QUICK QUOTE: WWF 14.65 (+ .64, last year: 21) - by the way, SportsLine hit an all-time low yesterday at 1.80 - HAW HAW HAW TONIGHT: What will happen when RAW emanates from WCW's old stomping grounds? The first-ever interpromotional match happens tonight as the Undertaker takes on Lance Storm & Mike Awesome in a handicap match! And the show starts with Shane McMahon taking on Diamond Dallas Page in a street fight - so you BEST be here at the very tippy-top of that hour! Hmmm....interpromotional matches before the pay-per-view? Is that an admission that the WCW vs. WCW matches just ain't happening? Desperation? NAAAH this is the *WWF* we're talking about...RIGHT? TV-14-DLV - CC - One World Leader Attitude - WWF! Let Us Take You Back to SmackDown! - and the sequence of events leading from the end of the championship match, to the post-match fracas IN the ring, the one OUTSIDE the arena, to WCW turning on itself...and three men left laying at the end of the night. Go read the SmackDown! report Opening Credits Cover your ears and close your eyes - it's PYRO away and once again it's on - LIVE from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA and transmitido en espanol SAP on TNN, TSN, WWF New York and we're CRACKLING with anticipation... TONIGHT: It's a street fight! Shane McMahon vs. Diamond Dallas Page! TONIGHT: The WWF's Undertaker meets the WCW's Storm & Awesome in an interpromotional handicap match! SHANE O. MAC (with kendo stick) v. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE in a street fight - or is it? Instead of Page, it's TAKER & SARA coming out second - rolling rolling rolling rolling, keep rolling rolling rolling rolling to the ring. Maybe he'll 'splain it to us. "All due respect, I know you wanna get yours, but hey tonight it's about mine - I got a score to settle - PAGE IS MINE." Hmmm... Shane steps aside as Page's music fires up... TAKER (with Sara) v. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE in a street fight - well, what about that handicap....oh we'll worry about that later, I guess. Page brings a chair. He seems content to swing it at the ropes from the floor - Taker held at bay for a while...but finally he decides to go out and try to meet him on the floor. Page backs up...only to find Shane swinging his stick BEHIND him. With nowhere to go, Page hits the ring. Taker in after him - Page with a knee, knee, knee, right, right, right, elbow, elbow, elbow, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, ikc, right - well, Taker's had enough - switching positions in the corner - soupbone left soupbone left soupbone left soupbone left, soupbone, soupbone, soupbone, soupbone, back elbow - into the opposite corner, follow lariat. Hmm, Billy Silverman is STILL out on the floor - come to think of it, I never heard the bell... Page sent back to the first corner - got him in the choke as he comes out... OHHHHHH Shane in the ring and swinging the kendo stick to *Taker* - five shots in the back - kick - stick, stick, stick, stick, stick - Taker hooks the kendo stick underneath his arm and looks at Shane - whose eyes bug out. SOUPBONE! Soupbone! Soupbone, soupbone, soupbone, soupbone, soupbone...back elbow. BIG beal across the ring. Page is back in with the chair as Taker sets Shane up for the Last Ride - WHACK! Chair in the gut - chair to the head. Blatant choke - Page stomping away - now Shane joins him in a doubleteam. Ross: "The whole damn incident - are you telling me what happened at the end of SmackDown! was a - nothing but an elaborate plan to set up the Undertaker? Is that what we're seeing?" Well, it may not have been at the end of Tuesday night, but... And now *Sara* is in the ring - and she's got the stick! Stick to Shane! Stick! Stick! Page is behind her, grabbing the stick away - DIAMOND CUTTER BAAAAAANG! Taker covers his wife - Page and Shane roll out and celebrate as Page's music plays again. Commentators try to press hard that Page attacking Shane on Thursday was all part of this incredible setup....err....rahhhhht. Two EMT's are out - putting Sara on the back board. We take the replays of Shane swinging the stick (and managing to hang onto it this time, too!), Sara swinging the stick...and that Diamond Cutter. Sara sells it about a MILLION times better than Kane - plus, being barefoot, gets all those wacky fetishists nice and hard at the same time, too! Backstage, Shane says "that's how you make an impact!" Page and Shane come across Taker's ride - Shane presents it to Page, saying he can take the rest of the night off. The bike takes a while to start...THEN Page tries to drive off without releasing the brake - whew, they figured it out. And off he rides... WHOA CHECK OUT *THIS* LOCAL AD - "This summer, get ready for the return of the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. Finally, the Rock has come back to pay-per-view. Don't miss SummerSlam LIVE at the Compaq Center at San Jose, Sunday August 19th - get your tickets now." Sara is loaded into the ambulance - Taker's promises he's gonna get 'im - then rides with her - I guess he didn't mean TONIGHT, wink wink WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: TH OSE DAMN DUDLEYZ (with Let Us Take You Back to SmackDown!) v. APA S potlight on Spike breaking his ankle last Thursday...I wonder if that puts Molly out of action as well? Pier Four Brawl to start - Bradshaw ends up clotheslining D-Von out...and following. Bubba Ray laying out Faarooq in the ring while Bradshaw runs D-Von into the steps - now we're at one on one in the ring - right by Bubba Ray, right, into the ropes, back elbow. Off the ropes with an elbowdrop for 2. WOW Faarooq's got some tapejob on his right elbow there. Forearm in the back by Dudley, right, whip is reversed, shouldertackle by Faarooq, bodyslam for 2. Tag to Bradshaw - open kick, knee, overhand forearm, into the ropes for a double shoulderblock. Elbowdrop by Bradshaw, up quickly for a second elbowdrop - 1, 2, no. Right. Knee. Knee, into the ropes, big boot to the face - 1, 2, Bubba Ray is out. Into the ropes is reversed - D-Von with a shot in the back - Bradshaw turns and swings, but D-Von ducks - Bubba Ray in with a shoulder to the gut, pushing him to the unfriendly corner - D-Von holding back the arms while Bubba Ray unleashes on the open Bradshaw. Boy, they're talking about Sara an awful lot (as opposed to talking about this match). Tag to D-Von - right hand. Into the ropes, jumpin' back elbow. Right, right, knee, into