WWF Invasion

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WWF Invasion
Gund Arena[1]
Attendance17,876
Buy rate775,000 [2]
Pay-per-view chronology
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WWF Invasion (also typeset as InVasion) was a

Cleveland, Ohio. This event was initially planned to be the fourth Fully Loaded PPV, as it was advertised at the King of the Ring event, which immediately preceded Invasion, although the decision to replace Fully Loaded was made in May. Invasion was the first pay-per-view to feature the ongoing Invasion storyline, which featured wrestlers from the WWF taking on The Coalition, a combined force of wrestlers from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), later known as The Alliance
. The event featured WWF wrestlers facing WCW and ECW wrestlers.

The main event, dubbed the "Inaugural Brawl," was a five-on-five tag team match between Team WWF and Team WCW/ECW. The other main match was a singles match for the WWF Hardcore Championship between Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy. With a buyrate of 775,000, the event is the highest grossing non-WrestleMania pay-per-view in WWE history.[citation needed]

Following the conclusion of the storyline, the event's July slot was given to Vengeance in 2002 when Armageddon returned that year; Vengeance temporarily replaced Armageddon in December 2001 due to the September 11 attacks.

Production

Background

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (pictured in 2019), then known as the Gund Arena, is where the event was held.

From 1998 to 2000, the

Cleveland, Ohio.[3]

Storylines

Vince McMahon, the owner of the World Wrestling Federation

On March 23, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) bought out its long-time rival, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The last episode of

Reliant Astrodome. During May and June, WCW wrestlers interfered in matches on WWF programming.[5] At the 2001 King of the Ring, Booker T interfered during a Triple Threat match for the WWF Championship and tossed Steve Austin through the announcers table, nearly costing him the title.[6]

On the following night, the June 25 episode of Raw Is War, Shane declared his intention to invade the WWF, and the Invasion storyline started with Booker T performing a

Tazz) defecting to ECW. Shane appeared to co-operate with Vince against ECW, but later that night, it was revealed that WCW and ECW had merged, and that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (who was last seen on the May 21 episode of Raw Is War) now owned ECW.[11]

Earlier in the year, Austin had a change in character, becoming more emotional, and friendly with Vince. On the July 12 episode of SmackDown!, Vince said he needed the "old" Austin, an anti-hero tough character, to lead the WWF at Invasion. After Vince pleaded with him, Austin shook his head and left.[12] During the July 16 episode of Raw is War, Austin was shown drinking in a bar. Later that night, a fight started between many WWF wrestlers, and WCW and ECW wrestlers. As WWF seemed to be disadvantaged, Austin arrived, and returned to his old character, fighting off the WCW and ECW wrestlers. The WWF wrestlers (Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Kane, The Undertaker) then cleared out the ring, and were left standing tall.[13] On the July 19 episode of SmackDown!, Heyman says that he wants to bring back wrestling, and destroy sports entertainment by giving the WWF its last rites with The Alliance members, "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen!", while proclaiming "Death to sports entertainment! Death to the WWF!".[14]

Event

Other on-screen personnel[15]
Role: Name:
English Commentator Jim Ross
Michael Cole
Spanish commentator Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Referee Mike Chioda
Jack Doan
Jim Korderas
Theodore Long
Mick Foley
(Referee's and Tag Team Bra and Panties matches)
Chad Patton
Charles Robinson
Tim White
Ring announcer Howard Finkel

Sunday Night Heat

Before the event officially began, Chavo Guerrero (WCW) defeated Scotty 2 Hotty (WWF) in a match taped for Sunday Night Heat.[16]

Preliminary matches

The first match of the event was between

superkick to Christian, but Edge shoved Christian, and took the kick himself. As Awesome held Edge in a crucifix, Christian performed a spear to Awesome. Edge landed on top of Awesome, and pinned him for the victory.[17][18]

The second match was between WCW Senior Referee

The third match was between the

The fourth match was between the

Bronco buster, Kidman lifted his leg, performing a low blow. Kidman then pinned X-Pac after a shooting star press.[17][18]

