| WWF Invasion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Promotion | World Wrestling Federation | ||
| Date | July 22, 2001[1] | ||
| City | Cleveland, Ohio[1] | ||
| Venue | Gund Arena[1] | ||
| Attendance | 17,876 | ||
| Buy rate | 775,000[2] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
| |||
WWF Invasion (also stylized asInVasion) was a 2001professional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event produced by theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It took place on July 22, 2001, at theGund Arena inCleveland, Ohio. The event had been promoted as the fourthFully Loaded at the precedingKing of the Ring event, but WWF changed it to Invasion in May. Invasion was the first pay-per-view to feature the ongoingInvasion storyline, which featured wrestlers from the WWF taking on The Coalition, a combined force of wrestlers from the formerWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) andExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotions, later known asThe Alliance.
Themain event, dubbed the "Inaugural Brawl", was a five-on-five tag team match between Team WWF (Stone Cold Steve Austin,Kurt Angle,Chris Jericho,Kane, andThe Undertaker) and Team WCW/ECW (Diamond Dallas Page,Booker T,Rhyno,Bubba Ray Dudley, andD-Von Dudley), which Team WCW/ECW won after Austin betrayed Team WWF. The other main match was a singles match for theWWF Hardcore Championship betweenRob Van Dam andJeff Hardy, which Van Dam won. With a buyrate of 775,000, the event is the highest-grossing non-WrestleMania pay-per-view in WWE history.
Following the conclusion of the storyline, instead of bringing back Fully Loaded, the event's July slot was given toVengeance in 2002 whenArmageddon returned that year; Vengeance temporarily replaced Armageddon in December 2001 due to theSeptember 11 attacks. The Invasion name was set to return in October 2025 for an event between WWE'sNXT brand and partner promotionTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), but due to controversy withIsrael and theOctober 7 attacks in 2023, the event was changed toNXT vs. TNA Showdown.
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From 1998 to 2000, theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) held aprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV) event titledFully Loaded. The WWF had planned to hold a fourth Fully Loaded in 2001, but in May that year, the promotion replaced it with Invasion, held as part of the ongoingInvasion storyline between the WWF andThe Alliance, the latter consisting of formerWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) andExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) talent. The event took place on July 22, 2001, at theGund Arena inCleveland, Ohio.[3]
On March 23, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) bought out its long-time rival, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The last episode ofWCW Monday Nitro aired on March 26, dubbed the "Night of Champions".Nitro started with WWF OwnerVince McMahon announcing a simulcast withRaw Is War later that night to address the future of WCW, during which it was revealed thatShane McMahon had bought WCW.[4] AtWrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, Shane defeated Vince in aStreet Fight with some of the WCW talent in attendance, sitting in the upper-level seats at theReliant Astrodome. During May, and June, WCW wrestlers interfered in matches on WWF programming.[5] At the 2001King of the Ring,Booker T interfered during a Triple Threat match for theWWF Championship, and tossedStone Cold Steve Austin through the announcers table, nearly costing him the title.[6]
On the following night, the June 25 episode ofRaw Is War, Shane declared his intention to invade the WWF, and the Invasion storyline started with Booker T performing ascissors kick to Vince.[7] On the June 28 episode ofSmackDown!, it was decided that Fully Loaded was to be changed to Invasion, and would feature matches between WWF, and WCW.[8] The ultimate goal, reportedly, was for WCW to "take over" one of the WWF's two primary programs, eitherRaw Is War orSmackDown!, and rebrand it as its own separate entity. To test the waters for this, the final twenty minutes of the July 2Raw Is War telecast was given over to WCW, which brought in its own commentators (Scott Hudson andArn Anderson), ring announcer (Stacy Keibler), referee (Nick Patrick), ring apron, and Chyron graphics, to present a match betweenBooker T andBuff Bagwell for Booker T'sWCW Championship (which he had won on the final episode ofNitro). This continued onSmackDown!, whereGregory Helms lost theWCW Cruiserweight Championship againstBilly Kidman, and Booker T defended the WCW Championship againstDiamond Dallas Page. The Booker T/Bagwell title match, however, was very poorly received both by television viewers, and the live crowd in the arena; sports journalistMichael Landsberg reported that many have called the bout "the worst match ever".