the ropes, reversal by Bradshaw, D-Von tries a crossbody off the ropes but is caught - and there's the fallaway slam. Overhand right by Bradshaw, again, setting up for a powerbomb - oh, man, don't turn your back to Bubba Ray! Faarooq tries to complain, but succeeds only in drawing referee "Blind" Mike Chioda's attention from noticing the shenanigans behind his back, as Bubba Ray whips Bradshaw's head back to the mat. Bradshaw pops Bubba Ray with a right, gutshot for D-Von, back to Bubba Ray but he ducks - double neckbreaker by the Dudleyz. D-Von covers - 1, 2, no. D-Von piles on the punches - stomp, stomp - tag. Open shot to the ribs by Bubba Ray - head to the buckle, open-handed slap, up on the second rope for a Ten Punch Count Along - wait, I thought Bubba Ray was a heel? - Bradshaw stops the count at five by powerbombing Bubba Ray into the center. Heyman mistakenly spells "Dudleyz" with an "s" on the end - send him a memo! Both men are down - who will tag? Bubba Ray makes it to his corner - and there's a HOT TAG for Faarooq! Clothesline! Clothesline! Into the ropes, D-Von ducks...but lands in a SPINEBUSTER! 1, 2, Bubba Ray in - Faarooq moves aside and D-Von takes the elbow! All four men in - D-Von sent in for a double shoulderblock - Bubba Ray manages to barrel into Bradshaw, sending him through the ropes to the outside. Faarooq whips D-Von into the ropes - causing the crowd to yell "3D," except Dudley doesn't reverse the whip so they all look foolish...instead, Bubba Ray is up from behind - scoop and a slam - then holding the legs apart for D-Von's headbutt to the graun from the corner. NOW Bubba Ray is out to find a little furniture. But SPIKE DAMN DUDLEY hobbles out on a walking cast...and breaks a crutch over Bubba Ray's back! D-Von seems distracted - Bradshaw with a Hades lariat - and a cover! 1, 2, 3! Ladies and gentlemen, we have new tag team champions! (5:09) Bubba Ray ain't too pleased. Replay - Heyman: "The one-legged man entered the ass-kickin' contest!" Bubba Ray spikes the crutch on the stage. To the Room of Fun, where Vince McMahon sits with the Austins. "Think about what's happened here!" "Think about what's happened!" "I mean, we have new WWF tag team champions..." "New tag team champions." "...and, and Shane McMahon, the owner of WCW..." "Owner of WCW!" Vince gives him a look. "Shane goes to the ring tonight and, you wanna talk about arrogance, that's arrogance personified!" "Arrogance personified!" "I mean...he...he, Shane McMahon is just...CONSUMED!" "CONSUMED! (sorry)" "CONSUMED with all of this power." "Consumed with all of this power. He's consumed! DAMN he's consumed! He's consumed!" "Let's face it - Shane McMahon is a bad apple." "He's a bad apple." Debra: "And I guess that apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh." "Now that's enough of that. Speaking of apples I meant to bring you one today but I guess you -- come in!" The man doing the knocking on the door is Kurt Angle...STILL wearing his party hat. "Yeeha! Howdy partners! I'm here. How you doin' guys?" Angle offers his hand to Austin - nope - shakes Vince's hand, shakes Debra's hand - while Austin shakes Vince's hand. "How you doin' Vince - hey Debra how are you. Guys, look what I brought. I brought you presents - Steve, you got 'em last week, I got 'em this week. Hey...after this cowboy hat...I'll tell ya - I had to get you something!" "You got me one?" "Yeah, of course!" "You little rascal." "You guys are my BUDDIES! Vince..." "Did you get one for Debra?" "Uh, no, no." "HAHAHA!" "Anyway, you guys go ahead and open 'em - I'll watch - and then I'll open mine. Please? They're my gifts to you. Huh? Hahaha - huh, is that great or what? Badges. Huh? Cowboy hats, badges - COWBOYS. ...howdy partner? Hold on, hold on, let me open mine - I'm not sure what I got myself." Vince: "Does that say 'sherrifs...'" "I'm gonna check right now here. Oh my - oh my God - it's a gold badge. And it matches my gold medals. Is that great! This is awesome - we have badges now." "Are you serious?" "Yeah." "You brought us - these little tin badges? You didn't get my wife - you didn't get her nothing?" "YOU didn't get her anything last week!" "Have mine." Vince offers his as well. "No - no -" "Would you like to have this one?" "NO!" "No, you keep it - Vince, you deserve to have it." "Yeah - keep it - we're gonna put 'em on tonight. You're not keeping your badge..." "I'm gonna pin this...lookit this." "It's a badge." "It's pathetic! Badges? You got us badges? We don't NEED no stinkin' badges! Lookit you. Have you looked in the mirror? Have you realised how stupid you look with this stupid little cowboy hat on?" "You GOT me it--" "I know I got it for you, Kurt, it was a JOKE!" Austin tosses the hat - it does a PERECT sail into the potted plant in the corner. "You look like a jackass! Just like you looked last week when you said you'd go out there and snap Booker T's ankle, you said you was gonna make him tap out, you said you was gonna break his little leg, you didn't do nothing - what'd you do? I'll tell you what you did - you went out there and you got your Olympic ass whipped by the WCW Champion, that's what you did - and I'd tell you what I would do if I was in your shoes - AND I'M NOT - but if I was in your shoes, I'd go to that sumbitch's dressing room, I wouldn't knock on it, I'd put my FOOT through it, and I'd look at Booker T and I'd say hey, you sorry sumbitch - you and me tonight for the WCW title' - that's what I'd do! So what are YOU gonna do about it?" Angle throws down his badge. "I'm gonna - I'm gonna KICK HIS ASS! That's what I'm gonna do." And off he goes. Hey you! WWF Live tix go on sale Saturday for August shows in Bakersfield, Rockford, Salt Lake, Las Vegas, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax! GOLLY! It's Kane! And he is WALKING! WWF INTERALBERTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: RHYNO THE MAN BEAST v. