— The official website of Great Championship Wrestling, www.gcwaction.com, has announced that Johnny Swinger, a mainstay in the promotion, will make his return to TNA Wrestling at Hard Justice.

Swinger previously worked for the organization when it emanated from the Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee, most notably as Simon Diamond’s tag team partner. The two are expected to reunite at the pay-per-view.

— Former ECW star Michael Depoli (a/k/a Amish Roadkill) has declined TNA Wrestling’s offer to appear at next month’s Hard Justice pay-per-view event, reports the Pro Wrestling Torch.

His reason for declining their invite is that he considers himself retired from professional wrestling and simply has no interest in returning.

(sources: PWInsider.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

— Lance Storm, who has been highly critical of TNA Wrestling’s creative process in recent years, posted a blog on his official website saying he declined their offer to appear at next month’s Hardcore Justice pay-per-view event.

“I was asked if I would be interested in taking part in the TNA: One Last Stand PPV. I think it was big of them to extend me the offer, considering my general opinion of the TNA product, and want to I thank them for that, but I will not be taking part,” Storm wrote.

He continued, “I feel it would be hypocritical of me to work the show, considering my out outspoken views of the TNA product. I have a great deal of respect for the boys who will be working the show as well as the great workers on the TNA roster, but I have no desire to be a part of the TNA creative process. As for ECW, One Night Stand in 2005 was my farewell and am content in letting sleeping dogs lie.”

— Former ECW talent Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy are booked to appear at an event in Japan on August 8 and thus will not be appearing at Hardcore Justice.

— Reid Fliehr, son of Ric, will be visiting Orlando later this month and is expected to begin wrestling training with Terry Taylor. He has yet to sign a contract with the organization.

TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION (TNA) WRESTLING ANNOUNCES SPECIAL ‘HARDCORE JUSTICE’ PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT LIVE AUGUST 8

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling President Dixie Carter and “The Extreme Original” Tommy Dreamer announced that “Hard Justice,” TNA’s live pay-per-view event August 8 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, will transform to “HardCORE Justice,” a one-night-only celebration of extreme, hardcore wrestling featuring a never before seen reunion of legendary wrestling superstars.

Carter granted the request made by Dreamer and his band of hardcore originals – Mick Foley, Raven, “The War Machine” Rhino and Stevie Richards – on “TNA Thursday Night iMPACT!” on Spike TV (9p.m. ET/PT) to have “one last chance” to celebrate the history and the passion of extreme hardcore wrestling.

“Giving Tommy this chance is one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made as TNA President,” Carter said. “For years I’ve heard fans talk about the similarities between TNA and what these guys accomplished. Tommy, Mick and these superstars sacrificed everything, and not for money, but for the love of our sport and for the fans..”

Carter continued, “These guys set the bar so high with the passion they brought to this business. I’ve been lucky to have had so many work for me through the years, and now to have a locker room today with that same fire and drive to help build TNA. This is my chance to show our appreciation.”

“Dixie has allowed us to have a chance to finally thank the fans that have supported us for all of these years,” Dreamer said. “In the past, we’ve been lied to and we’ve been punished for being who we were and building what we did. Now we have a chance to get everyone back together for one last night.”

Carter also announced today that Dreamer would be given full creative control of “HardCORE Justice.” In addition to the hardcore originals, Dreamer revealed a few more names for “HardCORE Justice,”: Current TNA agents Al Snow and Simon Diamond, as well as tag team legends Team 3D and current TNA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Van Dam. Dreamer confirmed that Van Dam will compete at the pay-per-view event, but will not defend his title.

“TNA is the only place that this event could happen,” Dreamer said. “There are no politics to worry about and no restrictions in place. The fans know that I have a lot of extremely close friends, so they can expect anything and everything to happen. I have some surprises for everyone,” he said.

TNA officials have also announced a newly revised “HardCORE Justice VIP Weekend.” Originally created to celebrate Mick Foley’s 25th anniversary in professional wrestling, the VIP event will now feature a special “hardcore reunion” with Foley, Dreamer, Richards, Rhino and many more hardcore wrestlers on Saturday August 7 at the NASCAR Grill at Universal Studios’ City Walk. In addition, the VIP package includes guaranteed VIP early admission into “HardCORE Justice” as well as both tapings of “iMPACT!” on August 8-9, as well as a private post-show Q&A session with Foley, Dreamer and friends on August 8.

The “HardCORE Justice VIP Weekend” retails for $99, and is the only way for fans to guarantee admission to the “iMPACT Zone!” for “HardCORE Justice.” Tickets can be purchased at www.ShopTNA.com

Dreamer, who stated that more names and matches would be announced in the coming weeks on “TNA Thursday Night iMPACT!,” said that “HardCORE Justice” would be “The Last Stand” for the legacy of hardcore wrestling.

“This is it for an event like this, and it’s the perfect send off we never thought we’d receive. It’s funny, because there had never been a wrestling company that the fans would chant for by name since our time… until TNA began.”