[9] The two other WCW matches also received a negative fan reaction. The decision was thus made to make WCW a heel group that was out to destroy the WWF.[10] On the July 9 episode ofRaw Is War, when then-face WCW owner Shane was scheduled to face Page in a street fight, the two instead attacked The Undertaker, turning Shane heel (Page had already debuted in WWF as a heel, as part of a stalker angle with Undertaker, and his wife). Later that night,Chris Jericho, andKane (from the WWF) foughtLance Storm, andMike Awesome (from WCW) in a tag team match. It ended in ano contest when theECW Alumni from both the WWF, and WCW, along with the debutingRob Van Dam, andTommy Dreamer, made their way to the ring. As it looked as though they were going after Storm, and Awesome, they instead attacked Jericho, and Kane. This led to theRaw color-commentatorPaul Heyman leaving the announcer's booth, and declared that Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) has joined the invasion, and stated that the invasion has been taken to the extreme, leading to some WWF, and WCW wrestlers (includingRaven, Lance Storm,Rhyno,The Dudley Boyz, andTazz) 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 thatStephanie McMahon-Helmsley (who was last seen on the May 21 episode ofRaw 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 ofSmackDown!, Vince said he needed the "old" Austin, ananti-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 ofRaw is War, Austin was shown drinking in a bar. Later that night, a fight started between many WWF, 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 ofSmackDown!, Heyman said that he wanted 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]
| 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 |
Before the event officially began,Chavo Guerrero (WCW) defeatedScotty 2 Hotty (WWF) in a match taped forSunday Night Heat.[16]
The first match of the event was between the team ofLance Storm, andMike Awesome (ECW), andEdge and Christian (WWF). The match went back-and-forth; until Awesome attempted a cheap shot at Edge from the apron. Edge avoided it, performed adropkick, and sent Storm on top of him with aback body drop. Christian then leaped off Edge over the top rope onto Storm, and Awesome. As Christian was on the top turnbuckle, Awesome tripped Christian and attacked his back outside. Back in the ring, Storm and Awesome dominated Christian after Storm threw Christian's gut into the ringpost. Christian fought back with acrossbody, but Awesome tagged in, and performed aflapjack spinebuster. Storm and Awesome dominated Christian until Christian performed a back body drop to Awesome from the top rope. Edge and Storm tagged in, and Edge performed anEdge-O-Matic to Storm. Storm performed ajawbreaker, and attempted adouble belly-to-back suplex with Awesome. Edge landed on his feet, and Christian performed aflying clothesline to both Storm and Awesome. Edge performed aspear to Awesome. Storm attempted asuperkick to Christian, but Edge shoved Christian and took the kick himself. As Awesome held Edge in acrucifix, 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 RefereeNick Patrick and WWF Senior RefereeEarl Hebner withMick Foley as thespecial guest referee. Other WCW and WWF referees accompanied them to the ring. The match started with Hebner delivering kicks in the corner, followed bypunches, andknee drops to the midsection, but Patrick pulled Hebner outside. Back in the ring, Patrickstomped Hebner, but Hebner fought back with punches, andmounted punches. Patrick fought back by performing alow blow, and sent Hebner outside with abaseball slide. WCW referees stomped Hebner until Foley stopped them, and ejected them from ringside. Back in the ring, Patrick complained to Foley, allowing Hebner to perform aflying shoulder block, and pin Patrick for the victory. After the match, Patrick argued with Foley. Foley punched him and applied themandible claw.[17][18]
