The following is from ImpactWrestling.com:

BREAKING NEWS: Hardcore Justice Announced To Take Place August 5th In NYC!

After rave reviews of last night’s edition of IMPACT from New York City’s Manhattan Center, we are elated that TNA is set to return to the Manhattan Center from August 5th – 7th. We are now able to announce that the first night, August 5th, will be a fan-favorite special event: HARDCORE JUSTICE!

Hardcore Justice is an annual event full of hardcore, hard-hitting wrestling. Extreme matches full of weapons, violence and carnage is to be expected. ImpactWrestling.com can confirm the return of the dangerous Six Sides of Steel on August 5th. More matches and participants will be announced soon for our August return to the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom.

If you cannot be in New York City to join us, Hardcore Justice will be broadcast FREE on Spike TV in the weeks to follow.

Who do you want to see at the big show? Tell us NOW on Twitter by using the hashtag #HardcoreJustice!

MMANEWS.COM: Jim Ross To Work For UFC? Is Brock Lesnar Retired From MMA? [>>]

The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown:

– The Usos vs. Ryback & Curtis Axel

– The Miz hosts Miz TV with his parents as his guests, plus appearances by Bo Dallas and Dolph Ziggler

– Dolph Ziggler vs. Bo Dallas

– Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro (No DQ match)

– Paige vs. Naomi

– Bray Wyatt vs. R-Truth

– Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio

MMANEWS.COM: UFC On FOX 12 Coverage, Jim Ross To UFC? Carano-Rousey …

The following are highlights of a new Digital Spy interview with Paul Heyman:

On Sting in WWE: “I think Sting would be denying his fans a great moment if Sting did not step into WWE competition at least once. I have always been a huge admirer of what Sting brings to the table and his relationship with his audience, and I would be dramatically disappointed if Sting does not wrestle a WWE match.”

On why fans are having a hard time letting go of CM Punk: “It’s a very difficult break-up when an audience loses its ability to thrust its adulation upon their hero. CM Punk clearly established during his time as a Paul Heyman Guy that he was, as the billing suggested, The Best In The World.”

“So when he abruptly disappears and the audience doesn’t have the ability to say goodbye or shower him with their affection, then it causes a situation. It causes the audience to miss him even more vociferously, because they never had the closure of letting him know how much they appreciate his hard work.”

Check out the complete interview at DigitalSpy.com.

MMANEWS.COM: HUGE MMA Legend Set To Make TNA Return SOON! [Read Here >>]

As reported on Wednesday, Triple H took part in a “Fireside Chat” with Senior Business Analyst Laura Martin this week and explained why he feels UFC isn’t competition for WWE. Below are additional highlights from the chat.

On a question about whether or not Vince McMahon is still active and engaged: “He’s the most active person I know. He works at two in the morning because he’s absolutely dedicated to driving himself and the executive team as hard as possible to create the best product as possible.”

On Husky Harris evolving into Bray Wyatt: “He wasn’t quite connecting with the crowd. Decent hand. Talented kid. Right person. They were going to let him go and I said, ‘Let me take him and do something with him.’ We moved that character to NXT. We put some other people around him that fit the package. Moved him back onto Raw and Smackdown, and he’s one of our most popular superstars Bray Wyatt. I’ll go out on a limb and say in 10 years Bray Wyatt will be one of the most memorable characters in WWE.”

On how they prevent “being held up” by talents: “There is no one performer who is bigger than the WWE. There are superstar performers and megastar performers like John Cena. But he’s still not bigger than the WWE. Why doesn’t anyone ‘hold us up’? Because it would only be a short-term gain. There’s no upside for them behind it

On the WWE creative team: “We have a whole creative writing team that fluxes over time. We produce eight hours of in-ring content each week. It’s a ton of content. There can be anywhere from 20 to 35 writers on with us. There’s a churn rate on that as well. At the end of the day, it’s all about churning out as many storylines as possible and looking at the business as a whole. You can write the greatest story in the world and have an actor with no charisma. The story will tank. They’re interdependent on each other.”

For more, visit BleacherReport.com.

Jim Ross/MMA Update, CM Punk To FIGHT In MMA?! + HHH & Stephanie TRASH UFC!

The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s taped edition of TNA Impact Wrestling, which airs on Spike TV:

– Team 3D vs. The Hardy Boys

– Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky vs. Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim [TNA Knockouts Championship]

– Gunner vs. Mr. Anderson

– Kenny King, MVP & Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Aries, Eric Young & Bobby Roode

MMANEWS.COM: CHAEL SONNEN Might Be Headed To WWE Or TNA! [Read >>]

The final episode of SmackDown before TLC ended with Kevin Owens vowing to win the Universal Championship on Sunday or die trying.

Owens was targeted by Roman Reigns and Jey Uso throughout last night’s show, including Reigns ordering Uso to end Owens. Reigns and Uso demolished Owens in the main event segment. Reigns put Owens through two tables and they left Owens buried under a pile of tables, ladders, and chairs before heading to the back.

As Reigns was being interviewed backstage, Owens showed his resilience by crawling out from under the pile. Owens said nothing Reigns or his family do to him can keep him down. Owens said he’ll take the Universal title at TLC or die trying.

Owens is challenging for Reigns’ Universal Championship in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at Sunday’s PPV.

The SmackDown Women’s Championship will also be on the line at TLC as Sasha Banks defends against Carmella. After having a champagne bottle broken over her back last week, Banks interrupted Carmella’s champagne toast on last night’s SmackDown. Banks threw a drink in Carmella’s face and went to put her in the Banks Statement, but Carmella’s assistant got involved and pulled Banks off of her. With Banks’ attention turned away, Carmella smashed another champagne bottle over Banks’ back.

More coverage from last night —
WWE 205 Live results: Tony Nese vs. Jake Atlas
WWE SmackDown live results: TLC go-home show
WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Kevin Owens calls out Roman Reigns

Jey Uso ambushes Kevin Owens

Roman Reigns orders Jey Uso to take out Kevin Owens

The Street Profits vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode for the SmackDown Tag Team titles

Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan vs. Billie Kay & Tamina

Carmella’s champagne toast

Otis vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

The first annual Sami Awards

Bianca Belair vs. Bayley

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso bury Kevin Owens under a pile of tables, ladders, and chairs

SmackDown fallout: The Street Profits are proof that funny makes money

SmackDown fallout: Bayley gloats after defeating Bianca Belair

SmackDown fallout: Chad Gable evaluates Otis’ performance