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAALBERT (with X-Pactor) - well this is an interesting choice. No word on Justin's absence here, but the implication is that it just may be possible it's somehow related to the events last night on Heat. Staredown - Rhyno with a shove, X-Pac sneaks in a slap to the back of Rhyno's head, Rhyno grabs HIS hair but ends up turning his back to Albert - they NEVER learn, do they? Pound in the back, right, right, uppercut, into the ropes, head down, forearm by Rhyno has no effect. "X-Pac sux" chant. Rhyno ducks a right, right, right, right, knee by Albert, into the corner with Rhyno, sidesteps the charge - right, right, right by Albert, right by Rhyno, right, right, right, right, kick, kick, kick, kick - referee "Blind" Teddy Long manages to pull him off - Rhyno off the ropes with a kick in the head. Right, right, right. Again, Long tries to bring it out of the corner - Rhyno backs off as Long checks on Albert..and eats a superkick from X-Pac. Albert quickly over to cover - 1, 2, NO! PlayStation Double Feature of the kick. Albert puts Rhyno hard into the corner. Rhyno placed between the middle and bottom ropes - and then Albert throats him with a catapult between them. Albert brings Rhyno back up - but it's Rhyno with the right hand...right, right, Albert with a headbutt. Off the ropes...but Rhyno manages to catch him and unload a spinebuster. Long puts on the count - both men up at 4 - Rhyno with "Iblockyourpunchyoudon'tblockmine," again, right - into the corner, shoulder to the gut - ducks the punch, death suplex. Rhyno going out...and up. MONEY SHOT! 1, 2, NO! Albert kicks out. Rhyno stands ready to unleash a gore if Albert would be so kind as to stand up...but Albert moves away and Rhyno ends up ramming into the turnbuckle! Albert has him up for the..no, Rhyno punches out of the Baldobomb attempt. X-Pac in - HE gets a GORE! GORE! GORE! - unfortunately, Rhyno turns back to eat a pump kick - 1, 2, 3. Champ retains. (3:10) Here's a replay - okay, Paul, Albert is Jewish, you're Jewish, I think we've all gotten the joke by now. (3:10) In the black locker room, Booker T limbers up - no, see, the LOCKERS are black - is it always about race with you? Sheesh. Although I must admit it makes Kurt Angle look even MORE white when he walks in. "Hey Booker! Booker T! (If that IS your real name.) You know I never had a chance to formally introduce myself, since you bashed me in the head with your title last week on SmackDown! like a coward...but I'm Kurt Angle (brandishes medal) Olympic Gold Medalist." "Hey - Booker T - WCW Champion. How ya doin'?" "How am I doin'? I'll tell you how I'm doin'! I'm pretty peed off right now! You cheapshotted me last week, and tonight you're gonna pay. I want you tonight, one on one, for the WCW title. You know, you may have gotten me once...but I'm a dangerous man - a VERY dangerous man - so whaddaya say?" "You want a fight?" "Yeah!" "Tonight?" "Oh yeah!" "Well you got one." "All right." "Hey Kurt - by the way, where's that cute little hat you had on last week? You really think you got a chance against me...Mr. Cowboy?" "....yippie ki-yay - Mother Hubbard." And now, the Blast of the Night, sponsored by the JVC Giga-Tube! From RAW last week, Lita lands the moonsault on Trish, getting the victory over Big Show, pissing HIM off, leading to Jeff Hardy hitting the missile dropkick. Tajiri admires the suit of armour in the commissioner's office while Regal mans the phone - then cowers back as Kane barges in. "Now, Kane - Kane - I've just been speaking to the doctors at the hospital - Sara's undergone some tests and there's no structural damage to the neck, just some trauma. But, to make sure everything's okay, they're going to keep her in overnight for observations, just to make sure everything's safe." "That handicap match - it's still on. I'll take my brother's place - now you give me Awesome and Storm." "If that's what you want, fine, you've got it, yes, anything you want." Tajiri says "(something in Japanese)" "I agree with you, yes." JEFF H ARDY (with RAW is WAR is brought to you by Burger King, Castrol Motor Oily, and Twix!) v. WELL IT'S THE BIG SHOW - Hardy ducks the swing, off the ropes - but Show lands the lariat. Strongarmed into the corner - well it's a big knee. Show tosses Hardy to the outside with ease, then Diesels over the top rope - hmm, TRISH STRATUS - THE FITNESS MODEL is out a whopping thirty seconds into the match - where ELSE have I seen lightning fast run-ins before - hmm - put against the post...but Hardy steps aside and Show collides with the post. Hardy with a barricade run axehandle. Show put back in the ring - Hardy up top - missile dropkick lands. Seated dropkick to the head. Off the ropes again - Show catches him in the choke, but Hardy AGAIN manages a dropkick. Hardy to the top...but Show catches him on his shoulders - lets him try to drop down for the 'rana but holds him up - then muscles him over in...let's call it a high wheelbarrow flapjack (which it isn't really, but who cares) - and 1, 2, 3. (1:41) Stratus hits the ring to check on Hardy - lifts him up - then PLANTS one on him. Quick, play Hardy's music 'cause he JUST GOT KISSED! Replay of Show's headscissors counter...and Stratus' kiss (called with great care to detail by Heyman - hmm) Back to the Room of Fun. Angle is touching his toes. Vince: "Warm up well, Kurt - get good and loose...because...you have to become the WCW Champion here tonight. You've GOT to beat Booker T. That's just how important this is to all of us." "Please tell him to get his ass away from my face." "Kurt, would you.." "Thank you." "Do you realise how important this is? Do you know what this means to me?" "Do you know what this means to him?" "Yeah, and I know what it means to me, and you, and her...it means if I go out there and I win, I'm the WCW Champion!" Austin: "Yeah yeah yeah - look, what I wanna talk about is something way more important than that - and that's fine Kurt, you're doing great - the Inaugural Brawl. What I'm doin' Vince, right now...you feel good boy, been in the gym! I'm volunteerin' my leadership as World Wrestling Federation Champion for Team WWF - I think that's where our focus is - me bein' the leader of Team WWF." "Hold on a second. Hold on a second. I was WWF Champion!" "Was." "Yeah - but if I win the WCW title, *I* should be the leader of the group." "I don't know about that." "Well think about it - all right, did you watch Gilligan's Island?" "I loved Gilligan's Island." "Great, great show, right? You watched it, you had to watch it Vince." "Before my time." "What's your point?" "Anyway, well I see myself more as the Skipper, the captain, and you more as Gilligan, the first mate. I mean, Gilligan was a good guy." "If we're gonna exist - Stone Cold is the Skipper, you're Gilligan." "No no, I'm the Skipper, you're Gilligan." "I'm the Skipper, you're Gilligan - you're Gilligan." "That's it, that's it, I'm Gilligan, you're the Skipper, that's it, I don't wanna hear another