The Invasion (professional wrestling)
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:''This article is about the storyline. For the Pay-per-view, see [[WWF Invasion|WWF InVasion]]''
'''The Invasion''' was a [[professional wrestling]] storyline in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) that began shortly after the WWF's purchase of [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW). It involved the WCW wrestlers "invading" WWF [[television]] in an attempt to "take over" the WWF.
The idea of a supercard featuring the two top [[professional wrestling promotion|promotions]] of the [[Monday Night Wars]] was considered to be a "dream match" scenario in the eyes of many fans, as it would allow the fans to see which promotion would be [[kayfabe]] superior. The angle began when [[Vince McMahon]]'s son, [[Shane McMahon]], announced on ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'' that he bought WCW from under his father's nose.<ref name=Beginning/> This led to several run-in appearances of WCW wrestlers during ''RAW'' and ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' over the months after [[WrestleMania X-Seven]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Smash wrestling|author = Arnold Furious|date = February 14, 2004|accessdate =2007-12-12|url = http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=27730&s_question=invasion&}}</ref>
In June 2001, the angle grew in intensity as the WWF storylines somewhat abated to make room for the central Invasion storyline. WCW and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) merged to form [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]] and challenged the WWF's control over the wrestling industry.<ref name = ECWarrives/> An Inaugural Brawl took place at the [[WWF Invasion]] pay-per-view, where [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] defected and joined the Alliance.<ref name="Invasion Results"/> Many inter-promotional matches occurred after the Invasion between The Alliance and the WWF, leading up to the climax of the angle at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]], when Team WWF ([[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]], [[Chris Jericho]], [[Paul Wight|Big Show]], [[The Undertaker]], and [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]]) defeated Team Alliance (Stone Cold Steve Austin, [[Kurt Angle]], [[Rob Van Dam]], [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]], and Shane McMahon) in a Winner-Take-All match.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/>
A very large storyline that spanned eight months from March 2001 to November 2001, it has been met with heavy criticism.<ref name = "The Invasion Flop"/><ref name="Summerslam 2001 Results"/><ref name = "McMahon Article"/>
==History==
===Monday Night Wars===
{{Main|Monday Night Wars}}
During the Monday Night Wars, the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) and [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), the two top [[North America]]n wrestling promotions, competed for [[Nielsen Ratings|ratings]]. Through developments such as the creation of the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]] and the [[Montreal Screwjob]], fans continually compared the two promotions, and the Internet wrestling community was full of debate as to which of the two was superior.
Among other factors, however, mismanagement within WCW (such as allowing wrestlers themselves to [[List of professional wrestling slang#B|book]] matches) eventually led WCW to a downward spiral from which it never recovered. The Monday Night Wars came to an end on [[March 23]] [[2001]], when the WWF bought WCW for what was considered to be a bargain price.
The final night of the Monday Night Wars occurred on [[March 26]] [[2001]]: ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'' primarily focused on the major storylines heading into [[WrestleMania X-Seven]], while ''[[WCW Nitro|Nitro]]'' held their final episode with a ''Night Of Champions''. [[Vince McMahon]] opened up ''Nitro'' and announced a simulcast later that night to address the future of WCW. Throughout ''RAW'', McMahon publicly named several WCW wrestlers who would not be retained.<ref name=Beginning/> After [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] defeated [[Ric Flair]] in WCW's final match, the simulcast began. McMahon talked about the buyout of WCW and toyed with the idea of making WCW into a huge media conglomerate, much like the WWF.<ref name=Beginning/> He asked the crowd who he should keep under his belt by mentioning names of WCW wrestlers and asking for a reaction. [[Lex Luger]] received a negative reaction from fans, and [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Buff Bagwell]], [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]], [[Scott Steiner]], Sting, and [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] received positive reactions.<ref name=Beginning/> Vince then proceeded to fire them all, however, to the cheers of the ''RAW'' crowd and the jeers of the ''Nitro'' crowd.<ref name=Beginning/> McMahon then announced that he would sign the contract and make the purchase official at WrestleMania. [[Shane McMahon]], however, appeared on ''Nitro'' and announced in [[kayfabe]] that he had signed the contract and purchased WCW out from under his father's nose,<ref name=Beginning>{{cite web|author = Nick Ponton|date = March 26, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|title = RAW Results 3-26-01|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw3-26-01.html}}</ref> planting the seed for what was considered a lucrative future storyline opportunity. The Invasion did not begin immediately afterwards, as the WWF was preparing for WrestleMania X-Seven, the year's largest show, mere days away.
