The Monday Night War

A pro-wrestling fans fever-dream, this WWF vs. WCW-inspired short story re-imagines the mythic climax of the Invasion! An adrenaline-fueled epic filled with action, intrigue, humor, and pathos.

The Monday Night War

by Jordan Canahai

April 1st, 2001. Houston, Texas. Wrestlemania X7. Professional wrestling in North America has just reached its apex as the World Wrestling Federation has only a week prior emerged victorious in a brutal, decades spanning conflict with rival promotion World Championship Wrestling. In the wake of this extraordinary revelation the main event of Wrestlemania see's Stone Cold Steve Austin challenging reigning champion The Rock for the WWF Title in the Texas Rattlesnake's home state. The classic match reaches its climax when Austin pins Rock clean with the Stunner to the cheers of the Houston crowd as beloved WWF commentator good ol' JR gushes with excitement "Stone Cold has done it! Stone Cold is WWF Champion!" Post-match there's a tense staredown but Rock eventually shakes Austin's hand and the two men drink a beer in respect, Rock toasting the WWF championship same as Stone Cold did at Backlash the year prior. He leaves wrestling for a few months to film The Scorpion King.

The next Raw Austin comes out to a massive pop with his regained championship, represented by the classic smoking skull belt. Cuts a good promo saying it's damn good to be champ again and gives Rock his props, brings up everything he's been through, overcoming adversaries and injuries, even mentions being mistreated and abused years ago in WCW. "Last night I stepped into the ring with the best, and beat 'em!" "Time to Play The Game!" blasts from the Titantron as Triple H, the son-in-law of WWF owner Vince McMahon, interrupts him, says he proved he's the best when he beat Austin a month ago in Three Stages of Hell, demands a title shot. Austin says piss off, reminds him he was the one who walked out of the ring after Stunning his a*s after that match, but since he sure wouldn't mind doing it again he challenges him right there! Triple H heads to the ring to throw down, Undertaker interrupts, the American Badass rides his motorcycle down to the ring. Taker says he beat Triple H at Wrestlemania and he's the #1 contender to Austin's belt. Stone Cold tells him to piss off, "American badass? Dead Man Inc. my a*s! You ain't scaring nobody with that punk-a*s biker outfit!" A triple threat is set for Backlash.

WWF owner Vince McMahon in a later segment touts the glorious success that was Wrestlemania and reminds everyone how he triumphed over WCW and crushed his competition to become undisputed king. "Here Comes the Money!" blasts from the Titantron as WCW's new owner and Vince's son Shane McMahon interrupts, "Oh yeah, you crushed your competition? At Wrestlemania I recall being your competition and I kicked your a*s just like WCW kicked your a*s for 80 straight weeks in the ratings!" Vince says he's heard enough, "You're no son of mine!" Unfortunately a backstage vignette shows Vince's son-in-law Triple H seems more concerned with Stone Cold's WWF Title than helping Vince, who instead goes on to recruit Big Show to kick Shane's a*s.

At Backlash Stone Cold retains his championship in a wild triple threat by pinning The Undertaker with a Stunner owing to an illegal sledgehammer shot from Triple H. American badass is pissed at Triple H! On the same Backlash card Big Show and Vince beat Shane McMahon in a 2-on-1 street fight under the condition if he loses he is banished from the WWF. The next night on Raw Triple H demands a one-on-one rematch with Austin but Taker is dead-set on kicking Hunter's a*s! After Taker threatens Commissioner William Regal he sanctions a Biker Chain match to settle their grudge. Kurt Angle sucks up to Vince McMahon and instead is named #1 contender to Austin's championship.

At the next PPV Judgment Day Austin defends the WWF Title against the Olympic Gold Medalist Angle in an absolutely terrific match pitting the goody-two-shoes American dork against the foul-mouthed, beer swilling badass. The rattlesnake brings out a vicious side of Angle that no one expects while the NCAA All-American forces Austin to go on the mat as well. Finish see's Austin retain with the Stunner. Triple H and Undertaker wrestle a Biker Chain match and Undertaker wins when Kane shows up at the end to break Undertaker free from his chains allowing Taker to hit a Last Ride for the pin. The Brothers of Destruction win the Tag Team Titles the next night on Raw from Edge and Christian after Christian arrogantly issues an open challenge. Edge and Christian will both compete in the King of the Ring tournament.

Meanwhile Vince McMahon is still on an ego trip 'cuz he beat WCW, unfortunately the power is starting to get to his head and his hatred for son and former business partner Shane and all things WCW has gotten worse since the young McMahon swooped in to purchase the promotion out from under him. The next Raw Vince comes to the ring and says it's so good to be king of the world. "Break the Walls Down!" blasts from the Titantron as Intercontinental champ Chris Jericho interrupts and tears into Vince for his mid-life crisis. "Good God Vince, would you please shut the hell up! You don't make the WWF great! We do! The wrestler's and the fans. Take me, Chris Jericho, with all his Jerichoholics, for instance; I cut my teeth all over the world, including WCW where I saw what happens when ego is allowed to rule among those in power at the top. So I came to the land of opportunity, the WWF, the greatest promotion in the world! And was reborn as Y2J, the Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla! And I did it all while your idiot son-in-law and your daughter, the filthy, dirty, disgusting, bottom feeding trash bag ho Stephanie, all plotted against me!"

An insulted Triple H comes out to defend his wife's honor and attacks Jericho beating him down and delivering a Pedigree on the steel entrance ramp. Jericho finds an ally in fellow Canadian and ex-WCW wrestler Chris Benoit who comes out to help Jericho and brawls with Triple H to end the segment. In a backstage vignette after Triple H hopes that Vince will reward him with a WWF Title shot but instead McMahon books him to wrestle Benoit in the Raw main event for #1 contendership. Jericho interferes near the end to cost Triple H the match via roll-up, Triple H is pissed! Next week Triple H costs Jericho his IC Title in a match against Commissioner William Regal as payback. Vince books Triple H to face Jericho at King of the Ring and teach the punk a lesson but promises his son-in-law a title shot after he wins.

At King of the Ring fighting champion Austin defeats the Canadian Crippler Chris Benoit in a damn fine main event; a hard hitting, technical bout that recalls Austin's feud with Bret Hart in 96-97. Post-match Stone Cold gives the wolverine his props and cracks open a cold Molson for the Canadian leaving it in his corner of the ring. At the same show Jericho gets a big win in his grudge match against Triple H when he reverses a Pedigree into a pinning predicament for the sudden 3 count! Hunter is pissed backstage when an angry Vince says he just blew his title shot! Edge wins the King of the Ring tournament (it was a good night for Canada heh) beating the previous year's King Kurt Angle in the finals and instead will face another former King of the Ring Stone Cold in the main event of Fully Loaded for the WWF Title!

The next night on Raw Vince McMahon makes it a point to call out son-in-law Triple H and berate him for losing to both Jericho and Benoit, referring to them as no-good burnouts from that promotion he put out of business. Chris Jericho interrupts, he's joined by Benoit and The Radicalz including European champion Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko. "Good God Vince, how fragile must your ego be?! You run down WCW and it's true we all hold nothing but contempt for that dead company after how they treated us, but we got news for you; your Commissioner William Regal, he used to be in WCW! Big Show, your giant enforcer who you had kick your son's a*s, he used to be with WCW! Hell, your son-in-law Triple H, he used to be a WCW guy!" On commentary JR even notes "And ya know something else, I used to work for WCW too!" Jericho continues, "You can't just make wrestling all about your family, Vince! You didn't invent pro wrestling! Me and Benoit trained in the legendary Hart Family dungeon in Canada, the family whose proudest son in Bret Hart you screwed out of the WWF Title! Your European champ Eddie Guerrero and the proud Guerrero dynasty mastered their craft in Mexico where it's called Lucha Libre, you had no part in that either! So whether you like it or not you damn well better take a hard look at who you call no-good burnouts here 'cuz we're the future of this company! And thanks to us the WWF will never EVER be the same again!" Vince orders Triple H to kick their asses but Triple H just walks away, angry he hasn't been given a WWF Title shot.

Meanwhile Edge and Austin's personalities mix like oil and water. Their promo exchanges start playful enough with jokes about the different appearances and backgrounds of the blonde Canadian and Texas Rattlesnake but they always escalate into pull-apart brawls. Edge says that just as Stone Cold's King of the Ring victory in 96 gave birth to Austin 3:16 it will be his King of the Ring victory that cements him as the next WWF champion. Christian, who lost at King of the Ring in the semi-finals, seems a little jealous of Edge's success. Edge isn't the only young star who stakes a claim to represent the future of the WWF as the promotion has just signed one of the hottest free agents in wrestling, Rob Van Dam! The longest reigning champion in ECW history becomes an instant fan favorite with his high-flying, innovative offensive style and charisma, winning the Hardcore Title from Rhyno in his pay-per-view debut at Fully Loaded.

In the main event of the PPV Austin and Edge have a kick-a*s match where Edge heels it up a bit but doesn't do anything too ignoble, showing signs of a babyface turn. Austin wins with the Stunner after Christian botches some interference. Also at Fully Loaded Vince decides to further wage war against the legacy of WCW by putting his WWF guys Triple H and Kurt Angle in a fatal 4-way match with ex-WCW guys Benoit and Jericho for the #1 contendership. Triple H wins but the finish is deemed screwy; near the end Jericho has Triple H locked in the Walls of Jericho then Benoit applies the Crippler Crossface at the same time and Triple H taps! Bell rings as both men release their holds thinking they won but the referee yells at the timekeeper, says neither submission is valid due to the nature of both holds being applied. In the confusion Triple H hits Jericho with a Pedigree to win and is seemingly #1 contender again.

The next night Triple H interrupts Austin's promo and says after his victory last night he is owed his WWF Title match one-on-one with Austin at SummerSlam. "If Ya Smell!!!" blasts from the Titantron as The Rock makes his triumphant return from Hollywood filming The Scorpion King to a massive pop and he has one mission; regaining the WWF Title from Stone Cold! Rock says since he never cashed in on his rematch clause he's owed a shot, also reminds Hunter he did tap out the night before. Vince then announces the main event of Raw; The Rock vs. Triple H for #1 contendership. The Rock wins! Triple H is beyond pissed. Meanwhile Rock promises Stone Cold he'll avenge his previous loss from Wrestlemania by winning back his WWF Title while Austin is desperate to prove his victory in Houston was no lucky break.

At Summerslam the main event is Stone Cold versus The Rock for the WWF Championship in a rematch from Wrestlemania and both men are giving each other everything they have. Near the end of the match both men are down after a near-fall when suddenly at ringside an imposing man dressed in all black with a toothpick in his mouth has jumped the barricade, it's Scott Hall. "What the?!- That's Scott Hall! The hell is he doing here?!" says JR. Austin and Rock are dumbfounded when a second man jumps the barricade and joins him, it's Kevin Nash. Hall and Nash are rushed by security guards who are easily dispatched as Austin and Rock slowly rise to their feet standing side-by-side staring both The Outsiders down. Hall then points as a third man dressed in all black emerges from the crowd and jumps the barricade to join them, it's Hollywood Hulk Hogan! The crowd is going crazy as Austin and Rock are frozen in disbelief! Suddenly the three men all charge the ring attacking Austin and Rock beating both men down! The NWO proceed to tear up the ringside area, taking out the officials, the timekeepers, the cameramen, etc. JR screams "Bah Gawd! What the hell is going on?! Please, anybody in the back! We need some help down here!!"Just before Hall snatches his headset off and tears up the announce table, attacking him and announcing partner Paul Heyman. In this chaos a fourth man wearing a black leather jacket and ski mask calmly emerges from the crowd and jumps the barricade, he grabs a camera from ringside before joining Hogan, Hall, and Nash in the ring. He removes the mask to reveal his identity, it's Eric Bischoff! The WCW CEO then turns the camera on himself and with a smug grin says "You didn't think we'd go away that easily, did you?" PPV feed ends abruptly.

The next night Raw opens with a recap of Summerslam's controversial final moments. McMahon comes to the ring and is proud to announce last nights attack was an isolated incident and that there will be no invasion and nobody affiliated with WCW or the NWO will be present during the broadcast. Instead the main event of Raw will be a rematch for the WWF championship between Stone Cold and The Rock. As he's preparing to leave Diamond Dallas Page comes from out of nowhere and drops Vince with a Diamond Cutter! DDP quickly exits the ring and escapes through the crowd flashing the Diamond sign!

These WCW attacks happen throughout the show; Lance Storm superkicks Kurt Angle during a match! Chris Kanyon runs in and Flatliner's Edge during a match! Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo interfere in a Dudleyz match! Billy Kidman and Chavo Guerrero break up a Hardyz match! Booker T jumps the barricade hitting an Ax-Kick on Kane! Mike Awesome interferes in a Hardcore Title match between Rhyno and Rob Van Dam when it spills into the backstage and he pins champ RVD for the belt under 24/7 rules! With tension and paranoia rising among the locker room Commissioner William Regal and Vince assures everyone backstage it's under control but the Brothers of Destruction are ready for a fight! Triple H insinuates ex-WCW guys like Jericho, Benoit, and others could be secretly working with WCW, but they strongly protest. And of course, the main event rematch is once again trashed when the NWO music unexpectedly blasts from the Titantron as Austin and Rock look towards the entrance ramp ready to fight! Suddenly Hogan, Hall, and Nash jump the barricade and attack Austin and Rock from behind! NWO beatdown is underway when Triple H runs down to help even the odds and fight them off. Shortly after DDP and Booker T enter from the crowd and join the fray, Undertaker and Kane run down to meet them. The five men from WWF and the five men from WCW all square up as JR screams "The battle lines have been drawn!"

The next week Raw opens with Vince McMahon in the ring, present is his son-in-law Triple H and daughter Stephanie, as well as Commissioner William Regal and his giant enforcer Big Show. Surrounding the ringside area Vince has extra security detail on guard. "Now I know who is to blame for this Invasion business, and no it's not Eric Bischoff, my sworn nemesis and the man who tried to put me out of business for years. It's not the NWO, those thugs whose very existence I detest having to acknowledge. Nor is it any other WCW losers who dare sully my shows with their presence. The blame for this falls on one person, the man who I am ashamed to call my first-born; Shane McMahon, get your a*s out here! Come and face the family you betrayed!" 

"Here comes the Money!" blasts from the Titantron as Shane McMahon makes his return to Raw, walking out on the entrance ramp he cuts a promo. "Vince, you foolish old man. You should know better than to expect a McMahon to give up without a fight! You underestimated me the same way you underestimated WCW all those years ago! Well you reap what you sow, old man. Now the chickens have come home to roost, and before long this place is gonna be under new management, permanently!" Shane then calls out Triple H, "Oh hey, how's it going daddy's boy?! Do you like being my father's little b***h? I think Stephanie would be better off inheriting the company, even she has more balls than you at this point!" 