The third match was between theAPA (Faarooq andBradshaw) (WWF), andSean O'Haire andChuck Palumbo (WCW). The teams were thetag team champions of their promotions. The match began with the APA performing adouble spinebuster to Palumbo. Bradshaw had the advantage over Palumbo, then O'Haire. After Faarooq tagged in, O'Haire countered abelly-to-back suplex attempt and performed aknee lift. Palumbo tagged in, and Faarooq performed a flying shoulder block. Bradshaw then tagged in and performed afallaway slam to Palumbo. O'Haire then kicked Bradshaw in the head and performed aWidow Maker. Palumbo tagged in, and Bradshaw fought back with aDDT. After Faarooq tagged in, O'Haire pulled him out of the ring and sent him into the ring steps. They dominated Faarooq until Faarooq fought back with a spinebuster. Bradshaw and Palumbo tagged in, and Bradshaw performed abig boot, and apowerslam. As Bradshaw attempted a fallaway slam, O'Haire performed a superkick and dropped Bradshaw onto the top turnbuckle. After Faarooq sent O'Haire outside, Palumbo performed a superkick to Faarooq, and Bradshaw pinned Palumbo after performing aClothesline from Hell.[17][18]
The fourth match was between theWWF Light Heavyweight ChampionX-Pac and theWCW Cruiserweight ChampionBilly Kidman. The match started back and forth until Kidman performed ahurricanrana, and anenzuigiri. X-Pac fought back after sending Kidman over the top rope, and performed aspringboardreverse crossbody to the outside. Back in the ring, X-Pac applied thesleeper hold. Kidman escaped and applied the sleeper hold, but X-Pac countered with a belly-to-back suplex. X-Pac went to the top rope and performed asomersault legdrop, but Kidman avoided it. Kidman performed aB.K. Bomb, and mounted punches, which X-Pac countered with apowerbomb. X-Pac attempted another powerbomb, but Kidman reversed it into asitout facebuster. X-Pac then countered an aerial attack with an X-Factor. As he attempted aBronco buster, Kidman lifted his leg, performing a low blow. Kidman then pinned X-Pac after ashooting star press.[17][18]
The fifth match was betweenRaven (ECW) and WWF commissionerWilliam Regal (WWF). Regal gained the early advantage following adouble underhook suplex, and acatapult, sending Raven outside. Back in the ring, Raven tossed Regal over the top rope and performed a baseball slide, and aRussian legsweep into the security wall. Back in the ring, Raven performed a diving punch to Regal's forehead. Regal countered another attempt and performed a knee lift. Raven fought back with acorner clothesline, and a runningbulldog. Regal fought back, countering aRaven Effect DDT into aNorthern Lights suplex. After both collided, Raven rolled out of the ring, asTazz came down. As the referee checked on Raven, Tazz performed aT-Bone suplex to Regal. Tazz left, and Raven pinned Regal after performing a Raven Effect DDT.[17][18]
The sixth match was betweenThe Big Show,Billy Gunn andAlbert (WWF), andChris Kanyon,Shawn Stasiak andHugh Morrus (WCW). Before the match began, the WWF wrestlersgorilla pressed the WCW wrestlers. The match started with Kanyon attacking Gunn in the corner. Gunn performed anelectric chair drop, but Stasiak hit a cheap shot, and Kanyon performed a Russian legsweep followed by aforward Russian legsweep. Stasiak tagged in, and Gunn performed a neckbreaker slam. After Albert tagged in, Kanyon and Morrus entered the ring, but Gunn and The Big Show threw them out. Albert performed abicycle kick, and aBaldo 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 aFameasser to Morrus, and attempted theOne and Only. Stasiak attacked him from behind, performing aninverted DDT, and Morrus pinned him for the victory. After the match, The Big Show performedchokeslams to Morrus and Stasiak, and anAlley Oop to Kanyon.[17][18]
The seventh match was between Tazz (ECW) andTajiri (WWF). The match started with Tajiri performing aspinning heel kick, and astanding moonsault. Tazz fought back with ahead and arm suplex. Tajiri then escaped a suplex attempt and performed kicks and punches. Tazz fought back with a clothesline. After Tazz applied across armbar, and performed a flapjack spinebuster, Tajiri fought back with ahandspringback elbow. Tazz then pulled Tajiri off the apron and sent him into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Tajiri applied theTarantula, and dropkicked Tazz, who was kneeling. Tazz then blocked a kick and performed acapture suplex. He then shoved the referee out of the way, allowing Tajiri to spitgreen mist into Tazz's face, and pin him after aBuzzsaw Kick.[17][18]
