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Welcome to part seven of my rebooked Invasion storyline. You can catch up with my the previous articles in my series here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 and part 6.
As I have referenced previously, there is nothing featured in my rebooked storyline that was unrealistic for the WWF to have booked. I have only featured wrestlers who were available to the WWF should they have wished to pay for them.
The excuse given in subsequent years was that there was no value in WWF buying out millions of pounds worth of contracts to procure the likes of Sting and Goldberg who were employed through AOL Time Warner, rather than the subsidiary, WCW, only to additional pay them the equivalent of those expensive WCW deals in new WWF contracts. This claim doesn't stand up to scrutiny as the contract buyout structure dictated that Time Warner would pay 50% of any buyout, so the WWF would not be faced with the entire cost. Plus, if promoted correctly, does anyone believe an Invasion featuring the best of WCW would not have been a commercial monster and made WWF its money back many times over? Of course, it would.
Anyhow, back to the fictional world!
A key component of the invasion storyline through January will be Team WWF and the Alliance fighting over his services. Knowing the size of Triple H's ego, one would assume he would have loved that storyline.
There are more surprises to come as this edition features an exciting road to the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
Champion roll call (as of December 9, 2001)
Undisputed Champion - Chris Jericho
IC Champion - William Regal
Hardcore Champion - The Undertaker
WWF Tag Team Champions - The Dudley Boyz
US Champion - Raven
Cruiserweight Champion - Billy Kidman
Women's Champion - Trish Stratus
So, without any further delay, let's get to the post-Vengeance Raw!
Monday Night Raw - December 10, 2001
Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman and Shane McMahon brought out Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho. As they celebrated Jericho's win the previous night, Stone Cold interjected with a contract in hand, demanding a match, a Streetfight tonight versus a special someone pointing at the ring.
Bischoff scoffs stating the nWo will ensure Jericho retains in a Streetfight environment. Austin asks if that is a yes, handing the contract for Bischoff to sign. Bischoff gladly does. Austin laughs and asks him to read out Stone Cold's opponent. Bischoff's heart sinks as he realises he has signed himself up to a bout with Austin.
The Hardy Boyz beat The Dudley Boyz in a Cage Match to regain the WWF Tag Team titles.
Billy Gunn announces he has joined the Alliance due to the lack of respect the WWF has shown him in the battle versus WCW and ECW. He declared after nearly a decade of loyalty he should have been front and centre in the fight. He states that he has formed a tag team with Chuck Palumbo and they want the tag team titles.
Kurt Angle beat Ric Flair.
In the main event, Stone Cold squashes Bischoff. When Shane questions the nWo backstage as to why they didn't assist, they said they were busy recruiting and that Bischoff could stand to be taken down a peg or two. They told Shane to leave Austin to them.
Smackdown - December 13, 2001
Sting beat Rob Van Dam.
William Regal beat Kurt Angle in an Intercontinental Title bout via DQ after Angle refused to break the Ankle Lock submission when Regal reached the ropes.
Kane beat Billy Kidman in a non-title bout.
The nWo announced that Stone Cold won't make it to the Royal Rumble event and he had wisely taken the night off. Austin rang into the show and said that he will take out the nWo one by one.
The Rock pinned Chris Jericho in a non-title bout in the main event.
Monday Night Raw - December 17, 2001
Stone Cold assaulted Kevin Nash backstage and left him laying. Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan vowed to find him.
Billy and Chuck beat the APA.
A number one contender's bout took place for the right to face Chris Jericho at Royal Rumble; Rob Van Dam beat The Rock, Kane and The Undertaker to earn the title shot. He vowed to bring the belt back to the WWF.
Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall fought Kurt Angle and Edge to a No Contest when Stone Cold interfered and beat up the nWo.
Smackdown - December 20, 2001
Stone Cold beat Scott Hall.
Rob Van Dam beat Ric Flair.
Vince McMahon was shown visiting Stephanie McMahon's house. "Is Hunter home?" he asked disappearing inside.
Billy and Chuck beat the APA once again.
William Regal announced he would defend the IC title at the Royal Rumble against anyone who thought they were gentlemanly enough to face him.
Chris Jericho beat Kurt Angle in a Submission match in the main event.
Monday Night Raw - December 24, 2001
The Big Show announced that he had joined the nWo and stated that Raven's Flock is directionless. This brought out Raven and his remaining Flock who told Bigshow that his allegiance left with them.
Paul Heyman spoke with Eric Bischoff backstage and advised that both WCW and ECW forces needed to stick together. Bischoff stated that the nWo had never worked for WCW.
Heyman said this was a mess and that WCW was disrespecting his ECW stars. Bischoff advised that they should have a match tonight and WCW would either amalgamate ECW or the other way round and either way one name would be dead for good.
Bischoff asked Goldberg to help out in the main event. Goldberg said he had had a lifetime of sorting out Bischoff's messes and advised that maybe next time he should keep his ego in check. Bischoff sent Goldberg home for insubordination.
Kurt Angle beat Stevie Richards.
The Rock and Rob Van Dam beat Scott Steiner and DDP.
The main event saw the nWo compete against Raven, The Dudley Boyz and Tajiri. The WCW team won to retire the ECW name.
Bischoff gloated after the match that the ECW alumni were now part of WCW. Heyman replied that that was not necessarily the case as he wandered to the stage. Vince McMahon emerged and he and Heyman shook hands to Bischoff's horror.
Smackdown - December 27, 2001
Vince McMahon proudly exclaimed that ECW had joined forces with the WWF and declared that Paul Heyman has got his job back as a commentator and will join Jerry Lawler and JR to make up a three-man announce team.
