Hall’s WWE InVasion Review

InVasion
Date: July 22, 2001
Location: Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 17,964
Commentators: Jim Ross, Michael Cole

This show should probably be called “What If”, as this is the ultimate idea for a fantasy show. We have the best of the WWF vs. whomever we could get from the WCW/ECW (stupid contract situations), in a big showdown. Naturally it’s all about the McMahons but you know that’s always going to be the case. To say this had a lot of interest and hype would be an understatement and I’d say it’s well deserved. Let’s get to it.

Sunday Night Heat: Scotty 2 Hotty (WWF) vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. (WCW/ECW)

Cool touch with the set as both teams have their own individual ramp. Guerrero’s headlock doesn’t last long to start as Scotty flips over him and we get an early standoff. Another flip lets Scotty hit a superkick for two and he sends Guerrero out to the apron. Guerrero gets dropped face first onto the apron but knocks Scotty right back down. They go back inside where Guerrero hits a top rope (non-frog) splash for two and a middle rope dropkick gets the same.

We hit the chinlock but Scotty is back up with a faceplant, only to get caught on top. A belly to back suplex gives Guerrero two and they knock each other down. Scotty is back up with the bulldog and the Worm for two (not something you see someone kick out of very often). Guerrero springboards into a powerslam for two more but he’s right back with a brainbuster to pin Scotty at 4:23.

Rating: B-. Shockingly enough, two skilled, seasoned veterans can have a good match together. Both of these guys are the definition of “good hands” and that’s a very valuable thing to have. You can put them in a spot like this and you know you’ll get something of completely acceptable quality. The ending kind of came out of nowhere but they might have been told to go home in a hurry. It’s hardly some classic, but it was perfectly acceptable wrestling.

The opening video features clips from World War II, with Franklin D. Roosevelt talking about how he has seen war and hates war. He idea is that everything is on the line and the WWF is going to be fine as the old Steve Austin is back to lead them into battle. Yeah I’d say that gives it some gravitas.

Lance Storm/Mike Awesome (ECW) vs. Edge And Christian (WWF)

Storm doesn’t get the chance to list off the reasons for the invasion, as he is interrupted by the power of offbeat shenanigans (which totally rule). Awesome and Christian start things off with Christian quickly taking him and handing it off to Edge. Awesome takes him down as well and it’s off to Storm, who gets caught in an early headscissors. Edge sends Awesome outside and backdrops Storm onto him, followed by a dive from Christian, who gets caught in the ropes and thankfully doesn’t break anything.

Back in and Storm blocks Christian’s monkey flip and sends him crashing out to the floor. Naturally Awesome is right there with some whips around ringside. Another whip sends Christian hard into the post for two and Awesome sends him into the corner. The Alabama Slam gives Awesome two and the Awesome Splash connects for the same, with Edge making the save.

The Awesome Bomb is loaded up but Christian backdrops his way out, which is quite the fall from Awesome. Edge gets the tag and cleans house but Storm grabs a small package, with Christian turning it over at two. Everything breaks down and Edge spears Awesome but gets superkicked by Storm. Christian and Storm go outside, leaving Awesome to load up the Awesome Bomb. That’s cut off with a Christian spear and Edge gets the pin at 10:11.

Rating: B-. Perfectly nice tag match here, which shouldn’t be a surprise as Edge And Christian were still a great team and the former Team Canada could more than hang in there. It’s also nice to start with a tag match, as the fans were into things and it was fast paced enough to keep the interest. The ending wasn’t the best as it was based off a Christian spear, but that move has a pretty weak success/failure rate.

WWF – 1
WCW/ECW – 0

In the back, Vince McMahon is rather pleased with the win and even does the Edge And Christian pose. William Regal (WWF Commissioner) comes in to tell McMahon that Steve Austin and Debra have arrived. McMahon says he means the OLD STONE COLD and tells Regal to get ready to face Raven (that could be interesting). Unfortunately he uses an illustration of George Washington squashing King George’s Redcoats, which doesn’t sit well with Regal.

We recap Earl Hebner vs. Nick Patrick. Yes the Invasion has spread to the referees and yes they’ve been cheating and fighting for weeks now. What else do you need?

Nick Patrick (WCW) vs. Earl Hebner (WWF)

Mick Foley is guest referee for no adequately explained reason and yes, they both have lackey referees with them. They slap it out to start and Hebner knocks him into the corner to stomp away. Hebner gets two and they do the women’s catfight roll around before Hebner is sent outside.