word." "All right - he'd be the greatest Thurston Howell. (To Vince) He was the millionaire, he had a lot of money." "He was a wealthy man..." "Guys, guys, PLEASE please please. What the hell does Gilligan's Island have to do with the title match tonight, or the Inaugural Brawl? And by the way, if we're talking Inaugural Brawl, you're both are in it, all right? For Team WWF - and joining you will be a host of others, including, I believe, the Undertaker." "Undertaker! What?" "Based on what I saw tonight - come in - based on what I saw tonight...whoa!" It's Jericho. Angle assumes fighting stance while Austin leaps to his feet. "I gotcher back!" "Lighten up, Junior, lighten up - unfortunately I didn't come bearing gifts, and I don't want hugs from any of you. What I do want to talk about is the rumour at King of the Ring that if Y2J would have won the WWF title, that I would have taken it and went to WCW - I've been there, and believe me it is just a rumour, I don't want to go back to WCW - I'm WWF forever - and since you two assclowns are the two toughest assclowns I've ever faced in my entire life...at the Inaugural Brawl, Y2J wants to stand besides you - I wanna be on your team." Austin breaks up laughing...encouraging Angle to laugh. "If you woulda won the WWF Championship....you didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. You didn't have a CHANCE! But we appreciate your little advice..." Angle: "Advice." "And we appreciate your loyalty," "Loyalty." "We'll take it under advisement." "Advisement." "But we don't wantcha on our team." "Don't wantcha on our team." "Think about it." And he leaves. "See ya later." "See ya later." "What." "Don't repeat me." "YOU repeated HIM!" inVasion promo Here's a look at the exterior of the Philips Arena Check out JAMAL ANDERSON and ... UMM, ANOTHER ATLANTA FALCON in the front row! Just added to inVasion: a tag team Bra and Panties Match! It's Stacy Kiebler & Torrie Wilson vs. Lita & Trish Stratus - yep! Your hosts are LARRY KING & PAUL HEYMAN. Coming up: Booker T. vs. Kurt Angle for the WCW Championship! Look! It's WWF New York! Inside are LITA & MATT HARDY. Their thoughts on the tag team bra and panties match? Lita apparently can't hear her cue. Matt tries to get her to speak up already. "You know, I'll accept the challenge, JR, absolutely." "You know, Lita doesn't have a problem facing Stacy Kiebler or Torrie Wilson in any kinda match - let alone the first-ever bra and panties tag team match - our only concern is Trish Stratus. We don't know if she can be trusted. Lita doesn't wanna team with her - but she will. For one night only, Trish, it's time for you to step up to bat for the WWF and follow...the Lita." "Trish Stratus, for your first lesson, lemme tell ya that sometimes, actions speak louder than words." And she pulls Matt into a Greco-Roman liplock. That's tonight's cue to PLAY THE HARDYZ MUSIC! Meanwhile, backstage Shane pumps up Booker T. "Okay, look at me! Look at me! Who's the champ?" "I'm the champ!" "That's right, you are the US Champ and the WCW Champ!" "I'm the US Champ AND the WCW Champ!" "That's right, and do you know where we are tonight?" "Where are we?" "We are right here in Hotlanta, Georgia!" "Hotlanta, Georgia!" "The very home where everything was born, where WCW was formed! Where in sport - and what's gonna happen tonight?" "I'm gon' hurt somebody!" "Oh that's right, you taking Kurt Angle right out!" "I'm gon' take him DOWN!" "And you know what - you know what's gonna happen?" "What's gonna happen?" "When you walk out there, okay, when that music hits, BOOM, all these people are here for you - all these people right here in Georgia, you're gonna walk out there, and BOOM!" "I can hear 'em right now - I can hear 'em right now! They're going CRAZY!" "They're gonna be raisin' the roof, and they're gonna be going Boo Ker T - Boo Ker T - they're comin' for you, do you know why? Because they came to see THEIR champion! You are THEIR Champion!" "I AM the champ!" "WCW Champion!" "I AM the champ!" "That's it! That's right, the US Champion!" I AM the champion!" "You represent WCW!" "I represent!" "Right here - Atlanta's own!" "OGB!" "That's beautiful, let's do this, let's do this!" "Let's go right now!" Meanwhile, we head over to the Room of Fun where Vince is doing the same as Shane. "This could be the biggest night of career!" "Biggest night of your career!" "Biggest night!" "You've gotta go out there and do what everyone in the World Wrestling Federation wants to do." "Wants to do!" "Wants to do." "Because we're all there with you, we're riding on your shoudlers tonight." "Your shoudlers!" "My shoulders!" "EVERYBODY out there in that WWF locker room!" "EVERYBODY!" "We're all with you!" "With you!" "You've gotta go out there and beat Booker T - by God, this is like Invasion starting tonight!" "TONIGHT!" "You've gotta do it - you can't let us down!" "Don't let us down." "You can't let us down." "You won't let us down!" "We're ALL with you..." "We're with ya!" "...in spirit!" "No, better than that, we'll be right there with him." "What do you mean by.." "We'll be right out there with him - we'll help him--" "Hold on a second! Hold on a second - where were you in 1996?" "Well what day." "In the Olympics, right here in Atlanta - where were ya? You weren't there! You weren't there when I went for the gold, when I was going for the gold, and I won the gold - for myself...and for my country, the United States of America. (Vince looks skyward in reverence - ha) And you know what? I'm gonna do the same thing tonight - I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna kick Booker T's butt all over the place! For myself and my God-blessed country. And with all due respect, I don't need you Vince in my corner, and I don't need you Stone Cold in my corner as well. 