Storylines
The event included five matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television program, NXT.[8][9]
On the May 20 episode of NXT, Jasper Troy attacked NXT Champion Oba Femi,[10] which would lead to a title match between both men on the June 10 episode, where Femi retained the championship.[11] The following week, Pro Wrestling Noah's Yoshiki Inamura stated he would be coming after Femi's championship, and on the June 24 episode, Femi said he wanted more competition and demanded an opponent. Inamura answered the challenge and set his sights on the title. After the confrontation, Troy attacked Inamura, before staring down Femi, making it clear that he would go after his championship once again. Later that night, a match between Inamura and Troy was scheduled for the July 1 episode, where the winner would challenge Femi for the title at The Great American Bash.[12] The match was won by Inamura.[13]
On the May 27 episode of NXT, Jacy Jayne won the NXT Women's Championship.[14] One week later, several women interrupted Jayne's celebration, each discussing why they deserved a title match, which included the debuting Blake Monroe (formerly known as Mariah May in All Elite Wrestling).[15] On the June 17 episode, Monroe officially signed her NXT contract, only to be interrupted by Jayne and her Fatal Influence stablemates, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. They took issue with not having a celebration for Jayne's victory. After some exchange of words, Monroe slapped Jayne, leading to a brawl, which ended with Henley and Jayne slamming Monroe through a table.[16] A week later, Jordynne Grace won a match to become the number one contender for the title at Evolution, which would take place the day after The Great American Bash,[12] and on the following episode, Grace spoke about her victory and vowed to walk out of Evolution as the champion, only to be interrupted by Fatal Influence, who mocked Grace and Monroe. After some exchange of words, Jayne tried to attack Grace, who fights back, but was outnumbered by Fatal Influence. Monroe then came in to save Grace. Afterwards, NXT General Manager Ava announced that a
At Battleground, Trick Williams defeated Joe Hendry to win the TNA World Championship, becoming the first WWE-contracted wrestler to hold any TNA title.[17] On the June 3 episode of NXT, Williams successfully defended the championship against TNA's Mike Santana.[15] On the June 26 episode of TNA Impact!, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella announced that Hendry would have his rematch for the TNA World Championship at TNA's Slammiversary, however, later that night, Santana demanded to be added to the match, as the event would take place in his home state of New York, which was subsequently made official.[18] On the July 1 episode of NXT, it was announced that the contract signing for the match would take place at The Great American Bash.[13]
Since May, Tatum Paxley became depressed after losing her friends, Gigi Dolin and Shotzi. During this time, NXT Women's North American Champion Sol Ruca and her partner Zaria tried to approach Paxley, while The Culling's Izzi Dame also tried to become close to Paxley. On the June 17 episode of NXT, Paxley accidentally costed Zaria's qualifying match against Dame at the Evolution Eliminator Tournament for an NXT Women's Championship match at Evolution, which infuriated Zaria.[16] The following week, Paxley was in Dame's corner during the finals of the tournament, and after she interfered, Zaria and Ruca came out, leaving Paxley with them.[12] The following week, Dame and Paxley defeated Ruca and Zaria in a tag team match, with Dame pinning Ruca. Later that night, NXT General Manager Ava announced that Ruca would defend her championship against Dame at The Great American Bash.[13]
At Stand & Deliver, Ricky Saints successfully defended the NXT North American Championship against Ethan Page.[19] Their rivalry continued after the event, and on the May 27 episode of NXT, Page defeated Saints to win the championship after Page injured Saints' throat.[14] Two weeks later, Saints returned and attacked Page after his successful title defense,[11] and on the July 1 episode, Page proposed for Saints to face Evolve's The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake), whom Page made an alliance with, in a Vanity Project gauntlet match, where if Saints won, he would earn a rematch for the title, with Saints proposing that if he won, he could choose the stipulation for the match. NXT General Manager Ava subsequently agreed.[13] The match took place the following week, which Saints won, scheduling a match between Saints and Page for the title at The Great American Bash. Saints subsequently chose a Falls Count Anywhere
On the June 17 episode of NXT, Je'Von Evans praised Jasper Troy for his performance at the NXT Championship match he had the previous week, stating that Troy's time would come, but not before his time, with Troy telling Evans to get out of his face.[16] The following week, Troy attacked Evans after the latter's match,[12] with Evans doing the same to Troy on the July 1 episode.[13] The following week, Troy attacked Evans twice backstage, and later that night, both men brawled. It was subsequently announced that they would face each other at The Great American Bash.[20]
