Austin turns at Invasion
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
It is the situation Vince McMahon has always feared. One of his own
superstars taking the WWF World Heavyweight Title to another wrestling
promotion. With the WWF purchase of World Championship Wrestling and the
demise of Extreme Championship Wrestling, McMahon's former competitors now
work for him so there is no chance of that happening in the distant future.
What better way for the WWF to celebrate then by turning McMahon's greatest
concern into a major WWF storyline. That was exactly the case last night at
the first ever "interpromotional" pay-per-view when the man McMahon thought
could rally the troops against the fictitious ECW-WCW Invasion turned his
back on him.
In the only significant surprise of an otherwise unspectacular broadcast,
WWF champ - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin - switched alliances siding with
Vince's children - Shane and Stephanie McMahon, the "owners" of WCW and
ECW. Borrowing a page from Hulk Hogan's defection from WCW to the New World
Order which shook the wrestling world several years ago, Austin undermined
Team WWF causing them to lose the main event tag match to Team WCW-ECW.
The ponderous "Inaugural Brawl" pitting The Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle,
Chris Jericho and Steve Austin (Team WWF) versus The Dudley Boys, Diamond
Dallas Page, Booker T. and Rhyno (Team WCW-ECW) was slightly above average
as far as matches go but concluded in a muddled brawl that any fan could
have telegraphed a mile away. Portrayed as disorganized and inferior
grapplers, the ECW-WCW Team had more than its fair share of mistimed moves
which hurt their own team members while the "WWF squad" of course wrestled
like a well-oiled machines. The weakening of the ECW-WCW dubbed superstars
didn't stop there either. The WWF faction battered their enemy tag partners
off the ring apron over and over again making them appear weak and more
times than not, the ECW-WCW grapplers gained an advantage only by
double-teaming or employing underhanded tactics. The message sent was loud
and clear. The best of ECW-WCW is not good enough to hang with the WWF.
During the match's finale, The Undertaker and Diamond Dallas Page fought
into the crowd never to be seen again. The Dudley Boys beat on Kane outside
the ring until the
Big Red Machine Chokeslammed D'Von Dudley through the announcers' table.
Rhyno and Buh Buh Ray Dudley double-suplexed Kane through the Spanish
Announce Team's table then Chris Jericho gave Rhyno a flying shoulder block
from the ring apron knocking him through a table the Dudley Boys had set-up
to use on Kane. As all of this was going on, a paramedic conferred with
Austin on the arena floor as he held his knee. The legal men, Booker T. and
Kurt Angle remained in the ring. Buh Buh and Booker T. tried to double-team
Angle but he took them both down. Buh Buh received an Angle Slam and Booker
was locked into the Angle Ankle Lock. Booker managed to kick out sending
Angle into the referee knocking him out of the ring.
Vince McMahon threw the WWF World Heavyweight Title in the ring for Angle
to use. Shane McMahon beat him to it and nailed his father in the head with
it. Meanwhile, Angle punished Booker with his Slam and Ankle Lock. Booker
tapped out but the official was still outside the ring. A seemingly
uninjured Austin dove back into the squared circle, Stone Cold Stunnered
Angle and then laid Booker on top of Angle for the pinfall. Flipping the
crowd off, Austin chugged beers with Paul Heyman, Stephanie and Shane
McMahon. Naturally, this is the prelude to another Austin and Rock
confrontation with the self-proclaimed Most Electrifying Man In Sports
Entertainment helping McMahon
regain the WWF World Title, possibly at SummerSlam.
Invasion was hyped as what wrestling fans have long waited for. A chance to
see the WWF duke it out with ECW and WCW. Yet, there weren't many
high-profile "dream matches" on the card that would elevate it to mega
event status. Besides the main event itself, the Rob Van Dam - Jeff Hardy
clash was about the only one fans will fondly remember. The majority of the
bouts were satisfactory though with the depth of talent the WWF now has,
the match-ups should have been better than what they were. As with the
whole "invasion" storyline -- which they had to desperately revamp two
weeks ago to incite some interest and cater to the marks who wouldn't cheer
for anyone besides their beloved WWF stars -- the WWF bookers dropped the
ball somewhat at Invasion. What should have been a historical pay-per-view
was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill offering from the WWF.
The next WWF pay-per-view is
SummerSlam on August 19th.
WWF Invasion Results
Mike Awesome, Lance Storm versus Edge, Christian
Exactly what the doctor ordered. A energetic match to set the
broadcast's pace. As Awesome tries to power bomb Edge, Christian Spears
him. Edge pins Awesome.
Winners: Edge, Christian at 10 minutes and 8 seconds.
Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.
Vince McMahon is sitting in his office. He says Edge and Christian reek
of awesomeness. William Regal informs McMahon that Steve Austin has entered
the arena. Regal asks if he can summon him for McMahon. McMahon tells Regal
to give Austin his space. McMahon's way of inspiring Regal in his match
against Raven falls flat because he uses a Revolutionary War reference
which Regal doesn't appreciate.