'cause when it's over, I'm gonna be the WCW Champion. God bless America - my home sweet home." Austin and Vince share a look as Angle leaves. Tough Enough ad - whoa, they set the house on fire? YIKES And now, the hardcore smack of the night - presented by Corn Nuts! From SmackDown!, Angle runs in on Booker....but Booker gets the last laugh with the scissors kick...and the belt shot to the head WCW CHAMPIONSHIP: KUR T ANGLE (with RAW Credits & transmitido en espanol SAP & PlayStation presents inVasion!) v. NAPPY T (with TV-14-DLV & CC boxes - and Shane O. Mac) - the WCW logo takes over the lower left, ring apron, and commentary table - but Ross & Heyman stay behind the headsets. Now this - THIS is a match worthy of going into history as the first interpromotional match! And here we go. Angle spends a bit too much time looking at Shane, and unfortunately putting - yes - his back to the champion. T strikes with a forearm in the back - right, righ,t right, right, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Is the crowd booing him? Angle fires back - T with a right, forearm, right, arm underneath the top rope to open up the chest for the knife-edge chop. Into the ropes, Harlem side kick! (Heyman: "high leg") Right, right. T in control - into the ropes is reversed, Angle hits a back elbow. Running clothesline puts T on the outside - is the crowd cheering Angle? Angle out after him - forearm in the back, head to the commentary table. Again Angle rams his head into the table. Referee "Blind" Nick Patrick is outside to try to get this back in the ring - Angle shoves him away - but now he's turned his back on Shane, who comes in with a clothesline to the back that dumps Angle on the STEEL steps. Patrick goes back into the ring without saying a word. Shane directs T to Angle, and he rolls him back in the ring. PlayStation Double Feature of Shane's blow. T up top - missile dropkick! 1, 2, Angle kicks out! Snapmare by Booker T - off the ropes with a kneedrop. Knife-edge chop. Right by Angle, forearm by T, right by Angle, forearm by T, right by Angle, forearm by T, right by Angle, right, right, building momentum, right, into the ropes is reversed, Angle ducks the swing, but eats the flying jalapeno. Cover - 1, 2, no! T tosses Angle through the ropes...onto the apron - and off with a big karate chop to the trapezius. T drops Angle on the barricade. Ross remarking that Patrick is letting a lot go, despite the fact that Hebner lets just as much go in WWF Championship matches. T runs Angle into the STEEL steps. T dares him to get up. "You wanna fight? You wanna fight? Get up! You wanna fight? Get up!" T with a slap, adding insult to injury - Angle pops up with a gutshot - right, right, T fires back with a knee. Rolled back in the ring - T back in as well - whip into the corner is reversed - Angle with a death suplex as T comes out! Right by Angle - T put in the corner - but T gets the big boot up. Angle's clothesline is ducked - T with a spin kick. Leg is hooked - 1, 2, no. T is unhappy with the fair count, looks like. Setting up for a suplex - Angle blocks - blocks again - Angle with a vertical suplex! Both men are down and the count is on. Both men up at 4 - Angle punches, T, Angle, T, Angle, Angle - into the ropes - clothesline - crowd starting to chant "Angle!" Whip out, then pulled back into a belly-to-belly overhead suplex! He's ready to try for the Olympic Slam - no, T gets out - gutshot, axe kick! But that took as much out of him - both men are down. Shane begging T to get up - T with the breakdance back up! Crowd boos while Ross derides the "showboating." Angle manages a big clothesline, and they're both down again. PlayStation provides another Double Feature. The count is up to six this time - Angle with "Iblockyourpunchyoudon'tblockmine," again, right, right, right, right, off the ropes...but T uncorks a SPINEBUSTER! T nods to Shane - going for a kick but Angle grabs the leg - going for an enzuigiri but Angle ducks THAT - STILL holding the leg - ANGLELOCK!! Crowd goes nuts. Patrick decides he'd better make sure Shane is well clear of the ring, turning his back to Angle JUST as T starts to weakly tap out. Angle releases the hold (dummy) and asks Patrick what the heck's up. A discussion ensues - T shoves Angle, who taps Patrick, who FLAILS out of the ring - oh my, it's WCW! Angle manages to pull T into the Olympic Slam - but there's nobody to count that cover...or IS there? It's EARL HEBNER!! 1, 2, PATRICK PULLS HIM OUT OHHHHHHHHHH! Patrick takes the time-honoured move of pointing to the WCW patch on his shirt. Angle says okay, and makes another cover - Patrick turns back to jaw with Hebner some more. Angle is up and ready to talk with the official some more...and here comes Hebner with a SPEAR and overhand rights to Patrick! Crowd goes batshit. Meanwhile, Shane hands Booker T the title belt - WHACK - and while JACK DOAN tries to separate the warring officials out on the floor, CHARLES ROBINSON slides in and counts a ...rather peppy 1, 2, 3. Champ retains. (7:49) See, now THAT was INTERESTING. But do you really need a fast count after putting the man down with the belt shot? I guess they were worried we wouldn't.... get it. SummerSlam ad #2 - hey, you think they want to make sure they sell this thing out? ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY Moments Ago, a heck of a lot happened "Are you all right?" "Yeah, I'm all right, where were you guys?!" "You said you didn't need us! 1996." "That's what I said, but it's not what I meant; that was five years ago! I got my head knocked off! What the HECK!" "This is why Stone Cold Steve Austin's gonna lead Team WWF into Invasion." "Team! Exactly!" "You're damn right, and I'm the leader, Kurt, look - I got the belt - I'm the champ - I'm the man - and that's why, at Invasion, WWF - Team WWF, with Stone Cold as the leader - look at me - we're gonna whip some ass, and I guarantee that." "Fine." "You GOTTA get your act together, man." "Yeah, I'm gonna try." SCOTT HUDSON is backstage with Torrie Wilson and Stacy Kiebler. "You know what, Scott - I have had dirty old men drool over me my entire life...but Mr. McMahon is by far the worst. Mr. McMahon thought he could get me in bed just because he's a billionaire and he owns the WWF - how disgusting is that? It was my pleasure to make a fool out of Mr. McMahon, and score a point for WCW." "Speaking of scoring points, Torrie and I are going to prove why the women of WCW are MUCH more attractive, we have better bodies, and we are WAY more athletic than Trish and Lita, or the WWF superstars, because we are part of the first-ever bra and panties tag team match at Invasion. So we're gonna prove to Trish and Lita why the women of WCW always come out...on top." They hold hands (huh?) and walk off. Meanwhile, the APA have caught up to the Dudleyz. "Hey, hey, look guys - look - you know us well enough - you know we would never set out to win a match like that, man - hey - where Spike come from, we have no idea." "Guys, look, Spike's your brother, we had no idea he was gonna do anything like that, we don't wanna win a championship that way. You