===The Invasion===
The WWF had effectively doubled the size of its roster through its acquisition of WCW, and as a result, there was not enough screen time for everyone. The original plan was to find a time slot on [[Spike (TV channel)|TNN]] to continue running WCW as a separate entity. Polls were even put up on WWF.com and WCW.com to decide the name of the new show. These plans fell through when no TV station would touch WCW because of its reputation for losing money.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smash Wrestling|author = Arnold Furious|date = Nov. 10, 2003|accessdate =2007-12-12|url = http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=24718&s_question=invasion&}}</ref> The WWF eventually carried out a [[WWE Brand Extension|brand extension]], effectively reviving WCW under its own auspices and running two separate promotions, each with one of the WWF's two existing televised shows, ''RAW'' and ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]''.
As part of its plans, [[Lance Storm]] became the first WCW wrestler to appear on WWF programming, by making a [[List of professional wrestling slang#R|run-in]] during a match on the [[May 28]] episode of ''RAW''.<ref>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 5-28-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = May 28, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw5-28-01.html}}</ref> At [[King of the Ring#2001|King of the Ring]] on [[June 24]], then-WCW wrestler [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]] interfered during the Triple Threat Main Event match for the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] and almost cost [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] the title.<ref>{{cite web|title = Angle and Edge rule KOTR|author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/jun25_kotr-can.html}}</ref> Additionally, Austin suffered fractured bones in his hand from the side slam he took from Booker into an announce table. The next night, a confrontation occurred between WCW owner Shane McMahon and WWF owner Vince McMahon. While Vince was in the ring, Booker T came from behind to deliver his trademark [[Scissor kick (strike)|scissor kick]] to Vince.<ref name = InvasionStart/> The WWF roster ran to the ring to the aid of Vince, but Booker T and Shane McMahon escaped through the crowd.<ref name = InvasionStart/> This incident marked the official start of the Invasion storyline, to which ''RAW'' announcer [[Jim Ross]] announced, "The battle lines have been drawn!"<ref name = InvasionStart>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 6-25-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = June 6, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw6-25-01.html}}</ref>''
The WWF eventually began to recognize WCW and tested the idea of a brand extension by giving WCW the final twenty minutes of ''RAW'' with [[Scott Hudson (announcer)|Scott Hudson]] and [[Arn Anderson]] doing announcing duties in place of Jim Ross and [[Paul Heyman]]. During a match between [[Buff Bagwell]] and Booker T for the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]], WWF wrestlers [[Kurt Angle]] and WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin interfered in retaliation by beating Booker T up, with Bagwell joining Angle and Austin by attacking Booker T.<ref>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 7-2-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = July 2, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw7-2-01.html}}</ref> This match did not go over well at all with the audience in attendance.<ref name = BagwellBooker/> One source cites that the match should have showcased the best of WCW but instead featured too many restholds and not enough action.<ref name = BagwellBooker>{{cite web|title = This day in wrestling history... (7/3)|author = Buck Woodward|date = July 3, 2006|accessdate =2007-12-12|url = http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=24766278&union_id=392|quote = what many fans felt was the worst main event in the history of the program... The match was embarrassing, and chants of "Boring" and "This Match Sucks" were clearly heard throughout.}}</ref> The audience jeered at the wrestlers with chants of "This match sucks!" and "Boring!"<ref name = BagwellBooker/> A WWF source close to Vince McMahon said that Vince had "absolutely hated" the segment.<ref name = BagwellBooker/> This was the last time a WWF broadcast would showcase the WCW in this fashion.
