What If? The WCW Invasion of the WWF was Successful (Featuring WWE 2K Gameplay)

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Contents:

(Use Ctrl + F to be taken to each section)

Introduction

My Thoughts on the Original Invasion Angle

Fantasy WCW Invasion Match Card in WWE 2K

Final Scores

WCW's Chances of Survival

WWF's Chances of Survival

Full Fantasy WCW Invasion PPV

Introduction

I had planned to play some games in my backlog during the month of December, but as I write this it is the Tuesday 17th of December and I have not attempted one backlogged game.

This month my main focus on entertainment has been reliving some moments from wrestling when I avidly watched it during late 1997 up until 2006. WWE announced that it would be closing their streaming Network on the last day of December 2024 in the UK and Ireland and from January 2025 their content is set to be on Netflix.

It is not known exactly how much of the WWE's archived content will be on Netflix ultimately and I am not really a fan modern day wrestling, but I do like to re-watch some of the action I grew up with so I thought I would sign up for the last month and watch some content - I wanted to relive the glory days of the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras!

I hope that all of WWE's catalogue is brought over to Netflix, including the WCW and ECW content that was available on the WWE Network.


My Thoughts on the Original Invasion Angle

Revisiting wrestling during the 1997 - 2006 era had me thinking again about the WCW/ECW Invasion storyline that occurred in 2001. This was when the WWF (at the time) had bought it's closest competition WCW (who at one time during the late 1990s were beating WWF in the ratings for a straight 83 weeks in a row).

Historic: Shane McMahon appearing on the last episode of WCW 

I remember being quite disappointed with the Invasion angle as a lot of the big WCW stars decided to let the remainder of their contracts expire before they worked for another wrestling organisation. I would not say the Invasion angle was terrible as we the audience did see some interesting WCW wrestlers in a WWF ring (Booker T vs Rock was always a dream match I wanted to see), but the whole invasion angle was more like a 6/10 when it could have been an 11 out of 10 dream scenario. 

Despite the biggest WCW stars not being a part of the Invasion angle it was cool to see WCW titles competed and shown on WWF TV - The big belt WCW title is one of my favourite looking belts and the same belt design would be used for many years on WWF/WWE television and be used for the renamed World Heavyweight Championship (presented by none other than ex WCW legend Eric Bischoff) to go alongside the WWF title (after the buying of WCW and ECW the roster became so big the two shows, Raw and Smackdown, were split into two bands and both had their own main title with their own roasters of wrestlers). 


The WCW World Tile Belt

We also saw WCW titles such as the United States Championship and the Cruiserweight belt (which was one of WCW best divisions, even when the entertainment value was declining near the end of WCW) on WWF TV.

Maybe if WWF had waited a little longer then the WCW Invasion storyline could have been more memorable as many of the big wrestlers and personalities that were in WCW began joining the WWF a few months after the Invasion storyline and they could have been utilised in the storyline for a massive impact, but at least a number of big WCW stars joined the WWF eventually.


Having David Arquette Winning the main title is probably not the best Business Decision 

One of the downfalls of WCW was David Arquette winning the WCW title (2000), although I heard Arquette redeems himself in the film You Cannot Kill David Arquette (I should really watch that soon). Below: Trailer for the film You Cannot Kill David Arquette.


WWF did have a celebrity holding the WWF World Title, Arnold Schwarzenegger, but not actually winning it (unlike Arquette with WCW) on an episode of WWF Smackdown during the shows inaugural year of 1999.

Arnold with the Big Eagle WWF Title

Some notable wrestlers and personalities that were with WCW joined the WWF after the invasion angle

The following wrestlers that joined the WWF could have had a massive impact on the WCW invasion storyline:

The nature boy Ric Flair returned to the WWF and (in storyline) and became the joint owner of the company.


A big heel faction in WCW the nWo 'invaded' the WWF with the top three guys that started the faction in WCW Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

Eric Bischoff joined the WWF and became (in storyline) the general manager of Raw. 