Foley has to break up a referee fight (and gets a big chant as a result) before Hebner gets to hammer away back inside. A low blow gives Patrick a breather and a baseball slide sends Hebner outside. The evil referees stomp on Hebner, who ejects the WCW referees. Hebner kind of Pounces Patrick for the pin at 2:49. This was exactly what you would have expected from a match between two referees.

WWF – 2
WCW/ECW – 0

Post match Patrick yells at Foley, who busts out Mr. Socko.

Ad for Tough Enough, featuring Maven dressed as a woman.

We look at Diamond Dallas Page kidnapping Debra (Steve Austin’s wife) on Smackdown, starting up a car chase.

Earlier today, Debra ranted to Sara (Undertaker’s wife) about Diamond Dallas Page. Sara says he’ll get his tonight.

We recap the APA vs. Sean O’Haire/Chuck Palumbo. They’re the WWF/WCW Tag Team Champions and the APA are leading the undercard war against the invaders. Palumbo and O’Haire jumped them at WWF New York and it’s time to fight here.

Sean O’Haire/Chuck Palumbo (WCW) vs. APA (WWF)

Neither titles are on the line and it’s a brawl to start. The double spinebuster plants Palumbo and it’s O’Haire starting for the team. A suplex cuts O’Haire off and he gets sent chest first into the buckle. O’Haire knees Faarooq in the face for two and it’s off to Palumbo. A running shot in the corner staggers Faarooq but he gets over for the tag to Bradshaw. That means a fall away slam but Palumbo breaks up a fall away slam.

What would become known as the Widowmaker gives Palumbo two and everything breaks down. Faarooq is sent outside and gets whipped into the steps, followed by an elbow to give O’Haire two. That’s broken up with a suplex and it’s back to Bradshaw for the hard shoulders. A powerslam gets two on Palumbo as everything breaks down. Faarooq gets dropkicked into a hot shot and Palumbo adds the Jungle (super) Kick. Bradshaw isn’t having that and hits the Clothesline From Bradshaw to pin Palumbo at 6:49.

Rating: C. This was kind of a messy match but you don’t exactly expect a Midnight Express level of continuity from the APA. I still like O’Haire a lot and if he had the talking ability to back up his athleticism, he could have been a big deal. At the same time, sweet goodness they are setting up the ECW/WCW team to have a heck of a finish to this show, which isn’t the best sign for the main event. It’s a big start for the WWF, but that isn’t likely to end well for them, at least in wrestling logic.

WWF – 3
WCW/ECW – 0

Vince McMahon wants Chris Jericho ready for the main event. Jericho mocks Paul E. Heyman and says Team WWF will be ready for the Inaugural Brawl. McMahon does Jericho’s catchphrase.

Stephanie McMahon hates Jericho but Shane McMahon tells her to calm down. Billy Kidman is ready for X-Pac and Heyman gives Kidman a big pep talk, saying everything is on him. Kidman isn’t worried.

X-Pac (WWF) vs. Billy Kidman (WCW)

Neither title (Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight) is on the line. X-Pac (the fans think he sucks) takes him down a few times to start, meaning we get some posing. Kidman takes him right back down for the slaps to the back of the head, followed by a headlock. X-Pac is kicked out to the floor so Kidman hits a sliding faceplant. Back up and X-Pac knocks him down for a dive of his own, followed by the chinlock back inside. Kidman fights back and is quickly belly to back suplexed for his efforts.

The Swanton misses for X-Pac but he’s right back with a powerbomb attempt. Apparently X-Pac doesn’t do much research as You Can’t Powerbomb Kidman, who goes up top. That doesn’t go well either as Kidman dives into the X Factor for two more. The Bronco Buster is cut off with a raised boot though and Kidman hits the shooting star press for the pin at 7:13.

Rating: B-. It’s unfortunate that people forget just how good X-Pac was in the ring. Yes he had more baggage than an airline but the guy could get it done from bell to bell. Kidman was rather talented as well and it’s nice to see WCW getting a win for a change. Apparently they have something with this cruiserweight stuff. Imagine that: the WWF Light Heavyweight division not being as good after all the years of effort the company put into it.

WWF – 3
WCW/ECW – 1

Diamond Dallas Page talks about kidnapping Debra but the bosses get him back on focus.

Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler have a ridiculous discussion about their bodies and tease going after the Hardys.

Raven (ECW) vs. William Regal (WWF)

Regal starts fast with a butterfly suplex but it’s way too early for the Regal Stretch. Some forearms drop Raven for two and a catapult sends Raven crashing out to the floor. Back in and Raven knocks him into the corner for some shoulders to the ribs. Regal’s suplex doesn’t get him very far as Raven goes back to the ribs and hits a middle rope forearm to the head.