Up until this point, the WCW contingent were being built up to being malcontent faces rising up against the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] Vince McMahon, because of Vince's bluster during the final ''Nitro'' broadcast and Shane's usurping of the WCW ownership. Originally, WCW talents' were meant to attack strictly heel WWF wrestlers. The strongly negative reaction of the core WWF viewership to the WCW product and talent,<ref name = BagwellBooker/> however, coupled with the reality that a WCW wrestling program to appeal to their fans would not come to fruition, led to the entire WCW contingent to abruptly [[List of professional wrestling slang#T|turn]] heel. One example was the heel gimmick of then WCW Alliance Member, [[Diamond Dallas Page]] engaging in a feud against the [[face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] gimmick of [[The Undertaker]].<ref>{{cite web|title = DDP Interview|author = Patrick Hickey Jr.|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://patrickhickeyjr.tripod.com/ddp_interview.html}}</ref>
===Addition of ECW===
{{main|The Alliance (professional wrestling)|l1=The Alliance}}
On [[July 9]] on ''RAW'', [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]] was scheduled to face [[Mike Awesome]] and [[Lance Storm]] in a handicap match.<ref name = ECWarrives/> [[Chris Jericho]] came out and offered to be Kane's partner, thus turning it into a tag team match.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Near the end of the match, Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho on Lance Storm. As the move was being applied, however, [[Rob Van Dam]] and [[Tommy Dreamer]] ran through the audience and into the ring and started to beat on Kane and Jericho.<ref name = ECWarrives/> In response, WWF wrestlers consisting of [[Dudley Boyz|The Dudley Boyz]], [[Tazz]], [[Peter Polaco|Justin Credible]], [[Terry Gerin|Rhyno]], and [[Scott Levy|Raven]] ran to the ring. After a brief stand-off, the WWF cavalry turned around and attacked Kane and Jericho.<ref name = ECWarrives/> This prompted [[Paul Heyman]] to leave the announce table and enter the ring. After high-fiving the wrestlers, he announced that [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]] has been brought into the Invasion.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Heyman talked about how tired he was sitting beside [[Jim Ross]] and discussing WCW vs. WWF, stating that he felt that everyone had forgotten about ECW and announced, "This Invasion just got taken to the extreme."<ref name = ECWarrives/>
Later during the night, Shane and Vince McMahon bumped into each other backstage.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Shane told his father that ECW needed to be taken care of and pointed out that there were 10 ECW wrestlers under Heyman's belt.<ref name = ECWarrives/> He suggested that he would take five of his WCW wrestlers and have them team up with five of Vince McMahon's WWF wrestler's later that night to take out ECW.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Vince agreed but stubbornly insisted that WCW would eventually meet its demise when all was said and done.<ref name = ECWarrives/>
At the end of the night, the WCW wrestlers came into the ring, accompanied by Shane McMahon. The WWF wrestlers then came into the ring and, before ECW entered, the WCW and WWF wrestlers started to brawl.<ref name = ECWarrives/> The WWF wrestlers cleared the ring but then were stormed by the ECW wrestlers and taken out.<ref name = ECWarrives/> After this, WCW's men came into the ring and high-fived the ECW men.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Paul Heyman and Shane McMahon then hugged and started to dismantle the WWF wrestlers.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Vince McMahon, stunned, came out and asked what was going on.<ref name = ECWarrives/> Shane McMahon responded that he was responsible for all the events that just transpired and announced that ECW and WCW merged to form [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]].<ref name = ECWarrives/> He then announced that the new owner of ECW was [[Stephanie McMahon]].<ref name = ECWarrives>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 7-9-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = July 9, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw7-9-01.html}}</ref>
===Stone Cold's leave and return===
[[Image:Austinentrance.jpg|right|thumb|The "old" Stone Cold, a "beer-swilling, foul-mouthed SOB".]]
Stone Cold took a change in character during this time. Instead of being a beer-drinking redneck, he was more emotional and tried to cheer-up Vince McMahon, who was clearly stressed from the threat of The Alliance, by doing something generous like giving Vince a cowboy hat as a present.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! Results 7-5-01|date = July 5, 2001|author = Calvin Martin|accessdate =2007-12-12|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/smackdown7-5-01.html|quote = Austin gives Vince a present from Texas. Austin says he was in such a good mood he bough himself one too. The presents are sterling cowboy hats.}}</ref> During a [[July 12]] ''SmackDown!'', Stone Cold played "[[Kumbaya]]" and "[[We Are the Champions]]" for McMahon, to which Vince was unresponsive.<ref name = AustinLeaves/> Later that night, Vince McMahon came out and asked Stone Cold to come to the ring, announcing him as the man that would lead Team WWF into the pay-per-view and into victory.<ref name = AustinLeaves/> Upon entering, Vince McMahon told Stone Cold that he had changed quite a bit since WrestleMania, and when the WWF goes up against The Alliance at the upcoming pay-per-view, he did not need a Stone Cold that gave him hugs and gifts and baked him cookies. He needed the "old" Stone Cold who was a "beer-swilling, foul-mouthed SOB" and the "old" Stone Cold that "didn't take shit from anyone." He asked Stone Cold to knock him down, even yelling to the crowd, "If you want Stone Cold to beat the living hell out of Vince McMahon, give me a hell yeah!" to which the crowd responded enthusiastically.<ref name = AustinLeaves/> Stone Cold, however, shook his head and proceeded to leave the ring, turning his back on Vince McMahon.<ref name = AustinLeaves/> Later that night when [[Diamond Dallas Page]] and Shane McMahon went up against the Undertaker and Kurt Angle, many members of the Alliance interfered.<ref name = AustinLeaves/> Kane and Jericho came to help their team, but the Alliance's numbers were too many, and without Stone Cold to back up his teammates, Team WWF was overwhelmed.<ref name = AustinLeaves>{{cite web|title = WWF Smackdown! results 7-12-01|author = Big Calbowski|date = July 12, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/smackdown7-12-01.html}}</ref>
