REBOOKING:THE INVASION

[The Saviour]

Well we know that in 2001,Vince McMahon purchased his biggest wrestling rival wCw,thus ended the Monday Night Wars.It opened a huge possibility of some of the dream matches.wCw had some of the biggest stars in Sting,Ric Flair,Goldberg,DDP and quite a few others.But they didn't worked with WWE at thattime.Instead,WWE got some fresh faces from wCw and some not so fresh wrestlers.
Now,yes the Invasion angle was a decent one,not what we all wanted,but still it wasn't that bad.However,I ask you guys how would have you booked the Invasion angle,with the same superstars from wCw.Also,keep in mind that you must give a conclusion.Get started!

 

[Chadmw]

First of all the InVasion angle was complete crap, because the WWE did not have any of the big WCW stars at that time. When the face of the Alliance ends up being Kurt Angle (A guy that never wrestled for any other promotion but the WWE), Steve Austin (Basically the face of the WWE) and the Mcmahon kids, this angle was doomed to fail.


So now on to your question, how do I book the real Invasion, first of all I make sure you have some of the big name WCW'ers under contract (Sting, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair, Goldberg), so if that means waiting another year or so to start the angle, then so be it

I would start it off the same as they did though, have some random midcarders from WCW, continue to jump Random Midcarders from WWE, with the WWE superstars getting more and more paranoid and wondering what the hell is going on.

Then on one Raw the radicals are in a match against the Dudleys,when all of a sudden Flair and Arn Anderson come out and just as it looks like the Radicals and the Dudleys are going to beat the crap out of Flair and Anderson, Benoit and Malenko turn around and they start beating the crap out of Eddie, Perry and the Dudleys, and when they are done they of course raise the four fingers.

Later on that night Stone cold and Undertaker are having a good back and forth match during the main event, when all of a sudden the lights began to turn off, and when they turn back on Sting is in the middle of the ring holding his bat with both Austin and the Taker laid out. All of a sudden the WWE locker room comes rushing out to the ring, when the lights go out again.

When the lights comeback on sting is gone from the middle of the ring, but the outside of the ring is sorrounded by WCW guys (Booker T, Hugh Morrus, the four horsemen, Bagwell, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Sting, Rey Mysterio and a few other midcarders from WCW) they enter the ring and a rumble starts, and just as it seems the WWF maybe getting the upper hand you hear Goldberg's music and he comes running out and spearing everyone and allowing the WCW to gain the edge and stand victorious.

Throughout the weeks a few people jump from team to team (I see Jericho, Saturn, Eddie G, Chavo jumping over to the WCW side and Hall and Nash jumping over to the WWF side), and the both sides keep beating the crap out of each other for weeks.

(I will continue this story later)

 

[I_got_bant_for_idiocy]

First of all the InVasion angle was complete crap, because the WWE did not have any of the big WCW stars at that time. When the face of the Alliance ends up being Kurt Angle (A guy that never wrestled for any other promotion but the WWE), Steve Austin (Basically the face of the WWE) and the Mcmahon kids, this angle was doomed to fail.


So now on to your question, how do I book the real Invasion, first of all I make sure you have some of the big name WCW'ers under contract (Sting, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair, Goldberg), so if that means waiting another year or so to start the angle, then so be it

I would start it off the same as they did though, have some random midcarders from WCW, continue to jump Random Midcarders from WWE, with the WWE superstars getting more and more paranoid and wondering what the hell is going on.

Then on one Raw the radicals are in a match against the Dudleys,when all of a sudden Flair and Arn Anderson come out and just as it looks like the Radicals and the Dudleys are going to beat the crap out of Flair and Anderson, Benoit and Malenko turn around and they start beating the crap out of Eddie, Perry and the Dudleys, and when they are done they of course raise the four fingers.

Later on that night Stone cold and Undertaker are having a good back and forth match during the main event, when all of a sudden the lights began to turn off, and when they turn back on Sting is in the middle of the ring holding his bat with both Austin and the Taker laid out. All of a sudden the WWE locker room comes rushing out to the ring, when the lights go out again.

