The main event was a Hell in a Cell match, featuring wrestlers fighting in a ring surrounded by a steel structure.

[2] After six years, and after the promotion had been renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in early 2002,[3] WWE announced the return of Bad Blood (with the stylization being "Bad" instead of "Badd") as its own PPV event to be held on June 15, 2003, at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas, replacing the previously annual King of the Ring PPV.

[5] The event featured eight professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines.

Wrestlers portrayed either villains or fan favorites as they followed a series of events which built tension, leading to a wrestling match.

All wrestlers were from the Raw brand – a storyline division in which WWE assigned its employees to a different program.

The main event at Bad Blood featured World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defending the title against Kevin Nash in a Hell in a Cell match.

At Judgment Day, Nash defeated Triple H in a singles match via disqualification, but didn't win the championship.

[6][7] On the May 19 episode of Raw, after Triple H successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair, Co-General Manager Steve Austin announced that due to Nash winning at Judgment Day by disqualification, Nash would face Triple H again at Bad Blood for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell match.

[8][9] On the May 26 episode of Raw, the feud between the two wrestlers intensified when Randy Orton and Triple H attacked Nash.

[8][9] On the May 26 episode of Raw, Jericho held a in-ring segment titled The Highlight Reel.

[10][11] A non-physical rivalry developed between the Co-General Managers, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff, who were feuding over who was the better authority.

On the June 2 episode of Raw, it was announced that both men would face each other in a series of non-wrestling contests labeled the "Redneck Triathlon" at Bad Blood.

[12] Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Ivory faced Molly Holly on Sunday Night Heat, one of WWE's secondary TV programs.

[18][20] The second match was Scott Steiner versus Test in which the winner would earn the managing services of Stacy Keibler.

[18][4] In the next match, Kane and Rob Van Dam faced La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvan Grenier) for the World Tag Team Championship.

La Résistance gained the early advantage when Grenier performed a DDT on RVD.

La Résistance, however, avoided the attack resulting in Van Dam landing on Kane.

In the ring, while Kane was still at ringside, La Resistance performed a double spinebuster on Van Dam, proceeding into a pinfall to win the World Tag Team Championship.

Randy Orton then came through the audience and attempted to interfere in the match, but Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on him and put Flair through the table with a Splash.

[18][20] In the main event, Triple H faced Kevin Nash inside Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Championship, with Mick Foley as the guest referee.

[24] The event retailed as $34.95, but was offered free of charge to members of the United States armed forces who were returning from the Iraq War.

[24] Canadian Online Explorer's professional wrestling section rated the event a four out of ten possible points.

[31] After Bad Blood, Stone Cold Steve Austin announced an Elimination Chamber match to take place at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship.

[32][33] During the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, Kane would turn on Rob Van Dam after the loss of their tag titles, and his unmasking which occurred eight days after this event along with his heel turn, would lead to a No Holds Barred match between the two at SummerSlam in which Kane won, ending their team.