A furious Triple H charges up the ramp to attack Shane who runs into the crowd and through the backstage area as Vince follows! Just then a massive contingent of WCW wrestlers reveal themselves amongst the crowd and jump the barricade! Booker T, DDP, Lance Storm, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Kanyon, Billy Kidman, Mike Awesome, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo, Shane Helms, and Kronik beat down the security guards and wreck house! Big Show jumps to the outside to fight off the WCW wrestlers when The Outsiders join the fray! Hall zaps the giant with a stun gun taken from a fallen security guard then Nash uses a chloroform rag to incapacitate Big Show. In the ring a terrified Stephanie clings to William Regal who looks equally frightened by the invaders. The WCW wrestlers surround the ring and ensuing entry ramp area as Booker T, DDP, and The Outsiders step onto the ring apron and enter. Regal is easily dispatched of his brass knuckles and drops to his knees begging the WCW wrestlers for mercy as they only laugh in response. Hall and Nash eye up a nervous Stephanie like she's a piece of meat. "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash leans against the turnbuckle with his arms folded and his legs open, as if to let her know about the diesel power in his denim. Scott Hall, oozing machismo, is less subtle as he leers over the curves of her body. A fearful Steph does her best to flatter them with a nervous smile as Hollywood Hulk Hogan finally emerges from the crowd and enters the ring to a massive pop. He lights up a cigar before being joined at last by Eric Bischoff.

"Did ya miss me?!" proclaims Eric with a smug grin. Bischoff reveals himself to be Shane's new partner, having purchased the young McMahon's ownership shares of WCW and WWF from him with funds being supplied by "an interested party." (Heavily implied to be Ted Turner, but of course this is only tip-toed around for legal reasons.) Bischoff says The Monday Night War is far from over, he's arrived with the best of WCW and the Invasion has begun! "For some of us, like myself, this is our first time stepping foot in a WWF ring. But for the three men leading our hostile takeover, this is a homecoming in a sense. These three men changed the landscape of pro wrestling for better and for always when they invaded WCW Monday Nitro some five years ago. They would go on to kick the WWF's a*s for eighty straight weeks in the ratings and nearly put Vince McMahon out of business! And now they're back to finish the job. Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest faction in wrestling history, the NWO!"

Hall then cuts a good heel promo ("Hey, yo!"), says they've come to take back what's theirs and nobody is gonna stop them. Placing a toothpick in his mouth he turns his gaze back to Stephanie McMahon. "Well done, Hunter. From what I've heard she's quite the lay, oooh yeah!" Hall says impersonating Macho Man Randy Savage, Hogan cracks a wry smile. Hall then passes the mic to the man who he calls the front man of the band; the Legend, the Icon, the Immortal one, and the real Triple H, Hollywood Hulk Hogan! Hogan teases cutting a promo, WWF fans excited to see Hogan again after a long absence cheer him despite his allegiance with Bischoff. Hogan blows them off by doing a jerk-off motion everytime they start with the "Hogan" chants and rather than cutting a promo he just smiles and trolls the fans with a mic drop. It's like this for awhile, Hogan is always seen with the NWO but doesn't speak, leaves the talking to Hall, Nash, and Bischoff who should be plenty good at getting heat.

Vince McMahon, looking equal measures overcome with rage as he is fearful for Stephanie, steps out on the entrance ramp with Triple H. Bischoff proposes an Invasion pay-per-view, challenging WWF wrestlers to step into the ring with WCW. In the main event the NWO will take on any three men of Vince's choosing. Bischoff also challenges Vince to a street fight! Vince accepts the challenge, says he can't wait to kick Eric's a*s and crush WCW for good but demands they release Stephanie and leave her unharmed! Eric signals to Hall and Nash who then hold the ropes for Steph to exit, the WCW wrestlers clear a path for her to walk up the ramp to Vince and Hunter. Eric then says he'll be looking forward to hearing who the three men Vince chooses to take on the NWO will be before the end of Raw. 

Later Eric reveals he won't be Vince's opponent in the street fight at Invasion, that falls on Mr. WCW himself, Ric Flair! "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" blasts from the Titantron as The Nature Boy Ric Flair, "Wooooooo!", makes his way to the ring to a big pop and the 16-time World champ cuts a classic Flair promo about how WCW was always much better than the WWF, citing the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) days and name-dropping all the legends, he represents tradition and heritage in WCW. Meanwhile the oldest and most loyal WWF wrestler, The Undertaker, is eager to get his hands on WCW. The locker room leader and Tag Team champ heads down to the ring with partner Kane and American Badass cuts a promo saying he plans to teach WCW first-hand why the WWF is his yard! He gets called out by Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T, the veteran DDP tells Taker he knows all about what it means to earn respect as a locker room leader and the real People's champion. He passes the mic to Booker T, the last ever WCW World Heavyweight and WCW United States champion cuts a promo. He says as one half of the tag team Harlem Heat him and partner Stevie Ray were the original Brothers of Destruction, and along with DDP he's down to prove it at Invasion! "Can you dig it, sucka?!" Eric then announces The Brothers of Destruction will defend the Tag Team Titles against DDP and Booker T at Invasion!

At the end of Raw Hall, Nash, and Hogan step out on the entrance ramp and they demand to see Vince McMahon and only Vince McMahon for him to announce the three men he has chosen to take on the NWO at Invasion. Vince emerges by himself like they asked, "So who's it gonna be? 'The Brahma Bull' The Rock?!" Hall says mockingly. "Maybe it's gonna be 'The Texas Rattlesnake' Stone Cold!" Nash says in a similarly dickish tone as The Outsiders laugh. Vince then reveals the three wrestlers will be WWF Champ Stone Cold, The Rock, and his son-in-law Triple H! NWO look game for this. Hogan then whispers something into Hall's ear who proceeds to grab the mic to say "Cool, and one more thing--" Hall then punches McMahon in the stomach and Nash proceeds to Jackknife Powerbomb Vince from the entrance ramp off the stage through a table in an epic recreation of The Outsiders infamous Great American Bash 96 segment! Bischoff steps out on the ramp and joins the NWO smiling ear-to-ear to end the show. 

In the weeks leading up to Invasion it's made clear that despite being seemingly united in their hatred for the NWO there is much tension between Stone Cold, The Rock, and Triple H stemming from old grudges, recent battles, and each wanting to be WWF champ. Austin and Rock are particularly distrustful of Triple H given their histories.

On a Raw leading up to Invasion a tag team match pitting Intercontinental champ Jericho and Benoit against European champ Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko is interrupted when WCW mainstays Lance Storm, Chavo Guerrero, Billy Kidman, Chris Kanyon, and Shane Helms jump the barricade and surround the wrestlers. Perry Saturn runs down to stand with Jericho and The Radicalz but the WCW wrestlers make it clear they don't mean to attack. Lance Storm takes a mic and cuts a promo; "If I could be serious for a moment, with all the history in this ring you'll forgive me if I wax nostalgic. It has been a long time since the three of us; myself, Jericho, and Benoit, have shared the squared circle. We all got our start in Calgary, training in the legendary Hart family dungeon, where only the most elite Canadian wrestlers graduate. Our paths would cross again in ECW, me and the Lionheart Chris Jericho tagged together as The Thrill Seekers to great success. You remember, Chris?" Jericho keeps his guard up but nods in recognition. "And Eddie, I don't have to mention how close you and your nephew Chavo have been over the years, both proud representatives of the legendary Guerrero family! Perhaps the greatest dynasty in the history of  Lucha Libre!" Chavo then says something about family in spanish to a surprised Eddie. 

Storm continues, "Now I know you all left WCW with a bad taste in your mouth, feeling held down by the powers that be from reaching your true potential. But really, are things so different in the WWF? Ever since you came here, Vince and his son-in-law have done nothing but try and hold you back! You were disrespected and treated like second-class citizens simply because you used to be with WCW! Hell, both Jericho and Benoit made Triple H submit in a no. 1 contender match for the WWF Title, yet neither of you received the championship match you earned! McMahon is out to screw you just like Bret Hart!" Jericho and Benoit look to the other, seemingly nodding in agreement. "WCW is where you all got your big break, WCW is where you were made into the great champions you are today! So take a hard look at and remember who your real family is, then ask yourselves do you still want to stand with the WWF? Because I warn you, once your choice is made there is no escaping the consequences" says Storm. Jericho, Benoit, Eddie, Saturn, and Malenko all look at each other thinking for a few seconds, then proceed to attack the WCW wrestlers to a big pop resulting in a brawl to end the segment!

Later it's revealed Commissioner William Regal was an inside mole helping WCW guys invade the WWF! Kurt Angle ousts him showing security video footage on the Titantron of Bischoff and Shane paying off Regal in a parking garage while Regal and Vince are in the ring watching. Regal calmly proceeds to sucker-punch Kurt with his brass knuckles laying him out, then attacks Vince, locking him in the Regal Stretch before leaving. Later he cuts a promo with Bischoff confessing he was a WCW loyalist on Eric's payroll all along! Two years ago Bischoff sent him to the WWF in the hopes he would infiltrate McMahon's inner circle and he successfully fooled everyone! He then reminds everyone he's British royalty and goes back to calling himself Lord Steven Regal just like in WCW.

The last Raw before Invasion see's Shane McMahon and Eric Bischoff in the ring, Shane cuts a promo ensuring Vince that this Sunday he's gonna realize first-hand the terrible mistake that he made when he turned against him. "No Chance in Hell!" blasts from the Titantron though it's not Vince who emerges, but Linda McMahon! Vince's estranged wife heads to the ring and addresses her son. "Shane, I love you, despite all our family dysfunction you and your sister are the most important people in the world to me, and I want you to know I deeply resent your father for how cruelly he treated us. But despite all his misdeeds, I believe you've made an awful mistake partnering with this man Eric Bischoff. You don't realize how deep the hatred these people hold towards our family runs. This is a conflict that is rooted in events that took place when you were only a boy! You don't know what these people are capable of, they cannot be trusted." Shane fires back, "What choice did I ever have?! I thought you of all people would understand what I'm doing, proving I'm my own man, breaking away from Vince! Your philandering husband and my sorry excuse for a dad is to blame for this! Hell, even if he didn't turn against me, it's not like I'd ever get to inherit the WWF anyway. Triple H made sure of that when he slept with my sister!" Eric only stands silent watching this family quarrel play out with a smug grin. "I hope in the end you and your father will come to realize the error of your ways and reconcile" says Linda. "I just hope for our family's sake when that day comes there will still be a World Wrestling Federation for the McMahon's to preside over" she says with sadness.

In the final segment of Raw Vince McMahon calls to the ring his son-in-law Triple H, The Rock, and WWF champ Stone Cold. He brings them together for a pep talk and to ensure they're differences are set aside for the greater good of the WWF. "I chose the three of you to compete on behalf of the WWF in a match of this magnitude against the NWO at Invasion not only because you are three of the best wrestlers in the WWF, but also because you three embody the very promotion itself! Hunter, you're family. You're a better son than Shane ever was, and one day you and my daughter will inherit the WWF! Similarly Rock, you know as well what it means to defend your WWF family as the only third generation wrestler in WWF history! And Austin, you and I may have once been the worst of enemies, but regardless, you're the WWF Champion! Above all else, you are the embodiment of the grit, the strength, the toughness of the WWF!"

At this Triple H interrupts; "Enough with the speech, Vince! You talk about your WWF family, but if you were really so concerned with family you would do more to look out for the son you still have in me, rather than waging war with the one who turned his back on you in Shane!" Stone Cold interrupts, "Triple H, ever since I became WWF champ all you've done is cry! If you really were as tough as you claim you would've beat me for my title by now instead of being Vince's whipping boy! Hell, I'd kick your a*s just like I'm gonna do to Hogan and his punk-a*s buddies Hall and Nash!" Hunter gets in Stone Cold's face when Rock interrupts, "Enough of this crap! Now The Rock knows damn well the three of us, as well as Vince, have no shortage of bad blood and animosity from the past. But the fact of the matter is the very fate of the World Wrestling Federation is at stake in the face of this Invasion, and The Rock will be a monkey's uncle if he's gonna let another NWO jabroni walk all over us!" Triple H is pissed, "Rock, you're a hypocrite! You wouldn't know a damn thing about fighting for the WWF, either! You leave for Hollywood like some big movie star for months only to come back and demand a title shot at my expense! You're no different then the overrated Hollywood Hogan!" 

All this bickering and in-fighting eventually results in Stone Cold shoving Triple H who strikes Austin, Vince tries breaking it up when Rock and Hunter come to blows. In the melee Rock accidentally strikes Austin and he sends Hunter to the outside, Rock then turns around into a Stunner attempt from Austin who blocks and a double clothesline spot follows that leaves both men down. An angry Triple H walks to the back as Vince follows up the ramp demanding his son-in-law return, suddenly Bischoff and the NWO emerge from the crowd! Austin turns to see them as DDP, Booker T, Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Chavo Guerrero, Billy Kidman, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo, and Shane Helms emerge as well and surround the ring. Bischoff grabs a mic and steps onto the ring apron with the NWO, DDP, and Booker T as Austin and Rock recover and rise to their feet, standing back-to-back staring down Bischoff and the WCW wrestlers.

"Steve Austin, it sure has been a long time, hasn't it?!" says Bischoff as him and the WCW wrestlers enter the ring. "Or should I call you 'Stunning' Steve Austin?!", Eric says with a smug grin. "For those of you who don't know, the man who stands before you today, WWF champion Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was not always the beer drinking, hell raising Texas Rattlesnake you know today. That's right, Steve. Before you came to the WWF you cut your teeth for five years in another promotion, WCW! And before Vince McMahon was the authority figure who tormented your existence and made your life a living hell, I was!" proclaims Eric. "But I saw back then you didn't have the guts to make it in my promotion, so I fired you by FedEx! You remember?" Austin appears to be fuming with rage! "And deep down, I think we both know I'm the man who you owe your success in the WWF too! I'm the man who gave you the drive that fueled your ascent to the top of the pro wrestling world! And just as I helped make you, I can also break you." Stone Cold is seething with contempt for Bischoff as him and Rock stand anxiously surrounded by the NWO, DDP, and Booker T.

