In 2015,WWE began to expand its content on theWWE Network by presenting televisedhouse shows. These one-hour WWE Network-exclusive specials did not show the entire card, but only a select few matches. Smackville took place on July 27, 2019, atBridgestone Arena inNashville, Tennessee and featured wrestlers from theSmackDownbrand. The one-hour WWE Network special of Smackville waslivestreamed.[1][2][3][4]
The card included nine matches, three of which were shown for the one-hour WWE Network special. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayedvillains,heroes, orless distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[5][6] Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the SmackDown brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television showSmackDown Live.[7][8]
On the May 21 episode ofSmackDown,Dolph Ziggler, who had been inactive since January'sRoyal Rumble event, made a surprise return and attackedKofi Kingston. Ziggler, aRaw wrestler appearing via thewild card rule, later explained that it should have been him who got the opportunity to go toWrestleMania 35 and win theWWE Championship instead of Kingston.[9] Ziggler, who was in turn moved to SmackDown, then lost to Kingston at bothSuper ShowDown andStomping Grounds.[10][11] On the June 24 episode ofRaw, after Kingston had defeated bothKevin Owens andSami Zayn in consecutivesingles matches, Kingston was randomly attacked by Raw'sSamoa Joe, who performed an "uranage" on Kingston. As referees tended to the champion, Joe returned and applied the "Coquina Clutch" on Kingston.[12] Kingston would defeat Joe atExtreme Rules.[13] On July 18, a WWE ChampionshipTriple Threat match between the three wrestlers was announced for Smackville.[14]
AtMoney in the Bank,Bayley won the women'sMoney in the Bank ladder match and later that night cashed in the contract onCharlotte Flair to win theSmackDown Women's Championship.[15] On the June 4 episode ofSmackDown, Flair competed in a triple threat match againstCarmella and Raw'sAlexa Bliss, who appeared via the wild card rule, in order to earn a rematch against Bayley for the title at Stomping Grounds. Bliss, however, won the match, thus Bliss earned the title match at Stomping Grounds,[16] but lost.[11] She and Cross then faced Bayley atExtreme Rules in a two-on-onehandicap match for the title, but the two were defeated by Bayley.[13] On July 18, a SmackDown Women's Championship triple threat match between Bayley, Flair, and Bliss was announced for Smackville, though this match was not shown on the WWE Network special.[14]
During the Extreme Rules pre-show,Shinsuke Nakamura defeatedFinn Bálor to win theIntercontinental Championship.[17] A rematch was later scheduled for Smackville;[14] however, Bálor was removed from the match on July 27 after suffering an undisclosed injury and was replaced byAli.[18]
In addition to the matches, a musical performance byElias was also announced for the show.[14]
