Joe Alonzo is not hiding the competitive edge he felt after TNA Lockdown produced several attention-grabbing talent developments on the same night he officially earned his own opportunity with the company.
Alonzo defeated Home Town Man before the pay-per-view went on the air, a victory that resulted in him receiving a TNA contract. It was a significant result for Alonzo and a concrete step forward in his career. Yet Lockdown also featured the debut of Avery Styles and the return of Kiera Hogan, two developments that generated substantial discussion coming out of the event.
Speaking about the situation, Alonzo admitted that he noticed the contrast in attention. Rather than treating it as a reason to resent either performer, however, he framed it as motivation to make sure his work eventually commands the conversation.
“I’m not even going to hate,” Alonzo said. “It sucks that our announcements were the same night of getting signed and his outweighed mine. I do feel a type of way about that, but that puts me in my element because I feel like I have to prove to people like, how dare you snooze on me.”
For more background on this topic, read TNA Impact Finds Knockouts Highlights but Leaves Major Storylines Uneven Ahead of Bound For Glory.
A Contract Earned at Lockdown
For Alonzo, the business side of the story is straightforward: he won a match and earned a TNA contract. The match with Home Town Man took place before Lockdown officially began, but it carried major personal stakes for Alonzo. In an industry where visibility and opportunity can be difficult to secure, a contract with TNA gives him an avenue to establish himself in front of a wider audience.
The circumstances surrounding that achievement also created an unusual backdrop. Lockdown was not simply a show with one piece of roster news. TNA used the event to introduce Avery Styles and welcome Kiera Hogan back, meaning Alonzo’s contract announcement arrived amid multiple developments competing for fan interest.
Alonzo made clear that he understands why Styles drew immediate attention. Styles entered the picture with a recognizable family connection, and Alonzo acknowledged that the young wrestler has landed a valuable opening. At the same time, Alonzo stressed that name recognition alone will not determine whether Styles succeeds once the bell rings.
“Good for Avery, I’m glad he is getting an opportunity,” Alonzo said. “Whether or not those wrestling genes he got those or not, we’re gonna find out because it’s going to be sink or swim for him.”
That assessment was not presented as a dismissal of Styles. Instead, it reflected Alonzo’s view of the profession itself. Opportunities can create a first impression, but sustained success requires a performer to deliver under pressure. Alonzo sees that same standard as applying to his own new TNA deal.
No Ill Will Toward Avery Styles or Kiera Hogan
Alonzo’s comments included blunt language and the confidence expected from someone looking to make a mark, but he did not direct hostility at Styles or Hogan. He specifically said he could not hate on Styles receiving an opportunity, even while being candid that the timing of the announcements bothered him.
He also looked ahead to a possible future in which he has a child interested in wrestling. Alonzo joked about the prospect of a future Joe Alonzo III, while expressing hope that a child would choose another path rather than deal with the difficult early stages that many aspiring wrestlers encounter. The point was tied to Styles’ current chance: Alonzo recognizes the value of beginning with a major platform rather than having to handle the less glamorous tasks common on the independent circuit.
The remarks underline the difference between professional rivalry and personal animosity. Alonzo does not deny that he wanted more of the spotlight after signing. He simply believes the appropriate response is to improve his own standing, not to diminish the accomplishments or opportunities of others.
Hogan’s return was another major Lockdown talking point, and her established presence in TNA naturally added to the attention around the show. Alonzo acknowledged that fans were discussing both Hogan and Styles more than they were discussing him in the aftermath of the event. His answer was a promise to change that through his own performances.
Alonzo Wants to Turn Frustration Into a Statement
Alonzo’s central message was that being overlooked can be useful fuel. The contract may be official, but in his view, it is only a beginning. He wants to force audiences to recognize him through what he does next rather than relying on the immediate news cycle surrounding a signing announcement.
“As time goes on, they’re gonna forget about Kiera and Avery,” Alonzo said. “They’re going to remember the most dope professional wrestler that this generation has ever seen.”
It is an ambitious prediction, particularly from a wrestler just entering a new phase of his TNA tenure. But Alonzo was not presenting himself as someone content to merely be added to the roster. His comments suggest he intends to treat every early opportunity as a chance to establish a distinct identity and demonstrate why fans should keep watching.
That mindset may be especially important in a company where a talent’s momentum can change quickly. New signings, returning names, championship stories, and surprise appearances all compete for audience attention. Alonzo’s concern is not that Styles or Hogan received attention; it is that he wants to ensure his own deal is viewed as more than a footnote from Lockdown.
He appears ready to embrace the pressure that comes with that. Alonzo described the feeling of being underestimated as something that places him in his element. It gives him a target: prove that those who focused elsewhere made a mistake by not paying closer attention to his arrival.
What Comes Next in TNA
Alonzo’s victory over Home Town Man and subsequent contract have put him in position to pursue that goal on TNA programming. The immediate challenge will be converting the achievement into a consistent presence. A contract announcement creates a moment; matches, rivalries, and results determine whether that moment develops into lasting momentum.
TNA’s September 10 episode of iMPACT followed the Lockdown event, continuing the company’s television presentation after a night that produced several notable roster-related headlines. Alonzo now has the opportunity to show where he fits within that environment and how quickly he can build on the win that secured his contract.
His public reaction also gives his next steps a clear narrative. Alonzo has openly stated that he felt overshadowed, but he has paired that admission with confidence rather than excuses. He believes the attention surrounding Styles and Hogan will not matter in the long run if he can become the wrestler audiences remember from this period.
For now, the Lockdown fallout has provided Alonzo with both a new contract and a personal source of motivation. He knows the night contained bigger immediate talking points for many fans. He also believes that the conversation can shift if he makes the most of the platform TNA has given him.
Alonzo earned his way into the company by beating Home Town Man before Lockdown. His focus now is on ensuring that the contract victory becomes the first chapter of a much larger run, one strong enough that being overshadowed on the night of the announcement becomes a footnote in his story rather than its defining detail.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.