Stone Cold finally has enough, grabs the mic and says "Bischoff, you sonbitch! I ain't afraid of three men, or twenty men, or a whole goddamn army! Stone Cold ain't never gonna let fear compromise who I am!" Austin then drops the mic and attacks Booker! Just then Rock unloads a flurry of right hands on DDP sending him out of the ring! Booker rolls out under the bottom rope and stands alongside DDP and the WCW wrestlers as both men appear relatively unfazed by their offense. The NWO, rather than attacking Austin and Rock who are begging them on, simply exit nonchalantly with Bischoff, "Good luck at Invasion, boys. You'll need it!" says Eric. Austin and Rock only stand in confusion as they stare Bischoff and the NWO down. Unbeknownst to them an imposing, bald-headed figure dressed in all black has jumped the barricade and slid into the ring behind them as the crowd goes crazy, it's Goldberg! Austin and Rock turn around into a big-a*s double Spear from Goldberg! Bischoff only smiles looking on with  his WCW roster. The show goes off the air with the final image of Goldberg standing in dominance over The Rock and WWF champ Stone Cold!

INVASION

Sunday Night Heat: APA vs. Kronik

Kurt Angle vs. Lord Steven Regal

(Because 9/11 happened, and because this September PPV would have taken place in Angle's hometown, the Olympic hero turns face for WWF here and gets a big feel-good win tapping out the traitor Regal to cement him as a fan favorite in what should be an excellent opener to this historic PPV. It will prove the sole WWF victory of the night)

Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo

(O'Haire and Palumbo overcome the 3-on-1 odds when an unintentional spot with partner Edge leads to Christian eating the pin following a 450 Springboard Splash)

Hardcore Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Rhyno vs.  Mike Awesome (c)

(Awesome retains with a sick Awesome Bomb on Rhyno from the top rope through a table)

The Radicalz (Benoit, Eddie, Saturn, Malenko) vs. Chris Kanyon, Chavo Guerrero, Billy Kidman, Shane Helms

(Finish see's Kanyon hit Eddie with a Flatliner as Chavo follows with a Frog Splash on his uncle to give the Anti-Radicalz the win)

Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Lance Storm

(Storm reverses a Walls of Jericho into the Canadian Mapleleaf to tap out his fellow Hart Dungeon alum and ex-Thrill Seeker's partner)

Street Fight: Vince McMahon vs. Ric Flair

(Flair taps out McMahon using the Figure Four Leg-Lock. Same match as Royal Rumble 02)

Tag Team Titles: The Brothers of Destruction (c) vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Booker T

(Finish see's Booker T fall out of a Last Ride from Taker and counter into a Book End to give him and DDP the shock win and the Tag Team Titles! Post-match Undertaker zombie-sits up and is pissed! He attacks and beats down Booker T hitting a big Choke Slam! He then attacks DDP and tries for another Choke Slam but he counters into a mid-air Diamond Cutter! Booker T recovers and lays out Kane with an Ax Kick for good measure! DDP and Booker T celebrate on the entrance ramp with the Tag Team Titles held high, a big win for WCW)

Big Show vs. Goldberg

(Goldberg runs through Big Show in one of his trademark 60 second squashes to begin his undefeated streak; Spear, Jackhammer, 1-2-3. Goldberg spears Big Show again after the match to make a statement, then looks straight at the hard camera and screams "Who's next?!" Big Show coughs up blood as the giant needs help from medics walking to the back with injured ribs)

Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H vs. NWO (Hogan, Hall, Nash)

(Story of the match is Triple H constantly​ asking for the tag and more often than not being passed over by Austin and Rock while Hall and Nash do most of the heavy lifting for NWO. Hogan doesn't get tagged in til late in the match when Triple H is the legal man, the two engage in a cute test of strength spot then lock up, each man just testing the other to see who the real Triple H is. Near the end of the match Austin and Hogan have an epic first ever stare-down followed by a finishing sequence that see's Austin go for a Stunner on Hogan who blocks pushing Austin off into a Pedigree from Triple H! "Bah gawd, the son of a b***h! Triple H has turned on the WWF!" screams JR. Hogan follows with a Leg Drop on Austin and pins him for the win! Hall, Nash, and Hogan high-five Triple H and hold up the Kliq sign, Triple H joins NWO! Rock attacks but is easily outnumbered and beaten down by the NWO. Rock and Austin both get NWO spray-paint jobs on their backs, Triple H stands with NWO gesturing "Suck it!" as the PPV ends)

The next night on Raw Eric Bischoff opens the show with Shane and all his WCW wrestlers in the ring including the NWO, Ric Flair, DDP and Booker T with the Tag Team Titles, Lance Storm with the IC Title, and Mike Awesome with the Hardcore Title. Triple H then comes out and cuts a promo justifying joining NWO, "I'm not waiting for Vince to die to inherit the company, I'm taking over NOW!" He goes on to say he was never appreciated by Vince who never gave him his rightful WWF Title shot one-on-one with Austin even though he's his son-in-law. "Through it all I've learned the only family I have in wrestling, the only guys I can always trust to have my back, are the Kliq!" He embraces Hall and Nash, two old friends he would much sooner fight alongside than Austin and Rock. X-Pac comes out with his Light-Heavyweight Title, dubs it the Cruiserweight Title, and splits off from X-Factor to also join NWO, serving as their lackey.

(Note: For the uninitiated The Kliq refers to retired WWF champion Shawn Michaels old posse, which included Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Triple H, and Sean "X-Pac" Waltman. The five were real-life best friends who came to dominate the WWF roster in the ring and backstage in the mid 90s. They were notorious backstage politicians always protecting their spots and rule breakers who infamously exposed the scripted nature of the business in Madison Square Garden when Michaels, Hall, Nash, and Hunter embraced during their final house show together in WWF despite being enemies in storyline. Hall and Nash then jumped ship to WCW as The Outsiders and formed NWO with Hogan, Michaels responded by going on to form D-Generation X with Hunter. All would remain friends and frequently shout-out each other on TV. Hunter joining NWO is really the whole Kliq coming full circle)

Bischoff says the next pay-per-view will not be WWF's No Mercy, but rather WCW's Halloween Havoc! WCW challenges Austin to battle on their turf and defend his WWF Title against the last man to ever hold the WCW World Heavyweight Title, Booker T! Also on the card Booker's tag team partner Diamond Dallas Page will go one-on-one with The Rock in a battle to determine who the real People's champion is. Austin and Rock are both game and ready for payback!

A big Raw main event see's Stone Cold, The Rock, and Undertaker versus The Outsiders and Triple H. Near match end Taker connects with a Choke Slam on Triple H and motions for the Last Ride! Suddenly Goldberg jumps the barricade and interferes hitting a massive spear on Undertaker! Goldberg then exits through the crowd, turning around to scream "You're next!" just as Triple H nails Taker with a Pedigree and covers to win. Austin and Rock continue to brawl with The Outsiders ringside when Booker T and DDP run down to attack Stone Cold and Rock as they fight to the backstage. In the ring Triple H and The Outsiders keep beating down Taker when Kane and Big Show, despite having injured ribs taped up thanks to Goldberg, run down to help the brothers fight off the NWO! 

Next week Bischoff says Goldberg is gunning for the biggest dog in the yard and challenges Undertaker to a match. "Face it, Taker: Your best days are behind you. You're not the Phenom anymore! You're just a man, but for over a year in WCW Goldberg was more than a man, he was a phenomenon! An unstoppable force who possesses the greatest undefeated streak in professional wrestling! And the younger, more dominant monster Goldberg will prove the superiority of WCW once again by laying waste to Undertaker at Halloween Havoc!" American Badass says bring it on! His brother Kane will team with Big Show to take on The Outsiders.

Kurt Angle also challenges Triple H to a match, says he made one WWF traitor pay at Invasion and looks to do the same to Hunter at Halloween Havoc! "Clearly Steph made a mistake in settling for you, it's true, it's damn true! And speaking of traitors, your new friend Hollywood Hulk Hogan is the biggest traitor of them all! You used to be an American hero and role model like me, clearly you need a lesson in the three I's; Intelligence, Intensity, and Integrity, in the form of an Olympic A*s-Kicking!"

With the new WWF Tag Team champions DDP and Booker T each facing two of the WWF's top stars Vince challenges Bischoff to put the WCW Tag Team Titles on the line at Halloween Havoc, Bischoff and Shane agree. The last ever WCW Tag Team champions Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo will enter as the last entrants in a WCW Tag Team Titles Turmoil match against WWF teams The Hardyz, The Dudleyz, Edge and Christian, and The APA, along with WCW teams Kronik and Chris Kanyon and Billy Kidman.

HALLOWEEN HAVOC

Sunday Night Heat: Cruiserweight Title: Taka Michinoku vs. X-Pac (c)

European Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero

(Chavo takes a page out of Uncle Eddie's book; lies, cheats, and steals a win to claim the European Title)

Hardcore Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Mike Awesome (c)

(The match we were supposed to get before Awesome left ECW.  Finish see's RVD reverse a top rope Awesome bomb into a Hurricanrana spiking Awesome's head onto a chair below! RVD follows with the Van Terminator and Five-Star Frog Splash to win back the Hardcore Title!)

WCW Tag Team Titles Turmoil Match: The Hardyz Boyz vs. The Dudleyz Boyz vs. APA vs. Edge & Christian vs. Kronik vs. Chris Kanyon & Billy Kidman vs. Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo 

(On Sunday Night Heat O'Haire and Palumbo assaulted The Dudleyz with chairs backstage and they ended up being rushed to the hospital and are out of action. Match starts with The APA vs. Kronik, Bradshaw pins Bryan Adams with a Clothesline from Hell to eliminate Kronik. Chris Kanyon and Billy Kidman enter next for WCW and have a cool sequence with the big hosses that ends with Kanyon hitting a Flatliner on Farooq to eliminate APA. Edge and Christian enter next and their hopes of adding to their leggy by winning the WCW Tag Team Titles aren't meant to be as Christian is hit with a Shooting Star Press from Kidman for the pinfall. The Hardyz are the next team in and they have a lovely exchange with Kanyon and Kidman, Matt hits a Twist of Fate on Kanyon as Jeff follows with a Swanton Bomb to eliminate them. O'Haire and Palumbo enter last and manage to eliminate The Hardyz pinning Matt with a 450 Springboard Splash in a hard fought match. O'Haire and Palumbo celebrate thinking they're the WCW Tag Team champs when The Dudleyz music blasts! Bubba Ray and D-Von emerge bruised and battered but ready to fight! The Dudleyz go on to last beat O'Haire and Palumbo to become the only team to have held the ECW, WWF, and WCW Tag Team Titles!)

Intercontinental Title (2/3 Falls): Chris Jericho vs. Lance Storm (c)

(Storm wins the first fall with the Mapleleaf, Y2J wins the second with the Walls of Jericho, Storm wins the last fall when he rolls up Jericho while holding the ropes to retain. Post-match both men continue to brawl, Storm locks Jericho in the Mapleleaf but Benoit runs down to help Y2J)

Kurt Angle vs. Triple H

(Near the end Triple H goes for a Pedigree but Angle counters into the Angle Slam and applies the Ankle Lock! At this moment Hall and Nash interfere distracting Angle allowing Triple H to hit a sledgehammer shot setting up for a Pedigree and the dirty win)

The Rock vs. Diamond Dallas Page

(People's champ versus People's champ. Rock wins with the Rock Bottom and People's Elbow. DDP drops him with a Diamond Cutter after the match to get his heat back)

Big Show & Kane vs. The Outsiders

(Showing his gratitude to Hall and Nash for helping him earlier, Triple H interferes nailing Big Show with a sledgehammer shot to give The Outsiders the win. NWO continue to beat down Big Show and Kane after the match, eventually Undertaker comes out to help and join the brawl, that leads into...)

The Undertaker vs. Goldberg

(Goldberg defeats the American Badass, pinning him with a Spear and Jackhammer. American Badass just cannot hang with the younger, more dominant monster of WCW! Post-match Goldberg continues to attack Undertaker, brawling outside the ring and up the entrance ramp, then through the elaborate Halloween Havoc set Bischoff had constructed to resemble a graveyard. Goldberg hits a vicious spear on Taker through a tombstone causing it to shatter! Goldberg eventually picks up a bloodied Undertaker and throws him into an open grave marked by a "R.I.P" tombstone next to a large wheelbarrow filled with dirt. Bischoff walks out on the entrance ramp and makes a throat-cut gesture, then in an incredible display of strength Goldberg lifts the wheelbarrow dumping the massive pile of dirt filling the grave completely! "Bah Gawd! Undertaker is buried alive!" screams JR! (*Maybe cue some cool thunder and lightening effects on the set to play up the fantasy element*) Goldberg's stands in dominance over Taker's grave as his music plays and he wipes the blood of the fallen biker across his chest, R.I.P American Badass)

WWF Title: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. Booker T

(Stone Cold comes out even more pissed off than usual after the last segment, takes a moment to stand over Taker's grave swearing audibly, then hits the ring to unleash his rage on Booker T! Finishing sequence see's Booker go for the Book End, Austin blocks and goes for the Stunner, Booker blocks and sets Austin up for an Ax Kick, Stone Cold blocks and hits the Stunner to retain! The celebration is short lived when the NWO music suddenly blasts from the Titantron as Hollywood Hulk Hogan and the NWO emerge on the entrance ramp. Austin holds his ground and stares the five men down, unaware Booker T has recovered he turns around into an Ax Kick! NWO rush the ring to join Booker in the beatdown, not long after The Rock, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Benoit, Eddie, Edge, and RVD run down to even the odds! WWF is holding their own until DDP runs down with Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Kanyon, Kidman, and Chavo to join in the attack. Show goes off the air in chaos with a massive brawl between both locker rooms)

The next night Bischoff holds a mock funeral for the American Badass, in the ring is a casket with flowers. Bischoff arrogantly rides Taker's motorcycle down the ramp as his WCW entourage follows. Shane is present along with the NWO, Ric Flair, DDP, Booker T, and a remorseless Goldberg. Only Shane is genuinely saddened and seems very upset with Bischoff saying he went too far. Bischoff assures Shane it was a harsh but necessary action to make a statement and show WWF they mean business. He then calls out Vince and says although the WWF got lucky last night and escaped with the WWF Title that it looks like your luck is about to run out. "I have almost everything I could want; half of WWF's titles, both McMahon's prodigal sons, and I even had my undefeated monster leave the phenom of the WWF beaten, bloodied, and buried! But I don't want to own half the WWF, I want control of the whole promotion and challenge you to put your ownership shares of the company on the line in a WWF versus WCW 5-on-5 Winner-Take-All match at Survivor Series!" Vince refuses, balking at the notion he would make such a risky gamble. "I thought you might say that", says Eric.

