10 shocking moments from WWF (WWE) 2001

#2 The formation of 'The Alliance'

Evil forces combine.

WWF and WCW were not the only companies involved in the boom period of professional wrestling between 1997-2001. As the two juggernauts were battling out for supreme dominance, Paul Heyman's ECW promotion was busy offering a more 'extreme' alternative.

The influence of ECW on the wrestling business is still being felt today, with WWE employing match stipulations and move sets created by them. Many indie and non-WWE factions also employ an ECW style of set up with the crowd's presence being felt close to ring-side and high-flying athletes crashing into the front rows.

It is only right, therefore, that Extreme Championship Wrestling made its presence known during the Invasion Angle. On July 9th, 2001, ECW original Rob Van Dam interrupted a match between Kane, Chris Jericho, Mike Awesome and Lance Storm. He was joined by Tommy Dreamer and later The Dudley Boys, Tazz and others. Paul Heyman came from the commentary table to announce his faction would be entering the company with ill intentions.

Shane and Vince McMahon would reluctantly join forces to deal with the outside threat. Later in the same night, a 10-on-10 match was scheduled with WWE and WCW representatives taking on the 10 ECW competitors under Heyman's guidance.

As WWE and WCW brawled in the ring before the match was allowed to begin, ECW then stormed the ring and eventually helped WCW clear house of the WWF guys. Heyman and Shane then embraced one another, announcing the formation of the Alliance, along with Shane's sister Stephanie, to the chagrin of a desperate Vince McMahon.