Bad Blood (2004) - Background

Background

Seven professional wrestling matches were scheduled on the event's card beforehand, which were planned with predetermined outcomes by WWE's script writers. The buildup to these matches and scenarios that took place before, during and after the event were also planned by the script writers. The event featured wrestlers and other talent from Raw's brand – a storyline expansion in which WWE assigned its employees. Wrestlers portrayed either a villainous or fan favorite gimmick, as they followed a series of events which generally built tension, leading to a wrestling match.

The main event scripted into Bad Blood was fought in a Hell in a Cell match between Triple H and Shawn Michaels, a match where the ring is surrounded by a structure of metal. The buildup to the match began after Backlash, WWE's previous pay-per-view event, where a standard match involving three wrestlers, Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels and Triple H all competed for the World Heavyweight Championship, with Benoit successfully retaining his title. On the May 3 episode of Raw, one of WWE's primary television programs, General Manager Eric Bischoff, a portrayed match maker and rules enforcer, promoted a standard wrestling match, also called a singles match, World Heavyweight Championship match for that episode, between Benoit and Michaels. The title match saw Benoit successfully retain the title after interference by Triple H, one of the opponents in the Triple Threat match at Backlash. On the May 10 episode of Raw, at the start of the program, a singles match between Triple H and Shelton Benjamin resulted in a no contest after Michaels attacked Triple H; this resulted in a storyline suspension of Michaels from WWE by Bischoff. The following week on Raw, a number one contender's Battle Royal, an elimination style match where the last person remaining in the ring would be the winner, was scheduled, in which the winner would go on to face Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight title at Bad Blood. During the match, Triple H, a participant in the match, was eliminated by Michaels, who was not a participant in the match. On the May 24 episode of Raw, Bischoff scheduled Michaels and Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match at the Bad Blood event.

One of the featured matches was contested for the World Heavyweight Championship, in which Chris Benoit defended the title against Kane. On the May 17 episode of Raw, Kane won a battle royal to receive a match against Benoit for his World Heavyweight title at Bad Blood. The following week, Kane held a promotional interview, in which he revealed that he envied Benoit for having the World Heavyweight Championship and concluded that he would win the championship. On the May 31 episode of Raw, Kane was scheduled in a match against Eugene. The match ended in a disqualification, after Kane hit Eugene with a folding chair. After the match ended, Kane lifted Eugene by the throat and slammed him down to execute a chokeslam, which prompted Kane to further the assault. Benoit, however, came down to the ring to Eugene's aid. The following week, a handicap match, where one wrestler faces a combination of wrestlers, was scheduled, in which Benoit and Edge faced off against La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway) and Kane. The match saw Kane perform a chokeslam and pin Benoit for the win.

The other featured preliminary match was Randy Orton versus Shelton Benjamin in a singles match for Orton's Intercontinental Championship. On the May 17 episode of Raw, Randy Orton, who was a villain, was giving a speech. Shelton Benjamin interrupted Orton's speech and challenged Orton to an Intercontinental Championship match. The challenge, however, was denied by Orton, in which prompted Benjamin to attack Orton. The following week, an all-out brawl ensued between Orton and Chris Jericho. The brawl brought out fellow Evolution member, a group of wrestlers, Batista, to Orton's aid. Benjamin also made his way to the ring and evened the sides. As a result of the brawl, Bischoff announced a tag team match, in which Benjamin and Jericho defeated Orton and Batista. On the May 31 episode of Raw, it was announced that Orton would defend the Intercontinental Championship against Benjamin at Bad Blood.