The eighth match was betweenRob Van Dam (ECW) andJeff Hardy (WWF) for theWWF Hardcore Championship. Before the match began, Van Dam attackedMatt Hardy from behind with asteel chair. The match started back and forth with a quick pace. Hardy gained the advantage after a dropkick to the back. After Hardy missed a crossbody, Van Dam performed a standing moonsault, alifting double underhook facebuster, and arolling thunder. Van Dam then climbed the turnbuckles, but Hardy shoved him outside. Outside, Hardy walked through the barricade, but Van Dam sent him into the crowd. After amoonsault 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 asplit-legged moonsault, but Hardy blocked it with his knees. Hardy followed with a DDT, aGerman suplex, and asitout jawbreaker. Later on, Van Dam avoided aSwanton Bomb. Van Dam placed the Hardcore Championship belt on Hardy, and performed aFive Star Frog Splash onto the title. Van Dam then pinned Hardy to win the Hardcore Championship.[17][18]
The ninth match was aBra and Panties match betweenTorrie Wilson andStacy Keibler (WCW), andTrish Stratus andLita (WWF) with Mick Foley as the special guest referee. The match started with Lita and Stratus taking down Keibler and Wilson. Wilson dropkicked Stratus's 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 asnapmare, and attempted adiving 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 aPoetry 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]
Themain event was the "Inaugural Brawl", a no disqualification ten-man tag team match betweenBooker T,Diamond Dallas Page,The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) andRhyno (Team WCW/ECW), andStone Cold Steve Austin,Kurt Angle,The Undertaker,Kane andChris Jericho (Team WWF). WCW ownerShane McMahon, ECW ownerStephanie McMahon-Helmsley,Paul Heyman, and WWF ownerVince McMahon were at ringside. The Undertaker attacked Page during his entrance, and all wrestlers fought at ringside. The match began with Team WWF having the advantage as Austin dominated Rhyno. Team WCW/ECW gained the advantage after Page performed ahangman to The Undertaker. Team WCW/ECW dominated The Undertaker until he performed a DDT. Team WWF kept the advantage until Booker T performed aflapjack 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 aBubba 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 T 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 adouble suplex. Jericho then sent Rhyno through a table with a shoulder block from the apron. In the ring, Bubba Ray and Booker T double-teamed Angle until Angle fought back, performing a German suplex to Booker T, and anAngle Slam to Bubba Ray. Angle attempted to apply theankle lock on Booker T, but Booker T kicked him into the referee. Booker T 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 T, and applied the ankle lock. After sending the referee back in the ring, Austin turned on Team WWF by performing aStone Cold Stunner to Angle. Booker T then pinned Angle to win the match for Team WCW/ECW. After the match, Austin celebrated with Shane, Stephanie, and Heyman.[17][18]
After this pay-per-view, theInvasion storyline continued. The following night onRaw is War,Steve Austin explained his defection was because he felt unappreciated. WCW/ECW, now referred to asThe Alliance, had the momentum, holding theWWF Championship, theWWF Intercontinental Championship, and theWWF Hardcore Championship, in addition to all of WCW's titles.[19] The feud soon centered around the return ofThe 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 withBooker T over theWCW Championship. Austin would begin a feud withKurt Angle over theWWF Championship after the events at Invasion.[21]
As the Invasion storyline concluded atSurvivor 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, movedVengeance to the July slot;[23] Vengeance had temporarily replacedArmageddon in December 2001 due to theSeptember 11 attacks.[24]
On the September 23, 2025, episode ofNXT, the weekly show focused onWWE's developmental brand, wrestlers from the promotionTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), which had been in a partnership with WWE since January, interrupted aWinner Takes All match betweenOba Femi andTrick Williams for theNXT Championship andTNA World Championship, beginning with TNA'sMike Santana, who was slated to face Williams for the TNA World Championship atBound for Glory.[25] On September 27 atNXT No Mercy, NXT General ManagerAva announced a special episode ofNXT for October 7 called Invasion, reviving the Invasion name after more than 24 years.[26] However, just a couple days later, the episode's name was changed toShowdown after backlash inIsrael and among theJewish diaspora because the date fell on the second anniversary of theOctober 7 attacks, which led to the start of theGaza war.[27][28]