Daniel Bryan welcomed back Ryback, Erick Rowan and Dolph Ziggler

AUSTIN, Texas — With the first Royal Rumble to appear of WWE Network just three days away, the opportunity for four Superstars to compete in the Royal Rumble Match was on the line on SmackDown. But in the end, the battle for momentum at Sunday’s pay-per-view free-for-all would ultimately prove show-wide.

Yes! Daniel Bryan kicks off SmackDown by celebrating the rehiring of three WWE fan-favorites.

Rather than talk about his high-stakes SmackDown main event against Kane, the Royal Rumble Match, The Authority or a slew of other topics, Daniel Bryan kicked off Thursday’s hottest show by introducing the recently rehired Ryback, Erick Rowan and Dolph Ziggler. The three Superstars praised John Cena’s efforts to bring them back and made it clear that they had reemerged with renewed drive.

Watch Triple H's latest WWE.com exclusive  

Seth Rollins, Kane, Big Show and J&J Security cut their celebration short, though. Despite the fact that Mr. Money in the Bank, the giant and their demonic cohort were all taken down by WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar on Monday’s Raw, they didn’t seem the least bit humbled.

Instead, a confident Kane reminded Bryan that he would have to go through him in their imminent No Disqualification Match to get to the Royal Rumble Match. In addition, the Director of Operations created three difficult qualifying matches: Dolph Ziggler vs. Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett, Ryback vs. Rusev and Erick Rowan vs. Luke Harper.

Dolph Ziggler def. Bad News Barrett to qualify for the Royal Rumble

The Showoff attempts to earn his place in the Royal Rumble Match against the tough-as-nails Intercontinental Champion.

In a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match against the very Superstar who stole his Intercontinental Title several weeks ago, the returning Dolph Ziggler countered Bad News Barrett’s Bull Hammer Elbow with a thunderous dropkick. He then followed up with the Zig Zag for the victory, earning The Showoff his chance at main-eventing WrestleMania this Sunday at the Royal Rumble!

Roman Reigns: Ready to Rumble

Roman Reigns talks to Renee Young about The World's Largest Athlete and his plans for the Royal Rumble Match.

Three days after knocking Big Show from the ring during “Raw Reunion,” Roman Reigns looked to the Royal Rumble Match. Well aware that it would be every Superstar for himself, the 2014 Slammy Award–winning “Superstar of the Year” made it clear that he was ready to take out the furious giant and anyone else who got in his way. 

Ryback def. Rusev by Count-out to qualify for the Royal Rumble Match

The Big Guy reignites his rivalry against The Hero of the Russian Federation in the hopes of earning his place in the Royal Rumble Match.

Rehired and ready for a fight, Ryback reignited his rivalry against Rusev for a chance to qualify for Sunday’s Royal Rumble Match. When the hard-fought brawl stretched outside the ring, The Big Guy ultimately beat the count and won his chance to be part of Sunday’s free-for-all.

A reignited rivalry

After the bell, The Hero of the Russian Federation looked for vengeance with a vicious post-match assault. But The Human Wrecking Ball roared back and nearly left the Russian Superstar Shell Shocked.

Brie Bella def. Naomi

With a huge Divas Tag Team Match just three days away, Brie Bella takes on her former "Total Divas" co-star Naomi.

With The Bella Twins’ Royal Rumble opponents Paige & Natalya joining the SmackDown announce team and her sister Divas Champion Nikki looking on, Brie hit the Bella Buster on Naomi to earn an impressive three-count.

Brie hits the Bella Buster |  Rumble-Ready Divas

Luke Harper def. Erick Rowan to deny Rowan a spot in the Rumble Match

Erick Rowan looks to power his way into the Royal Rumble Match against his one-time Wyatt Family ally Luke Harper.

While Dolph Ziggler and Ryback managed to qualify for the Royal Rumble Match earlier in the night, it was not meant to be for Erick Rowan. After the red-bearded Superstar missed his mark off the top rope, his onetime ally Luke Harper delivered an earth-shattering kick for the three-count.

Daniel Bryan def. Kane in a No Disqualification Match to keep his Royal Rumble Match spot

A high-stakes, No Disqualification Match evolves into all-out bedlam, three days before the Royal Rumble.

With Daniel Bryan’s spot in the Royal Rumble Match on the line, The Beard and Kane were prepared to pull out all the stops in their no disqualification showdown. In the excruciating showdown that employed not only the interference of J&J Security, but also the ringside barricade, the steel steps, the steel ring post, the announce table, Kendo sticks and an unforgiving steel chair, Bryan would ultimately kick out of a demonic chokeslam to reign supreme with a Running Knee.

Pre-Rumble free-for-all

As Bryan was celebrating on the ramp, however, Big Show attacked and carried him back into the ring for a 4-on-1 assault. Moments later, Ryback, Erick Rowan and Dolph Ziggler emerged to even the odds. And with the Royal Rumble Match three days away, it wasn’t long before the entire locker room joined the action and ignited a ring-wide brawl. 

While many competitors were soon cleared out, in the end, Ziggler, Ryback, Bryan, Dean Ambrose Roman Reigns, Big Show and Kane were left in a face-off — a reminder to one-and-all that Sunday’s Royal Rumble Match will be every man for himself.