When the lights comeback on sting is gone from the middle of the ring, but the outside of the ring is sorrounded by WCW guys (Booker T, Hugh Morrus, the four horsemen, Bagwell, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Sting, Rey Mysterio and a few other midcarders from WCW) they enter the ring and a rumble starts, and just as it seems the WWF maybe getting the upper hand you hear Goldberg's music and he comes running out and spearing everyone and allowing the WCW to gain the edge and stand victorious.

Throughout the weeks a few people jump from team to team (I see Jericho, Saturn, Eddie G, Chavo jumping over to the WCW side and Hall and Nash jumping over to the WWF side), and the both sides keep beating the crap out of each other for weeks.

(I will continue this story later)

WOOOW i love your thinking, this is the perfect way to play out the invasion angle, but what i would change is have DX(wwf) vs NWO(wcw) that would be such a great wrestlemania match to c, Have wwf vs wcw at wrestlemania

Goldberg vs stone cold
the rock vs booker T
hall nash hogan vs hbk, hhh, 123 kid
sting vs undertaker

wwe fucked up with the invasion angle big time, this could of bin the greatest angle in history.

 

[redeffect3]

One thing that truly bugged me about the story line was the final battle, it was mostly all WWF superstars wrestling. i wish it would have been true WCW wrestlers vs true WWF wrestlers. Shawn Michaels (Yes, I know he was injured), The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker, Kurt Angle vs Booker T, Kevin Nash, Sting, Goldberg, and Hogan (He would be the only exception since he was in NWO)

There were so many possibilities with this story, Instead of making it a fight between the mcmahon family, i wish it were vince vs eric/paul. They would have been much more epic

 

[Hitman-HBK United Inc.]

It's sad to think that there are many WWF apologists out there who defend the Invasion saying "Hey it drew big money". Well yes, the Invasion PPV was huge, and did a phenomenal number, merely because the concept of WWF vs. WCW alone would draw attention, plus I also think it's safe to assume that some of those people ordering the show, held out hope that the very names that would make the Invasion work, would pop up. Wrestling was still full of surprises back then...

Sadly the big thing was, ego got in the way of money! The WWF guys didn't care that the whole angle would make them rich, they just wanted to protect there spots, and Vince has cited the whole "Salary Structure" excuse on several occasions.

The way I would've began the angle...forget SHANE! Ok, sign Eric Bischoff to a talent deal, and Vince for once should be the BOSS, and tell his boys to suck it up, because Eric is coming in wether they like it or not. Vince doesen't bury WCW in his promo, but rather saying:

Vince: Not only have I bought my competition, but I have made my roster stronger than ever. I now own, every single one of you, with long term unshakable contracts!

(all of the sudden, Bischoff comes out on Nitro, on the screen).

Bisch: You know Vinny Mac, so many people say you're the smartest man in the sports entertainment biz, a Billionaire GENIUS! And you know what...they're right! But you do have a weakness, and that's you're own personal ego! It's why Steve Austin has run over you for the last few years. It's like your kryptonite. But you're right Vinny Mac, you have the whole company locked in, myself included. You now OWN my contract. But what you DON'T own...is what we can do!! You've awoken a bunch of sleeping giants, WCW has been down for quite sometime, but now...we're going to be better than ever...so Vinny Mac, I'm going to use a quote...a quote that shifted the momentum of the Monday Night Wars....and that is..."You want a war? You got one!" And once again, that little saying....is going to change...EVERYTHING!

Now tell me that would not have gotten everybody talking! Then the next week at Wrestlemania X-7, Eric Bischoff is spotted in the crowd. I'd say during the Austin/Rock main event, during a part in the match where they're both prone, have Booker T, who was the champion at the time, come in and attack them both. It's in Houston..he's FROM there. Makes a little sense right? Buildup the bigger stars!!!

After that, start bringing them in one by one, each week on "Raw", there's a million different things that can be done. Remember when Austin and Angle went to WWF New York in search of WCW guys tha tone segment? Do that...but have RIC FLAIR, be the one calling them out from there. And have Vince mouthing off from the ring, Ric sneaks up, does a strut behind Vinny Mac's back, and locks in the figure four!

I also say, rather than the horrid DDP/Taker stalker storyline, have 'Taker found viciously beaten one night. He comes out, all disheveled and bandaged up, for weeks on end, demanding to know who it is! Bisch will come out and say....."I know who it was, and he definitely wants to reveal himself to you! But you'll have to wait until King of the Ring......and KOTR arrives, and the lights go out, and.....STING! He stares at 'Taker...drops the bat...and lays another beating on him regardless!