Bischoff then signals to Triple H who immediately kicks Shane in the stomach and pedigrees him! The NWO proceed to stomp and beat down Shane as Vince looks on in horror with a lump in his throat. "It was a pleasure doing business with you Shane, but we got everything we need from you" says Eric. Shane slowly begins to rise to his feet as Bischoff instructs the WCW wrestlers to clear the ring, only Goldberg remains as he nails Shane with a massive Spear and proceeds to pummel the young McMahon. "D****t, Eric! That's my boy! Fine, I accept your challenge, just stop!", a visibly tearful Vince screams. "Thanks, Vince." says Eric with a smug grin. The show goes off the air with the final haunting image of Vince cradling his bloodied Shane beside the casket and flowers in the middle of the ring.

SURVIVOR SERIES

Sunday Night Heat: Cruiserweight Title: Dean Malenko vs. X-Pac (c)

Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz vs. Chris Kanyon, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo, Shane Helms

(A traditional 8-man Survivor Series match opener. Christian is the only man eliminated on his team via Kanyon's Flatliner. Edge last eliminates Kanyon to win for WWF, survivors are Edge and The Hardyz. "A good omen for the WWF!" proclaims JR)

European Title: Eddie Guerrero vs. Perry Saturn vs. Chavo Guerrero (c) vs. Billy Kidman

(Chavo hits Saturn with a Tornado DDT from the top rope to retain the European Title)

Intercontinental Title: Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm (c) 

(Storm retains the Intercontinental Title tapping out Benoit to the Mapleleaf)

Hardcore Title (Ladder Match): Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Mike Awesome

(RVD retains the Hardcore Title in what should be a hard-hitting, badass ladder match!)

WWF/WCW Tag Team Titles Unification: The Dudley Boyz vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Booker T

(Finish see's D-Von block a Diamond Cutter from DDP setting him up for The Dudleyz to hit a 3D and become Undisputed Tag Team champions! Post-match The Dudleyz celebration is short-lived when a pissed-off Booker T lays out D-Von with an Ax-Kick just as DDP drops Bubba Ray with a Diamond Cutter! Booker then turns on his partner for costing them their titles and nails DDP with a Book End! DDP and Booker T break up, going forward Booker competes in singles matches while DDP tags with former partner and fellow Jersey boy Chris Kanyon)

Steel Cage Match: Big Show & Vince McMahon vs. Triple H

(Triple H pins Vince via Pedigree while a bloodied Big Show is tied up in the ropes, only just breaks free as the 3-count is made. Post-match Triple H lays out Big Show with his sledgehammer and continues beating down a bloody Vince when a tearful Stephanie runs down and begs Hunter to stop, still shaken from seeing the same fate befall her brother Shane. Triple H seems apologetic and embraces Stephanie, then he kicks her in the stomach and pedigrees his wife! "Consider that a divorce!")

Team WWF (Stone Cold, Rock, Angle, Jericho, Kane) vs. Team WCW (Hogan, Hall, Nash, Goldberg, Flair)

(An epic Survivor Series match, I won't go beat for beat but I'll try to cover how I imagine the important stuff happens. (The match will be plenty long so if I don't describe a sequence you'd like to see just head-canon it in there somewhere heh.) Starts with WWF champ Stone Cold and Ric Flair having a sequence. Austin then tags Rock who's itching to fight. Rock and Flair have a first-ever sequence then he tags in Hall who works over Rock in the corner, then tags in Nash. Face-in-peril Rock makes the hot tag to Kane who comes in and cleans house and challenges Goldberg. Ref struggles to keep order between all 10 men, Kane choke slams Flair and The Outsiders but just as he grabs Hogan for one he eats a spear from Goldberg! Hogan leg drops Kane on principle leaving Nash to recover and follow with a Jack Knife Powerbomb to pin Kane and the biggest man is the first eliminated for WWF! Thus beginning the story of the match; Goldberg is WCW's weapon of mass destruction.

Angle comes in and takes Nash to the mat, he thinks better of trying to out-wrestle Angle and Nash tags Hogan. Angle and Hogan have a cute first ever sequence, Angle makes Hogan look good then Hogan tags Flair in to begin his rivalry with Angle. Angle rallies and drops his straps calling for the Angle slam, Flair hits a low blow and goes for the Figure Four, Angle reverses into the Ankle lock but Goldberg enters and breaks the hold nailing Angle with a Spear. Angle barely begins to come to when Flair rolls-up Angle and pins him with a handful of tights to further that feud. Flair is the first eliminated for WCW when a pissed-off Jericho enters next and after a sequence with Flair eliminates him with a surprise roll-up pinfall to start their feud. Hogan enters next and we see a cool first ever sequence between him and Jericho. Leads into Hall and Nash tagging in and out against Jericho who is holding his own against The Outsiders before going into face-in-peril mode, and again when the action gets hectic Goldberg is able to connect with a spear on the outside on Jericho. Hall follows that with a Razors edge, goodbye Y2J.

Hall and Nash are both eliminated by Austin and Rock respectfully, before leaving to the back a pissed off Nash attacks Rock, Jack Knife Powerbombs him and exits, Hogan then enters and covers Rock for a very close near-fall. Hogan gets Rock up to his feet and goes for an irish whip, Rock reverses into a Spinebuster and sets Hogan up for the People's Elbow! Doesn't connect as Goldberg cuts Rock off with a Spear right as he's coming off the ropes and Hogan is able to hit the Leg Drop and cover Rock for the pinfall. Austin is the last man for WWF and he gets in the ring wanting a piece of Hogan who teases throwing down again with Stone Cold only to instead tag Goldberg! We then get an epic first time staredown between Austin and Goldberg as the crowd pops big, they go to lock up and the following 90 second sequence is a lot like Goldberg vs. Brock from Survivor Series 2016; Goldberg runs through and last eliminates Stone Cold pinning the WWF champion with two Spears and a Jackhammer (holy s**t!) to give WCW the win and control of WWF, survivors are Goldberg and Hogan! JR is shocked and disgusted, his voice full of despair as the PPV goes off the air with an ecstatic Bischoff and the WCW locker room standing tall as Hogan spray-paints "WCW" in the ring!)

The next night viewers tune in by the millions to see not Monday Night Raw, but Monday Nitro. Bischoff has replaced the Raw set with the old Nitro set and has revamped the flagship show of the WWF to be like how Nitro used to be in its glory days. "It is so good to be king." says Eric. "Last night WCW proved beyond any doubt they are the most dominant force in all of wrestling. I crushed McMahon, I crushed my competition! So with that said, Vince McMahon; YOU'RE FIRED!" Bischoff goes on to explain that with McMahon gone and the WWF being under new management he's gonna continue to silence his critics and earn vindication by booking the best matches and shows possible He then says while he doesn't want to have to fire any of the top superstars of the WWF who don't approve of his leadership ("That's not good business!") he has no problems making their life a living hell if they rock the boat.

Smackdown on Thursday nights is also changed instead to Thursday Night Raw. Good ol' JR and Paul Heyman remain on commentary, but Bischoff pays Heyman extra compliments and offers him a big bonus while JR gets zilch. Heyman becomes a heel commentator and sides with WCW during matches. Bischoff also acts like a bully making jokes frequently at JR, poking fun at his weight and southern drawl. Bischoff basically proves to be the same corrupt a*****e authority figure that Vince was and does everything to stack the deck against Stone Cold and the WWF guys (especially those who are also ex-WCW guys) while favoring the WCW roster and relying on them to do his dirty work as needed.

Bischoff is proud to announce a major upcoming pay-per-view, Starrcade! "The Granddaddy of them all! WCW's flagship pay-per-view event will feature only the best WWF versus WCW matches!" says Eric. With Goldberg's dominance over the WWF seemingly unstoppable and due to the fact that he pinned champion Austin to win for WCW at Survivor Series Bischoff declares the undefeated monster #1 contender to Stone Cold's WWF Title! Austin is desperate to prove he's the better man, "If you people wanna see Stone Cold Steve Austin whoop Goldberg's a*s at Starrcade, gimme a hell yeah!"

Around this time Hollywood Hulk Hogan finally breaks his silence and cuts his first promo since returning to the WWF. Channeling his famous Bash at the Beach promo from 96, Hogan runs down the WWF and Vince and the fans who he wishes he could sell out all over again. He's bigger than wrestling, bigger than McMahon, bigger than Rock and Austin, and he's come back to the WWF to destroy what he created. Rock interrupts, tells Hogan's walrus-looking candy-a*s to know his role and shut his mouth! Rock says he's tired of Hogan hiding behind the NWO, challenges him to a match one-on-one at Starrcade, Hogan's first singles match since his return! "The Great One versus The Immortal One at the Granddaddy of them all! What do ya say, brother?!"

At the end of Nitro Bischoff announces a double main event for Starrcade; Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Goldberg for the WWF Title and The Rock versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan! He goes to leave the ring and suddenly Shane McMahon, who hasn't been seen since WCW betrayed him, jumps the barricade and attacks Bischoff! Shane beats him down before he's swarmed by security! Shane invades Nitro! ("You should know better than to expect a McMahon to give up without a fight!") These Shane O-Mac attacks (heh) keep happening at random in the weeks leading up to Starrcade both during in-ring segments and in backstage vignettes. Eventually Bischoff has no choice but to call Shane out and challenges him to a street fight! Shane accepts, but again Bischoff won't be his opponent, instead Eric's advocate will be none other than The Game, Triple H!  Shane is unafraid, eager to defend the honor of the McMahon's against the man who tried to usurp him of his birthright and betrayed his family.

Bischoff makes lots of other changes, he insists The Dudley Boyz retain the WCW Tag Team Titles as Undisputed Tag Team champs rather than recognize the WWF Tag Team Titles lineage. He also strips RVD of the Hardcore Title and deactivates the championship because he thinks that kind of "extreme" wrestling is beneath his promotion. When RVD refuses to relinquish the belt without a fight Bischoff has Lance Storm and Chavo surprise attack RVD backstage, Storm pins RVD for the Hardcore Title under 24/7 rules and promptly hands it to Bischoff who throws it in the trash. RVD promises to get payback by going after Lance Storm's Intercontinental Title.

Bischoff instead replaces the Hardcore Title with the WCW United States Title, "A championship of heritage and prestige held by many of the all-time greats!" He books a tournament to determine who will challenge the last U.S. champion Booker T in the main event of Nitro for the title. (Round 1: DDP d. Benoit, Edge d. Mike Awesome, Kanyon d. Eddie, Angle d. Kidman. Semi-finals: DDP d. Edge, Angle d. Kanyon. Finals: Angle d. DDP) After earning #1 contendership Kurt Angle then goes on to tap out Booker T to become United States champion! Next week Booker T says he wants his rematch at Starrcade but Bischoff, disappointed Booker T let the U.S. Title fall into enemy hands, says his opponent in the PPV opener will be none other than Chris Jericho, a man who Bischoff has hated ever since the punk left WCW in 1999. Bischoff instead will have Angle defend against another former U.S. champ at Starrcade, an opponent who epitomizes heritage and prestige better than anyone, The Nature Boy Ric Flair! "Intelligence, intensity, and integrity versus the dirtiest player in the game!" Both Angle and Flair should have fun cutting promos in the build, maybe the clean-living Angle can even offer notorious ladies man Flair a condom as a lesson in promoting safe-sex heh.

The second to last Nitro before Starrcade ends with Bischoff throwing a massive party toasting to his newfound success. "There's no man alive who can stop this invasion! No force on Earth--" *GONG!* The lights go out, on the Titantron appears graphics showing quick snippets of spooky images of a house, a graveyard, a full moon, and three little girls. Then the voice of one of them says "He's back..." *GONG!* The iconic theme echoes through the darkened arena as The Undertaker accompanied by Paul Bearer emerges for the first time since being buried alive! No longer the American Badass, he's returned to the Dead Man persona and hits Bischoff with a Tombstone Piledriver! "The spirit of the WWF has returned to haunt the invasion!" JR exclaims triumphantly!

The next week a visibly shaken and traumatized Bischoff insists Undertaker is no concern and the only focus his wrestlers should have is beating the WWF at Starrcade. Later the final segment of the show is a contract signing for the Starrcade main event between WWF champion Austin and Goldberg. Stone Cold says nothing, simply cracks open a beer and drinks it before signing, then immediately attacks Goldberg! A big pull-apart brawl between the two bald-headed a*s-kickers follows that can't be contained, spills to the outside as security guards along with both WWF and WCW wrestlers try to restrain both men. *GONG!* Lights go out and when they come up Undertaker is standing behind Bischoff in the middle of the ring! Bischoff turns to face the Dead Man and cowers in fear. Suddenly the lights go out again and a different creepy video package showing crows and scorpions in black and white appears on the Titantron, an ominous voice over announces the arrival of a phantom spirit set to battle the forces of darkness. Then a single spot light shines showing a dark figure standing tall in the arena rafters, a creature of the night like Undertaker similarly cloaked in a black leather trenchcoat; it's Sting! Final image of the last Nitro before Starrcade is Sting in the rafters pointing his bat at the Dead Man as Undertaker does his throat-cut gesture! Looks like Starrcade will now feature a triple main event!

STARRCADE

Sunday Night Heat: Cruiserweight Title: Matt Hardy vs. X-Pac (c)

Chris Jericho vs. Booker T

(Finish see's Booker T block a Lionsault from Jericho with a low blow the ref didn't see and hit an Ax Kick to win in the opener of WCW's flagship PPV)

European Title vs. Hair: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero (c) 

(Bischoff knows how Latino Heat gets all the ladies with his good looks and nice hair, so drawing on Lucha Libre tradition only agrees to give him a shot at the European champion under Title versus Hair rules. Eddie beats some manners into his nephew; lies, cheats, and steals a win to save his beautiful Spanish mullet while reclaiming the European Title)

Intercontinental Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Lance Storm (c)

(A classic rivalry from ECW revived for the Granddaddy of them all! Rob Van Dam wins the Intercontinental Title with the Five-Star Frog Splash!)

Tag Team Titles: The Dudley Boyz (c) vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Outsiders vs. DDP & Kanyon

(Fatal 4-way rules means champs The Dudleyz don't have to be  involved in the winning fall to lose the titles. Another miscommunication late in the match between Edge and Christian leads to Hall being able to hit a Razors Edge on Edge (heh) to give The Outsiders the win and the Tag Team Titles for WCW)

United States Title: Kurt Angle (c) vs. Ric Flair

(Wrestling's present takes on the past; a great old school, psychology-heavy bout that see's the dirtiest player in the game almost steal the win but Angle eventually taps Flair to the Ankle Lock for America)

Street Fight: Shane McMahon vs. Triple H

(Triple H beats Shane O-Mac in a crazy street fight via sledgehammer shot and Pedigree. NWO has had a good night so far. Post-match Shane slowly rises to his feet and limps to the back on his own to cheers from the crowd)

The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan

(Hall and Nash accompany Hogan to the ring but during the match they try some shenanigans on the outside and the ref orders them to the back. A similar match to the one they had at Wrestlemania in real life follows, albeit with a slightly different crowd reaction and no Hulk-up spot. Rock wins with two Rock Bottoms and the People's Elbow. No face turn from Hogan post-match either who reacts badly to the loss being the only NWO member to come up short at Starrcade. He attacks Rock afterwards and beats him down with the NWO. "I gotta get my heat back, brother.")