On the [[July 16]] edition of ''RAW'', Stone Cold was shown drinking and playing pool at a bar downtown.<ref name = AustinReturns/> During the night, Vince McMahon held a WWF meeting backstage. Undertaker and the [[Acolytes Protection Agency|APA]] gave a motivational speech on how they should not tolerate the Alliance any longer.<ref name = AustinReturns/> After they were finished, [[Steve Lombardi|Brooklyn Brawler]] wheeled [[Freddie Blassie]] into the room so he could address the wrestlers and pump them up for the night.<ref name = AustinReturns/> As the WWF wrestlers united, Stone Cold could be seen watching the events on the television at the bar.<ref name = AustinReturns/> He proceeded to slam his cue stick on the pool table and left.<ref name = AustinReturns/>
Later that night, DDP and Rhyno faced Kane and the Undertaker.<ref name = AustinReturns/> During the match, there was interference from the Alliance.<ref name = AustinReturns/> In response, [[Hardy Boyz|the Hardy Boyz]], the APA, Jericho, and Kurt Angle came to help their WWF allies, but more Alliance members came in and overwhelmed the WWF wrestlers.<ref name = AustinReturns/> Backstage, many WWF and Alliance wrestlers were fighting each other, and the WWF seemed to be on the losing end of things.<ref name = AustinReturns/> A truck was seen driving up to the arena, however, and Stone Cold came out with his cue stick and proceeded to beat down any WCW and ECW wrestlers in his path.<ref name = AustinReturns/> He then came to the ring, trash-talking on the way down, and beat down the Alliance wrestlers, giving [[Stunner (professional wrestling)|Stunners]] to most of the men in the ring.<ref name = AustinReturns/> The WWF wrestlers had cleaned house and were standing tall.<ref name = AustinReturns/> The WWF seemed to be in good shape for the upcoming pay-per-view with Stone Cold's return.<ref name = AustinReturns>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 7-16-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = July 16, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw7-16-01.html}}</ref>
===WWF InVasion===
{{main|WWF Invasion}}
At [[WWF Invasion|InVasion]], the Inaugural Brawl took place between Team WCW/ECW and Team WWF. The WWF consisted of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Kane, and the Undertaker, who all squared off against the team of DDP, Booker T, Rhyno, and the Dudley Boys.<ref name="Invasion Results"/> Near the end of the match, all of the wrestlers were outside of the ring except Booker T and Angle. Kurt Angle applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#ankle lock|ankle lock]] on Booker T, who tapped out, but no referee was there to witness it. Stone Cold then dragged a referee into the ring, but in a [[List of professional wrestling slang#s|swerve]], kicked Kurt Angle in the face, hit him with a Stunner, and placed Booker T on top of Kurt Angle and told the referee to count. Team WCW/ECW won the match due to Stone Cold's betrayal of the WWF.<ref name="Invasion Results"/>
The next night, Austin claimed he joined the Alliance because they appreciated him.<ref name = Austindefects/> He cited Vince's hugging of Angle and calling [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] on the phone as signs that Vince did not appreciate Austin and accused McMahon of grooming Angle to be the next WWF Champion.<ref name = Austindefects>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 7-23-01|author=Calvin Martin|date=2001-07-23|accessdate=2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw7-23-01.html}}</ref>
===The WWF gains momentum===
Shane McMahon, on the [[July 26]] edition of ''SmackDown!'', extended an invitation to [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]], who had not been seen since the ''RAW'' following [[WrestleMania X-Seven]], to the Alliance.<ref name = InviteRock/> Also that night, Kurt Angle challenged Booker T to a [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] match, which Booker T accepted. The WWF gained momentum when Angle beat Booker T with an ankle lock, taking the WCW Championship away from the Alliance.<ref name = InviteRock>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! Results 7-26-01|author = Big Calbowski|date = July 26, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/smackdown7-26-01.html}}</ref> Angle's title run proved to be short-lived, as Booker T won it back on the [[July 30]] episode of ''RAW''.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01">{{cite web|title = RAW Results 7-30-01|author=Calvin Martin|date=2001-07-30|accessdate =2007-12-09|url= http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/99654908572507.html}}</ref>
