It began on a hot summers night.  The WWF was coming off its first truly lackluster PPV in over a year, King of the Ring '01.  Vince McMahon had just purchased WCW several months back, and the world was waiting to see its fate.  Resident WCW star Diamond Dallas Page was already on TV, feuding with the Undertaker after stalking his wife for a month.  Now then...we all know what a collosal failure the InVasion was, and how it more or less ended up costing the WWF its ratings and millions of dollars and all that other good stuff.  So what's the point of this?  I am going to, like many others before me, completely book the InVasion angle, starting the RAW after KOTR, leading up until I decide to quit- probably WrestleMania X-8.

    Now then...there are some things you should know.  I'm not going to book EVERY show from KOTR to Mania.  I'm not insane.  I'm simply going to give a chronological list of major events that I would have booked to ensure the angle's success.  So then...here we go, starting with the RAW after KOTR:

-Y2J gones on hiatus after losing at KOTR.
-DDP kidnaps Sarah to gain revenge on Taker after his KOTR beating
-Tension between Edge and Christian is teased
-Angle boasts about beating Shane, and Shane appears on the TitanTron, promising true vengeance in one week.
-DDP teases Taker with more "home movie" style viginettes, this time involving the kidnapped Sarah.
-Shane delivers his revenge by having Angle destroyed by Booker T, Hugh Morrus, Lance Storm, and Kanyon.  Austin makes the save to turn face.
-Vince bans Shane from all WWF events, so Shane continues sending WCW stars to attack WWF wrestlers during matches
-DDP defeats Taker at Fully Loaded, and escapes with Sarah.
-After a mass WWF locker room revolt, Vince allows Shane back into WWF events.
-Shane still isn't pleased, and demands Vince let WCW matches be held on WWF TV.
-Vince denies Shane, so Shane begins disrupting matches with his wrestlers, stripping the WWF ring, putting up WCW ropes, turnbuckle pads, and aprons, and holding brief WCW matches with WCW referees before security stops him.
-This continues until Vince allows WCW matches to be held on WWF TV.
-Shane STILL isn't happy, and he now wants Vince to turn over the WCW Title belts which he has in his possession.
-Vince refuses, and publicly throws every WCW title in the garbage.
-Shane has had enough, and declares that if he cannot have his titles, his wrestlers will take Vince's titles.  Vince arrogantly accepts Shane's challenge, and puts every WWF Title on the line that night on RAW.
-Awesome defeats Rhino for the Hardcore Title, Kanyon wins the European Title from Matt Hardy, the Dudleyz retain the Tag Team Titles against O'Haire and Palumbo, Lance Storm wins the Intercontinental Title from Kane, Chavo wins the Light Heavyweight Title from X-Pac, and Austin retains the WWF World Title agaisnt Booker T, no thanks to Kurt Angle.
-Vince verbally assaults Angle for almost costing Austin the World Title, and signs Austin vs. Angle at SummerSlam.
-Taker breaks down and cries at center ring, begging DDP to let Sarah go.
-DDP challenges Taker to a Hell in the Cell Match at SummerSlam.
-Vince and Shane square off in a ring surrounded by brawling WCW and WWF wrestlers, when the recently hired (for WHATEVER cost necessary) Ric Flair appears atop the stage.
-Flair defends WCW and demands Vince allows the titles to be returned.
-Vince reveals he kept the WCW World Title, and challenges Flair to a match at SummerSlam for the belt.
-At SummerSlam, WWF wrestlers try to help Vince, but are stopped by WCW wrestlers.  Vince taps to the Figure Four, and Flair brings the WCW World Title home.
-Also at SummerSlam, Kurt Angle defeats Steve Austin for the WWF World Title.  Edge also defeats Lance Storm for the Intercontinental Title.  Taker defeats DDP in the Hell in the Cell after returning to the Darkside.
-WCW holds a tournament starting on RAW for the vacant WCW World Title.  Vince McMahon demands that Shane let his wrestlers enter, so Shane makes a deal- if Austin can defeat Booker T, Vince can let ONE WWF wrestler in the tournament.
-Austin defeats Booker T in a clean match, and expects Vince to let him in the tourney.
-Vince betrays Austin when he picks The Rock, who has been gone since Mania!  Austin stuns Vince, and Rock Rock Bottoms Austin.
-Angle retains the WWF World Title against the Undertaker, but receives a Diamond Cutter.
-Christian defeats Kanyon for the European Title.  Also at this time, Mike Awesome proclaims himself the greatest Hardcore Champion of all time, then receives a challenge from Tazz, who reminds him about ECW.  Storm and Kanyon also begin teamming up, promising to become Tag Team Champions.  Chavo remains the dominant Light Heavyweight, though Tajiri, X-Pac, Jeff Hardy, Kidman, and Shane Helms all pose challenges to his title.
-Angle retains the WWF World Title against DDP, but almost loses it because of Taker.  Angle destroys the Undertaker, targeting the ankle that put him out in '99.