Raven suplexes him for two so Regal knees him in the face. The Raven Effect is countered into a suplex and they collide for a double down. Cue ECW’s Taz to suplex Regal as the referee is with Raven. Somehow this goes unnoticed and the Raven Effect finishes Regal at 6:37.

Rating: C. Oddly not the best match here as you would think they could both work enough of a brawling style to mesh well. That being said, it’s another match that felt like it was just there to put a number on the scoreboard, which only let it be so interesting. I would really rather hear these two talk to each other for weeks on end than watch them wrestle, though it wasn’t terrible.

WWF – 3
WCW/ECW – 2

Vince McMahon gives the Brothers Of Destruction a pep talk. Undertaker beats up the air and then shoves Vince against the wall for mentioning Diamond Dallas Page videotaping Sara. Vince approves of the reaction.

Big Show/Albert/Billy Gunn (WWF) vs. Chris Kanyon/Hugh Morrus/Shawn Stasiak (WCW)

This was during the period where Albert, yes that Albert, was Intercontinental Champion, having beaten Kane, yes that Kane. Stasiak even uses a Mr. Perfect knockoff song (very close but it doesn’t have the right sound). The WCW guys jump them to start fast, earning themselves a triple gorilla press. Gunn hammers on Kanyon and gives him a backslide for two.

Kanyon hits a Stroke for two before it’s off to Stasiak, who walks into a neckbreaker. Everything breaks down and Albert bicycle kicks Stasiak. The Baldo Bomb connects for two and he knocks Morrus down for a bonus. Gunn comes back in and hits a Fameasser on Morrus but has to go after Kanyon. The One And Only is broken up though and Stasiak gives Gunn a reverse DDT so Morrus can get the pin at 4:25.

Rating: C-. If Raven vs. Regal was just there to add a match to the card, this might as well have just been a number added without even having them wrestle. Commentary was pointing out that there was little reason for these people to team together, which makes the match that much less interesting. Who was looking to see these people fight? I get the idea of WWF vs. WCW (and ECW) but….do better than this.

WWF – 3
WCW/ECW – 3

Shane McMahon tells Booker T. that they’re up 4-3 if you count the Sunday Night Heat match and Booker says he’s beaten Steve Austin and Chris Jericho so he’s got this main event.

William Regal gives Tajiri a heck of a pep talk before his match with Tazz.

Tazz (ECW) vs. Tajiri (WWF)

Tajiri starts fast with the kicks and hits a standing moonsault for an early two. That earns Tajiri a head and arms suplex so he kicks and punches the fire out of Tazz. Back up and a hard clothesline hits Tajiri and we hit the bodyscissors. Tazz stomps him down in the corner before going after the arm.

A nasty Alabama Slam out of the corner drops Tajiri for two but he fires off the handspring elbow (to a heck of a reaction). Tazz heads outside and takes over on the floor, only to get caught in the Tarantula back inside. Tajiri kicks him in the head for two but gets caught with a capture suplex. The green mist gets Tajiri out of trouble though and the Buzzsaw Kick finishes Tazz off at 5:45.

Rating: B. I liked this one a lot as it felt like a fight. Regal gave Tajiri a great pep talk and Tajiri was fighting like he had everything on the line. Tazz could throw those suplexes and he looked rather good doing so, but dang Tajiri could fire off some kicks like few others. Good match here and I could go for seeing them do this again, and for longer.

WWF – 4
WCW/ECW – 3

Matt Hardy tells Jeff Hardy to be ready for Rob Van Dam, who runs in to chair Matt down. Van Dam tells Jeff that he’s next (before their scheduled match).

Hardcore Holly is doing a signing at WWF New York and yells at a fan for wearing a WCW shirt, which Holly rips off.