The fifth match was between

Tazz came down. As the referee checked on Raven, Tazz performed a T-Bone suplex to Regal. Tazz left, and Raven pinned Regal after performing a Raven Effect DDT.[17][18]

The sixth match was between

bicycle kick, and a Baldo Bomb to Stasiak. Morrus and Kanyon attacked Albert, and Morrus performed a DDT. Morrus tagged in, and Albert performed a powerslam before tagging in Gunn. Gunn performed a Fameasser to Morrus, and attempted the One and Only. Stasiak attacked him from behind, performing an inverted DDT, and Morrus pinned him for the victory. After the match, The Big Show performed chokeslams to Morrus and Stasiak, and an Alley Oop to Kanyon.[17][18]

The seventh match was between Tazz (ECW) and

green mist into Tazz's face, and pin him after a Buzzsaw Kick.[17][18]

The eighth match was between

rolling thunder. Van Dam then climbed the turnbuckles, but Hardy shoved him outside. Outside, Hardy walked the barricade, but Van Dam sent him into the crowd. After a moonsault from the barricade, Hardy was placed over the barricade, and Van Dam performed a spinning heel kick off the apron. Hardy fought back with a sunset flip powerbomb from the apron, took out a ladder, and climbed it. However, Van Dam tipped the ladder, causing Hardy to fall. Van Dam attempted to use a chair, but Hardy used the ladder. After Hardy hit Van Dam with the chair, Van Dam came back with a Van Daminator, sending Hardy off the stage. Back in the ring, Van Dam performed a Chair Surf, and attempted a split-legged moonsault, but Hardy blocked it with his knees. Hardy followed with a DDT, a German suplex, and a sitout jawbreaker. Later on, Van Dam avoided a Swanton Bomb. Van Dam placed the Hardcore Championship belt on Hardy, and performed a Five Star Frog Splash onto the title. Van Dam then pinned Hardy to win the Hardcore Championship.[17][18]

The ninth match was a Bra and Panties match between Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler (WCW), and Trish Stratus and Lita (WWF) with Mick Foley as the special guest referee. The match started with Lita and Stratus taking down Keibler and Wilson. Wilson dropkicked Stratus' back, and kicked her in the corner. Stratus fought back with a clothesline, and attempted to remove Wilson's shirt after a suplex. Keibler stopped her, and they attempted to double team, but Stratus performed a double clothesline. Lita tagged in, knocked Wilson off the apron, and removed Keibler's shirt after pulling her in. Keibler went outside the ring, and Lita chased after her. This allowed Wilson to stomp on Lita, and Keibler removed her shirt. Lita fought back with a snapmare, and attempted a diving crossbody. Wilson and Stratus tagged in, and performed a clothesline. Wilson fought back, and pulled Stratus up while stepping on her hair. She pulled down her top, but Stratus performed a roll-up, and removed Wilson's pants. Lita and Stratus then performed a Poetry in Motion, with Lita performing an aided clothesline to Wilson, before removing Wilson's shirt. Stratus then performed a bulldog to Keibler, and Lita performed a Litasault. They then removed Keibler's pants to win the match.[17][18]

Main event

The

hangman to The Undertaker. Team WCW/ECW dominated The Undertaker until he performed a DDT. Team WWF kept the advantage until Booker performed a flapjack to Jericho with help from D-Von. Jericho fought back, knocking down the Dudley Boyz, and tagged in Angle. Angle fought the Dudley Boyz until Bubba Ray performed a Bubba Bomb. Angle was dominated by Team WCW/ECW until The Undertaker came in illegally, and attacked Page.[17][18] All wrestlers entered the ring, and fought. The Undertaker fought with Page, and, after performing a chokeslam, they fought into the crowd. Austin was down holding his knee as Booker and Angle were lying in the ring. On the outside, Kane was double-teamed by the Dudley Boyz. Kane eventually fought back, performing a chokeslam to D-Von through the announce table. Bubba Ray and Rhyno then sent Kane through the other announce table with a double suplex. Jericho then sent Rhyno through a table with a shoulder block from the apron. In the ring, Bubba Ray and Booker double-teamed Angle until Angle fought back, performing a German suplex to Booker, and an Angle Slam to Bubba Ray. Angle attempted to apply the ankle lock on Booker, but Booker kicked him into the referee. Booker then performed a flapjack, and all three were down. Vince got the WWF Championship belt, and attempted to throw it to Angle. Shane took it, and hit Vince with it. Shane failed to hit Angle, and Angle threw both Shane and Bubba Ray out of the ring. Angle performed an Angle Slam on Booker, and applied the ankle lock. After sending the referee back in the ring, Austin turned on Team WWF by performing a Stone Cold Stunner to Angle. Booker then pinned Angle to win the match for Team WCW/ECW. After the match, Austin celebrated with Shane, Stephanie and Heyman.[17][18]