Jazz won a women's Battle Royal to earn a Women's Title bout at Royal Rumble.
Rob Van Dam beat Sting. Afterwards, he shook hands with Heyman.
Bigshow beat The Rock in the main event.
Monday Night Raw - December 31, 2001
Vince McMahon said his New Year's Resolution was to destroy WCW. Shane McMahon emerged and advised that he had spoken with his sister, Stephanie and Triple H will join WCW when he returns to Raw next week. Vince was shocked.
Stone Cold was asked about Triple H backstage. He said he could not care less whose side Triple H was on.
Bigshow challenged Austin to a match and said he had yet to take him out since joining the nWO.
Billy Kidman said he was sick and tired of having no competition for the Cruiserweight Title and that he planned to retire the title and go down in history as the final champion. Vince McMahon interrupted and asked him to wait as he will try and find worthy competition in time for next week's Raw.
Stone Cold vs Bigshow went to a No Contest when Hogan, Hall and Nash returned and laid out "The Rattlesnake."
Smackdown - January 3, 2002
Booker T beat Edge.
Eric Bischoff was asked when he planned to bring back Goldberg. He said he hadn't decided yet.
The Rock won an Over the top rope Battle Royal to earn the coveted number 30 spot in the Royal Rumble. He vowed to bring home the Undisputed Title.
Rock bumped into Hulk Hogan backstage who said he had no chance of winning gold as long as he was around. Rock asked Hogan where his commode was.
Stone Cold beat Scott Hall in the main event.
The nWo declared that they were far from defeated and would not rest until Austin was out of the WWF.
Monday Night Raw - January 7, 2002
Triple H made his long-awaited return to the WWF after being sidelined due to a torn quadriceps muscle since May 2001. He said he was back and intended to win the Royal Rumble whether the champion is a WWF guy or WCW guy.
Stone Cold marches down to the ring and welcomes back "The Game." He tells Triple H he hopes his "leg holds up this time."
Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon both tried to get Triple H to commit to their respective teams.
Ric Flair challenged The Undertaker to a match on Smackdown. 'Taker accepted as long as his Hardcore Title was on the line and the loser would be fired. Flair accepted the terms.
Rey Mysterio debuted as a member of Team WWF to win the Cruiserweight Title from Billy Kidman in the main event.
Smackdown - January 10, 2002
The nWo open the show and say they are very pleased to see Triple H return. They say there is a spot in the nWo for "The Game." Kevin Nash and Scott Hall explain that the Kliq will ride together for always.
Michael Cole speaks with Triple H backstage and asks him to respond to what the nWo said. Triple says he didn't see and walks away.
Rey Mysterio successfully defended the Cruiserweight Title vs Billy Kidman.
The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair in the main event. After the bout, Vince McMahon fired Flair as per the terms of the match.
Monday Night Raw - January 14, 2002
The nWo advised Triple H that they don't like being ignored and once again advised the Kliq is forever. They introduced the newest members of the nWo, Kliq members, Shawn Michaels and X-Pac.
Michaels stated that he had been loyal to the WWF throughout the Monday Night Wars but ever since he was named WWF commissioner in late 1998 and underwent back surgery in January 1999, the phone calls from Vince McMahon began to dry up. He said his only loyalty is to his friends and urged Triple H to join them.
X-Pac stated he had not heard from the WWF after he was fired by Vince McMahon last year. "Screw the WWF" he screams and asked Triple to join them as he questions how many times his father in law telephoned him while he was out injured.
Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Jericho in a match where the winner could choose the stipulation of the title bout at Royal Rumble. RVD chose "Extreme Rules."
The Rock and Stone Cold beat Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall in the main event. Triple H was seen backstage watching the bout on the monitor.
Smackdown - January 17, 2002
Edge defeated Booker T to earn an IC Title match at Royal Rumble.
X-Pac beat Rey Mysterio in a non-title bout after Bigshow interfered.
Chris Jericho beat Raven.
Triple H telephoned into the show and declared he would win the Royal Rumble and the pitch from the new nWo was an enticing one but he also had family ties to the WWF. He declared he would make his decision following the Royal Rumble.
Eric Bischoff declared that Triple H's indecision means he has agreed with Vince McMahon that Triple H will be forced to compete with Sting for the final spot in the 'Rumble at the show itself as neither man want him to win the match due to them being unsure of his intentions.
Rob Van Dam beat Scott Steiner.
Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon both announced that they had invited former stars to return at the Royal Rumble.
The Rock vs DDP ended in a No Contest when other Royal Rumble participants ran in.
Royal Rumble 2002 - January 20, 2002
Winners on the Royal Rumble card emboldened below:
30 Man Royal Rumble Match - Triple H won last eliminating Stone Cold
Undisputed Title - Chris Jericho vs Rob Van Dam
WWF Tag Team Championship - The Hardy Boyz vs Billy & Chuck
IC Title - William Regal vs Edge
Royal Rumble Qualifier - Triple H vs Sting
Women's Title - Trish Stratus vs Jazz
Chris Jericho successfully defended the Undisputed Title in an Extreme Rules match following outside interference from the nWo.
Billy & Chuck won the Tag Team titles.
Goldust returned as a member of Team WWF and Mr Perfect returned as a member of the Alliance in the Royal Rumble match. Triple H won the match last eliminating Stone Cold.
The nWo surrounded the ring following Triple H's victory. Stone Cold re-entered the ring with two beers and offered one to Triple H. "The Game" accepted and the pair toasted each other to the nWo's fury. Triple H and Stone Cold took the nWo out to close the show.
What next for Triple H and his former Kliq buddies and who will be Chris Jericho's next title challenger? All will become clear on the road to No Way Out 2002!