guys want a rematch, you got it, as early as SmackDown! if you want it, all right? Look, how 'bout tonight, though - cold beers on us, the APA, all night. Our treat." Bubba Ray: "Thanks a lot. But not right now. Why don't you ask us again at the end of the night?" And they walk off." "Hey - hey we did ask." "We did ask - more beer for us!" "I'm thirsty." "Let's do it!" "Tough Enough" is featured in the current issue of TV Guide! OH BOY! KANE (with Let Us Take You Back To Earlier Tonight) v. AWESOME MIKE AWESOME & LANCE STORM in a handicap match - Storm and Awesome come out to one of Awesome's early WCW themes. Before the match begins, the Y2J countdown hits - hmmm. CHRIS MONDAY JERICHO is out - looks like we just jiggered us up a tag match here. IT'S NOT ABOUT COFFEE!! Pier Four Brawl is on - small with small and big with big - Jericho tosses Storm through the ropes so it looks like it'll be Kane and Awesome to start. Kane with a right, back elbow, right, head to the adjacent buckle, whip into the opposite corner - clothesline by Awesome, right, right, Kane reverses a whip attempt and pulls him into a clothseline. No hardcore 24/7 stuff until after Invasion, yo - wonder who made THAT decision? Big sidewalk slam. Storm in - Storm down with a Kane clothesline. Awesome's head hits the buckle - Jericho holds him back for Kane's offense - right, left right left right left, right. Tag to Jericho - knife-edge chop, chop, chop - into the ropes is reversed - Jericho ducks the clothesline, Jericho ducks the backhand, lands the crossbody - 1, 2, no. Side headlock - Awesome powers out - Jericho sent over the top but lands on the apron, unbeknownst to Awesome who - get this - turns his back to celebrate. Jericho runs to the corner - double axehandle off the top! Shot for Storm as well. Awesome powers up with a clothesline. Head to Storm's boot, tag, Storm with an open knee. Whip is reversed, Storm slides under - Jericho off the ropes with a flying jalapeno. Clothesline off the ropes. Chop. Chop. Another chop. Elbow. Into the ropes is reversed - Jericho up and over - Awesome with a knee in the back, slowing Jericho down - but Jericho sidesteps Storm, sending him into Awesome - bulldog for Storm! But Awesome manages an apron clothesline to swing it back his team's way. Storm with a clothesline. Tag to Awesome - open kick, shot by Storm, overhand forearm by Awesome, stomp by Storm. Jericho sent into the ropes - press and drop. Kick in the face - elbowdrop - 2. Crowd chants "Y2J." Straight right by Awesome - tag - forearm by Awesome, kick by Storm, right, right, right, into the ropes, dropkick misses when Jericho holds the ropes - Jericho tries a Lionsault! But Storm gets the knees up. Man, every time that middle turnbuckle rattles, you can hear it on one of the mics out there - that's kinda annoying. Storm pulls him to his corner and tags out. Stomp by Awesome. Snapmares him over - to the headlock. Referee "Blind" Chad Patton checking in but Jericho won't give. Fighting back to his feet - elbow, elbow, right, chop, Awesome sends him into the corner but Jericho gets an elbow up - Jericho off the second rope, but Awesome catches him and tosses him in an overhead suplex. Wow. Stomp, hooks the leg, 1, 2, no. Head to the buckle - tag to Storm - into the ropes, double clothesline. Stomp by Storm, stomp, stomp, into the ropes, head down so Jericho kicks - Jericho with an enzuigiri and both men are down. Will Kane get the tag? Say, when was the last time we saw Jericho as the face in peril instead of waiting in the corner for the face in peril, anyway? Tag to Awesome - HOT TAG TO KANE! Block, right, right, right, into the ropes, big boot! Clothesline for Storm! Into the ropes, BIG back body drop for Storm! Awesome put in the corner, big clothesline follow. Kick puts Storm on the outside. Scooped up - powerslamming Awesome like he was a hundred pounds lighter. Kane going up top - he's gonna fly - clothesline! 1, 2, Storm manages to come in with a dropkick just in the nick of time. Jericho with a missile dropkick on Storm! Awesome runs at Jericho - double leg - but before he can put on the Walls, Storm knocks him out of the ring with a forearm. Kane shoves Storm away - Awesome on Kane - now a doubleteam on Kane - into the ropes...Kane clotheslines Awesome - Storm ducks, but Jericho is back in with a double leg - WALLS OF JERICHO! And Kane has Awesome in the goozle...but before he can hit the chokeslam - whoa! It's ECW's TOMMY DREAMER & ROB VAN DAM come to town to stir up trouble, and looks like they've succeeded. (DQ 7:05) A SECURITY guy gets up on the apron...then gets the signal that this is part of the show and backs up. It's four on two as the WCW guys team up with the ECW guys to take out Jericho and Kane... Here comes the WWF LOCKER ROOM - tonight I see Tazz, the Dudley Boyz, Justin Credible... wait a minute - Raven, Rhyno...oh no....oh no. "Staredown" in the ring as Paul gets jolly. "Feel it, JR - FEEL this moment!" The WWF guys slowly turn round - and look at Kane and Jericho. "For the rest of your life - feel it." And now THEY punk out Kane and Jericho. We've got a ten on two here - amazingly, Ross STILL hasn't figured it out...but the crowd has. Heyman: "Spiccoli Driver by Tommy Dreamer! ... Oh my God - it's the Van Daminator! You wanna know what this is about? I guess you want answers! You want answers? Well I say you finally deserve, JR...a damn answer!" He drops headset, removes his tie, and heads up to the ring. The Dudley Boyz stop him - then part the ropes for him. "Well, I guess now it's time, JR - that YOU WANT THE TRUTH - so JR, tonight, I'm gonna give you the whole damn truth! I have been sitting, I have been sitting like a damned corporate sellout next to that damn pig - and I have been talking - I have been TALKING about WWF versus WCW - Ihave been spilling my guts about this Invasion, and it seemt to me like everyone has forgotten about the tribe of extreme. It seems to me like these men were too extreme for WWF versus WCW - it seems to ME that this man...and this man have LEFT Shane McMahon's WCW - it looks to ME like these six men have left Vince McMahon's WWF - it looks to ME like they all have joined..... E.... C.... W. So Vince - or Shane - any time you guys want revenge - we'll take on the WWF, we'll take on WCW - we're not hard to find, because THIS Invasion just got taken... TO THE... EXTREME." "Theme from ECW" plays - Jericho and Kane STILL haven't moved. Ummm....call