|
Invasion was the first pay-per-view to feature the ongoing Invasion storyline, which featured wrestlers from the WWF taking on 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.
Invasion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on July 22, 2001 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
On March 23, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) bought out its long-time rival, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The last episode of WCW Monday Nitro aired on March 26, dubbed the "Night of Champions". Nitro started with WWF Owner Vince McMahon announcing a simulcast with WWF Raw is War later that night to address the future of WCW, during which it was revealed that Shane McMahon had bought WCW. During May and June, WCW wrestlers interfered in matches on WWF programming. 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.
On the following night, the June 25 edition of Raw is War, Shane declared his intention to invade the WWF, and the Invasion storyline started with Booker T performing a scissors kick to Vince. On the June 28 edition of WWF Smack Down! it was decided that Fully Loaded was to be changed to Invasion, and would feature matches between WWF and WCW. On the July 9 edition of Raw is War, Paul Heyman declared that Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) has joined the invasion, and some WWF and WCW wrestlers defected to ECW. Shane appeared to co-operate with Vince against ECW, but later that night, it was revealed that WCW and ECW have merged, and that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley now owned ECW.
Earlier in the year, Austin had a change in character, becoming more emotional and friendly with Vince. On the June 12 edition 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. During the July 16 edition of Raw is War, Austin was later 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 cleaned out the ring, and were left standing tall.
Sunday night heat
Chavo gurrero Jr. defeated scotty 2 hotty
1
Edge and Christian defeated lance storm and mike awsome
2
Earl Hebner defeated Nick Patrick
3
The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) defeated Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo
4
Billy Kidman defeated X-Pac
5
Raven defeated William regal
6
Chris Kanyon, Shawn Stasiak and Hugh Morrus defeated Billy Gunn, The Big Show and Albert
7
Tajiri defeated Tazz
8
Rob Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy (c)
9
Trish Stratus and Lita defeated Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler
10
Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Rhyno and The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho The Undertaker and Kane
After Invasion, 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. The feud soon centered around the return of The Rock, and which team he would join, as both Vince and Shane both attempted to persuade The Rock to join their team. The Rock joined 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 occurrences at Invasion
