Hardcore Justice featured nine professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

On the May 19 episode of TNA's television program Impact Wrestling, Kurt Angle announced that Mick Foley, representing "The Network", would reward a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship depending on who won the match between him and Jeff Jarrett at the TNA Slammiversary IX PPV event. Angle went on to win the match and on the July 14 episode of Impact Wrestling, it was announced that the title shot would take place at Hardcore Justice against whoever won a TNA World Heavyweight Championship bout between then-champion Mr. Anderson and Sting on the same episode. Sting went on to win the title from Anderson, thus making it Sting defending the title against Angle at Hardcore Justice. Angle confronted Sting, proclaiming that at Hardcore Justice, he would defeat him for the first time without outside interference. Sting, however, was too busy with his war with Immortal, and Angle was side-tracked with Immortal as well, engaging in battle against his former rival Mr. Anderson. Sting set up a steel cage match between Angle and Anderson, after he announced he was given full booking power by The Network. Sting also added the stipulation that Fortune were to be around ringside to make sure Immortal didn't interfere in the match. Sting then revealed he made up being the Network Executive all the time, and then released a raven in Eric Bischoff's office to keep him there and to stop him from stopping the match. Angle went on to win the match against Anderson after Bully Ray and Anderson got into an argument regarding a steel chair towards the end of the bout.

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