In reality this was an incredible moment as Eric was trying his very best to topple the WWF and replace it with WCW.

I will never forget the amazing loud crowd reaction Diamond Dallas Page received when he revealed himself to the WWF audience during the invasion story. The WWF writers put him in a feud with the Undertaker, which on paper sounded like a promising match up. But it was the way the WWF handled his character that was truly disappointing. If WWF let the WCW version of the DDP character shine through, then his feud with the Undertaker could have been one of the most memorable storylines in history. Instead the WWF made DDP a weird stalker character. 

DDP's WCW character was an everyday man who manged to exceed expectations - he was the underdog and that character could have been amazing in a feud against the Undertaker, or dare I say it, a feud with the Rock to find out who is the real people's champion. "Like the Diamond Cutter you never saw it coming!"

Goldberg eventually joined the WWF and was contracted on a one year deal. It was great to see him against some of the top WWF wrestlers such as The Rock. Maybe there could have been a streak versus streak storyline in an invasion angle with The Undertaker.

Big Poppa Scott Steiner returned to the WWF, but under his WCW Big Poppa Pump character. Something interesting could have happened with him in the invasion story. Perhaps his Big Poppa Pump character could have a grudge with the WWF and claimed he was held back in the organisation while in WCW he was able to soar to legendary status.

Many, many years later (after I stopped watching the product from week to week) WCW legend Sting actually joined (the now WWE) in 2015. Many fans (including myself) wanted to see the Undertaker versus Sting (the Crow version of course). He had a match against Triple H (which I enjoyed overall) at a Wrestlemania, but it would have been cool to see him face the Undertaker as during that period.

Sting was a dark larger than life character and the Undertaker also was a dark and larger than life character. Both men were loyal to their companies - Sting never left WCW and the Undertaker never left WWF. It really would have been a no brainer for a storyline.

Sting versus Undertaker would have been cool to see during the WCW Invasion story, but during the invasion time Undertaker was playing the American Badass version of his character. If Sting versus Undertaker did happen during the 2001 invasion I would have liked Taker to return to his dark character for a match with Sting. I did like the Undertaker's biker character, but his darker characters will always be more entertaining to me.


Fantasy WCW Invasion Match Card in WWE 2K

With the Invasion angle on my mind and remembering the missed opportunities that could have been, I decided that instead of concentrating on my gaming backlog I would try to create my own invasion PPV on the latest 2K WWE game(s).

I mostly created the PPV on WWE 2K24, but some wrestlers I wanted to use were only on WWE 2K23. I wanted the wrestlers to be as official as possible so I tried to avoid using other players user created wrestlers, but I did download a created version of Sting as his entrance can be re-created in the create an entrance mode, although sadly without his cool WCW crow music or the Seek and Destroy by Metallica that he entered arenas for a short period of time.

I did download a custom created Invasion arena for 2K23 and 2K24. One arena is outdoor and one is indoor, so I just like to think the match card I created happens in two arenas.

Below is my match card for an Invasion PPV I wish could have happened in reality:

I played each match in the WWE 2K games and then uploaded them to YouTube. I have kept the videos unlisted (which means people can only see them through the links in this blog) - I did this because WWE are copyright happy and I thought by keeping the videos unlisted they are most likely to stay up on the platform.

I recorded each game through the PlayStation 5's own recording software so the entrance music for each wrestler is taken out of each video. To work around this issue I edited in the music for each entrance myself and set each video to unlisted.

I added a little story synopsis to explain my thinking behind each match.


MATCH 1

Normal One on One

Rey Mysterio Jr (WCW Cruiserweight Champion) 

vs 

Eddie Guerrero (WWF Intercontinental Champion)


Story: 

After their battles in WCW Rey Mysterio challenged Eddie to a non title match. Eddie joined WWF from WCW with the Radicalz and has since become WWF Intercontinental Champion. Rey wants the Intercontinental belt, but Eddie says you have to prove yourself by beating Eddie one time before you can have a championship match.