The Undertaker vs. Sting

(Goes without saying but we get awesome entrances for both guys followed by a great back-and-forth contest. At one point Taker counters a Scorpion Deathlock attempt by debuting a new submission finisher, the Hells Gate Choke Hold! Taker lands both a Choke Slam and the Last Ride for two very close near-falls but Sting kicks out! Taker motions for the Tombstone, he puts Sting up for it but Sting reverses into the Scorpion Deathdrop! Taker barely kicks out. Near match's end Sting hits the Stinger Splash on Undertaker in the corner who staggers, Sting hits a second as Taker staggers again. Sting tries for a third but Taker catches him and counters into a Tombstone attempt, Sting reverses that into his own Tombstone attempt but Taker counter-reverses that to finally hit the Tombstone Piledriver for the win! The two share a nod of mutual respect post-match and after Taker leaves the ring Sting receives a big ovation but the Franchise of WCW seems moody about losing at Starrcade) 

WWF Title: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. Goldberg

(A massive slugfest which spills outside the ring and see's both men brawl throughout the arena. Austin gets busted open, the referee gets bumped in the chaos, and there's a cool spot where​ Goldberg misses a Spear on Austin and goes through a barricade. Near matches end Goldberg goes for a Spear, Austin dodges in desperation by pulling the ref into his way and Goldberg takes out the referee! Austin goes for the Stunner, Goldberg pushes Austin off into the turnbuckle and hits Austin with a Spear! Is slow to recover since his shoulder is injured (Austin had wisely spent most of the match targeting it!) Goldberg puts Austin up for the Jackhammer but Austin falls out of it and hits the Stunner! Goldberg's out cold and both men are down but there's no referee. The NWO looks to capitalize on this as Hogan, Hall, Nash, and Triple H all run down to interfere. Austin see's them coming and gets up to fight them off the apron. Goldberg recovers and Austin ends up turning around into another Spear!

Goldberg motions again for the Jackhammer, *GONG!* Lights go out and when they come up Undertaker is behind Goldberg! The Dead Man delivers strike after strike to Goldberg and each of the NWO as they step to him laying them out one-by-one before hitting a massive Choke Slam on Goldberg that sends him literally crashing through the ring! "Bah gawd, Undertaker has Choke Slammed Goldberg straight to hell!" screams JR as "Holy S**t!" chants break out amongst the crowd. Lights go out as Taker disappears having avenged his burial and Bischoff is not at all happy, makes his way to the ring as NWO recover. Austin has only just begun to come to when all four NWO start kicking the crap out of Stone Cold! They proceed to tear off Austin's knee brace and wrap his legs around the ring post from the outside, Hogan then grabs a cinder block from under the apron and smashes it over Austin's knee! Bischoff grabs the WWF championship from ringside as Hall and Nash hold up Austin by his arms, Bischoff holds the belt up in front of Stone Cold as Hogan spray-paints "NWO" on it and screams that it belongs to them now, then he spits in his face as a final insult. Bischoff exits with the NWO and the belt having left the WWF champion a bloodied, crumpled mess. PPV goes off the air as Stone Cold does a stretcher job, match ending in a no contest)

The next Nitro opens with footage recapping the carnage from the night before, then shows footage after the PPV went off the air of a dazed and confused Goldberg stumbling out from under the ring. He pushes away medics and screams "Dead Man! Dead Man!" as security guards attempt to restrain him. Backstage Austin is placed in an ambulance on a stretcher with serious injuries and rushed to the ER. Bischoff comes out holding the NWO spray-painted WWF Title and wearing Stone Cold's trademark black leather vest, he enters the ring and announces that because of the cowardly interference of Undertaker the monster of WCW Goldberg has suffered internal injuries but is in stable condition and remains undefeated. Stone Cold isn't so lucky however, as he is seriously injured thanks to Goldberg and the NWO and will likely be out of action and off TV for what could be as long as four to six months *crowd boos!* Therefore, acting under his authority as WWF owner Bischoff announces that he has no choice but to strip Austin of the WWF Title, which he has in his possession *crowd boos!* "But you know, I've never particularly cared too much for the WWF championship, so I think I should put it where it belongs", says Bischoff. He then has a trash can brought into the ring and he drops the championship into the garbage as the crowd REALLY boos. We're talking nuclear heel heat. JR reacts with disgust as if he's just seen his country's flag desecrated.

"If Ya Smell!" blasts from the Titantron as The Rock interrupts to a big pop. "Bischoff, you piece of monkey crap! What in the blue hell do you think you're doing?! First you have Hogan and his NWO jabroni's damn-near end the career of the WWF champion, assaulting him after a grueling match like a bunch of punk-a*s sissies, now this?! Trashing the Hardcore Title was bad enough but the WWF Championship is the richest prize in our industry! That's the very same championship that was held by Bruno Samartino, Andre The Giant, Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, The Rock! By your boy Hogan, and his boy Nash, and his boy Triple H, and even Mr. WCW himself Ric Flair! And d****t, as much as The Rock hates to admit it that's the championship that rightfully belongs to Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rock will be a monkey's uncle before he stands by and lets a jabroni like you disregard the WWF Title without checking your candy a*s into the Smackdown hotel!"

Bischoff disagrees, "I think there's only one championship prestigious enough to be regarded as the top prize in my promotion, a championship whose lineage dates back over a century to the dawn of professional wrestling in North America, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship!" Bischoff has the big gold belt brought into the ring and unveiled. "This championship, which has been held by the greatest champions in the history of the sport, by Harley Race, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk, Sting, Vader, Luger, Hogan, Savage, Goldberg, Nash, DDP, Booker T, will be the new World Title, replacing the WWF Title, and a new champion will be crowned at the next pay-per-view, Royal Rumble!" Bischoff promises the annual Royal Rumble match will be the best, most star-studded Rumble ever, expanding the traditional 30-man field to 40! The 20 best wrestlers of WWF and the 20 best of WCW will compete and whoever wins will be the new WCW World Heavyweight champion!

Rock promises to win the Royal Rumble and the title for WWF, saying he will then go on to face WWF champ Stone Cold in a Title-for-Title match once he's recovered from injury, but assures Bischoff no matter how he abuses his power he'll never diminish the value or standing of the WWF championship, not to him or the millions ("and millions!") of WWF fans. Then he nails Bischoff with a Rock Bottom before leaving the ring! (With Austin out of action and injured for storyline purposes this cements Rock as the new top face of WWF in his absence.)

Bischoff once again stacks the deck against WWF in the lead up to the Rumble, giving all his WCW wrestlers their spots automatically while making WWF wrestlers compete in qualifying matches to earn theirs. Sting is seen watching Nitro from the rafters and wandering backstage in the arena but never speaks. Bischoff announces the Icon Sting will be competing in the Royal Rumble! "If Ya Smell!" blasts from the Titantron as Rock proceeds to the ring and calls out Sting up in the rafters, cuts a good promo telling him to know his role. "The sign may read Monday Nitro, but make no mistake about it, when you step between these ropes you're stepping into the house of the People's champ! There's room for only one Icon in this promotion so you better watch yourself, Stinger; The Rock guaran-damn-tees he'll lay the Smackdown on your candy-a*s if you ever forget who's The Scorpion King!" Rock promises to show the franchise of WCW why The Rock is the most electrifying man in the WWF if their paths cross in the Rumble. The Nitro main event features a WWF versus WCW battle royal for the No. 40 entrant spot, last two wrestlers are Rock and Booker T, the last ever WCW World Heavyweight champ. Sting comes out on the entrance ramp to watch the action but only stands silent. His presence is noticed by Rock who gives a dirty look. Booker T manages to get the upper hand in the following sequence and scores a huge upset eliminating The Rock to win the coveted No. 40 spot! Post-match Rock and Sting have a tense staredown on the entrance ramp. "The mind games have begun..." says JR.

Not everyone in WCW is happy Sting is back either, a backstage vignette shows the NWO locker room expressing their disapproval. "Hey yo, Bischoff ain't right to trust that face-paint wearing freak" says Scott Hall. "Let's just worry about winning the strap at the Rumble and let Stinger do his own thing, for now. We'll worry about him if and when our paths cross" says Hogan. Sting and the NWO have a lot of bad blood from the past. We also start to see the first cracks in NWO as it's clear they all would like to win the Rumble and be champion.

Unfortunately for Tag Team champions The Outsiders all titles must be defended at the PPV. Former champs The Dudley Boyz face The Hardy Boyz in a #1 contender match, ends in a no contest when Hall and Nash interfere attacking both teams with chairs just for kicks. This leads to a big Nitro main event The Outsiders versus The Hardy Boyz in a non-title match. Scott Hall, oozing machismo, makes a not-so-subtle pass at the Hardyz valet and Matt's girlfriend Lita before the bell rings, Matt then smacks Hall in the face and it's on! Near the end the ref is distracted when Hall has Matt up readied for a Razors Edge, Lita enters the ring and kicks Hall in the grapefruits! Matt falls out of the Razors Edge and hits a Twist of Fate on Hall, Jeff then goes up top and connects with a Swanton Bomb! Hall kicks out a half second too late and The Hardyz get the shock win! Post-match The Outsiders proceed to beat down both Hardyz getting their heat back and Hall threatens to put hands on Lita until The Dudley Boyz run down to make the save!

ROYAL RUMBLE

Sunday Night Heat: Cruiserweight Title: Spike Dudley vs.  X-Pac (c)

Intercontinental Title: Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero

(A solid opener that gives a nice preview for when RVD and Eddie eventually feud over who has the best Frog Splash heh. RVD retains with the Five-Star Frog Splash)

Tag Team Titles (Tables Match): The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Outsiders (c)

(Hoping to recreate a similar kind of car-crash magic The Hardyz and Dudleyz captured in their classic tables match two years prior at the same event with The Outsiders hopefully fitting in nicely. The Hardyz involve ladders, Spike Dudley, Lita, and X-Pac can all do run-ins for their respective teams, y'know, all the fun chaos you expect! Hall and Nash retain putting The Hardyz through tables)

European Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal

(Regal thinks a lying, cheating, stealing Eddie does a disservice to his countrymen as European champ, he wants to win back the title for the Queen and WCW to give it some class. Eddie retains via Frog Splash)

United States Title: Kurt Angle (c) vs. Lance Storm

(Storm threatens to re-brand the U.S. Title the Canadian championship same as he did in WCW when he's victorious. Finish see's Angle drop the straps and go for the Angle slam, Storm counters and locks in the Canadian Mapleleaf, Angle reverses into the Ankle lock! Storm escapes and tries a superkick, Angle blocks catching it then re-applies the Ankle lock and wins for America!)

40-Man Royal Rumble for Vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title: 

(Before the match we get a cool montage showing some of the big names backstage in the locker room area psyching themselves up preparing for the Rumble, including Sting who only sits in silent darkness with his bat in front of a mirror in his locker room. Bischoff enters with a knock, "Stinger, baby! How's my franchise player doing?! Talkative as ever I see. Listen, before the Rumble tonight I just wanted to talk briefly and make sure we're on the same page. Now I know you have every intention of leaving here the new WCW World Heavyweight champ, but I need you to do me a favor; Should by any chance you cross paths with Hogan or the NWO, do try your best not to relive any battles from the past. Even if it means having to step aside, it's what's best for business. You've been champ many times before, no reason you won't have other opportunities, if you're smart, of course. And after all, it's the least you can do for Uncle Eric after coming up short against Undertaker at Starrcade. You understand?" Sting glares at Bischoff but remains silent. "Thanks, Stinger. And hey, good luck tonight!" says Eric with a smug grin before he exits. Afterwards Goldberg enters; "You help me with something tonight, I'll be sure to return the favor", he says ominously.

If you need a refresher about the rules it's a 40-man over the top rope battle royale, two men enter at start and a new man enters every two minutes. Last man standing wins. No. 1 entrant: Ric Flair! The "Iron Man" who goes coast to coast entering at the beginning and lasting until the end just as he did when he won the 92 Rumble to become World champ ten years earlier! No. 2 entrant: *GONG!* The Undertaker! The two oldest and most storied avatars of their respective promotions face off in the opening moments. First thing Flair does is get on his knees and beg Taker for mercy, then immediately the dirtiest player in the game hits the Dead Man with a low blow!

This is without question the most star-studded Rumble ever (We'll keep the overall booking loose albeit with a handful of significant developments and sequences highlighted. Again, head-canon is encouraged heh) Besides the top names of both promotions Mr. Perfect, Goldust, Big Bossman, Val Venis, and The Godfather all return for WWF. When Perfect's music hits to a big return pop Flair flips out and they have a cute sequence for old times' sake. Ric Flair manages to pull off the Iron Man feat mostly by playing the chickenshit heel who always ducks out under the bottom rope whenever the action picks up or the old man needs a breather. Maybe he can even grab a chair and headset alongside JR and Heyman to jaw-jack on commentary for a bit. We also get back-to-back "Legends" cameos from Terry Funk and Mick Foley on behalf of WCW and WWF respectfully! They do their trademark moves then Foley eliminates Funk with a Cactus clothesline before Flair immediately enacts revenge dumping Foley over! Foley and Funk keep brawling to the back.

WCW debuts a couple big-name competitors as well, including Rey Mysterio! When Rey comes out to a big pop he wastes no time hitting the ring to show off. Chavo Guerrero, jealous of seeing this younger, flashier Mexican star of WCW win over the fans, pretends to befriend Rey only to immediately nail him with a clothesline. Rey's old friend Billy Kidman doesn't like to see this and attacks Chavo in Rey's defense, Mysterio is able to fight back and he sends  Chavo over the top! Later with his buddy Kidman's help Rey Mysterio also ends up scoring a shock elimination on Big Show! The smallest man in WCW overcame the biggest man in WWF!

Edge and Christian are working together at one point and seem to be back on track, but then a minute later when Edge is about to eliminate Mike Awesome in the ropes instead of helping his partner Christian picks Edge's legs up and eliminates both men! Edge is in shock! Christian says, "Every man for himself!" and turns around into a Hurricanrana followed by a 619 from Rey Mysterio who then sends Christian right over the top! Edge claps in sarcastic approval and the two argue all the way to the back.