Now do a mystery man teasre at Invasion....let's just say the WCW team is Flair, Sting, DDP, Booker and a Mystery Man! Who is the mystery man? Hogan? Goldberg? Nash? Hall? Luger? SAVAGE? (A guy can dream regardless of the theories), and announcers buildup speculation...not naming names mind you...just by saying something like "We've seen the caliber of stars WCW has had over the last several years, it could be ANYBODY!". And people will think of those names!

So during the PPV, do the hard sell throughout the show...do an nWo like thing where they don't know who the guy is, and doesen't appear during the match. All of the sudden....GOLDBERG, comes in towards the end, and spears the ever living daylights out of everyone...accept...Austin. They go face to face, but before anything can happen, the WCW guys go to town on him while Goldberg merely watches!

I have ideas up the wazoo, I'm sure many are better than mine...but certainly this...and anything else we can come up with a load better than what they did! Austin vs. Hogan or Austin vs. Goldberg? A million buys each...EASY!

But here's one storyline that I always wanted to do. I've always been a big mark for Jericho & Raven, and I always envisoned! Hall, Nash & Hogan in the ring, and out of nowhere, Jericho & Raven come out, and start beating them with chairs, and start playing a tweener like role, cutting a promo saying, "For us this isn't about WWF vs. WCW anymore", and continuing, "We ALWAYS had what it took! At Halloween Havoc 1998, we tore the house down, in less than 10 minutes, and had that crowd in the palm of our hands, while that mustached chump, and someone else who will remain ULTIMATELY nameless, stink up the joint, and what do we get? Fighting someone over a DRESS, and Raven here, talking to the camera like Ferris Bueller! This is WAR, and I declare on all of the so called ICONS of WCW, and after we've taken care of them! We won't spare our own so called allies!"

Again..so many possibilties! But they're endless really!

 

[PagingMr.ass]

The Invasion was to me one of the biggest let downs in pro-wrestling history. It was the height of mainstream sucsess in pro wrestling and the two biggest corporations of all time were about to face off. For a decade the invasion was nothing more than a dream that no body thought would ever happen, and in the end nothing really did happen. Clearly the biggest problem was the wcw talent that was brought in during the invasion. Heres a list of who they brought.

WCW Invasion Talent-DDP, Booker T, Buff Bagwell Chavo, Kidman, Kronic, Kanyon, Hugh Morris, Shane helms, Chuck Palumbo, Sean O'Hair, Mark Jindrak, Lance Storm, Shawn Stasiak, Torrie Wilson Stacy Kiebler.

Only two main eventers in that list with DDP and Booker T, and Booker had only just recently become a main eventer. That just simply isn't WWF VS. WCW and it was dead from the start. The events that followed the end of the invasion story line just make the whole situation even dumber. WWF spends the next two years bringing in the top WCW wrestlers after the invasion was over.

Post Invasion WCW Talent- Hulk Hogan, Rick Flair, Goldberg, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Scott Stiener, Rey Mysterio, Mr. Perfect, Finley, Juventud Gerrera, Psychosis, Shannon More, Ultimo Dragon.

Combine WCW invasion talent with post WCW invasion talent and it would have been the biggest year in pro wrestling history, instead it sucked for 6 months and the big names staggered in later. That list would give you 7 former WCW world champs that should have been in the invasion and a deeper bag of midcarders wwf could have picked and choose from to give contracts. From there the story lines are infinant. Wrestle Mania 18 could have had a dual main event of Hogan Vs. The Rock and Austin Vs. Goldberg (iron man match anyone?). Instead all WCW had was the very new main eventer Booker T. and a poorly booked DDP. All that could have happened plus so much more. WCW could have struggled in the invasion, so they hire their once sworn enemies the NWO giving them the edge. When it looks like Vince is down and out Paul Heyman & ECW joins forces with WWF as thanks for helping them out all those years. Now We have a true war unfolding on our TV screens. Another great story line could have been NWO Vs. DX at survivor series. Hogan, Nash, Hall, and the defecting Syxx, VS. Shawn Michaels, HHH, and The New Age outlawz. Shawn wasn't signed at the time but returned shortly after. In conclusion here is my best case senario for the what could have been WrestleMania 18.