Hardcore Title: Rob Van Dam (ECW) vs. Jeff Hardy (WWF)

Hardy is defending and charges in before they go to the mat. That results in a standoff so Van Dam does his pose, earning a dropkick into the corner. Hardy jumps over him for another dropkick into a different corner, followed by the leg trap rollup for two. Van Dam grabs a random backdrop and hits a standing moonsault for two of his own. A lifting Pedigree of all things sets up Rolling Thunder for another near fall as things slow down

Hardy catches him on top with a big shove out onto the barricade. A big dropkick through the ropes knocks Van Dam down again and Hardy walks the barricade, only for Van Dam to jump up and knock him into the crowd (that was cool). Van Dam strikes away and hits a moonsault off a wall to drop Hardy again. Back to ringside and Van Dam hits the big spinning kick to the back on the barricade for two. Hardy is right back with the sunset bomb out to the floor (THUD) and it’s time for the first weapon, which is of course a ladder

For some reason Hardy climbs it on the floor, allowing Van Dam to get back inside….and shove it over for a huge crash onto the ramp. Hardy takes a chair away from him but gets Van Daminatored down to the floor. A spinning legdrop gives Van Dam two and the skateboarding chair shot hits Hardy back inside. Hardy manages to grab a DDT and a German suplex for two but the Swanton misses. Van Dam puts the title on Hardy and hits a Five Star (that was in the My Sacrifice/Desire video) for the pin and the title at 12:24.

Rating: B+. This is a great illustration of what makes a hardcore, or really just a weapons of any kind, match work. The catch here was the focus being on the wrestlers who happened to use weapons, as opposed to the weapons being the focus with the wrestlers just kind of being there. They didn’t even get any weapons brought in until about halfway through and had built up a good match beforehand. You can do a bunch of weapons and violence, but if the match/issue isn’t there, it doesn’t matter much. This match understood that and it was pretty great as a result.

WWF – 4
WCW/ECW – 4

Vince McMahon gives Kurt Angle a pep talk, but Angle doesn’t want to hear this Americana bulls***. Yes he won a gold medal, but he did it by kicking some serious a**. Tonight, he’s doing this for his country and company, but mainly for himself.

We recap Torrie Wilson/Stacy Keibler vs. Trish Stratus/Lita. It’s a bra and panties tag match, with Stratus and Lita arguing and everyone seemingly going after the Hardys. This was before women’s wrestling was taken anything close to serious and Stratus was just starting to become a wrestler.

Torrie Wilson/Stacy Keibler (WCW) vs. Trish Stratus/Lita (WWF)

Bra and panties match and Mick Foley is going to guest referee this match too because…well I think you get it. Keibler and Wilson slap them to start and the fight starts fast. Wilson stomps her down in the corner and hits a big slap as you’re starting to get the variety of her offense at this point. Stratus is back with a suplex but can’t get Wilson’s top off.

A double clothesline works a bit better and it’s off to Lita, leaving Keibler and Wilson to argue over who has to face her. Keibler gets pulled in and quickly loses her top, with the fans rather approving. Lita chases her around ringside but gets tripped on the way back inside, losing her top in the process. Stratus comes in and Wilson stands on her hair. It’s too early for the top to come off so Stratus takes Wilson’s pants instead. The rest of the clothes come off and Stratus and Lita win at 5:03.

Rating: D. Ok, you get why this is on the show and that’s all well and good. At the same time, it’s just annoying to watch as they could have done some more with some better training. There is only so much you can do in this kind of “wrestling” and that was on display. I get the appeal, but dang this stuff has not aged well.

WWF – 5
WCW/ECW – 4

The WCW/ECW bosses give their team a final pep talk.

Vince McMahon comes in to see Steve Austin, who doesn’t want to hear a speech. He’s not here to sing or hug because he’s here to whip someone’s a**. That’s the bottom line. Debra being there continues to take away so much of Austin’s aura.

We recap the main event, which is basically “WCW/ECW are here and working together and the WWF is in big trouble but Steve Austin is back to make everything right. You know, by working with Vince McMahon. Again Shane and Stephanie. Because WWF. There’s nothing on the line here, but the WWF got FREDDIE BLASSIE to come in and give them the big final pep talk, which is pretty awesome.

Team WWF vs. Team WCW/WCW

WWF – Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Kane
WCW/ECW – Booker T., Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Rhyno, Diamond Dallas Page

The three McMahons and Heyman are here too. Oddly Page gets the last entrance for the invaders rather than the WCW World/US Champion. So after about ten minutes of entrances, Austin comes out last as the brawl is already on outside. Austin cleans house on the floor and takes Rhyno inside to start (that’s an interesting pairing). A running knee to the ribs drops Rhyno and Austin hits the Thesz press to fire away.

Austin takes him up top and hammers away, setting up the top rope superplex for two, with D-Von making the save. It’s off to Jericho to hammer on Rhyno and then do the same to Booker. Angle comes in (the fans approve) and unloads on Booker before it’s off to D-Von. This goes a bit better with the jumping elbow putting Angle down so Kane comes in for general carnage.