the lawyers? I mean....."wow." Hey, it's not too late to buy "ecwdudleyboyz.com" - or you think they'll just keep WWFDudleyBoyz.com up forever and you and I can laugh at them? Why did Mike Awesome, an ECW guy, work so hard to steal the WWF Hardcore title from another ECW guy? What would have happened if the Dudleyz had managed to RETAIN the titles tonight? You think they seriously had THIS in store a week ago at this time? Oops, ad break is over - more later, I think. Catch the WWF Live! Tomorrow in Birmingham, Saturday in Albany, Sunday in New Haven, Providence hosts RAW and Boston has next Tuesday! Wow, look at the ECW guys in this spot - I bet if they'd REALLY booked this with lots of prior planning, they'd have had him removed by now....okay okay, let's stop overthinking. Ross is alone when we come back. How long has Heyman been planning this assault, he asks? About five days and/or ever since he was brought into the WWF, I cynically think to myself... Moments Ago, ten paragraphs ago Vince encounters Shane - and vice versa. "Been lookin' for you." "You're lookin' for me?" "I'm lookin' for you, yeah." "I oughta kick your ass RIGHT NOW." "We can do that again, but that's not - we got a problem tonight - tonight we need to work together, you understand that?" "What the hell are you talking about?" "You just lost six o' your guys, I just lost two of my guys - I can't afford to lose any guys right now. Paul Heyman, ECW - ECW is in our house - McMahon house. So this is what's gonna happen, okay? I need your help tonight. Ten guys, he has. I'll take five of my guys, you take five of your guys, we put our differences aside for one match - one match - you'll get yours at Invasion - for one match only, I need your help. We'll take ECW out for good." "For ONE match only." "One." "Tonight." "One." "All right - but your five guys better damn well listen to my five guys--" "No, no, you've got it the wrong way." "No, no - it's gonna be my way here." "What, or the highway?" "Exactly." "I don't think so. Listen, we put our differences aside one night, I don't care what happens. Okay? Five and five - your five and my five - that's what we gotta do." "Okay, you're on for one match - but it won't change a damn thing, 'cause Invasion - WCW is goin' DOWN." "I look forward to it. Good luck." And they walk their separate ways. So, does Tazz still want a piece of Austin for what he did to Michael Cole, or you think he cares about that anymore? You think Rhyno is still friends with Edge & Christian? WWF Magazine ad WWF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: SCOTTY 2 HOTTY (with wwf.com logo) v. X-PACTOR - Wait a minute - you have a TWENTY-MAN TAG scheduled - do you really have the TIME to have THIS match? X-Pac gives no indications that he misses Justin Credible, or indeed even noticed he wasn't around. Feeling out process - knee by X-Pac, overhand forearm, right, right, Hotty with a right, right, right, into the ropes is reversed, but Hotty hits a shoudlerblock. Off the ropes, up and over, leapfrog by X-Pac, hiptoss blocked - 'Pac with a gutshot, leg over the head, flippy flippy, Hotty ducks the heel kick, X-Pac catches the kick, backflips Hotty, Hotty with a clothesline down. Arm wringer. 'Pac with a punch to the face. Into the corner is reversed, but 'Pac goes up and over - but Hotty backflips out of the death suplex attempt - and then does some breakdancing - hiptoss as 'Pac rushes him - into an armbar. Hotty with an arm wringer - forearm by 'Pac - into the ropes - duck, Hotty with a flying headscissors. Ross: "...and the athleticism of Booker T, who can really shove that title belt into a man's face. Hotty runs at 'Pac, but he drops and sends him to the outside. 'Pac climbing up the corner - BIG double sledge from the top to the floor. 'Pac: "You talk about ME, JR!" Ross spent a lot of time talking about X-Pac taking the gore earlier, and is doing a lot of backtracking now. Back in - lightning legdrop gets 2 for the champ. Knife-edge chop, chop, kick trifecta. Why does Ross keep calling it a "ten man tag" when there's twenty men involved? Broncobuster MISSES - Hotty with an atomic drop - off the ropes with a flying clothesline, right hand, right, into the ropes, reversal, Hotty ducks - then hits a superkick - hooks the leg - only 2! Head to the buckle, right, right, whip into the opposite corner - trying the bulldog out but 'Pac has it scouted and ducks the attempt he knows is coming. Gutshot by X-Pac, but Hotty counters the X Factor attempt with a jawbreaker. Both men down - referee "Blind" Jack Doan puts on the count but Hotty grogs up at 2. Suddenly, he spies a downed opponent...and starts hoppin' around. W - O - R - M - HA HAAA X-Pac rolls outside. HE KNOWS. Hotty walks over to the ropes to meet him on the apron - "Iblockyourpunchyoudon'tblockmine." Hotty slides through the legs to the floor - then pulls 'Pac down, catching his jaw on the apron. Rolled back in - Hotty with the sunset flip over the ropes...but X-Pac drops to his knees, then holds the ropes for good measure - 1, 2, 3. (4:23) To the locker room full of humanity - and Vince, as well! "All right guys, now listen up. We've seen things here tonight that we thought we'd NEVER see - EVER! I mean, let's face it...we've got a - an ECW Invasion - and it threatens all of you - and it threatens all of us as well. So, I never thought I would see the day when a WCW team would team up with a WWF team, but by God that's what we've got - we've got to put an end to this ECW crap, and we'll do it tonight as long as all of YOU take direction and follow MY guys." Shane: "Well that's exactly where we're messing up here, okay? Okay, you guys, okay, in order for this to work, will follow MY guys, okay? This'll work out - look, just chill out, okay? Everyone just chill out for a second. We have - we're in the house of McMahon, you understand that?" "Wait a minute - there can only be one leader of both teams--" "That's fine, then I will personally lead - I will personally lead the charge down there. So therefore it's settled - you guys listen to my guys." "Whoa whoa whoa - you're going to personally lead this?" "Yes." "Then you are gonna be PERSONALLY held responsible." "That's fine, remember, this is one match only - after this, all bets are off. Once we take ECW out, all bets are off." "And then we go to Invasion, you're damn right." "That's right, and then we can REALLY find out. That will be beautiful." "Yeah - you got that