'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Raw after TLC ended in hype-mode for Survivor Series. Practically the entire SmackDown Live roster invaded Raw during the closing moments of the show and laid waste to the Red Team's locker room.
Although there are sure to be more invasions of this nature during a feud like this, it's an interesting concept because this kind of thing has worked so well in the past. An invasion feels like the show is being taken over and something is happening that's not meant to occur.
It's one of those rare moments in pro wrestling where everything doesn't feel as scripted even though in reality it totally is. So here are five other moments that gave off the same feeling
#1 ECW Invasion (1997)
In 1997, ECW was a young promotion and WWE (WWF at the time) wanted to help them out. They had actually been sending some Superstars down to ECW for some polish and ECW had lent some stars to the WWF as well.
On February 24th, 1997, a group of ECW performers showed up in WWE including Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, and others. They had been invited to compete in some matches but resulted was a chaotic scene indeed.
Jerry Lawler had been referring to ECW as "extremely crappy wrestling" for long enough and ECW showed up for a couple of weeks to cause some trouble. It was a great program that was meant to hype ECW's first pay-per-view event.
This much-unappreciated storyline stretched across three promotions in reality (ECW, WWF, and USWA) and there was actually a SummerSlam match planned between three ECW stars it never became a reality. This angle had more legs to it if Vince McMahon would have seen the potential of highlighting this band of hungry Philly upstarts.
#2 DX Invasion
This one is fun and still popping up in popular wrestling culture to this day. In fact, if you had never seen the DX Invasion before and are only familiar with the Bullet Club invasion, then you're in for a real treat but it might be strange.
It could be like watching episodes 1-3 of Star Wars before you see episodes 4-6. It might make sense when it comes to story, but much of the context could be lost.
But when DX showed up to a taping of WCW Nitro in 1998, there was lots of fun to be had, but it was still a very serious matter.
Company lines were being drawn and DX wanted to declare war on WCW.
It's ironic that presently the Bullet Club is using many of the same tactics and attitude that ended up winning the Monday Night Wars for WWE. Only they need to be careful that their actions aren't deemed too sweet for the competition.
#3 Radicalz
The Monday Night Wars were a very unpredictable time in pro wrestling. Unbeknownst to most pro wrestling fans, there were four guys in World Championship Wrestling who saw the writing on the walls and wanted out.
Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn soon showed up on Raw and make a huge impression.
Bruce Prichard revealed on his "Something To Wrestle With" that Malenko, Saturn, and Guerrero all said separately that if Vince McMahon and company couldn't take them, they asked them to at least take Chris Benoit.
After all, Benoit was a world-class performer and was dating the wife of then WCW booker Kevin Sullivan and they feared he would be buried in WCW.
Therefore on January 31st, 2000, while DX members Road Dogg and Billy Gunn were in a tag match against Al Snow & Steve Blackman, the Radicalz made their presence known.
It wasn't long before Benoit, Guerrero, Malenko, and Saturn were regulars on WWF television, but it all started in very surprising fashion.
#4 Nexus
It really is incredible how this band of WWE rookies came together and where each one of them is in the business to this day.
The Nexus invasion will never be forgotten by WWE fans as the first time they were introduced to this impactful stable of young Superstars looking to impress.
On June 7th, 2010, they invaded Raw and took out everyone and everything in their way. Nobody was safe including John Cena, CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Jerry Lawler, Matt Striker, Justin Roberts, and WWE timekeeper, Mark Yeaton, during this introduction of this destructive and disruptive force in WWE.
Daniel Bryan also saw himself getting fired in the process during his first night in by strangeling Justin Roberts with his own tie. The looks Roberts gave the face to sell the move with his tongue hanging out didn't help matters but it was deemed too hot for TV and Bryan suffered the ramifications of it. However, his hiatus from WWE would be short-lived.
Nexus would later add other members like Husky Harris, who would later become Bray Wyatt, and Michael McGillicutty, who became Curtis Axel.
But nobody will forget how real it felt when Nexus leader, Wade Barrett, led Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, Skip Sheffield (Ryback), Michael Tarver, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, and David Otunga into battle and not only invaded, but also deconstructed Raw in the process.
#5 WCW Invasion
This has to be on the list because of how important it was to WWE history, but in reality, it might be the least memorable item on this list just because of how it was booked.
WCW was out of business as Vince McMahon crushed his competition in the palm of his hands. But when the time came to snatch up all the WCW talent, they soon realised that most of the top names in WCW were still under contract with Turner Broadcasting, therefore, they were getting paid handsomely just to sit at home.
With names like Sting, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Hulk Hogan unavailable in 2001, WWE signed who they could. They were able to acquire some great talent but it just didn't feel like a true representation of WCW.
WCW still invaded with the surprise of Shane McMahon purchasing the company out from under him. But before Shane McMahon's shocking revelation, Vince McMahon still had the chance to fire Jeff Jarrett one more time.
The WCW Invasion might not have been as impressive as they would have hoped, so ECW was soon added into the picture as well to create a two vs one brand way battle for supremacy. But in the end, Vince McMahon and Company still came out on top.