-Christian loses the European Title in a four corners match to Hugh Morrus.  He then turns on Edge and challenges him to a match for the IC belt at Unforgiven.
-At Unforgiven, the final to the tournament is Booker T vs. The Rock.
-Austin costs Rock the match, and Booker T is the new WCW World Champion.  Also at Unforgiven, Angle retains the WWF World Title against the Undertaker and DDP, Christian defeats Edge for the IC Title, Mike Awesome barely escapes Tazz with an Awesome Bomb, and Lance Storm and Kanyon defeat the Dudleyz for the WWF Tag Team Titles.
-After Unforgiven, WCW begins holding regular matches on WWF TV.
-Vince McMahon wants his titles back.
-He forces Edge and Christian to team up and face Lance and Kanyon for the WWF Tag Team Titles, allows Tazz to have a rematch with Mike Awesome, books Taker vs. DDP in a Casket Match, gives Jeff Hardy a match with Chavo for the Light Heavyweight Title, and gives Rhino a shot at Hugh Morrus' European Championship all at No Mercy.
-Jericho finally returns, sides with WCW, and goes after Angle!
-The Rock and Steve Austin continue to have problems, but are given the chance to compete in a Triple Threat Match for the WCW World Title at No Mercy.
-Vince announces that WCW has been a problem long enough, and he knows how to destory them.
-In the main event at No Mercy, Booker T retains the WCW World Title when the newly signed nWo (once again, for WHATEVER cost) run in and demolish Austin and The Rock.  Jericho defeats Angle for the WWF Title, Edge and Christian reluctantly win the Tag Team Titles, Tazz defeats Mike Awesome for the Hardcore Title, Taker defeats DDP in a Casket Match, Jeff Hardy wins the Light Heavyweight Title, and Rhino becomes the European Champion.
-After No Mercy, Vince berrates the nWo for attacking the WWF's Austin and Rock instead of Booker T.  The nWo respond by destroying Vince, and announcing that they now run the show.
-The nWo run wild during the night, destorying WCW and WWF wrestlers alike.
-Vince and Shane both begin gathering their top workers to compete in at Survivor Series.  Edge insists he be on the opposite team as Christian!
-The Survivor Series card is all elimination matches, the main ones being:
    -Vince, Rock, Austin, Angle vs. Shane, Jericho, Booker T, Ric Flair vs. The nWo
    -Taker, Kane, Edge, Rhino vs. Lance, Kanyon, DDP, Christian
    -Tazz, Hardyz, Tajiri vs. Chavo, Shane Helms, Kidman, Mike Awesome
-Survivor Series Order of Elimination by Match:
    -X-Pac, Shane, Scott Hall, Vince, Ric Flair, Booker T, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin- Jericho is the Sole Survivor!
    -Rhino thanks to Hugh Morrus, Kane, Lance, Kanyon, DDP, Christian-
Edge and the Undertaker are the Survivors!
    -Shane Helms, Matt Hardy, Tajiri, Kidman, Jeff Hardy, Tazz
Mike Awesome and Chavo are the Survivors!
-The night after Suvirvor Series, Rob Van Dam debuts by attacking Tazz, but not winning the Hardcore Title, and Raven returns to TV with a new Extreme Flock with Tommy Dreamer and Justin Credible.
-The next week Raven and the Flock announce that they are the heart of ECW and are going to lead an InVasion of their own.  Raven begins defending the ECW World Title, which he has with him.
-The Dudleyz, who are still with the WWF, win the Tag Team Titles when Christian abandons Edge.
-Test returns to TV and a jump to WCW is teased.
-Shane demands the December PPV be named Starcade.
-Starcade sees RVD defeat Tazz for the Hardcore Title, the Dudleyz defeat the Flock (Dreamer and Credible) by DQ to retain the WWF Tag Team Titles, Rhino retains the European Title despite Shane's efforts when Test runs in and helps Rhino, Jeff Hardy retains the Light Heavyweight Title against Chavo but is destroyed by the nWo, Christian and Edge battle to a 20 minute draw for the IC Title, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair battle to a no contest when Vince McMahon gets involved, Lance Storm and Kanyon defeat Taker and Kane thanks to DDP, Jericho retains the WWF Title against Steve Austin, and the Rock defeats Booker T for the WCW Title.
-After Starcade, Shane runs Test down for attacking WCW at Vengeance and not jumping to WCW.
-The nWo continue to beat down Jeff Hardy until they bully him into facing X-Pac for the Light Heavyweight Title at Rumble.
-Vince McMahon reveals there will be a mystery entrant at Number 30 in this years Rumble, and continues his battle for power with Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.
-Taker and Kane totally destroy Lance Storm, "injuring" him to send a message to DDP.
-At Royal Rumble, X-Pac defeats Jeff Hardy for the Light Heavyweight Title thanks heavily to the nWo, the Flock win the Tag Team Titles in a Hardcore Tag Match, Rhino and Test defeat Hugh Morrus and Shane McMahon, DDP and Kanyon defeat Taker and Kane when Lance Storm returns, Hulk Hogan defeats Ric Flair with Vince McMahon as the Guest Referee, RVD retains the Hardcore Title in a rematch with Tazz that sees Raven get involved, claiming to be the true King of Extreme, Jericho defeats Steve Austin to retain the WWF Title, and in the Rumble:
    -The last six in the Rumble are The Rock, Booker T, Edge, Christian, Kurt Angle, and the Mystery Entrant who turns out to be HHH.
    -Edge eliminates Booker T, but Christian throws him over the top.
    -HHH eliminates Christian thanks to Edge.
    -Angle eliminates the Rock.
    -HHH eliminates Angle thanks to Jericho.
-After Rumble, Vince, Flair, and Hogan decide to settle things once and for all at No Way Out.
-Booker T lays down a challenge to the Rock for a tag match, and Rock accepts.  At No Way Out it will be Edge and Rock vs. Booker and Christian, with Christian's and Rock's titles on the line.
-Kane becomes angry, telling Taker to just forget about DDP and move on.  Taker refuses to ever stop punishing DDP.
-HHH targets Austin for No Way Out, looking to finish their business from 2001.
-Taker vs. DDP is signed at Taker's request, along with a handicap match of DDP and Kanyon vs. Kane- if Kane wins, Lance and Kanyon are barred from ringside during DDP's match.
-The nWo continue to bully people around, and force Jeff Hardy to face Kevin Nash at No Way Out if he wants a shot at X-Pac.
-At No Way Out, Raven defeats RVD and Tazz in a triple threat match to win the Hardcore Title, the Flock retain the WWF Tag Team Titles against the Dudleyz in a Table Match and destroy the Dudleyz with barbwire and flamming tables, Jeff Hardy upsets Kevin Nash, Kane defeats Kanyon and Lance Storm, even though it seems like Page could have prevented it, DDP defeats Taker when Kane chokeslams the Undertaker, Ric Flair wins the triple threat match by making Vince submit, in a Tag Match featuring the Rock and Edge vs. Booker T and Christian for the WCW and IC Titles, Booker T pins the Rock to regain the belt, Steve Austin defeats HHH and afterwards they make up, and Jericho retains the WWF Title against Kurt Angle.
-The night after No Way Out, the Rock lays down the challenge to face Hogan at WrestleMania, and Hogan accepts.
-Kane explains that he cost Taker the match in ana ttempt to show him that no matter how many times Taker faces Page, it won't change the past, and that their family is being torn apart because of it.  Taker wants one more match with Page, at WrestleMania, but Kane says that he will screw Taker again.  Taker challenges Kane to a match, and if he wins, Kane must let DDP vs. Taker go down.
-Taker defeats Lance Storm, Kanyon, and Kane en route to a final confrontation with DDP.
-Steve Austin demands a shot at the WCW Title claiming he is the greatest champion ever, and Ric Flair interrupt him.  After an exchange of words, Flair vs. Austin is signed for WM.
-After his loss to Ric Flair, Vince McMahon has had enough.  He calls out Shane and demands that an end be put to the InVasion, and that it will be at WrestleMania.  Vince challenges Shane one on one at X-8, winner take all.  Shane agrees, but Vince isn't finished.  He wants the World Titles to be unified at WM, and demands that HHH gets a shot at the WCW Title tonight on RAW, and that if he wins, the match at WM be for the Undisputed World Championship.  Shane agrees.
-Before HHH vs. Booker T, Vince McMahon is heard talking to someone, asking that they do all they can to help ensure HHH's victory and claiming that they are the one thing that has helped the WWF prevail throughout the InVasion.
-RAW's main event arrives, and after a referee bump, Kurt Angle interferes...and nails HHH with an Angle Slam!  Booker T retains, and Vince is livid.
-It is revealed that Angle has jumped to WCW, and screwed HHH because despite the fact he was the "one thing" that aided the WWF, he never received anything for it.  He had to wait months for a one on one rematch for the WWF Title, and was asked to help the man who eliminated him in the Rumble win the WCW Title.  Shane signs a Booker T vs. Angle match as a reward to Kurt, and Shane helps Angle win the WCW Title, infuriating Booker!
-Booker T disappears after his insulting loss, and with just weeks until WM, Shane withdraws from his match with Vince, stating that he will only compete in it if Angle is let into the main event at WM and the unification match takes place.  Vince and HHH both reluctantly agree.
-Wrestle Mania X-8 takes place, and Jeff Hardy regains the Light Heavyweight Title by defeating X-Pac, RVD defeats Raven for WWF Hardcore and ECW World Titles, retiring the ECW belt, the Dudleyz regain the WWF Tag Team Titles in a bloody Barbwire Match against the Flock, Taker defeats DDP one last time and shares a hug with Kane and Sarah, Mike Awesome defeats Rhino for the European Title, Austin defeats Ric Flair, Edge regains the WWF Intercontinental Title finally by defeating Christian in a 30+ Ladder match, The Rock defeats Hulk Hogan, Vince ends the InVasion by defeat Shane with the help of Test, and in the main event, HHH unifies the WCW and WWF Championships after Booker T returns and attacks Angle, allowing HHH to nail the Pedigree and get the pin.  Jericho is rightfully pissed about losing the WWF Title without being pinned.