Winner: 

Eddie Guerrero


MATCH 2

Submission Match

Scott Steiner (WCW) vs Kurt Angle (WWF)


Story: 

Who has the more powerful submission? Steiner Recliner or Ankle Lock?

Winner:

Kurt Angle 


MATCH 3

No Holds Barred

Winner becomes WCW Owner

Eric Bischoff (WCW) vs Shane McMAHON (WCW and WWF)



Story: 

WWF in reality bought WCW, but in the WWF storyline Shane McMahon bought WCW behind Vince McMahon's back and became storyline owner of WCW. In my version of Invasion Eric Bischoff turns up to an episode of WWF Monday Night Raw and is angered over Shane buying WCW. Eric shows paperwork that proves he bought a massive share of the company thus giving Shane and Bischoff 50/50 control each of WCW. They decide after weeks of back and forth to settling the matter in a no holds barred match and the winner will have 100% control of WCW. 

Winner: 

Eric Bischoff (WCW)


MATCH 4

8 man Tag Team Elimination (Survivor Series Style)

The Kliq (WWF) vs The Hart Foundation (WCW)

Participants: Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall vs Jim Knighthart, Bret Hart, British Bulldog and Randy Savage 


Story: 

Nash, Hall and Hogan turned up to an episode of WWF Raw as the nWo, but in a twist sided with the WWF stating that it was always their intention to destroy WCW under the nWo name (as former WWF guys) and now that WCW is invading the WWF the nWo forms an alliance with Degeneration X members Triple H and Shawn Michaels. DX and the nWo scream that the clique is back together and call their coalition by the same name.

Meanwhile, Bret Hart is still disgusted by how he was treated by the WWF during the Survivor Series 1997 incident and decides to stay with WCW and is intent on destroying the WWF. His fellow Hart members, The Anvil and the British Bulldog, stay loyal to Bret and stay on the side of WCW. Randy Savage is also disgusted how he was treated by the WWF at the end of his time with them and still has a grudge that they wanted him to become a commentator rather that continue as a wrestler. Randy Savage felt the same way as Bret Hart did and decided to join the Hart Foundation's battle on destroying the WWF.

Winner:

The Kliq


MATCH 5 (Outdoor)

Last Man Standing

Cactus Jack (WCW) vs Hulk Hogan (WWF)

Story:

Hollywood Hulk Hogan along with the rest of nWo returned to the WWF and Hogan decided to stay with the nWo as they are still against WCW. Hogan, while still on the side of the nWo and the WWF, decided to return to his yellow and red look as it had been so long since he was in the WWF and he wanted the WWF fans to feel nostalgic for the early days of Hogan.

Meanwhile, Mick Foley did the opposite of Hogan and defected to WCW under his old persona of Cactus Jack. Foley's reasoning for this is that Tony Shavonie's words still haunt and anger him. Foley still remembers the words of Tony belittling his character of Cactus Jack in WCW. Foley wanted to prove a point to Tony by defeating wrestling's biggest name, Hulk Hogan, in a Last Standing Man match as Cactus Jack while representing WCW.


Winner: Cactus Jack


MATCH 6

Kane (WWF) VS DDP (WCW United States Champion)

HIAC Match

WCW United States TITLE MATCH

Story:

DDP invaded a big WWF PPV event in a mask and climbed into the ring after running in from the crowd. He took his mask off and a loud roar of cheers exploded around the arena.