Earl Hebner versus Nick Patrick
Mick Foley is the special guest referee. WCW and WWF officials surround
the ring. When the WCW referees attack Hebner on the floor, Foley sends
them back to the locker room. As Patrick debates Foley's officiating,
Hebner Spears him for the win. Foley punches Patrick and unleashes Mr.
Socco on him.
Winner: Earl Hebner at 2 minutes and 58 seconds.
Match Rating: 0 / 10.
Debra and Sarah share their hatred of Diamond Dallas Page while getting
coffee. Sarah refers to The Undertaker by his real first
name...Mark.
The APA versus O'Haire, Palumbo
Nothing of interest here. Bradshaw's Clothesline From Hell puts Palumbo
down for the count.
Winners: The APA at 7 minutes and 17 seconds.
Match Rating: 4 / 10.
Jericho chats with Vince McMahon about the main event. Jericho says the
"E" in Paul E. Heyman stands for "Ewwww, gross". McMahon steals a line from
Jericho and says...ECW and WCW will never, eeeever be the same again.
Stephanie, Shane and Heyman are shown in their locker room. Stephanie
really hates Jericho. Stephanie, Shane and Heyman tell Kidman that it is up
to him to bring ECW and WCW back on track tonight. Kidman says..No problem.
There is a reason why everyone chants "X-Pac sucks!".
X-Pac versus Billy Kidman
Kidman is no longer wearing his T-shirt and cutoff jeans. He has actual
wrestling trunks now. Even though the crowd has backed all of the WWF
wrestlers in their matches, they cheer for Kidman and jeer X-Pac. It
shouldn't be long before X-Pac is relegated to the ECW-WCW alliance. Jim
Ross mentions that X-Pac was given his notice by WCW when he was there by
Fed-Ex. Kidman wins with the Shooting Star Press.
Winner: Billy Kidman at 7 minutes and 10 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Torrie and Stacey talk about how beautiful they are and how nobody is
going to see them in their bra and panties. They suggest a "private
viewing" for the Hardy Boys.
William Regal versus Raven
Jim Ross says Raven dresses like a bum but has a brilliant I.Q. Tazz
does a run-in and suplexes Regal. Raven gives Regal what was formerly known
as his Evenflow DDT to win the match.
Winner: Raven at 6 minutes and 33 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Vince McMahon gives Undertaker and Kane a pep talk. When he mentions
Diamond Dallas Page, The Undertaker pins him against a wall. When
Undertaker and Kane leave, he smiles at a job well done.
Big Show, Billy Gunn, Albert versus Stasiak, Kanyon, Hugh
Morrus
Total filler as the WWF scrubs take to the ring. The WCW contingent
beat the WWF wrestlers but Big Show choke slams Morrus and Stasiak while
Kanyon receives Big Show's new throw-over slam maneuver.
Winners: Stasiak, Kanyon, Hugh Morrus at 4 minutes and 22
seconds .
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Shane gives Booker T. some encouragement. Regal tells Tajiri to destroy
Tazz.
Tajiri versus Tazz
Tajiri blows the green mist into Tazz's eyes and then spin kicks him to
end the match.
Winner: Tajiri at 5 minutes and 45 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
The Hardy Boys discuss Jeff's match with Rob Van Dam. RVD hits Matt
Hardy with a steel chair from behind and runs out of the backstage area
saying to Jeff...You're next! Hardcore Holly is signing autographs at the
WWF restaurant. A fan wearing a WCW T-shirt approaches the table. Hardcore
rips the shirt off his back and cusses him out for wearing it.
Jeff Hardy (champion) versus Rob Van Dam (challenger) (WWF Hardcore
Title Match)
A good as everyone thought it would be with most of the fans behind
RVD. Some highlights include RVD getting pushed off the top rope to the
security railing on the outside, Jeff climbing to the top of a huge ladder
and RVD pushing it over on the floor, RVD giving the Van Daminator to Jeff
causing him to fall off the entrance way and Jeff missing his Swanton Bomb.
Van Dam wins the Hardcore Title with his Frog Splash.
Winner: ...and new WWF Hardcore Champion...Rob Van Dam at 12 minutes
and 32 seconds.
Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Stacey, Torrie versus Lita, Trish (Bra And Panties Match)
Mick Foley is the special guest ref again. Stacey and Torrie try and
sway Foley with their charms before Lita and Trish enter the ring. Torrie
is stripped then so is Stacey. As Lita and Trish celebrate and walk
backwards up the entrance platform, they
almost fall off into a pit below.
Winners: Lita and Trish at 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
Match Rating: 0 / 10.
Team WWF (The Undertaker, Kane, Chris Jericho, Steve Austin and Kurt
Angle) versus Team WCW - ECW (The Dudley Boys, Diamond Dallas Page, Booker
T. and Rhyno)
Winners: Team WCW - ECW (The Dudley Boys, Diamond Dallas Page,
Booker T. and Rhyno) at 29 minutes and 5 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Overall Event Rating: 6 / 10.