    And that concludes the InVasion Angle my way, Done Right.  I completely threw out the Alliance and instead let Raven lead his small band of under-pushed ECW allumni, and debuted RVD later on in the year.  I am considering writing another version however in which ECW does invade full time.  I saved Test's involvement, as well as many other things, to happen later on and extended feuds over long periods of time.  I'm not sure how it really turned out, but I think my ideas are good.

    From where I sit, the InVasion failed because a) Vince refused to spend the money necessary on the big names he needed to pull it off and b) Vince refused to legitimately push any WCW or ECW talent over his WWF boys.  Anyway...I hope you enjoyed my take on the InVasion angle.  And briefly, let's look at where I left the WWF:

-HHH vs. Austin for Backlash-KOTR is set up, as Austin defeated the Game just a month before he unified the titles.  That is a much better situation than what the WWF was in after X-8 in reality.
-Edge actually DID get to go over in his home town and regain the IC belt, and he along with Christian are now major players, unlike in reality, where Christian is a lowly midcarder and Edge's push has been all over the place.
-DDP is a huge main event threat, along with Lance and Kanyon, and Taker and Kane's characters are more developed and real than ever.
-Jericho is a legitimate main event threat and proud former champion.
-And much more...

    Well, what can I say but...

I'm Out
 
 
 
 
 

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