"That's the WCW's people's champion" screamed the WWF commentator! DDP grabbed a microphone and screamed: Undertaker I am coming for you as the people's champ without any stupid 'stalker' gimmicks. Suddenly, Paul bearer's voice screamed: 

Oh Yes! Then taker's Rollin, Rollin, music played in the arena and Undertaker made his entrance. Undertaker grabbed the microphone and screamed at DDP: 

"You will HAVE to PROVE yourself before you can face me!" Undertaker further said: 

"If you can beat my brother Kane in a Hell in a Cell match at Invasion then you can have a match with me". DDP yelled back at Undertaker: 

"I would be happy to defeat your brother before I make you RIP!"


Winner: Kane becomes the new WCW United States Champion


MATCH 7

The Rock (WWF) vs Booker T (WCW Champion)


WCW TITLE MATCH


Story:

(I realise this match actually happened during the actual invasion storyline but I was always a fan of Booker T and it was cool to see him as WCW champion against the Rock at a WWF Show). The Story is basically the face of WCW vs the face of the WWF, the Rock Bottom vs the Book End. Booker T came and attacked the Rock on an episode of Smackdown and stated "that it was no longer the Rock's show, but it is the Books show - now can you dig that ....  Sucka!"

Winner: The Rock becomes the new WCW Champion

My thinking behind the Rock becoming the WCW champion was not to bury Booker T and WCW, but for The Rock and Booker T to have a long and memorable feud that would ultimately involve Booker T becoming the WWF champion and having a duel title match at Wrestlemania with the Rock as the WCW champion and Booker T as the WWF champion.


MATCH 8 (Outdoor)

Goldberg (WCW) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWF Champion)

WWF TITLE MATCH

Story: 

At one time Goldberg was dominate in WCW and had an incredible win streak which saw Goldberg eventually win the WCW World Championship. Now as WCW invades the WWF Goldberg sets his sights on the WWF gold. Goldberg made a surprise appearance on Raw and speared Austin as he celebrated with his favourite beverage in the ring after a hard fought victory against the Rock in a gruelling WWF title defence. 

Goldberg appeared on raw the next week and interrupted an Austin promo to hit him with yet another spear and his finishing move the Jackhammer. Goldberg picks up a microphone as Austin lay lying on the mat and shouts: "At Invasion YOU'RE NEXT and I will be the next WWF WORLD CHAMPION!!!"

Winner: Austin retains the WWF title


Main Event MATCH 9

Sting (WCW) vs Undertaker (WWF)

Casket Match

Story: 

At this point in time the Undertaker is currently the American Badass Biker persona. Over the last few weeks during Undertaker's matches some really strange dark moments have occurred. Lights go out in the arenas, lighting flashes fill the arenas and thunder rumbles throughout the crowds. The sounds of crows also fills the arenas. During one episode of Raw these strange happens once again returned and a white face appeared on the Titan Tron and a message also appeared on the screen: 

"WCW's darkness will infect the WWF next week."

Jump to the next week and the Undertaker was in the ring and dark music started to play and out of black smoke appears Sting. The commentators loudly yell: 

"Sting, WCW's dark solider, is here in the WWF!" 

Sting on the rampway slowly pointed his baseball bat at the Undertaker, the lights went out and then the light returned, but Sting had, suddenly, vanished.

The next week on raw the lights darkened and the commentators were expecting Sting to once again show his face, but to the surprise of the commentators and the crowd the Undertaker appeared. The commentators seemed baffled as they witnessed the return of the darker side of the Undertaker. The Undertaker entered the ring, grabbed a microphone and explained that to deal with the dark solider of WCW he had to return to the dark spirit of the Undertaker and he challenged Sting to one of Undertaker's specialist matches: a Casket match. The Undertaker in a slow, deep and dark voice stated: 

"that a casket match was required to see which darkness will be finally be buried: WCW's darkness represented by Sting or the darkness of the WWF represented by the Undertaker."

Sting entered the arena and accepted the match. Sting stated he will end the Undertaker's dark reign of the WWF and WCW's dark solider will replace him as the new face of fear.

Winner: Sting manages to defeat the Undertaker in the Undertakers own speciality match!

