Josh Bishop has addressed his appearance at TNA Wrestling’s 2026 Lockdown pay-per-view, explaining that he attended the event to support Joe Alonzo during a major moment in Alonzo’s career.
Bishop was among the wrestlers visible in the front row during the Lockdown event. His presence naturally drew attention, particularly because Bishop currently holds the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. But Bishop made clear that his reason for being there was personal: he wanted to be present for Alonzo, whom he described as one of his closest friends in professional wrestling.
Alonzo competed in a dark match at Lockdown, defending the AAW Heavyweight Championship against The Home Town Man. Alonzo won the bout, retaining the AAW title and, with that victory, securing a contract with TNA.
For Bishop, being ringside meant getting to watch a friend take an important step forward while also enjoying a TNA event that featured one of his all-time favorite performers.
For more background on this topic, read TNA Impact Draws 201,000 Viewers for October 29 Episode on AMC.
Bishop Says Lockdown Was a Positive Experience
Speaking about his time at the show, Bishop offered a very favorable assessment of the experience. He noted that he enjoyed being at TNA and was happy to see company president Carlos Silva and the rest of the team.
“Great time. I had a great time at TNA. I had a great experience. It was great to see Carlos (Silva) and the crew.”
The remarks give useful context to Bishop’s appearance. While he was spotted alongside other wrestlers in the crowd, Bishop did not frame the trip as a surprise angle, an announced signing, or an indication that he was working on the Lockdown card. Instead, he described it as an opportunity to support Alonzo and enjoy the show from the front row.
That distinction matters in wrestling, where an established champion appearing at another promotion’s event can quickly fuel speculation. Bishop is not merely an independent wrestler in attendance; he is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion. His visibility at a TNA pay-per-view therefore made his presence notable. Based on Bishop’s own explanation, however, the primary reason was his friendship with Alonzo rather than any stated business development involving TNA.
Joe Alonzo’s Dark Match Carried Real Stakes
Alonzo’s Lockdown appearance was far more than a routine pre-show exhibition. The AAW Heavyweight Championship was on the line against The Home Town Man, and a TNA contract was attached to the outcome. Alonzo emerged victorious, a result that allowed him to leave the event still holding the AAW title and with an agreement to join TNA.
Those stakes made the match an especially meaningful occasion for the people close to Alonzo. A dark match may not receive the same presentation as a televised pay-per-view contest, but it can still represent a defining professional opportunity. In this case, Alonzo was defending a championship while competing for a place with TNA, putting both immediate and longer-term rewards in front of him.
Bishop said that was exactly why he wanted to make the trip. He called Alonzo one of his best friends in the business and highlighted the friendship in his characteristically emphatic way.
“I was out there to support my buddy Joe Alonzo. One of my best friends in the business. The Joe Alonzo Show, and then I love Jeff Hardy. That’s my number one of all time so of course am I gonna wanna see The Hardys in a Steel Cage? Yeah.”
Alonzo’s victory gave Bishop and the other supporters at ringside a reason to celebrate. It also marked a concrete achievement for Alonzo, who successfully navigated a championship defense with a TNA contract on the line.
A Front-Row View of The Hardys in a Steel Cage
Beyond supporting Alonzo, Bishop had another clear motivation for attending Lockdown: he wanted to see The Hardys compete inside a Steel Cage. Bishop named Jeff Hardy as his number-one favorite of all time, making the Lockdown card particularly appealing to him as a fan.
His comments illustrated that even a wrestler carrying one of the industry’s major championships can still approach an event with the excitement of a lifelong viewer. Bishop did not hide the fact that seeing Jeff Hardy and The Hardys in that environment was a major draw.
Bishop joked that when TNA invited him to Lockdown, he had a simple set of conditions for accepting the invitation. The request centered on a front-row seat and the chance to see Alonzo compete.
“So when TNA says, ‘Hey, Intense Icon, Big Daddy, we’d love you to come to Lockdown,’ and I said, ‘Okay. Well, my terms and conditions are I’m gonna need to go and be able to sit in the front row. I would like to see Joe Alonzo.’”
The statement captures two sides of Bishop’s trip: he was there as a friend supporting a fellow wrestler in a career-changing match, and he was there as an enthusiastic fan eager to watch a legendary performer he has long admired.
Bishop Arrives at Lockdown as MLW World Heavyweight Champion
Bishop’s visit to TNA came during a significant reign in his own career. He is the current MLW World Heavyweight Champion, having won the title at MLW Saturday Night SuperFight. Bishop defeated Killer Kross in a Last Man Standing match to capture the championship.
Winning a world championship in a Last Man Standing match is a demanding way to reach the top of a promotion, and the victory over Killer Kross established Bishop as MLW’s reigning standard-bearer. That status added another layer of intrigue when he appeared among the crowd at Lockdown.
Still, Bishop’s explanation kept the focus away from cross-promotional conjecture. He praised the TNA experience, expressed appreciation for seeing Silva and the company’s crew, and repeatedly returned to Alonzo’s match as the central reason for his attendance. No additional details were provided about any potential role Bishop might have with TNA beyond the Lockdown visit.
A Meaningful Night for Alonzo and Bishop
Lockdown ultimately gave Joe Alonzo a major victory, an AAW Heavyweight Championship retention, and a TNA contract. It also gave Josh Bishop the chance to see one of his best friends succeed from the front row.
For Bishop, the night combined professional camaraderie with personal fandom. He was able to support Alonzo in a high-pressure match and take in The Hardys in a Steel Cage, with Jeff Hardy holding a special place among Bishop’s wrestling favorites.
For Alonzo, the result was even more consequential. Defeating The Home Town Man in the dark match secured his title and opened the door to TNA. Bishop’s ringside presence was not positioned as a storyline development; it was a show of support from a friend who understood the importance of the moment.
As the MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Bishop remains focused on his own prominent position following his Last Man Standing win over Killer Kross. But at TNA Lockdown, he was happy to step into the crowd, cheer for “The Joe Alonzo Show,” and watch a close friend earn a pivotal opportunity.
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.