Not long after this another big name debuts for WCW, Scott Steiner! The NCAA All-American and multi-time WCW World Heavyweight, Tag Team, TV, and U.S. champ comes out and cleans house with a series of suplexes, even hitting one on Taker, and eliminates a bunch of guys including Chris Benoit. He also manhandles and eliminates both Val Venis and The Godfather, making a pass at his hoes in the process heh. He then looks towards the ramp as the countdown timer announces the next entrant, it's Kurt Angle! The Olympian and Steiner face off and have a big staredown, Angle gives him a big belly-to-belly suplex then clotheslines Steiner over the ropes eliminating him! Steiner is pissed, gets back in the ring, clotheslines Angle, throws him to the outside under the second rope, hits a suplex on the mats then puts him in the Steiner Recliner. Benoit comes out to attack Steiner and the two brawl to the back while Angle is laid out unconscious on the outside but not eliminated.

A bit later (maybe shortly after the Rumble's halfway point) Undertaker is being ganged up on by WCW wrestlers when the next entrant is announced: *Pyro!* That's gotta be Kane! Brothers of Destruction reunite and clear the ring, then stand side-by-side waiting as the countdown timer announces the next entrant, it's Disco Inferno! (lol) The disco dancin' fool of WCW boogies down to the ring to a big return pop, then is immediately destroyed in hilarious fashion by Taker and Kane! Choke Slams, Last Ride, Tombstone, cya later! Brothers of Destruction look again to the entrance ramp as the countdown timer announcers the next entrant, it's Sting! Lights go out as he walks to the ring, halfway down the ramp he stops and points his bat at the ring, suddenly the lights come up, oh s**t! Goldberg is behind the Brothers of Destruction, nails them with a double Spear! Big Spear to Kane and Goldberg eliminates him, then a Spear and Jackhammer for Undertaker and Goldberg eliminates him too! ("Payback's a b***h, Dead Man!") 

Goldberg exits and walks up the ramp, nodding to Sting as he passes. Sting enters the ring and awaits the next entrant, it's Goldust! The son of Dusty Rhodes and fellow painted-faced enigma has a cool sequence with Sting, playing some mind games with the Franchise of WCW. Next entrant is Chris Kanyon, him and Goldust face off and have a staredown before locking up cuz they're both gay haha. Kurt Angle recovers on the outside as him and Sting also have an epic staredown followed by a first-ever sequence! Sting hits a Spinebuster on Angle, Kanyon goes for a Flatliner on Goldust but he counters into a Curtain Call! Goldust locks up again with Sting and goes for a Curtain Call but he counters into a Scorpion Death Drop! Sting looks again towards the entrance ramp as the next competitor is announced, "If Ya Smell!!!" blasts from the Titantron, it's The Rock! The Brahma Bull walks down to the ring with purpose, the Scorpion and the Scorpion King have a tense staredown before locking up! Ric Flair of course has been on the outside this whole time.

A bit later Triple H, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hogan all come out in that order one after the other numbers 35, 36, 37, and 38 (quite suspicious, Bischoff. Not very subtle.) NWO and Sting seem to coexist fine but keep their distance. WCW have the numbers advantage and are kicking a*s. Goldberg's music hits and he enters for real at #39, as he walks down the ramp Undertaker suddenly emerges and nails him from behind! Taker assaults Goldberg as they brawl at ringside! Goldberg reverses an irish whip sending Taker into the barricade then he follows with a massive spear on Taker through the barricade! Dead Man is destroyed but the move took a lot out of Goldberg as well. Back in the ring The Outsiders are beating down Angle, Hogan and Triple H are double-teaming Rock, in the other corner Sting and Flair are working over Jericho, opposite that DDP counters a high-spot from RVD into a Diamond Cutter and eliminates him *crowd boos!*

#40 entrant is of course Booker T but after his music plays for a few seconds it's clear he's not there. NWO look to the Titantron which cuts to video footage backstage in Booker's trashed locker room where he's laid out unconscious. WCW wrestlers rush to check on him as Bischoff flips, "What the hell?! He was supposed to enter as our last man! Who did this?!--" *GLASS SHATTERS!* "Stone Cold! Stone Cold!", JR screams! NWO is shocked! Austin is back from injury and the rightful WWF champ has hijacked the last spot in the Rumble! Stunners for everybody! Especially NWO guys. Scott Hall gets dropped with a Stunner instantly, Nash goes for a big boot, Austin dodges and hits the Stunner! Austin turns and immediately hits the Stunner on Flair! DDP goes for a Diamond Cutter on Austin, he blocks and hits a Stunner then throws DDP over the top! Stone Cold makes a beeline for Hogan but Triple H is able to nail him from behind targeting his injured knee to cut off his momentum and they brawl. Angle drops the straps for an Angle slam on Nash, the big man lows blows Angle and with Hall's help he throws Angle to the outside eliminating him. Ric Flair has somehow made it this long until Jericho finally eliminates him. Jericho taunts Flair as he flips out, he grabs a handful of Jericho's blonde hair from the outside. Sting capitalizes hitting a Stinger Splash on Jericho in the corner and eliminates him! Jericho and Flair keep brawling to the back!

Hogan and Triple H are beating down Austin when Rock comes to his aid, connects with a flurry of punches and goes for a Rock Bottom on Triple H who blocks and Rock turns around into a drop kick from Sting. Suddenly all four NWO realize Sting is the only other WCW wrestler left in the ring. Hall, Nash, and Hogan only stare nervously as Triple H is the first to hold up the Kliq sign at Sting in the hopes of forming a temporary alliance against Austin and Rock ("Wolfpack?"), Sting returns the sign. NWO smile as they turn their attention back to Rock and Austin, just then Sting grabs Triple H and eliminates him over the top rope to a big babyface pop! Hogan and The Outsiders are pissed! At this moment Goldberg finally enters having recovered on the outside and Nash turns around into a big-a*s Spear! *crowd pops!* Hogan and Hall are shocked! Rock then kips-up and Hall turns around into a Rock Bottom! Austin capitalizes hitting a Stunner on Hogan who then falls backwards into a Scorpion Deathdrop from Sting! (Lethal combo!) Triple H grabs Hogan from the outside helping him roll out under the bottom rope (he's laid out but not eliminated) as Goldberg clotheslines Nash to the outside! (Revenge for ending his streak in WCW!) Opposite that Rock rallies and clotheslines Hall over the top rope eliminating him! Sting picks up Hogan's fallen NWO insignia, spits on it, and throws it in the face of a furious Triple H on the outside!

The ring is clear of NWO as only four remain: Austin and Rock for WWF, Goldberg and Sting for WCW. The four badasses with grudges to settle square up as the crowd comes alive with excitement! Sting goes "Woo!", Rock goes "Just Bring It!", and we get a massive double slugfest! Rock and Sting do a double-clothesline spot where they both go down, Austin tries a Stunner on Goldberg who blocks and hits a Spear! Goldberg motions for and sets him up for a Jackhammer, unaware Undertaker has recovered on the outside. He enters the ring and nails Goldberg with a steel chair-shot to the head! Taker drops the chair and exits, nursing his injured ribs as he walks to the back. Goldberg screams "You're next you son of a b***h!" as he pulls himself up the ropes and glares up the entrance ramp, Taker looks back and cuts his throat. Austin recovers, picks up the steel chair and nails Goldberg with multiple chair-shots as he staggers in the ropes, then clotheslines him over the top! (Same way Austin eliminated Kane to win the Rumble the previous year!) Opposite that Rock hits his trademark flurry of right hands on Sting as he's reeling in the ropes, he runs to clothesline him over, Sting just barely dodges and back-body drops Rock to the outside eliminating him! Rock is pissed.

Stone Cold and Sting are the last two men in the ring, and again we get an awesome sequence between two of the all-time greats that goes a good 2-3 minutes. Sting goes for the Stinger Splash in the corner, Stone Cold evades and goes for the Stunner, Sting catches the leg and sweeps Austin around reversing into a Scorpion Deathdrop attempt, Stone Cold powers out of it and hits the Stunner! Austin gets Sting up and looks like he has Sting over the ropes about to eliminate him when that b*****d Hogan sneaks back into the ring and eliminates both men from behind! 

Hollywood Hulk Hogan wins the Royal Rumble and is the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion! Hogan celebrates with the championship as Stone Cold and Sting look on in disgust. Bischoff and The Outsiders make their way to the ring congratulating Hogan as he celebrates playing air guitar with the big gold belt. Stone Cold says "f**k this!" and celebrates by Stone Cold Stunnering everyone in the building! Stone Cold takes on the NWO stepping to all comers! NWO beatdown follows as it looks like Stone Cold is heading back to the hospital but then Sting of all people ultimately rushes down and makes the save! He enters the ring attacking Hogan, Hall, and Nash helping Stone Cold fight off the NWO causing them all to clear out! PPV ends with Sting and a bloodied Stone Cold in the ring staring down the NWO and Bischoff on the outside)

The next Nitro opens with one of Eric Bischoff's big celebration parties. Bischoff is flocked by Booker T, DDP, Ric Flair, Lance Storm, Chavo, Regal, Kanyon, and Mike Awesome. Bischoff proudly says Hollywood Hulk Hogan proved last night that WCW is superior to WWF by beating 40 other men, including the best the WWF has, to become the new WCW World Heavyweight champion! Hogan and the NWO then get their own entrance, Triple H being the sole member to not have a championship belt. WCW World Heavyweight Champ Hogan grabs the mic and cuts a promo, says how he proved without question he is the one and only true undisputed champion and the greatest superstar of all time (both statements are intended of course as a knock against Austin.) The Outsiders look quite pleased, others like Booker T and Triple H aren't so happy. Hunter interrupts, tells Hogan he didn't do it alone. "The NWO ain't a one man band! When that face-paint wearing freak turned on WCW and attacked us I was the one who pulled you out of the ring saving you from elimination, helping you dump Sting and that has-been Stone Cold over."

Before Hogan can respond Booker T interrupts and tells Triple H to watch himself. Booker T is pissed Austin screwed him out of his spot in the Rumble he earned and since he was also the last WCW World Heavyweight champ he deserves a title shot. Triple H is pissed, "You stay out of this! You already blew your title shot against Austin at Halloween Havoc! Hell, it's your fault Stone Cold got involved last night in the first place!" Booker gets in Hunter's face but before it escalates Eric speaks up, Bischoff is not about to make Hogan defend the WCW Title anytime soon so he placates Booker by announcing in the main event of Nitro Booker T gets a United States Title rematch against Kurt Angle. Bischoff goes on to say "Unfortunately a certain foul mouthed, beer swilling piece of trailer trash representing the WWF cowardly attacked one of WCW's greatest champions, Booker T, in his locker room. He then proceeded to illegally take his No. 40 entrant spot in the Rumble match, all while not even being medically cleared to compete! Therefore, as the owner of the WWF I must take appropriate disciplinary action and have no choice but to suspend Stone Cold Steve Austin indefinitely!"

*Glass Shatters!* Stone Cold appears backstage on the Titantron driving a monster truck through the parking lot into the arena! He runs over Eric's prized sports car then drives out onto the stage and down the entrance ramp to ringside as the crowd goes crazy while an enraged Bischoff is losing his s**t! Stone Cold gets out of the truck and stands on the hood raising two middle fingers into the air as the crowd pops big! Austin then jumps from the truck into the ring hitting a flying clothesline on Hogan! The NWO and WCW wrestlers start beating him down when The Rock and the rest of the WWF locker room including Angle, Jericho, RVD, Edge, Big Show, Eddie, Benoit, The Hardyz, and The Dudleyz run down to help Austin! A huge brawl is going down and because WWF morale is boosted with Stone Cold the champ being back in the fray the WWF guys clear the ring. Rock grabs the microphone; "Bischoff, you piece of monkey crap! The Rock and the rest of the WWF locker room are prepared to walk out on your candy a*s if you do not re-instate the rightful WWF champion Stone Cold Steve Austin!"

Rock passes the mic to Stone Cold who cuts a promo; "Bischoff, you and that washed up, bleached blonde has-been Hogan have been talking so much crap I just couldn't stand to hear it anymore! I don't give a damn if Hogan's sorry a*s won the Rumble but the fact is there's only one World Wrestling Federation champion and that's Stone Cold Steve Austin! You couldn't beat me for my championship at Starrcade so you had Hogan and his punk-a*s NWO put me on the shelf and damn-near cripple me so you could strip me of my title!"

Bischoff is backed into a corner, "You really want your title back, Austin? Is that what you want? Well if WWF wants to battle WCW, if you want to go to war then lets settle this, in War Games! Our next pay-per-view will be Superbrawl, one of WCW's premiere shows, and the main event will feature WWF battling WCW in War Games, our promotion's signature match! Stone Cold chooses a four man team for WWF to take on the real champ Hogan and the NWO, then both teams do battle in two rings surrounded by a steel cage and the winning team can only achieve victory by making their opponent submit or surrender! The match is a specialty of the NWO having fought and won many in WCW. If and only if Team WWF wins will Austin be re-instated as WWF champion. If NWO wins the WWF Title stays de-commissioned and Hogan remains the one and only World champ!" Hogan and NWO look game for this. Rock and the WWF wrestlers appear uncertain. Stone Cold accepts, says he still bears the scars of War Games from his time in WCW and is eager to kick the NWO's a*s, but only if they put something up too; If WWF wins then NWO is finished, forced to disband! Hogan and the NWO don't like this but Bischoff ultimately has to accept.

Later in the show Stone Cold announces his three partners he wants on Team WWF to take on NWO. Because the very existence of the WWF Title is at stake he chooses former WWF champions The Rock, The Undertaker, and Kurt Angle because they all know first-hand the championship is everything! All three men agree, each having every reason to hate the NWO while defending the WWF championship. In the Nitro main event Booker T goes on to win the United States title from Angle thanks in part to a pre-match assault Angle suffered backstage from Scott Steiner. Big Poppa Pump attacks Angle locking him in the Steiner Recliner post-match and Benoit comes out to help Angle, leads to the show ending with an NWO beatdown on Angle until Austin and Rock run down to fight them off.

On the following Nitro it's announced Angle was injured badly by Steiner and the NWO and may be unable to compete for Team WWF in War Games at Superbrawl. Stone Cold calls out his Team WWF partners The Rock and Undertaker to discuss choosing someone to step up to replace Angle as their fourth man if needed. "Break the Walls Down!" blasts from the Titantron as Y2J hits the ring and announces he's ready to fight for Team WWF and help defeat the NWO in War Games! "Now not so fast!" says Rock. "With all due respect, Jericho; You're one hell of a wrestler, one of the best in the WWF. But the fact of the matter is the WWF Title is at stake, and you've never been the WWF champion, you've never won the big one!" This seems to wound Jericho's pride, "I saw first-hand how the NWO destroyed WCW! I have just as much cause to fight them as anyone!" Stone Cold interrupts, "There's one man I know who despises the NWO having fought them more than anyone. He's a former World champ many times over, and is a veteran of War Games having survived many battles in the structure; The man called Sting." 