WrestleMania 18: The Invasion.
Rock Vs. Hogan (unifying WWF/WCW title)
Austin Vs. Goldberg (Iron Man match)
The Outsiders Vs. DX(HBK,HHH) Tag belt Unification.
Angle Vs. Flair (wrestling clinic)
Team WCW Vs. Team WWF (DDP and Taker are captains in this 4man tag)
Booker T. Vs. Jericho Vs. RVD (IC/US/TV unification)
Mysterio Vs. Jeff Hardy (Cruiser/Light heavy unification)

Throw in a few other matches and you have a PPV for the ages. PS. Sting Vs. Taker would have been amazing but i'm trying to be realistic and Sting never cared to sign with WWF. Taker and DDP were the most loyal employees of their own company making them good captains.

 

[RKO920]

First of all the InVasion angle was complete crap, because the WWE did not have any of the big WCW stars at that time. When the face of the Alliance ends up being Kurt Angle (A guy that never wrestled for any other promotion but the WWE), Steve Austin (Basically the face of the WWE) and the Mcmahon kids, this angle was doomed to fail.


So now on to your question, how do I book the real Invasion, first of all I make sure you have some of the big name WCW'ers under contract (Sting, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair, Goldberg), so if that means waiting another year or so to start the angle, then so be it

I would start it off the same as they did though, have some random midcarders from WCW, continue to jump Random Midcarders from WWE, with the WWE superstars getting more and more paranoid and wondering what the hell is going on.

Then on one Raw the radicals are in a match against the Dudleys,when all of a sudden Flair and Arn Anderson come out and just as it looks like the Radicals and the Dudleys are going to beat the crap out of Flair and Anderson, Benoit and Malenko turn around and they start beating the crap out of Eddie, Perry and the Dudleys, and when they are done they of course raise the four fingers.

Later on that night Stone cold and Undertaker are having a good back and forth match during the main event, when all of a sudden the lights began to turn off, and when they turn back on Sting is in the middle of the ring holding his bat with both Austin and the Taker laid out. All of a sudden the WWE locker room comes rushing out to the ring, when the lights go out again.

When the lights comeback on sting is gone from the middle of the ring, but the outside of the ring is sorrounded by WCW guys (Booker T, Hugh Morrus, the four horsemen, Bagwell, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Sting, Rey Mysterio and a few other midcarders from WCW) they enter the ring and a rumble starts, and just as it seems the WWF maybe getting the upper hand you hear Goldberg's music and he comes running out and spearing everyone and allowing the WCW to gain the edge and stand victorious.

Throughout the weeks a few people jump from team to team (I see Jericho, Saturn, Eddie G, Chavo jumping over to the WCW side and Hall and Nash jumping over to the WWF side), and the both sides keep beating the crap out of each other for weeks.

(I will continue this story later)

Absolutely love this idea...the only thing i would want to add to it would be from the very beginning when WCW was sold they shouldn't have made it known it was Vince. Then as the weeks go one have this idea play out and then have Bischoff debut on Raw to make it look like he was the one that purchased WCW with the sole intent of taking over the WWF/E. He could say he already took over WCW once and now he's going after the biggest company out there and will take them over too.

 

[neildittmar]

I won't post an entire "rebook" of the Invasion angle, as that has already been done to death. However, I will hit on some ideas that would've likely made the entire situation better:

1. WCW midcarders should NOT have been attacking WWF midcarders to kick things off. By doing this, WWF effectively took the angle to "mid-card status" before it even got off the ground. Were the nWo midcard? No. From night one they were in the faces of the then top stars in WCW. Same rule applies here.

Instead: If WWF insisted on using WCW mid-card wrestlers to kick off the angle, have them jump the rail and attack WWF STARS. One week, Hurricane Helms attempts an attack on the Rock or Austin and gets pummeled for his efforts. The next week, Helms is back but he's brought Buff Bagwell with him. Over the weeks, the numbers keep growing and everyone starts speculating as to what it all means since WCW heels/faces are working together. WWF takes on a group of these "outsiders" and beats them handedly. It is then that the big names from WCW start to come out... Booker T, DDP, and others who were not tied up with exclusive contracts from Time Warner. Even more time would've allowed bigger names like Goldberg, Flair/Anderson, and the nWo.

