of the cage holes. Rehwoldt said “I know Heather is petite, but hot damn!”. I agree with Rehwoldt’s “hot damn”.
Heather handcuffed Allie to the cage while M was battling Kiera. Allie escaped the handcuffs. She didn’t need Allie, because Keira hit M with a Paige Turner for the victory.
Kiera Hogan and Allie defeated M by Elegance and Heather by Elegance via pinfall in 7:35 to retain the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships.
Hannifan noted that Allie was wearing a shirt in honor of former TNA Knockout Rebel, who was diagnosed with Terminal ALS.
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