Matt Hardy Flags 4 TNA Wrestlers to Watch as Lockdown Nears on Aug. 23

Q: Will Leon Slater's entire TNA legacy be erased inside the steel cage against Cedric Alexander at Lockdown?

No. Leon Slater’s entire TNA legacy is not what is explicitly at stake at Lockdown; the stipulation, as reported, is narrower than that. The available reporting says Cedric Alexander agreed to defend the X Division Championship against Slater inside the steel cage on Aug. 23, but only on the condition that if Slater loses, his historic X Division title reign would be erased from the TNA record books. More precise versions of the stipulation describe it as Slater’s “second-longest X Division title reign” being erased, not everything he has done in TNA. That matters because Slater’s broader TNA résumé would still exist outside that specific record. He is still widely regarded as one of the company’s top young stars, and Matt Hardy has continued to praise his ring awareness, maturity and upside. Slater’s prominence on television and his status as a former X Division champion are central to why the match is being promoted so heavily. The real stakes, then, are historical and symbolic. Slater tied Austin Aries with a 298-day single X Division title reign before Alexander beat him just short of the 300-day mark. If Slater loses at Lockdown, TNA storyline history says that reign itself could be wiped away, allowing Alexander to claim that place in the books. So the cage match could damage a major part of Slater’s legacy, but not erase his entire TNA legacy.

Q: Can Jason Hotch prove his shocking title victory over Mustafa Ali wasn't a fluke in their high-stakes cage rematch?

Yes — Hotch has a real chance to prove it was no fluke, but Lockdown is a much tougher test than the upset itself. The evidence in his favor is strong. He already beat Mustafa Ali for the TNA International Championship on Impact, ending Ali’s 110-day reign. Matt Hardy has publicly singled Hotch out as a rapidly emerging talent, which matters given Hardy’s stature and his close read on TNA’s roster. Hotch also enters with momentum and a personal edge after Ali escalated the feud by confronting Hotch’s family backstage, a segment that pushed the rivalry beyond faction politics. The steel cage could also work for Hotch. It reduces the chance of outside interference from Ali’s Order 4 allies, who had been central to Ali’s success during his title run. With Hotch now out of the group and John Skyler refusing to leave Ali’s side, the cage should limit the numbers game and force a more direct fight. Still, Ali remains dangerous. Hardy called this the best run of Ali’s career, and that assessment fits a wrestler with big-match experience, strong ring IQ and a proven ability to exploit chaos. The rematch is no longer just about skill; it is about whether Hotch can handle the pressure of defending rather than shocking. So the title win no longer looks accidental. If Hotch beats Ali again inside a cage, especially with fewer escape routes for interference or excuses, it would firmly establish him as a legitimate breakout champion rather than a one-night surprise.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 14

Mustafa Ali, Jason Hotch, Leon Slater and Ricky Sosa are the TNA names Matt Hardy singled out ahead of Lockdown, calling Ali in his prime and Hotch a rising star.
Aug. 23 now carries extra weight for two of those picks: Hotch will defend the TNA International Championship in a rematch with Ali, while X Division champion Cedric Alexander faces Slater.
Leon Slater, still only 21, drew especially strong praise from Hardy, who said the young wrestler has unusual ring awareness and could become a major star even if he later leaves for WWE or AEW.
Ricky Sosa, also 21, joined TNA earlier this year after going viral on the independent scene, reinforcing Hardy's view that the roster blends fast-rising prospects with established veterans.
Chicago's Credit Union 1 Arena hosts Lockdown, where every match is set inside a steel cage and Matt and Jeff Hardy will defend the TNA World Tag Team titles against Nic and Ryan Nemeth.