2. The WCW side of the Invasion angle NEVER should have included former WWF guys... particularly stars like Angle and Austin. This was silly, especially in the case of Austin as his superstardom happened in the WWF... I mean, his character was synonomous with the WWF by this point. From a purely pro-wrestling standpoint, the exact same thing can be said about Kurt Angle.

Instead: If the WWF insisted on having guys "defect" to WCW, it needed to be ones who didn't have a lot going on. They have a reason to join the other side... namely because they are getting a raw deal in WWF. This hearkens back to the Monday Night Wars and would've been great nostalgia for fans who watched during that time period. The Invasion angle NEEDED to capitalize on this nostalgia and it seldom ever did.

3. And this is a biggie... the Invasion NEVER should have been about Vince stroking his own ego. It shouldn't have been about WWF guys trashing WCW guys on a weekly basis, and garbage like the Undertakers wife pinning DDP to end their feud. Most of the booking during the Invasion angle was just "WWF = good, WCW/ECW = bad" self-inflating fluff. It stunk. Vince decided that simply owning his competition wasn't enough and had to completely bury them, despite what it could've done for wrestling and how much more successful it could've made him and his company.

Instead: Vince needed to get over himself and focus on the two coinciding aspects that make ANY wrestling promotion successful. 1. Getting people interested enough to attend events, order PPV, buy merchandise, etc. and 2. Making money. Vince had a captive audience just waiting to choose sides in the new WWF vs. WCW (and/or ECW) war. I was certainly one of them. Vince should've exploited the tried and true stalwart horses for all that they still had to offer, rather than taking them around back and putting slugs in their heads.

 

[MancMark]

I don't want to go into detail and spend 3 hours here rebooking the whole angle (although Chadmw did a great job with what was posted) but I do have an idea that I was desperate to happen at the time.

I wanted Smackdown off the air and switched to Nitro. I would have given WCW a full show. Maybe it wasn't logistically possible, but I thought it would have made for good TV. So on Mondays the WCW guys were trying to invade the WWF wrestlers on Raw, but during Nitro it would be the other way around. Vince wouldn't have done this because he was far too cautious of making WCW look strong. I don't know how they would have worked this into the angle, but it could have been done. What are your thoughts? I always liked the idea.

 

[The_Gene_Genie]

I think I would have gone with a slow build approach to the Invasion angle.

I would keep to the way it started. I think Shane walking out and announcing it was him who had bought WCW rather than Vince worked quite well. I thought it added a personal element to an already historic feud between the two major companies of wrestling.

I would have liked them to have continued to run WCW as a kayfabe seperate wrestling organisation still in competition with WWE and led by the younger McMahon. They could have bought out one or two of the major contracts just to bulk out the roster with main event talent (probably Flair, Steiner, Luger to support the already signed DDP and Booker T). However, I would have kept the timeline for the nWo return as it was. I would storyline an explanation for Hogan, Hall and Nash as being fired by Shane for the poison they injected into wrestling and the financial implications it caused his allowance as a result of the Monday Night Wars. Then the wars could continue slowly, with WCW edging out WWE again (storyline only).

Vince would eventually resort to desperate measures and send in the disgruntled former WCW stars The Radicalz (Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn and Malenko) to cause havoc in an attempt to cause a change in the storylined ratings. This would see WWE start the Invasion and retain Vince's heel persona. This would happen for a couple of weeks until WCW would inevitably retaliate and this could continue back and forth for a number of weeks with WCW coming out on top.

Vince would then resort to desperate measures in an attempt to turn things around and bring in Bischoff and the nWo. Their return was written quite well I thought, however this time they would be on the side of the WWE, but they would not have the trust of the locker room. Eventually, lured by a bigger financial incentive from Shane, they would switch allegiance to the WCW leaving a trail of destruction in the aftermath.

This would leave star power on both sides; Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair and one other versus Austin, Rock, 'Taker, Angle and one other (HHH if the injury hadn't happened).

The Radicalz and Chris Jericho versus DDP, Booker T and the next three big draws from WCW. And so on.

I guess the way I'm looking at it, this would happen about Survivor Series/War Games in a dual promoted PPV. With the ownership of both companies at stake. WWE would obviously win.

