Rebooking the InVasion: The Timeline

We rebooked the WWF/WCW Invasion. You can read about that here. This is the roster and timeline we used:

WCW contracts picked up by WWF:

Diamond Dallas Page

Booker T

Billy Kidman

Chavo Guerrero

Chris Kanyon

Hugh Morrus

Lance Storm

Buff Bagwell

Mike Awesome

Shawn Stasiak

Stacy Keibler

Torrie Wilson

Chuck Palumbo

Shawn O'Haire

Shane Helms

Mark Jindrak (Sent to Development)

Shannon Moore (sent to development)

Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli (Sent to Development)

Jamie Noble (Sent to Development)

Jimmy Yang (Sent to Development)

Reno (Sent to Development & Never used)

Disco Inferno (Sent to Development & Never used)

Mike Sanders (Sent to Development & Never used)

Evan Karragias (Sent to Development & Never used)

Elix Skipper (Sent to Development & Never used)

Lash Leroux (Sent to Development & Never used)

Crowbar (Sent to Development & Never used)

Nick Patrick

Charles Robinson

Scott Hudson (Commentator, let go after first appearance)

Stevie Ray (Commentator, let go after first appearance)

Later Signings:

Ric Flair: November 2001

Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Hulk Hogan: January 2002

Rey Mysterio: June 2002
Eric Bischoff: July 2002

Scott Steiner: October 2002

Goldberg: March 2003

WWF Roster (2001)

Al Snow
Albert
Bradshaw
Big Boss Man
Billy Gunn
Bull Buchanan
Chris Benoit
Chris Jericho
Christian
Chyna
Crash Holly
Dean Malenko
Debra
D-Von Dudley
Bubba Ray Dudley
Eddie Guerrero
Edge
Faarooq
Essa Rios
Gangrel (Released August 2001)
The Godfather
Hardcore Holly
Matt Hardy
Jeff Hardy
Haku
Ivory
Jacqueline
Jerry Lynn
Justin Credible
Kane
K-Kwik
Kurt Angle
Lita
Mick Foley
Molly Holly
Perry Saturn
Raven
Rhyno
Rikishi
Scotty 2 Hotty
Shawn Michaels (As of June 2002)
Spike Dudley
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Blackman
Steven Richards
Taka Michinoku (Released October 20, 2001)
Tajiri
Tazz
Terri Runnels
Test
The Big Show
The Rock ("Suspended" until July 30, 2001)
The Undertaker
Tori
Triple H
Trish Stratus
Val Venis
William Regal
X-Pac

Important Dates in Real Life:

April 2, 2001: The Rock "suspended" from WWF

May 21, 2001: Triple H injured

July 9, 2001: Buff Bagwell fired

July 9, 2001: Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer join WWF

June 24, 2001: Chris Benoit injured

WWF InVasion airs on July 22, 2001

July 30, 2001: The Rock returns to Raw

November 30, 2001: Chyna leaves WWF, several months after she had been taken off of television.

January 7, 2002: Triple H returns to Raw

April 13, 2002: Kevin Nash injured

May 6, 2002: Scott Hall released

June 3, 2002: Shawn Michaels Returns

June 11, 2002: Steve Austin walks out

July 8, 2002: Kevin Nash returns

July 8, 2002: Kevin Nash injured

March 3, 2003: Steve Austin returns

April 7, 2003: Kevin Nash returns

How the Invasion Began on TV

Lance Storm became the first WCW wrestler to appear on WWF by making a run-in during a match on the May 28 episode of Raw Is War.

At King of the Ring on June 24, then-WCW wrestler Booker T interfered during the triple threat main event match for the WWF Championship and almost cost Stone Cold Steve Austin the title.

On July 2, 2001, Booker T faced Buff Bagwell for WCW Championship as WCW "takes over" Raw is War.

On the July 9 episode of Raw Is War, Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer ran into the ring to help Lance Storm and Mike Awesome against Kane and Jericho. WWF wrestlers The Dudley Boyz, Tazz, Justin Credible, Rhyno, and Raven (all former ECW wrestlers) ran to the ring. After a brief stand-off, the WWF cavalry turned around and attacked Kane and Jericho. This prompted Paul Heyman to leave the announce table and enter the ring.

WWF Champions in May 2001

WWF Champion: Steve Austin

WWF Intercontinental: Triple H (April 16 - May 20) Kane (won on May 20, 2001)

WWF European: Matt Hardy

WWF Lightheavyweight: Jerry Lynn

WWF Women's: Chyna (Vacated Nov 2001)

WWF Tag Team: Triple H & Steve Austin (April 29 - May 21) / Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho (Won on May 21, 2001)

WWF Hardcore: Rhyno (April 19 - May 21) / Big Show (Won on May 21, 2001)

Final WCW Champions:

WCW Champion: Booker T

WCW United States: Booker T

WCW Cruiserweight: Shane Helms