right." "Let's go, fellas - let's go - excuse me - excuse me - excuse me. Thank you. Let's go!" Shane and his men walk off - the WWF guys go to leave, but Vince calls them back. "Hey guys - don't listen to a DAMN word Shane McMahon says - you do what you want to do, all right? Go get 'em!" Say, how does Jerry Lynn fit into this? He's been in the posse every time we've seen them... If Saturn regains his senses, will he rejoin ECW? WWF SUPERSTARS and WCW SUPERSTARS v. ECW - Let's set the tables here - for the WWF, we've got the APA (and their music), Hardcore Holly, Billy Gunn and the Big Show; on the WCW side, it's Chuck Palumbo, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, Sean Stasiak and Chris Kanyon. Say, do you see anything strange about the men representing the WWF here? Chad Patton and Billy Silverman are both in the ring for this match. Anyway, the WCW superstars (not stars) come out to "Brand New Money." Did ring flowerpot LILIAN GARCIA just say "Chris Kanyon, Chuck O'Haire" and then completely give up on introductions? And she started out with such promise, actually saying "20 man tag." I'll give you a gut feeling - it's 10:58 - I doubt we'll get any sort of real tag action...assuming, of course, that there won't be a shocking swerve coming up - and by no means is THAT even CLOSE to a safe assumption. You can tell it's an uneasy alliance - words exchanged all around before the second team even comes out. O'Haire ends up slapping Bradshaw and now it's on. Two officials aren't gonna break up five pairs of brawlers, that's for damn sure. Slowly, the ring ends up cleared of WCW riff-raff, much to the delight of the crowd...just as the music starts again. Ross: "Well this ain't no by-God bingo parlour, let me tell you!" Coming down through the crowd, as they apparently left earlier, are the ECW contingent. All eleven men now sport ECF'nW T-shirts (presumably purchased off the rack at a Philadelphia Goodwill) except Heyman, who still has his jacket on over HIS shirt. It's ten on five now as the WCW guys are content to stay outside and watch. The WWF folks don't fare too badly given the numbers, but very slowly, one by one the WWF folks are tossed outside - although it takes almost all of them to dump the Show - leaving the ring filled with ECW guys. They turn to the WCW guys and dare THEM to give it a shot - in they come...to high five them. Kanyon dumps Patton. Half of the guys go outside to beat on the WWF guys while the other half stay in the ring to watch...Shane and Paul embrace. I have to tell you, even seeing it coming...it sends chills down my spine. I just don't know which KIND of chills yet. Here's MR. McMAHON out with mic in hand. "What the hell-- what the hell is this? What the hell is goin' on out here? What the hell are you doin'?" "Just sit back and enjoy and watch - watch - check out your WWF." Shane does a little play by play - Hardcore Holly falls to a Tazzmission. Sean O'Haire gives Bradshaw his fireman's carry into a spinning DDT. Faarooq gets 3D (Dudley Death Drop). Gunn gets a Van Daminator. Surprisingly, Silverman is trying to act like a ref here - how confusing! Vince starts towards the ring. "Hey, hey, back it up right there. Hey hey, watch it, watch it, watch it. Hey Dad, you wanna know what's goin' on? Can't you see what's happening? I said I can never, ever compete with your checkbook, but I can...outsmart you. And that's exactly what I've done tonight. That's exactly what we did tonight. You see, Dad, you told me in the locker room back there that I was personally responsible for everything that happens out here tonight. And you know what, Dad, you're right - I AM personally responsible for all of this! I am personally responsible for WCW - I am personally ersponsible for for ECW being here tonight! ANd hear me out, listen up, listen up, and I am personally responsible for the MERGER of WCW and ECW coming together, tonight! So Dad, at Invasion, this new entity - WCW and ECW is gonna kick the WWF's ASS! Oh yeah - oh wait wait - I got one more thing for ya - one more - and I am also personally responsible, and privliged to introduce you to the new owner of ECW - I believe you know this person quite well...ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Vince's daughter, STEPHANIE McMAHON-HELMSLEY!" "My Time" plays and out she walks...past Vince...to the ring - where she and Shane raise hands. Ross: "May God have mercy on our WWF souls!" You know....that's JUST what I was thinking. AFTER THE FACT: Stephen Popick chimes in with the other stuff: Dark Match 1
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling boys Jorge Estrada(face) vs. Sonny(heel)
Sonny's a great impersonation of the Rock...:) Jorge won with a rollup Dark Match 2
NWA Wildside Rick Michaels vs. AJ Styles
Styles is probably one of the last good cruiserweights that wasn't picked up in WCW. Should have, and this match showed why. He wins with a extended boston crab converted into an X-Factor Jakked / Metal Tapings Essa Rios / K Kwick vs. Kaientai
All four received a good reaction from the crowd, and kaientai over as heels because they are evil (indeed!). Essa with a Moonsault and Kwick with a slam for a simultaneous double pin. Haku vs. never named
This match wasn't important. Haku wins in a squash. What was important and tipped a few of us off was that it took 5 minutes for Haku to make his intro. In the meantime, an ECW logo flashed up onto the Titantron causing a small chant to erupt...ohh baby. Crash vs. noname
Crash is well, Crash. Didn't really pay much attention, he's not very charismatic. He wins. Did you think a noname would beat a WWF Superstar on a Metal taping? noname vs. noname
I was out getting food, drinks, and some WWF merchandise...I am such a sellout Anyways, some of us knew ECW was gonna invade...which then suprised me with the reaction that we had in Atlanta My observation...It started with some of WCW acting as faces and some as heels, then totally heels, and then totally faces...really weird dynamic that happened that shook the ground underneath Philips Arena. I knew alot of people were worried about the Invasion angle...It succeeded here in Atlanta. I can only hope that ECW remains a viable entity and doesnt just disappear admist WCW... Happy 2nd! Okay, one last wonder...how does Torrie Wilson helping Linda catch Vince with his pants down, leading to a division of assets on the 23rd, figure into this? Or have they thought that far ahead yet?