On that same ''RAW'', The Rock returned for the first time since his [[kayfabe]] suspension on the [[April 2]] edition of ''RAW''.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> Shane and Vince McMahon were in the ring that night, and each tried to convince The Rock to join their respective side.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> Shane McMahon took the liberty of reminding The Rock of how Vince screwed him out of the WWF Championship earlier that year at WrestleMania and also in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]] the day after WrestleMania.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> Vince McMahon replied that Shane was somewhat accurate in his accusations but ceded that it was wrong for him to back Stone Cold, as he was a rattlesnake that he should have known would eventually bite him.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> He promised to The Rock that he had no intention of screwing him if he returned to the WWF but also ceded that he could not promise that he never would; if it was good for business, he said, then he just might do it.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> He told The Rock that he was at least being honest with him and pleaded for The Rock to trust himself, stating that his future was with the fans and the WWF.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> The Rock, however, gave Vince a [[Powerslam#side slam|Rock Bottom]] and proceeded to shake Shane's hand, but he then proceeded to Rock Bottom him as well.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/> He picked up the microphone and emphatically asserted, "Finally, the Rock has come back... to the WWF." The Rock had chosen a side, and that side was the World Wrestling Federation.<ref name = "RAW Results 7-30-01"/>
His return led to a WCW Title match between The Rock and Booker T at [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam 2001]], which The Rock won, marking the second time the WCW Championship belt changed sides to the WWF.<ref name="Summerslam 2001 Results"/> At that same pay-per-view, Austin retained his [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] against Angle after Angle won by disqualification.<ref name="Summerslam 2001 Results"/>
The following ''RAW'' and ''SmackDown!'' showings featured primarily interpromotional matches between the two companies. Austin stole Kurt Angle's medals during one of the shows, and on the [[August 30]] edition of ''SmackDown!'', tied them to a cinder block and threw them in a river.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! Results 8-30-01|author = Calvin Martin|date = Aug. 30, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/99922372554703.html}}</ref> The following ''RAW'', [[Debra Marshall|Debra]] and [[Stephanie McMahon|Stephanie]] bought a new truck for Stone Cold, but Angle came up from behind and nailed Austin in the back of the head with a pipe. He put a cinder block and rope in the truck, put Austin in it, and drove away on the truck. He threatened to throw Stone Cold into a river if he did not get a title shot. Austin complied and gave him a shot at the upcoming pay-per-view, [[WWE Unforgiven#2001|Unforgiven]]. Angle said, however, that Austin was "still going into the water", but instead simply embarrassed Austin by throwing him into a kiddie pool.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! Results 9-3-01|author = JARO|date = September 3, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/99957444756401.html}}</ref>.
The WWF gained even more momentum at Unforgiven, as The Rock retained the WCW Championship in a handicap match against Booker T and Shane McMahon, and Kurt Angle made Austin submit to the ankle lock, winning the WWF Championship from Stone Cold, putting both belts into the hands of the WWF.<ref>{{cite web|title = Angle wins WWF title|author = John F. Molinaro|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/sep24_unforgiven-can.html}}</ref>
===Jericho and The Rock Feud/The Alliance mounts a comeback===
[[Image:The Rock Axxess 2002.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The Rock]]
There were several interpromotional matches after Unforgiven. Furthermore, a crucial plot point formed when, on the [[October 8]] airing of ''RAW'', Jericho and The Rock teamed up against Shane McMahon and [[Rob Van Dam]].<ref name = RAW10801/> During the match, Jericho mistakenly struck The Rock with a steel chair, costing them the match. The Rock confronted Jericho backstage after the match, leading to a brawl between the two.<ref name = RAW10801/>
Also that night, Stone Cold and Kurt Angle faced off for the WWF Championship, and [[Darren Matthews|William Regal]], who sat at ringside to ensure a fair match would take place, hit Kurt Angle with the championship, thereby backstabbing the WWF and costing Angle the title.<ref name = RAW10801>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 10-8-01|author = JARO|date = October 8, 2001|accessdate = 2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/100259759243423.html}}</ref>
The feud between Jericho and The Rock built up to a match at [[WWE No Mercy#2001|No Mercy]] on [[October 21]], where Jericho beat the Rock to win the WCW Championship, and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Angle and Rob Van Dam to retain his WWF Championship.<ref name = "No Mercy">{{cite web|title = McMahons ruin No Mercy|author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/oct22_nomercy-can.html}}</ref>
On the [[October 29]] edition of ''RAW'', Shane McMahon told his father, Vince McMahon, that a member of the WWF would jump ship to the Alliance that night. Later that same night, Kurt Angle backstabbed the WWF by hitting Jericho, The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane with steel chairs.<ref>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 10-29-01|author = Kevin Gregg|date = October 29, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/100441535959993.html}}</ref> On the [[November 1]] edition of ''SmackDown!'', Angle, who originally led the WWF wrestlers, explained that he represented what is great about America -- he was a winner, and his defection came from his decision to fight along the winning side. That side included Stone Cold, a man Angle claimed knew how to win.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! Results 11-1-01|author = Big Calbowski|date = November 1, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/100467063665956.html}}</ref>
===The end of the Invasion===