Bubba can’t do much better and gets kicked in the face, with D-Von having to make another save. Undertaker hits his own jumping clothesline to Bubba and Old School connects. Bubba grabs a suplex though and it’s off to Rhyno to hammer away in the corner, allowing him to stomp Undertaker down. Page takes Undertaker down with a discus lariat and Booker’s side kick gets two. Undertaker’s running DDT gets two of his own, with Rhyno making the save this time.

It’s back to Austin (the fans approve quite a bit) but the Stunner is blocked. They go outside instead, with Austin hitting a suplex and then handing it off to Jericho. The Walls have Page (not legal) in trouble before the Lionsault misses Booker. Instead it’s an assisted hot shot to bring Jericho crashing down to put him in trouble for a change. The Dudleys both get to beat on Jericho until he scores with an elbow.

Angle comes back in to beat up both Dudleys, at least until the Bubba Bomb cuts him off. D-Von drops a leg for two, with Rhyno’s belly to belly getting the same. The slow beating continues with Booker hitting an ax kick for two of his own as the McMahons are panicking on the floor. Page hits his awesome helicopter bomb for two, with Austin making another save.

What’s Up hits Angle and Page grabs a cobra clutch slam for another near fall. Angle finally gets over for the tag, which is of course not seen, but Undertaker comes in to beat on Page anyway. Everything breaks down and Rhyno Gores Booker by mistake. Undertaker gives the WCW referee a Last Ride for getting on his nerves and everyone brawls to the floor. Undertaker and Page go out into the crowd and Austin’s knee is in trouble.

Bubba hits Kane with the top of the announcers’ table and D-Von sends him into the steps. Naturally it’s table time but D-Von gets chokeslammed through the announcers’ table. Rhyno knocks Kane down and a double suplex puts him through another announcers’ table. Jericho drives Rhyno through the regular table and everyone is down for a breather. Booker and Bubba take Angle back inside but Angle fights up and Booker is caught in the ankle lock.

That’s broken up and the referee gets bumped, allowing Booker to put Angle down. Vince throws a belt to Angle but Shane takes it away and drops Vince instead. Angle is up to clean house and hits the Angle Slam on Booker, setting up the ankle lock for the tap…but there’s no referee. Austin throws the referee in…and turns on the WWF with a Stunner to Angle to give Booker the pin at 29:04.

Rating: B-. Honestly, the match is just kind of there for the most part, with a long heat segment on Angle and a wild start but not much else. This was of course all about the, ahem, surprise, ending, which you really could see coming from a long way off. Austin gives the invaders credibility and the Rock is the only person who can come back to even things up. It’s not a bad match, but it’s absolutely one of those things that you might want to see once just to say you checked it off a list. There really isn’t much value to it beyond that.

WWF – 5
WCW/ECW – 5

And yes they’re going to count the Heat match to say the invaders won, because that makes more sense than cutting out one of the midcard matches and letting them win outright. Austin celebrates with Shane/Stephanie/Heyman as JR absolutely loses it as beer is consumed to end the show.

 

Results
Edge And Christian b. Mike Awesome/Lance Storm – Spear to Christian
Earl Hebner b. Nick Patrick – Pounce
APA b. Sean O’Haire/Chuck Palumbo – Clothesline From H*** to Palumbo
Billy Kidman b. X-Pac – Shooting star press
Raven b. William Regal – Raven Effect
Hugh Morrus/Shawn Stasiak/Chris Kanyon b. Big Show/Albert/Billy Gunn – Reverse DDT to Albert
Tajiri b. Tazz – Buzzsaw Kick
Rob Van Dam b. Jeff Hardy – Five Star Frog Splash
Trish Stratus/Lita b. Torrie Wilson/Stacy Keibler – Wilson and Keibler were stripped
Team WCW/ECW b. Team WWF – Stunner to Angle

 

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5.5

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

The problem here is that most of the show is so totally skippable. You have a fine opener, an ok enough Kidman vs. X-Pac match, the Tajiri vs. Tazz match, the good Hardcore Title match and the main event. The problem is some of those matches aren’t very long and the main event is hardly anything great. The show isn’t awful, but it feels really weak for what it could have been. Who looks at “WWF vs. WCW, Tag Team Champion vs. Tag Team Champions” and thinks APA vs. O’Haire/Palumbo? The same is true for the lightweight titles with Kidman vs. X-Pac. Yeah the match was pretty good, but that’s far from some kind of all time special dream match. There are about two matches here that feel important/worthy of being on a show this big and one of them is for the Hardcore Title. The wrestling is fine for the most part, but wow this was a disappointment over what it should have been after all these years.