After WWE won, they could do whatever they wanted with the roster. But there is scope for furthering the storyline by bringing in Goldberg and/or Sting in at this point and they could continue the Invasion, albeit a mini one, in an attempt to revive WCW. Thereafter I don't have a clue where to take it!

Would need further in depth planning in between sure, but not bad for less than 5 minutes though methinks.

 

[ashe draven]

ive liked pretty much every concept that has been posted in this thread. almost any other way the invasion angle coulda went down woulda been better than what actually happened. dont get me wrong i liked it at 1st. especially rvd and wcw joining w/ ecw. but then came the "defections".. please. as what was posted previously a slow build probably wouldve worked best. but my ultimate scenario, god vince, why didnt u just buy out STING and bring him in?!?!?!? are u nuts?! main event ICON that wouldve instantly gave u potential storylines for YEARS!

 

[apokalypse]

WCW Invasion Talent-DDP, Booker T, Buff Bagwell Chavo, Kidman, Kronic, Kanyon, Hugh Morris, Shane helms, Chuck Palumbo, Sean O'Hair, Mark Jindrak, Lance Storm, Shawn Stasiak, Torrie Wilson Stacy Kiebler.

Post Invasion WCW Talent- Hulk Hogan, Rick Flair, Goldberg, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Scott Stiener, Rey Mysterio, Mr. Perfect, Finley, Juventud Gerrera, Psychosis, Shannon More, Ultimo Dragon.

C

WrestleMania 18: The Invasion.
Rock Vs. Hogan (unifying WWF/WCW title)
Austin Vs. Goldberg (Iron Man match)
The Outsiders Vs. DX(HBK,HHH) Tag belt Unification.
Angle Vs. Flair (wrestling clinic)
Team WCW Vs. Team WWF (DDP and Taker are captains in this 4man tag)
Booker T. Vs. Jericho Vs. RVD (IC/US/TV unification)
Mysterio Vs. Jeff Hardy (Cruiser/Light heavy unification)

Throw in a few other matches and you have a PPV for the ages. PS. Sting Vs. Taker would have been amazing but i'm trying to be realistic and Sting never cared to sign with WWF. Taker and DDP were the most loyal employees of their own company making them good captains.

i really like your setup and lineup, my idea is having WCW invasion and 2nd Invasion with WCW stars like Hogan/NWO. first thing first to make this like real Vince must try to get Timeslot for WCW Nitro. 1 hour of nitro be good enough.

before WCW invasion Mcmahon have family dispute, Shane and Steph trying to prove themself they running their own business WCW(realistic Shane and Steph really hate WCW and WWF really mean to them during the war) but with manipulation of Paul Heyman/Ric Flair WCW is under their full control and Vince can't do any thing about it. Now WCW is now under Ric Flair/Arn Anderson/Dusty Rodes and with ECW of Paul Heyman. under Ric/Arn/Dusty Austin realistically He can join them if you want WCW have huge star power, if you didn't follow WCW back then it was Eric and management fired austin. while Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes was very high on Austin and want to keep them. before Invasion happen Mcmahon was in favor of Kurt to be the guy and Vince pull a Montrel Screwjob on Austin and Austin lost the title to Kurt. with the screwjob Austin have legitimate reason to join his friend Ric flair and Paul Heyman. during Invasion Austin could have fued with Kurt and when rock comes back he continue fued with Austin. while Taker/Kane/Jericho fued with WCW guys DDP/Booker T/RVD/Lance Storm. with HHH and Chris Benoit they both got injured and they was out whole Invasion but HHH return by WM18 so he will be involve in 2nd invasion that's where the big boys play.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

GREAT IDEA FOR THE THREAD

I am not going to post a show by show account of how the Invasion should have been booked, just a few ideas....

THEY SHOULD HAVE WAITED

The Invasion took place in the summer of 2001, just after the fall of WCW. In early 2002 the nWo debuted in the WWE, and Rey Mysterio arrived soon after. In 2003 arguably WCW's biggest star, Goldberg was part of the WWE roster.