On the [[November 5]] airing of ''RAW'', Vince McMahon countered Kurt Angle's defection by stating that a member of Team Alliance would defect during a match at the upcoming [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]]. Stone Cold came out to confront Vince about it, and Vince stated that Stone Cold would be the one to defect. Because of this announcement, many Alliance members began to distrust Stone Cold, looking at him with suspicious eyes, to which Stone Cold vehemently denied the charges and called Vince a liar.<ref>{{cite web|title = RAW Results 11-5-01|author = Kevin Gregg|date = November 5, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/100502023230576.html}}</ref> Stone Cold went on to interrogate members of Team Alliance, questioning Booker T and sitting [[Rob Van Dam]] down in a room with a light shining on him.<ref>{{cite web|title = Smackdown! 11-8-01|author = Big Calbowski|date = November 8, 2001|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/smackdown/100527549441968.html}}</ref>
All of this led to a "Winner Take All" match at Survivor Series 2001, which pitted Team WWF (The Rock, [[Chris Jericho]], [[The Undertaker]], [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]], and [[Paul Wight|The Big Show]]) against Team Alliance (Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Shane McMahon).<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> The final three men in the match were The Rock and Jericho vs. Austin.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> Jericho was eliminated and, to continue the feud between the two men, attacked the Rock, even though Jericho's future was on the line if The Rock lost. The Rock and Austin continued to battle it out, and the referee was knocked down in the match.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> Austin stunned the Rock and pinned him, but there was no referee to count it.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> Austin approached the downed referee to try to revive him.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> As this was occurring, Angle ran to the ring, picked up the WWF championship belt, and nailed Austin with it, revealing himself to be the defector to which McMahon was referring the entire time.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> The Rock followed this with a Rock Bottom and a pin on Austin, to which the referee woke up and counted the three count.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> Team WWF prevailed, thus ending the storyline.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info">{{cite web|title="WWF pulls out Survivor Series win" and Title Unification Information|author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/nov19_survivor-can.html}}</ref>
==Aftermath==
[[Image:HHHwmX8.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] was later unified with the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] to form the [[Championship unification#professional wrestling|WWF Undisputed Championship]]. Here, [[Triple H]] holds both belts.]]
===WCW===
After The Alliance was disbanded, the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] would be simply renamed the World Championship, and later unified with the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] to form the WWF Undisputed Championship. The Undisputed Championship was originally represented with both the original WWF and WCW title belts, as the champion would carry both belts around, until being replaced with a single belt. At the beginning of the WWE Brand Extension, the champion would appear on both RAW and SmackDown! until then champion Brock Lesnar took the title to Smackdown. Eric Bischoff introduced the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] represented by the former WCW Championship belt and awarded it to Triple H. The Undisputed Championship would be renamed the WWE Championship, as having two world titles contradicted the term "undisputed."
Another WCW championship, the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]], was rebranded as a WWE title and replaced the [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] as the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship]].<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/> Additionally, the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Championship]] was revived in 2003 as a ''SmackDown!''-exclusive title, thus becoming the [[WWE United States Championship]].
===ECW===
{{Main|Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)}}
Although the WCW brand effectively died once and for all following the end of this storyline, ECW was "temporarily" revived by WWE in 2005 for the purposes of a special "reunion" show, [[ECW One Night Stand (2005)|ECW One Night Stand]], held on [[June 12]] [[2005]].<ref>{{cite web|title = One great Night of hardcore hostalgia|author = Chris Gramlich|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/06/13/1084767.html}}</ref> The build-up to this one-shot event featured former ECW talent putting over the virtues of the brand versus the WWE product and appearances by several former ECW wrestlers not under contract to WWE. In 2006, it was announced that WWE would be [[Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)|reviving ECW]] as its third "brand" (to complement ''RAW'' and ''SmackDown!''). The second [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|One Night Stand]], held on [[June 11]] [[2006]], led to the official debut of the new ECW the following Tuesday.<ref>{{cite web|title = "ECW Resurrected at PPV" and comments about ECW's revival|author = Brian Elliot|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/06/12/1628639.html}}</ref>
===Other===
Test won the Immunity Battle Royal, which granted him immunity from being fired for an entire year, beginning a storyline in which he would bully other wrestlers simply because he could. Every Alliance member who held championships were also immune from being fired, such as Christian, the Dudley Boyz, and Rob Van Dam. William Regal got his job back by being the first to join Vince McMahon's infamous [[Vince McMahon#Kiss My Ass Club|Kiss My Ass Club]]. The remaining Alliance members (with the exception of RVD) would associate themselves with Vince, who immediately turned heel, against Austin, who immediately turned face. Kurt Angle remained a heel, despite being the one responsible for the end of the Alliance. It was during this storyline that Stone Cold Steve Austin coined the "What?" catchphrase, which fans continue to chant to this day. [[Ric Flair]] would make a return and become the ([[kayfabe]]) co-owner of the WWE with Vince.