Would this be the end of the Undertaker? Or would the Undertaker come back for revenge darker and meaner than ever?

Final Scores

So, it looks like the WWF won my fantasy WCW Invasion PPV. 

The final score was:

WWF 6 wins
WCW 3 wins

I did not want my WCW Invasion to look like it was the WWF burying WCW, but perhaps I failed at that!

WCW's Chances of Survival

Then again, perhaps the fantasy Invasion was not quite the burial of WCW I thought it was!!!


WCW may have lost more matches than the WWF, but it could be argued that WCW won more of the most important matches to their long term survival.

WCW won probably the most important event of the PPV, the casket match between The Undertaker and Sting. 

Eventhough the Taker and Sting match was not a title match it was the main event and Sting defeated The 'Phenom of the WWF' and possibly WWF's biggest star ever, The Undertaker. This could mean that WCW's face of fear, Sting, can now attack the WWF without The Undertaker standing in the way. It would be likely that the Undertaker would make another of his many memorable comebacks in a few months, but during months without Undertaker around that could weaken the WWF - maybe Sting would now go after the Undertaker's brother Kane who is now also the WCW United States champion.

Eric Bischoff won control of WCW from Shane McMahon, so with WCW back in Bischoff's power, then he with his experience managing WCW during the Monday Night Wars he could seriously take power away from WWF in this fantasy Invasion storyline.

Mic Foley has returned to WCW as Cactus Jack and defeated, perhaps wrestling's biggest name, Hulk Hogan, in a Hardcore Last Standing Match. WCW could really benefit from what Mic has learned in WWF and use this to their advantage.

Also Bret Hart and his new Hart Foundation decided to stay with WCW as they still have a grudge with the WWF. That means former WWF wrestlers Bret Hart, the Anvil, the British Bulldog and Randy Savage are still with WCW. 

WWF's Chances of Survival

Even though WWF won the matches by 6 - 3, the WWF won possibly the less important matches with the exception of the WCW and WWF title matches.

Hogan, Hall and Nash decided to join the WWF to form an alliance between DX and the nWo forming the Kliq. In this fantasy storyline the nWo join the WWF in the battle against WCW. (In reality the nWo were part of the WCW company and in the original WCW/nWo storyline the nWo was trying to takeover WCW). So really in this fantasy storyline WCW have not lost the nWo as the faction was always trying to take over WCW.

There were only 3 titles on the line at this fantasy WCW Invasion PPV and WCW lost two of them - the United States title and the WCW world title. Two WWF wrestlers now have two WCW championships which helps WWF and weakens WCW.

Goldberg representing WCW failed to win the WWF title from Stone Cold Steve Austin, so now WWF have the WCW and WWF title. The WWF have both of the major belts from both organisations, which only strengthens the WWF, but maybe by the next PPV both titles may held by a WCW wrestler.

Despite the 6 - 3 difference in wins, it would still seem that WCW still have strength in the battle between the WWF and WCW because of the importance of the matches that they did win, while the WWF can boast that they have some important WCW title belts on their wrestlers.

Full Fantasy WCW Invasion PPV

I added some real footage at the start along with the opening from the actual Invasion show to give it a real PPV feel in the video below. I uploaded it to YouTube but it was blocked worldwide, eventhough I kept the video unlisted - but I managed to upload it to Rumble and the complete video has been embedded below.

Maybe I will make a WCW Invasion card for Wrestlemania 17 as well. In reality the WCW guys that were still part of the company when the WWF bought WCW were meant to have a role in Wrestlemania 17, but due to one WCW wrestler spilling the beans on a radio show the whole the whole of the WCW roaster was punished as their involvement in Wrestlemania 17 was scrapped and instead they were given seats high in the stands where the could watch Wrestlemania rather than be involved in any of the matches. This felt like a punishment for the fans as well, as it would be interesting to see WCW wrestlers in the Wrestlemania matches.

Wooooooooo!!!!