Aftermath

After this pay-per-view, the Invasion storyline continued. The following night on Raw is War, Steve Austin explained his defection was because he felt unappreciated. WCW/ECW, now referred to as The Alliance, had the momentum, holding the WWF Championship, the WWF Intercontinental Championship, and the WWF Hardcore Championship in addition to all of WCW's titles.[19] The feud soon centered around the return of The Rock, and which team he would join, as both Vince and Shane attempted to persuade The Rock to join their team.[20] The Rock remained with the WWF, and engaged in a feud with Booker T over the WCW Championship. Austin would begin a feud with Kurt Angle over the WWF Championship after the events at Invasion.[21]

As the Invasion storyline concluded at Survivor Series in November,[22] this was the only Invasion PPV held, and instead of reinstating Fully Loaded in July 2002, the WWF, which was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002, moved Vengeance to the July slot;[23] Vengeance had temporarily replaced Armageddon in December 2001 due to the September 11 attacks.[24]

Results

No.Results
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, and Paul Heyman) (WCW/ECW) defeated Team WWF (Chris Jericho, Kane, Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker) (with Vince McMahon) (WWF)
10-man Tag Team match29:05
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

References

  1. ^ a b c "PPV LOOKBACK: WWF Invasion with The Alliance vs. Team WWF – Austin, Trish, RVD, Hardy, Edge, Christian, Bob Orton, Tazz, DDP". PWTorch. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  2. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)". 25 March 2020.
  3. ^ Meltzer, Dave (May 21, 2001). "May 21, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: XFL Disbanded, Plus Tons of News". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  4. ^ "411's WCW Monday Nitro Report 3.26.01". 411mania. 2001-03-26. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  5. ^ McCluskey, Sean (2001-05-28). "411's WWF Raw Is War Report 5.28.01". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  6. ^ "411's WWF King Of The Ring Report 6.25.01". 411mania. 2001-06-25. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  7. ^ "411's WWF Raw Is War Report 6.25.01". 411mania. 2001-06-25. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  8. ^ "411's WWF Smackdown Report 6.28.01". 411mania. 2001-06-28. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  9. ^ "Booker T". Off the Record with Michael Landsberg. November 5, 2001. TSN.
  10. .
  11. ^ "411's WWF Raw Is War Report 7.09.01". 411mania. 2001-07-09. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  12. ^ McCluskey, Sean (2001-07-12). "411's WWF Smackdown Report 7.12.01". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  13. ^ "411's WWF Raw Is War Report 7.16.01". 411mania. 2001-07-16. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  14. ^ "411Mania".
  15. ^ "Invasion results". CompleteWWE.com. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  16. ^ a b "411's WWF Sunday Night Heat Report 7.22.01". 411mania. 2001-07-22. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  17. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2008-04-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "411's WWF InVasion Report 7.22.01". 411mania. 2001-07-22. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  19. ^ "411's WWF Raw Is War Report 7.23.01". 411mania. 2001-07-23. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  20. ^ Keith, Scott (2001-07-30). "The SmarK RAW Rant – July 30 / 2001". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  21. ^ "411's WWF Summerslam Report 8.19.01". 411mania. 2001-08-19. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  22. ^ "WWF Survivor Series 2001 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  23. World Wrestling Entertainment
    . Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  24. ^ Martínez, Sebestián (December 11, 2020). "Jim Ross reveals why WWE did not celebrate the 2001 edition of Armageddon". Solo Wrestling. Retrieved March 3, 2021.

External links