Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian in Escape The Cage and Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch in Steel Cage for TNA International Title Matches Set for TNA Lockdown 2026

Thursday’s taped TNA Impact! show also featured two new matches announced for the card of Lockdown 2026, which takes place on August 23 at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

The first new match announced was an Escape The Cage match of Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian.

This match was initially setup over recent weeks shows over Moose’s bad blood issues with Kazarian. During the show, Moose gave a promo talking about how he is dependable and will always be part of TNA and Kazarian shouldn’t call himself the King of TNA because he hasn’t earned it. Moose then issued a challenge to Kazarian for a match at Lockdown to see if he could earn that nickname. In a follow-up segment, TNA Director of Operations Daria Rae informed Kazarian of Moose’s challenge, which he accepted but stated that he wanted it held as an”Escape The Cage” match and Rae agreed making it official.

Wrestling God, Face of the Franchise – @TheMooseNation earned names like those. But he takes exception to @FrankieKazarian calling himself the King of TNA. #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/ds0JrF9g8n

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 7, 2026

.@FrankieKazarian agrees to the match at #TNALockdown with @TheMooseNation – but on his terms, under Escape the Cage rules. #TNAiMPACT @TheDariaRae pic.twitter.com/RrsQu95IqR

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 7, 2026

The second new match announced was a TNA International Championship Steel Cage match of Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch (c).

This new match was setup following a backstage segment involving Hotch taking offense and confronting Ali over him acting in a very creepy manner towards his wife and kid when he went away for a while and how Ali spoke to them telling them how he is going to get his title back from Hotch.

This crosses a line. #TNAiMPACT @MustafaAli_X @TheJasonHotch pic.twitter.com/yfq5Ceplke

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 7, 2026

This has become incredibly personal between @TheJasonHotch and @MustafaAli_X. #TNAiMPACT @TheJohnSkyler @RealTSteelz @itsmilamoore @BigBillCollier pic.twitter.com/iSHfCnT5JT

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 7, 2026

BREAKING: Two new matches are OFFICIAL for #TNALockdown LIVE on PPV and TNA+ on August 23 from the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. Get tickets at https://t.co/zTMPjdYHK8!

– @TheJasonHotch defends the TNA International Title against @MustafaAli_X

– @TheMooseNation faces… pic.twitter.com/wuwwcSLufw

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) August 7, 2026

Current card for TNA Lockdown 2026:

• TNA World Tag Team Championship Steel Cage match – The Nemeths (Ryan & Nic Nemeth) vs. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) (c)
• TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship Steel Cage match – The Elegance Brand (M & Heather By Elegance) vs. DemonXBunny (Rosemary & Allie) (c)
• TNA International Championship Steel Cage match – Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch (c)
• Escape The Cage match – Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian
• Steel Cage match – Elijah vs. AJ Francis