SmackDown to descend into turmoil

DAYTON, Ohio —SmackDown proved to be a nearly insurmountable struggle for Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan, as the two WWE Fastlane opponents were forced to compete together against some of the squared circle’s best in a rare tag team challenge.

The best show on Thursday night opened with Kane and Big Show addressing WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos, Los Matadores, The Miz & Damien Mizdow, Titus O’Neil & Heath Slater and The Ascension. The teams learned the incredible news that they’d be competing in a WWE Tag Team Turmoil Match — a concept borrowed from WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson.

As for the rules of the contest, two tag teams would start things out, with the winning combination facing another tag team, the winner of that contest facing another, and so on, until one tag team reigned supreme. While the teams would be picked at random for the most part, Kane made it clear that Roman Reigns would begin the match alongside his opponent at WWE Fastlane, Daniel Bryan!

Bray Wyatt def. R-Truth

The Eater of Worlds looks to bring Truth into darkness.

In the wake of Bray Wyatt’s continued cryptic messages over the last several weeks — including the latest on Raw in which he said that he “did not fear [someone] but pitied them” — The Eater of Worlds went to battle against R-Truth.

After taking down his high-octane opponent with a wicked clothesline, Wyatt showed the end was near with the chilling Spider Walk before finishing the rapping Superstar off with Sister Abigail. Regardless of whomever he’s taking to in his ominous rants, Wyatt’s most recent victory only reinforced that that individual has scary problems on his horizon.

Paige def. Summer Rae

The Diva of Tomorrow takes on fellow "Total Diva" Summer Rae as Divas Champion Nikki Bella and her sister Brie joining the SmackDown announce team.

With Divas Champion Nikki Bella and her sister Brie joining the SmackDown announce team, the No. 1 contender to the butterfly emblazoned title overcame Summer Rae with the PTO.

But will the two-time Divas Champion be able to overcome Nikki and Twin Magic at WWE Fastlane to reclaim her title?

Fandango def. Adam Rose

Adam Rose tries to cut in on the WWE dancing Superstar in an explosive Thursday night showdown.

Opting to brush off his traditional trust fall after a couple “mishaps” with his Rosebuds in recent weeks, Adam Rose went to battle against Fandango. In the final moments of the hard-fought showdown, the dancing Superstar used his earth-shattering Leg Drop off the top rope to overcome WWE’s partying Superstar. As the smoke cleared, a frustrated Rose once again took out his anger on his Rosebuds.

The Game demanded to know if Sting would be at WWE Fastlane

The vigilante Sting reveals if he'll meet Triple H face to face at WWE Fastlane.

Watch Sting’s shocking response on Raw when WWE COO Triple H demanded an answer to whether he would meet him face-to-face in the ring at WWE Fastlane.

Reigns & Bryan def.The Miz and Damien Mizdow in a Tag Team Turmoil Match

After being Speared by Roman Reigns on Raw, Daniel Bryan teamed with The Big Dog in a rare Tag Team Turmoil Match.

WWE Fastlane: Reigns vs. Bryan

Their first, randomly selected opponents were The Miz & Damien Mizdow. The friction between Reigns and Bryan became apparent from the opening bell. And at the height of the contest, after Reigns tagged himself in to deliver the Superman Punch, The Beard returned the favor by tagging himself back in and hitting the Running Knee on Miz to score the first win of the epic challenge. 

Reigns & Bryan def.The Usos in a Tag Team Turmoil Match

The two Superstars who'll battle at WWE Fastlane for a chance to headline WrestleMania join forces against a slew of WWE tag teams.

The second opponents for the unlikely duo were none other than the WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos. Reigns was visibly not pleased to find himself in a match against his cousins. That wouldn’t stop the powerful Superstar and WWE’s “Yes!” Man from continuing to try and one up each other once the bell sounded, however. When Bryan engaged in an onslaught on the down Usos outside the ring, though, Reigns pulled him off, an action that ignited a shouting match between the Fastlane opponents.

The inner conflict continued for Reigns when, moments later, he prevented The Usos from getting the pin on Bryan. This action lit the fuse on more chaos that included Usos aerial assaults over the top rope, Superman Punches, Flying Goats, Samoan Super Kicks and finally Bryan’s “Yes!” Lock for the win. When the over-enthusiastic Bryan didn’t let it go right away, however, Reigns again broke it up and the tension between them increased that much more. 

Reigns & Bryan def. Los Matadores in aTag Team Turmoil Match

Not wanting to let Reigns in on the action against the emerging Los Matadores, Bryan took on the masked duo single-handedly, ultimately executing an awesome maneuver off the top rope that paved the way for a “Yes!” Lock victory. 

Reigns & Bryan def. Titus O’Neil & Heath Slater in a Tag Team Turmoil Match

Not to be outdone, Reigns tagged himself in for the next contest, waging a one-man war against Titus O’Neil & Heath Slater — with a little the help of the Superman Punch and the Spear.

Reigns & Bryan def. The Ascension in a Tag Team Turmoil Match by Disqualification

The two Superstars who'll battle at WWE Fastlane for a chance to headline WrestleMania join forces against a slew of WWE tag teams.

Perhaps Reigns and Bryan had proved their point to each other, because when The Ascension emerged as their next opponents, the WWE Fastlane adversaries showed signs of acting as a unit. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t stop them from suffering a vicious mauling by their up-and-coming opponents — whose excessive force ultimately got them disqualified. Nevertheless, the damage had been done.

Reigns & Bryan def. Big Show & Kane in a Tag Team Turmoil Match

The two Superstars who'll battle at WWE Fastlane for a chance to headline WrestleMania join forces against a slew of WWE tag teams.

With Reigns and Bryan down at the hands of The Ascension, questions began to surface as to whether the excessive attack had been the plan of The Authority all along, especially when Kane & Big Show entered as the next opponents to pick up the pieces.

WWE Fastlane: Cena vs. Rusev

During the match, however, the major friction did not appear to be between the battered Bryan & Reigns, but between Big Show & Kane — after The World’s Largest Athlete thought his demonic partner had thrown Bryan into him. Things only got worse as the match continued, with a frustrated Kane accusing the giant of wasting time. Forced tags and screaming continued between them, but when Kane spun his gigantic partner around, Big Show hit him with the KO Punch. Moments later, Reigns Speared the giant and Bryan finished him off with the Running Knee.

In the end, Reigns helped Bryan to his feet, and the two left the battle on even ground … at least for the time being.