Rock and Undertaker are shocked, "Stone Cold, what in the blue hell are you thinking?! The Rock doesn't give a damn about Sting's lofty reputation, all his accolades, all his athleticism, all his charisma! The Rock and Sting have unfinished business owing to the fact that painted-faced jabroni eliminated The Rock from the Royal Rumble! He also helped that bald-headed piece of monkey crap Goldberg surprise attack Undertaker and his brother Kane in the very same match! Besides, what would the Icon of WCW know about defending the honor and pride of the WWF? This is our fight!" 

Sting then appears in the rafters up above as Stone Cold addresses him. "Now look here, I know you and I don't got much in common, I'll admit I've never much liked you and I expect you feel the same about me. But even though we fight under different banners you know that wasn't always so. I remember you from back in WCW, you were The Franchise, a carefree surfer dude who the people loved. Later when Hogan and his punk-a*s buddies set out to take over and destroy WCW you took to the shadows, only to emerge from the darkness as the one man who always stood against the NWO, dropping in from the rafters to raise hell. I saw it when you helped me fight off those NWO sons of b*****s after the Rumble match and I realized maybe we're not so different. You know what it's like to lose your home to these thugs, but there's no way in hell I'm gonna let Bischoff and the NWO destroy the WWF the same way they destroyed WCW! So what do you say, you wanna get some payback and help us finally finish off these b******s once and for all?!" Sting says nothing and disappears from the rafters. 

Chris Jericho interrupts, "Oh, c'mon! The Stinger I knew back in WCW would be the first to take up arms against the NWO! Nowadays you'd rather hide in the shadows than fight like a champion. How else to explain why the Franchise of WCW would have to depend on a cheap distraction from the walking STD that is Nature Boy Ric Flair to eliminate Y2J from the Royal Rumble?! Sting can go hang out in the rafters like he always does, he's more of a relic than an Icon! But have no fear the Ayatollah of Rock 'n Rolla will always be here, baby! And dude, what's with the constant goth girl make up and black leather trenchcoat? Seriously are you trying to audition for a Kiss cover band or be an extra in The Matrix? Cuz I almost think the neon spandex​ and blonde flat top was a better look for you..." 

Sting's music hits as he walks out on the entrance ramp and heads down to the ring, he gets in the face of Jericho who doesn't back down. Sting then steps back and points his bat in Jericho's face, then turns the handle towards him as if to offer Jericho the bat. A surprised Jericho takes the bat as Sting turns his back towards him, arms extended to his side, testing Jericho to see if he'll use the opportunity to strike. Jericho only stands silent as Team WWF looks on with surprise. Sting then turns and takes the bat and proceeds to do this with Undertaker, he reacts the same as Jericho. Sting then proceeds to do this with The Rock who doesn't strike and finally Stone Cold who also passes the loyalty test. Sting then grabs the mic and finally breaks his silence, says "The only thing for sure about Sting, is that nothing's for sure..." He then exits and makes his way up the ramp, as he walks to the back Jericho challenges Sting to a match at Superbrawl. Y2J says if he can't fight the NWO in War Games then instead he'll finally get that huge win over one of the big stars in WCW and there is none bigger than the Franchise himself. Stinger seemingly accepts, pointing his bat at Jericho and nodding to end the segment.

Tension is increasing amongst the WCW locker room. Hogan is champ but Triple H isn't happy about it, feeling passed over. With all this in-fighting happening the NWO are also worried their old nemesis Sting may fight on behalf of WWF in War Games. To address the situation Bischoff has the NWO and the WCW locker room including Ric Flair, Goldberg, DDP, and Booker T come to the ring and for the first time ever he calls out Sting. Bischoff wants to make sure all WCW wrestlers are united against the common enemy that is the WWF and attempts to get Sting to reconcile with the NWO and swear allegiance to him ("You're either with us, or you're against us.") Sting refuses and drops a pipe bomb, cuts a promo tearing into NWO and Bischoff for his hypocrisy. "WCW in its glory days was a proud promotion that was home to many honorable champions. But then The Outsiders and the man from Hollywood came spreading the poison of NWO, and Bischoff welcomed them with open arms! These snakes, having already turned their backs on the promotion that was their home, set out to take over WCW and remake it to serve their own corrupt agendas. Hell, they did more to destroy WCW from within than anyone! And  now it's happening all over again." Sting then turns to the WCW wrestlers and lectures them, "How could you all have forgotten that?" The old guard of WCW in Ric Flair, Goldberg, DDP, and Booker T all look down conflicted, sensing he speaks the truth. "I have no allegiance to WWF, their battle in War Games with NWO is theirs to fight and theirs alone. WCW is my home, the fans my family. My loyalty lies with WCW above all else, I've proved that time and time again. But what about those who follow the New World Order? Lets see where their allegiance stands."

Sting then turns to Hogan, pointing his bat in his face. He turns the handle of the bat towards Hogan for him to take. A surprised Hogan takes the bat as Sting turns his back, arms extended to his side, testing Hogan to see if he'll use the opportunity to strike the Icon of WCW. Hogan only stands silent as everyone looks on nervously. Sting then turns around and takes the bat from Hogan and proceeds to do this with Nash, he reacts the same as Hogan. Next Sting goes to Hall and gives him the bat turning again. Hall does not strike when suddenly a seething Triple H who is standing next to Hall says "Screw this!" and grabs the bat from out of Hall's hand then bashes Sting in the back! Sting collapses and immediately Goldberg charges at Triple H hitting a massive spear! The WCW wrestlers all follow going to attack Hunter as the NWO do their best to pull Goldberg off Triple H resulting in a massive pull-apart brawl between NWO and WCW! Some semblance of order is eventually maintained as the WCW wrestlers finally clear out of the ring, only Bischoff and NWO remain as Hunter slowly gets to his feet. Then Sting who has recovered grabs Triple H from behind and plants him with a Scorpion Deathdrop! Sting then exits with his bat and joins the rest of the WCW wrestlers on the entrance ramp looking back in disgust.

In a backstage vignette on the last Nitro before Superbrawl Sting speaks with Goldberg, it becomes clear his hatred for The Dead Man has become an obsession since Undertaker has cost Goldberg the championship twice now. Sting tells Goldberg to be wary of provoking The Dead Man further, he's no longer the biker Goldberg defeated previously, Sting felt his power first-hand at Starrcade. Sting tells Goldberg to move on and let the grudge "rest in peace." Goldberg refuses, proceeds to the ring to call out Undertaker. The Dead Man doesn't answer, instead *Pyro!* Kane appears and Choke Slams Goldberg! A match is set for Superbrawl. Later on this same Nitro Kurt Angle makes his triumphant return from injury, says that just as he won a gold medal with a broken freakin' neck to win for Team U.S.A in the 96 Olympics so to will he fight through the pain again and win for Team WWF in War Games!

SUPERBRAWL

Sunday Night Heat: Mr. Perfect & Goldust vs. Lance Storm & Chavo Guerrero

(Just a random but fun tag match, "Perfect Gold" would be a good tag team moniker heh)

Cruiserweight Title: Jeff Hardy vs. Christian vs. X-Pac (c) vs. Shane Helms

(Finish see's Christian look to have the win as he connects with an Unprettier on X-Pac but when he rolls him over to cover Jeff comes off the top rope with a Swanton Bomb that hits both men! He pins X-Pac to bring the Cruiserweight championship back to the WWF, "A bad sign for NWO!" says JR)

Falls Count Anywhere: The Dudley Boyz vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Kanyon

(DDP and Kanyon hit their own version of a 3D on D-Von for the win. Post-match The Dudleyz beat down DDP and put Kanyon through a table to get their heat back)

European Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Rey Mysterio

(Rey Mysterio defeats Chavo on Nitro in a #1 contender match for the European Title, him and Eddie revive their classic rivalry here and tear the house down! Finish see's Eddie counter a hurricanrana from Rey into a pinning predicament with his feet on the ropes to retain. Despite being unable to resist cheating to win Eddie is a good sport post-match shaking Rey's hand and the two luchadores embrace. After Rey leaves the ring Chavo surprise attacks Eddie, Rey runs back down to make the save!)

Intercontinental Title (Hardcore Rules): Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Billy Kidman

(RVD retains with the Van Terminator and Five-Star Frog Splash in a fun hardcore match)

Chris Benoit vs. Scott Steiner

(Benoit gets the best match possible out of Steiner before tapping out to the Steiner Recliner. Post-match Big Poppa Pump refuses to break the hold causing Benoit to pass out)

United States Title: Edge vs. Booker T (c)

(Unhappy with partner Christian, Edge decides he'll be his own man and win the U.S. Title from Booker T. Near the end Edge looks like he might be about to pull off the win when the ref is bumped, Christian runs down with a steel chair to help but Edge tells him to get lost, throws the chair aside, says he wants to win on his own without cheating. Booker uses the distraction and in the following sequence hits an Ax Kick to successfully retain. Post-match Edge and Christian are not happy with each other.)

Chris Jericho vs. Sting

(Y2J puts in a great effort but eventually must tap out to the Scorpion Deathlock. Post-match Sting offers Jericho a handshake but an angry Jericho blows him off)

Kane vs. Goldberg

(Goldberg continues his undefeated streak and pins Kane with a Spear and Jackhammer. Post-match he wants to send a message to Undertaker, picks up Kane and plants him with a Tombstone Piledriver. He then applies a Kimura lock and gives Kane a storyline injury breaking his arm. Before finally leaving Goldberg looks straight at the hard camera; "Dead man! Whoever wins tonight, you're next!")

War Games: Team WWF (Stone Cold, Rock, Undertaker, Angle) vs. NWO (Hogan, Hall, Nash, HHH)

(If you need a refresher on the rules for War Games, A.K.A the coolest gimmick match ever, there are two rings surrounded by a steel cage, one man from each team starts then after 5 minutes a new man enters giving them a temporary advantage, then another man enters every 2 minutes after alternating for each team until all 8 men have entered. Match can only end by submission or surrender. First man in for NWO is Triple H, first man for WWF, *Gong!* The Undertaker! Bischoff says NWO get the home-field advantage being this is Superbrawl so after five minutes Scott Hall enters next as the NWO double-team Undertaker. Kurt Angle comes out second for WWF two minutes later to even the odds. Kevin Nash is in next and the big man shifts the momentum back to the NWO. "If Ya Smell!" blasts from the Titantron as The Rock is the third man in for his team. WCW champ Hogan comes out last for NWO and they're taking the utmost advantage of the numbers being in their favor until *Glass shatters!* Stone Cold makes his way to the ring as the last man to enter for WWF and cleans house!

We've entered the match beyond portion and all 8 men are busted open bleeding and the action's brutal but Team WWF is working like a well-oiled machine! At one point The Outsiders are beating down Stone Cold in the corner of one ring when Rock comes to his aid, he fights off Hall and Nash then extends a hand to Stone Cold helping him to his feet. A surprised Austin stares pensively at his greatest rival when The Outsiders go to double-clothesline him from behind but Rock pushes Austin out of the way and he takes the brunt of the attack instead! Stone Cold and Rock then fight back hitting clotheslines on both The Outsiders! The long-time adversaries Austin and Rock high-five and embrace briefly to a big pop from the fans, then continue to slug away on Hall and Nash! (This great moment of mutual respect between two former adversaries-turned-partners is an homage to a similar spot between Sting and Nikita Koloff featured in the classic War Games match from WrestleWar 92, for those curious heh)

Late in the match Bischoff walks out on the entrance ramp with X-Pac who's holding Triple H's trusty sledgehammer and they rush down to ringside. X-Pac manages to climb to the top of the cage and he drops the sledgehammer to Triple H through a mesh opening who uses it to incapacitate Undertaker, then Angle, then Rock! NWO are holding down Stone Cold and Rock as Triple H threatens to shatter Stone Cold's injured knee with the sledgehammer if they don't surrender but both men refuse to give up! It looks like all is lost when suddenly up above Sting descends from the rafters via zip-line to land on top of the cage! Hogan and the NWO flip out! X-Pac attacks Sting who blocks nailing him with his bat, then grabs X-Pac and sends him flying off the cage and through the spanish announce table below! (Sick bump!) Austin and Rock break free as Sting drops his trusty bat into the cage for Stone Cold to grab and he uses it to fight off the NWO! Sting climbs down the cage and gets in the face of Bischoff who rushes to the back fearing an a*s-kicking! Sting remains at the entrance ramp standing guard as enforcer.

Austin and Triple H clash briefly baseball bat versus sledgehammer, Stone Cold gets the upper hand and smashes the sledgehammer to splinters! Hogan attacks Stone Cold from behind disarming him, he grabs Austin by his arms as Triple H picks up the bat and goes to nail Stone Cold who breaks free at the last second and Triple H accidentally nails Hogan! Triple H is in shock, Austin capitalizes with a Stunner on Triple H! Stone Cold then turns to see a vulnerable Hogan slumped over in agony and he goes old school locking Hogan in the Million Dollar Dream sleeper hold! As this happens Triple H is struggling to get to his feet as Taker zombie sits-up and catches him in the Hells Gate choke hold! In the opposite ring Nash and Hall each have Angle and Rock respectively readied for a Jack Knife Powerbomb/Razors Edge combo, but then Rock reverses Hall's finisher into a Sharpshooter ("The Scorpion KING Deathlock!" JR proclaims as Rock gestures up the ramp at Sting) just as Angle reverses Nash's finisher into the Ankle Lock!