==Reaction==
The Invasion angle was a large storyline that spanned for almost half of 2001 and brought about financial success for the WWF, such as the [[WWF Invasion|InVasion]] pay-per-view being one of the highest non-major event buyrates in the history of pay-per-views.<ref name = InvasionCriticism>{{cite web|author = Arnold Furious|title = Smash Wrestling|date=June 27, 2003|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=19473&s_question=invasion&}}</ref> However, the Invasion storyline has come under criticism by wrestling fans and wrestling media,<ref name="Summerslam 2001 Results">{{cite web|title = Rock wins WCW title|author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|quote = ...they have bungled the WCW-ECW invasion angle so badly that it will go down as the greatest screw ups in the federation's illustrious history.|url = http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/aug20_summerslam-can.html}}</ref> with the storyline being called a flop.<ref name = "The Invasion Flop">{{cite web|author = Bruce Chen|title = The Flop of the Invasion|date = May 19, 2005|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/misc/brucec02.html|quote = Eric Bischoff was not present and Paul Heyman was not given as much authority as he could have been}}</ref> Other media refer to the storyline as "one of the most poorly handled, ego-filled story lines in wrestling history."<ref name = "McMahon Article"/>
===The Weakness of the Alliance===
Throughout the storyline, many interpromotional matches had WWF wrestlers winning over WCW/ECW wrestlers, usually cleanly. In contrast, most of the Alliance's wins were due to interference or disqualification. For example, it took Tazz assisting Raven at [[WWF Invasion|InVasion]] for Raven to beat William Regal.<ref name="Invasion Results"/> The Rock, however, won cleanly at SummerSlam, despite Shane McMahon's assistance to Booker T.<ref name="Summerslam 2001 Results"/>
One particular example of this was during the Inaugural Brawl at the InVasion pay-per-view. Besides Austin's turn in the match that was needed to secure a WCW/ECW win over the WWF, Slam! Wrestling alleged that the Alliance wrestled poorly in comparison to the WWF wrestlers:
''<blockquote>"Portrayed as disorganized and inferior grapplers, the ECW-WCW Team had more than its fair share of mistimed moves which hurt their own team members while the "WWF squad" of course wrestled like a well-oiled machines. The weakening of the ECW-WCW dubbed superstars didn't stop there either. The WWF faction battered their enemy tag partners off the ring apron over and over again making them appear weak and more times than not, the ECW-WCW grapplers gained an advantage only by double-teaming or employing underhanded tactics. The message sent was loud and clear. The best of ECW-WCW is not good enough to hang with the WWF."''<ref name="Invasion Results"/></blockquote>
It has been speculated that the reason for this was because Vince McMahon did not want the WWF to look weak while fighting the Alliance, as he worked very hard to put down his competition, especially WCW.<ref name = "The Invasion Flop"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Tony Cottam|title=Smash Wrestling|date = June 28, 2003|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=19533&s_question=the+invasion&}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Tony Cottam|title=Smash Wrestling|date = February 22, 2003|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=14919&s_question=invasion&}}</ref> Smash Wrestling alleges that WWF wrestlers needed to defect to make the Alliance appear to be a credible threat.<ref name = InvasionCriticism/>
===Overemphasis on the McMahons===
The Invasion storyline was presented with a backdrop of a McMahon feud. In storyline, WWF was owned by Vince McMahon, WCW was owned by Shane McMahon, and ECW was owned by Stephanie McMahon. Although the feud did not center completely around the McMahons, the family feud storyline had been done many times before.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephanie betrays Vince at Armageddon|author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec13_armageddon.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wrestlemania 2000 a flop|author = John Powell|accessdate = 2007-12-09|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/apr3_wrestlemania.html}}</ref> In addition to this, the Stone Cold versus Vince McMahon feud was to start again when Vince McMahon hit Austin in the back of the head with a chair at [[WWE No Mercy#2001|No Mercy]]. As stated by a Slam! Wrestling synopsis of No Mercy:
<blockquote>''For fans who didn't catch it the fifth, tenth or twentieth time they've run the angle, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vince McMahon are about to feud once again... First up was Vincent McMahon labeling Austin with a steel chair as he was waiting to put a dazed RVD away... Three minutes later, it was Shane McMahon's turn to hurl Kurt Angle out of the ring and into a steel ring post. Vince tackled Shane over the announce table and the two began pummeling one another. Back in the ring, Austin laid a "Stone Cold" Stunner on to retain the belt as a disgruntled Vince scowled. Gee, how many times have we seen that scenario play itself out before? Austin wins. Vince fumes. Fans snore. Whatever.''<ref name = "No Mercy"/></blockquote>