Whether or not you wait for Goldberg, but the idea of rushing into the Invasion almost immediately after buying the company, when 3 of the biggest WCW stars were available just 6 months later is absolutely mind-bogglingly stupid. There would have been no need to book Stone Cold and Kurt Angle as the main players in the Alliance if the nWo had been a part of things. Imagine the reaction if Hogan, Hall and Nash had come out with DDP and Booker T.....it would have been HUGE and given so much more credibility to the angle.

Other names that should have been involved include Scott Steiner- who agains joined the WWE soon after, and I personally would have had Eddie Guerrero and maybe Perry Saturn or Chris Benoit defect to WCW.

Also, had the Alliance storyline waited, Triple H would have been healthy enough to return and take his spot on team WWE, which would have been great, and maybe HBK could have been persuaded to come back earlier.

Jerry Lynn should also have been involved. He was another one injured when the storyline began and was on the WWE payroll, and was told he wasnt needed in the Alliance when he was fit again. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? You would rather see Hugh Morrus than Jerry Lynn??? Imagine the matches he could have had against Y2J, or Angle. Brilliant.

ECW AS A SEPERATE FORCE

We all know Paul Heyman hated WCW, so why would he team up with them? I know Stephanie McMahon was leading ECW at the time of the Invasion, but there is no may any serious wrestling fan would believe Paul Heyman would have anything to do with WCW, it was stupid.

Plus, having the bigger name ECW stars involved was great, but the feud we all wanted to see was the WWE stars vs the WCW stars, to end the Monday Night Wars. Having the 2 promotions teaming up against Vince spoiled it a little for me. If ECW was to be involved, make them the 3rd force in the war, rather than the back up for WCW. They could be the X Factor in the whole war.

HIRE ERIC BISCHOFF TO LEAD WCW

As good as it was, we didnt need Shane to buy WCW...it just turned the Invasion into another McMahon family feud and as soon as he bought it, we all knew the Invasion was coming.

Vince should have hired Eric Bischoff- who DID join the WWE not too long afterwards anyway, to lead WCW. It would have been so much more shocking if, during a Raw or PPV main event, Eric Bischoff suddenly came out of the crowd with his troops and did a genuine "invasion", not one that we knew was coming. Plus, having the actual guy who ran WCW involved would have made it so much more realistic.

Same with Paul Heyman. Having Steph take over ECW when Heyman was already on the payroll was another major fuck up. I would have 100% preferred to have all 3 companies led by their real leaders, rather than Shane and Steph. She had no place running ECW, already Vince was pissing on ECW's legacy.

BOOK WCW/ECW WRESTLERS AS EQUALS

It was obvious from the beginning who was going to win the Invasion. ECW stars like Mike Awesome were stuck in PPV opening matches as part of a tag team, most of WCW's wrestlers were low to mid carders. Guys like Hugh Morrus, Kanyon and Shawn Stasiak had no use in the Invasion. There was enough talent on the roster of the Alliance to make them credible challengers to the WWE, but the only WWE title change that occured was Stone Cold (a WWE guy) taking the title to the Alliance. Giving the title to someone like Booker T, DDP or another WCW Main Eventer (THIS IS WHERE GOLDBERG, HOGAN, NASH OR STEINER WAS NEEDED) would have established WCW as a genuine force and been incredibly shocking.



LET IT RUN LONGER

Why cut the storyline off so quickly. This was the dream scenario for so many wrestling fans, they finally had the chance to watch the cream of the crop from all 3 promotions appear on the same shows, with new feuds and rivalries just waiting to be started. There were so many options, and the battle could have gone on for a couple of years, with different promotions taking advantage at different times.

Just look at the roster there could have been:

Main Event

The Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, Kane, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Booker T, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Rob Van Dam, Mike Awesome, DDP, Big Show, Goldberg

Mid Card

Scott Hall, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Jerry Lynn, Raven, Rhyno, Lance Storm, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Sean O'Haire and loads others I cant remember right now

Cruiserweights

Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, Ultimo Dragon, Tajiri, Shane Helms, X-Pac, Christian, Juventud Guerrera, Pcicosis, The Hardyz etc

That is a huge array of talent.

As much as I loved the Invasion storyline, I do think it should have been booked a hell of a lot better, there were so many missed opportunities, like we never saw the nWo face DX, Goldberg face Austin for the title etc....sadly Vince's ego wanted to get his whole family involved and wanted to kill of WCW as soon as he could.