The storyline also allegedly centered too much on the McMahons, who were getting more airtime than the wrestlers.<ref name = "McMahon Article">{{cite web|title = Give It A Rest, Vince|author=Matthew Evans|date = November 8, 2007|accessdate =2007-12-09|url = http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/column.shtml?category=9&id=1186849555|quote = ...one of the most poorly handled, ego-filled story lines in wrestling history.}}</ref>
It has been argued that the Invasion angle may have been more successful if [[Paul Heyman]] and [[Eric Bischoff]] were perceived as controlling ECW and WCW, respectively, instead of Stephanie and Shane McMahon.<ref name ="The Invasion Flop"/>
===Lack of big-name WCW talent/Overemphasis on WWF defectors===
Many fans had dreamed of a day where they could pit WWF and WCW wrestlers against each other, but the storyline's final match ended with four WWF wrestlers brawling it out. As a column in ''Online World of Wrestling'' stated:
<blockquote>''"While it was good TV, it wasn't what everyone thought the WCW vs WWF would have been all about... When the fans of WWF and WCW reminisced about a WCW vs WWF match back in the glory days of Monday Night Wars of around 1997, their match would have probably gone like this: WCW would probably have a team of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Goldberg, and Ric Flair against... maybe the WWF team of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Mick Foley. Something like that anyway, obviously, even if Vince had done this thing right and signed some good WCW talent we would have had a match a little different due to... factors such as retirement or injuries or something, but still similar to that."''<ref name = "The Invasion Flop"/></blockquote>
It is important to note that some of the WCW wrestlers' absences were out of the WWF's control. Many of WCW's top wrestlers had contracts with AOL [[Time Warner]], WCW's parent company, and were willing to sit at home rather than wrestle for less money. Ric Flair and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]] were not signed until the end of the Invasion because they were tied to their contracts, and therefore their absence was out of the WWF's control.<ref name = wcwstars/> In addition, Scott Steiner was recovering from an injury.<ref name = wcwstars>{{cite web|author=Arnold Furious|title=Smash Wrestling|accessdate =2007-12-09|date=June 27, 2003|url=http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=20986&s_question=the+invasion&}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author = Arnold Furious|accessdate =2007-12-09|date = June 30, 2003|title = Smash Wrestling|url = http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/wguruanswer.shtml?autoid=19613&s_question=invasion&}}</ref> Others, such as [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Kevin Nash]], [[Scott Hall]], and [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]], were not signed until well after the storyline finished.<ref name = wcwstars/> Because of this, the WWF's opponent allegedly lacked the strong identity of WCW.
To bolster the ranks of WCW (in lieu of big WCW names), some WWF wrestlers (such as Stone Cold Steve Austin) defected and joined the Alliance.<ref name="Invasion Results">{{cite web|title=Austin turns at Invasion |author = John Powell|accessdate =2007-12-09|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/jul23_invasion-can.html}}</ref> Although both WWF and WCW featured talents who had worked for both companies, wrestlers such as Stone Cold had their greatest success in WWF and were seen by fans as WWF wrestlers. Kurt Angle had never wrestled a match for either WCW or ECW, but was a main player for the Alliance towards the end of the storyline. In fact, despite both being viewed as prominent WWF wrestlers, they ended up not only being main players of the Alliance, with Stone Cold being the leader that carried championship gold, but also playing a bigger role than the WCW and ECW stars during the Invasion. For example, the final two Alliance members were Stone Cold and Angle at Survivor Series 2001 -- Booker T and Rob Van Dam were eliminated only after Shane McMahon.<ref name="Survivor Series and Title Info"/>
Several top WCW and ECW talent who were top superstars in their previous company such as Diamond Dallas Page, Justin Credible, Raven, and Tazz were put down into low-mid card matches, while lesser-ranked WWF wrestlers who defected to the Alliance, such as Test, were given a greater push.
==See also==
{{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}}
*[[The Alliance (professional wrestling)]]
*[[WWF Invasion]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=36249 In My Opinion the reasons why Pro Wrestling took a fall in the early part of this century] by Darrell Mays
{{World Wrestling Entertainment}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Invasion, The}}
[[Category:World Championship Wrestling]]
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