All four WWF wrestlers have the NWO in submission finishers simultaneously as the crowd is losing their minds! JR screams "Give 'em hell, boys! Show no mercy!" Hogan and Triple H are both out cold while Hall and Nash are on the bloody canvas grabbing the other's hand to prevent either from submitting until finally both Outsiders have no choice but to tap out! The one's who started NWO are the one's who submit to end it. "Team WWF has conquered in War Games!" screams JR! The cage is raised and the four men stand victorious! The NWO all limp to the back with their heads buried in shame. The WWF locker room clears out and celebrates, Stone Cold cracks open a beer from a cooler while handing the clean-living Olympian Angle a milk carton and the two men drink. The Rock stands tall posing on the turnbuckle, the locker room hoisting American hero Angle on their shoulders in one ring as re-instated WWF champ Stone Cold pours beers down his gullet in the other. Taker grabs the bat and exits walking to the back, passing by Sting on the ramp he hands him his bat as Sting looks on at the scene nodding in approval to end the PPV)

The next Nitro opens with Bischoff and WCW World Heavyweight champ Hogan alone in the ring. None of the NWO or any WCW wrestlers are present. Next to them an official is holding the previously de-commissioned WWF Title. "While it pains me to do this based on the outcome of the War Games match at Superbrawl last night, I must declare the NWO has officially disbanded." says Bischoff. "Although Hollywood Hulk Hogan remains WCW World Heavyweight champion and The Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash respectfully, remain WCW Tag Team champions, neither Hogan, Hall, Nash, Triple H, or X-Pac are to associate with each other in any--"

At this Hogan gets bored of Eric's speech and grabs the mic from him. Hogan cuts a promo where he runs down the NWO, tears into Triple H for hitting him with the baseball bat, tears into Hall and Nash for being the one's to tap out, and he tears into Eric Bischoff for what he calls incompetent management this whole time. Then he tears into the WCW wrestlers who doubt him as World Heavyweight champ, assures them he's the greatest of all time and if he never joined that dump of a southern wrasslin' promotion known as WCW they would've never been on this stage competing with WWF in the first place. Hogan talks about headlining Wrestlemania after Wrestlemania, Starrcade after Starrcade, says he's the greatest legend in wrestling past or present. *Glass Shatters!* Austin comes out to a big pop, grabs his WWF Title belt from the official, then takes a mic and cuts a promo.

"For God sakes Hogan I've had just about enough of you running your mouth and bitching! You say WCW was just a dump of a southern wrasslin' promotion but let me tell you something; That same promotion is the place where a redneck kid from Texas who dreamed of making it big as a pro wrestler spent five long years busting his a*s and eating untold buckets of s**t! The main event spotlight always getting pulled out from under him every time he got near! That kid was me, 'Stunning' Steve Austin! And he would go on to be fired by this sonbitch Eric Bischoff when Hulk Hogan, the biggest star in wrestling, decided he wanted to take over WCW and that there was no room for Steve Austin at the top of the card! So what did I do? I didn't b***h and moan like you! I came to the WWF, the same place you were made a star, with a chip on my shoulder and a can of a*s-whoopin' to open! And I went on to become the beer-drinkin', trash-talkin', hell- raisin' Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin!"

Austin continues, "Now last night I kicked your a*s in War Games but I'm not through with you by a long shot! There's gonna be only one World champion and that's Stone Cold. I want a match with your a*s one-on-one so I can unleash over 10 years of frustration on your sorry a*s! You talk about headlining Wrestlemania, you talk about being the greatest, if you wanna see Stone Cold Steve Austin prove he's the greatest by opening a can of whoop-a*s on Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania, gimme a hell yeah!" *Crowd pops!* Hogan accepts the challenge, says "It'll be a pleasure to kick your a*s at Wrestlemania!" Bischoff announces at Wrestlemania X8 the main event will be a clash of the champions: Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the Undisputed Championship! Austin then drops Bischoff with a Stunner and exits.

Later The Rock comes out and cuts a good promo talking up the extraordinary victory achieved by WWF in War Games, says NWO is no more and WCW has the WWF to thank for that! He then calls out Sting and thanks him for helping Team WWF in their hour of need against the NWO but says they still have unfinished business. Rock becomes the first WWF wrestler Sting addresses; "Rock, I'll admit, you and Team WWF earned my respect for how you kicked a*s in War Games. I've long hoped to witness the NWO's demise and thought it fitting you stole my finisher to make The Outsider submit. But don't make the mistake of thinking Hogan and his NWO thugs embody the true fighting spirit of WCW. I'm The Stinger, baby! The Icon, The Franchise of WCW! My entire career, when everyone else would jump ship, I proved night after night what loyalty meant! For over a decade I gave my blood, my sweat, my tears for WCW! I fought every day, every step of the way for WCW! World Championship Wrestling is my home, my legacy!"

Rock responds; "Sting, I want to make sure you know The Rock means it when he says that yes, you are the Icon. Yes, you are the Franchise of WCW. The Rock respects you as much as he respects any wrestler. But all sentimental crap aside, when you step into this ring, The Rock's home, in front of the millions and the millions of The Rock's fans, and you stand before The People's champion, you stand before the Icon of the WWF! The youngest WWF champion of all time! The only third-generation wrestler in WWF history! The man whose father, Rocky Johnson, and whose grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, built their lives on the very foundations of the World Wrestling Federation! When The Rock fights for the WWF he fights to defend his entire family's legacy! So what do you say, Stinger? If you want to go one-on-one with The Great One at Wrestlemania, Icon versus Icon, The Rock says just bring it!" Sting then points his bat at The Rock who gestures just bring it.

In the final segment Undertaker finally responds to Goldberg, says if the undefeated monster of WCW wants to battle The Man from the Dark Side to see who is truly the most dominant force in wrestling The Dead Man will meet his challenge on the one battlefield where the Phenom of the WWF has always gone undefeated, at Wrestlemania! Goldberg accepts the challenge, says at Wrestlemania The Undertaker will once again "rest in peace." A match between The Undertaker and Goldberg is sanctioned; Streak versus Streak!

On the next week's Nitro Triple H calls out to the ring Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and X-Pac, none of whom are wearing NWO shirts. Triple H says he knows they're all mad about Superbrawl but to forget about selfish Hogan and the NWO. "NWO may be finished, but no matter what happens, we're still the Kliq! And there's another renegade faction we founded and belong to, an infamous gang of rule-breakers and degenerates led by the one man who we can all thank for bringing us together..." Triple H points to the Titantron as the lights go down and the famous DX theme begins to rumble throughout the arena, "Break It Down!" blasts from the Titantron as "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, sporting a DX shirt, returns to a big pop! The Kliq stands reunited as Triple H and Michaels embrace, it looks as if D-Generation X is about to reform in WCW with Hall and Nash as members! HBK takes the mic and initially seems like the cocky, charismatic showstopper and degenerate of old as he humors his brothers (and the fans) for a bit, only to suddenly swerve everyone and he gets real.

Michaels tears off the DX shirt to reveal a white undershirt and cross pendant around his neck, cuts a heartfelt promo on how after his back injury and forced retirement four years ago he's a changed man. He's a reformed christian who's sober now with a wife and son, and although he misses the thrill of competition if he ever wrestled again he'd want to do things differently and not allow his ego to run roughshod in the ring and backstage. Then he tears into Hall, Nash, and Hunter. "You guys left the WWF! This place was your home, your family. These people made you, these fans made you. You turned your back on them and joined NWO, and for what? For money? For championships? To be pawns in Hogan's political games? What's wrong with you? I might have done many things I regret in my career, but one thing I never forgot was that the WWF is and always will be my family, even above the Kliq."

Triple H does not take kindly to this, nailing his former best friend Michaels with a Pedigree, he beats him down and tries to get Hall and Nash to do the same. Nash refuses, just shakes his head and says "Look at what's become of us..." as he leaves the ring in disgust. Hall throws his toothpick in Triple H's face and follows with X-Pac. "Go, then!", screams Triple H. "I don't need the Kliq, I don't need friends, I don't need anybody! I'm the best damn wrestler in WCW!" Then Triple H turns around into a Sweet Chin Music from Michaels that sends him over the top rope!

With Wrestlemania looming things are looking very bad for WCW; Bischoff's men have lost confidence in his leadership, most of their titles have been reclaimed by the WWF, the NWO has disbanded, Austin is re-instated as WWF champion, and WCW World Heavyweight champion Hogan's ego and paranoia is out of control. Bischoff comes out at the end of Nitro and cuts a promo ensuring everyone he is in charge and if they don't like it too damn bad. All of a sudden "No Chance In Hell!" blasts from the Titantron as Vince McMahon emerges from the entrance ramp to a big pop! He is then joined by son Shane, daughter Stephanie, and wife Linda; The McMahon family finally stands united as they walk arm-in-arm down the entrance ramp, behind them is WWF champion Stone Cold and the entire WWF locker room who form a barrier on the entrance ramp as the McMahon's enter the ring. "You didn't think we'd go away that easily, did ya?!" says Vince.

He then cuts a good Vince promo; "You can beat a McMahon down, but you cannot kill a McMahon! In losing control of the company I admit I learned a much needed lesson in humility. Thankfully the love of my life Linda could find it in her heart to forgive all my past misdeeds and we've reconciled. Not only that, she's sold her shares of the company to me!" Bischoff is stunned but tries to brush Vince off, "I still am the one who has ownership of the company!" says Eric. "True", says Vince, "But with Wrestlemania on the horizon I have a proposition to make; this war between WWF and WCW has gone on for so long, I say we end this once and for all, at Wrestlemania! The grandest stage of them all! The showcase of the immortals! The WWF and WCW will battle for ownership of the company! My best WWF wrestlers versus your best WCW wrestlers, and in the end whichever side wins the most matches gets control of the company!"

Bischoff refuses, tells Vince he doesn't have to put up anything. "I thought you might say that", says Vince. Shane McMahon then proceeds to grab Bischoff and punch his lights out! Bischoff falls into Stephanie who slaps him in the face, then he turns into Linda who kicks him in the grapefruits! Vince then takes off his jacket and starts beating Bischoff to a pulp! All the WWF wrestlers are blocking the entrance ramp so Eric has no WCW back-up! Finally Bischoff relents to putting control of the company on the line as Nitro ends with the McMahon family standing tall in the ring over a beaten, humiliated Eric!

As the Nitro's progress towards Wrestlemania more matches fall into place. Triple H calls out Shawn Michaels; "Shawn, you say you've cleaned up and found God, but I say you're a hypocrite! I learned from the best and we both know you've done more to politic and backstab your way to the top than anyone, just ask Bret Hart!" Triple H attempts to goad Michael's out of retirement to finally settle their grudge at Wrestlemania. Michael's finally accepts and a match is sanctioned, No Holds Barred! Triple H says that he won't be the only one who Michaels has to contend with, Wrestlemania is taking place in Canada, the home country of Michael's former arch-nemesis and greatest rival, Bret "Hitman" Hart! 

(Note: For the uninitiated Bret and Shawn's real-life rivalry was mired in backstage politics and personal animosity, leading to Vince McMahon and Michael's infamously screwing Hart out of the WWF Title during the scandalous and highly controversial Montreal Screwjob of Survivor Series 97 as Hart had refused to drop the belt to Michaels in his home country despite it being his final WWF match given he'd just signed with WCW weeks before.) 

Hunter tells Michaels; "You say you're a changed man, prove it! Face your former best friend and protege in front of 70,000 blood-thirsty, pissed-off Canadian WWF fans who have never forgiven you for betraying their national hero! The Toronto Skydome will be like the Roman coliseum and you're gonna be a christian in the lion's den!" Seeking redemption and atonement for sins of the past, Michael's promises to earn the forgiveness of his WWF family and prove he's still Mr. Wrestlemania, even if it means walking into hell itself to defeat the monster he created.

Meanwhile Chris Jericho is pissed he came up short against Sting at Superbrawl, a loss his rival Ric Flair can't resist rubbing in Jericho's face. Jericho says he'll be happy to kick Flair's a*s as consolation. Flair says that while Jericho only claims to be a living legend The Nature Boy truly is a living legend! The two of them are amongst the greatest talkers in history so they just really tear into each other during promos and have fun during the build and it's awesome. The 16-time World champ Flair is always quick to remind Jericho he's never won the big one! An instant classic segment of the Highlight Reel see's Jericho cutting an epic promo impersonating Flair, coming out to his music, donning a vintage robe, right down to his strut and mannerisms and trademark catch phrases, funny stuff! Y2J then calls out his guest, Ric Flair's best friend and former Four Horsemen stablemate, The Enforcer Arn Anderson! "You and Flair may epitomize heritage and tradition, but I'm The Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla! I'm more athletic, more charismatic, and better looking than Nature Boy ever was! And I'm out to prove I'm the best in the world by railing against the very traditions embodied by old fossils like you!" Arn warns Jericho to tread carefully or else he'll invite the wrath of the Horsemen, Y2J then bashes Arn over the head with his mic! He beats him down before Flair runs down to join the fray and they proceed to tear apart the set in a brawl to end the segment!

Kurt Angle wants to reclaim his U.S. Title from Booker T but he also has bad blood with Scott Steiner who keeps calling him out and attacking him and other wrestlers until the Olympic gold medalist agrees to a match with Big Poppa Pump at Wrestlemania. Angle assures Steiner no matter how decorated a champion the former NCAA All-American is he's gonna get an All-American a*s-kicking at Wrestlemania! Steiner then makes Angle pass out to the Steiner Recliner and steals his gold medals to wear as a trophy so now it's personal and about pride. WCW U.S. champ Booker T will instead face WWF Intercontinental champ Rob Van Dam in a Title unification match!

The Outsiders are still Tag Team champions. No longer a part of NWO Kliq buddies Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and X-Pac continue to associate referring to themselves as the Wolfpack, going back to the cool red and black attire they wore in WCW with the bangin' Wolfpack theme song. The Dudley Boyz face Edge and Christian in a #1 contender match on Nitro, tensions between partners Edge and Christian lead to Edge missing a spear and accidentally nailing Christian! He then turns into a 3D to give The Dudleyz the win! The Outsiders will finally defend the Tag Team Titles against former champs The Dudley Boyz in a straight-up rematch at Wrestlemania. Post-match Edge and Christian nearly come to blows when DDP appears and hits a Diamond Cutter on Edge just as Christian turns around into a Flatliner from Kanyon!

The Hardy Boyz face off with The Filthy Animals Rey Mysterio and Kidman in a banger of a Nitro match that see's The Filthy Animals win! A fatal 4-way for Jeff's Cruiserweight Title is booked for Wrestlemania. Similarly Lance Storm and Chavo Guerrero defeat The Radicalz Chris Benoit and European champ Eddie Guerrero in a tag match when an unintentional spot with partner Benoit leads to Eddie being caught and tapping to the Mapleleaf. After the match Storm continues to apply the hold injuring him, Chavo doesn't know how to feel about this, wonders if Storm went too far. Backstage Storm approaches a frustrated Benoit, "If I could be serious for a moment, Eddie is holding you back from the greatness you were meant to achieve, the greatness you were trained for. We represent the elite! As a fellow Hart dungeon alum we both know we're better than them" (referring to Los Guerreros). Benoit gets in Storm's face but says nothing and walks away. In another backstage vignette Rey Mysterio tells Chavo that even though him and Eddie belong to different tribes he shouldn't forget who his real family is, echoing Storm's words from months prior. A fatal 4-way for Eddie's European Title is set for Wrestlemania.

Despite problems Edge tells Christian that even though they haven't been on the greatest streak Wrestlemania is going to totally reek of awesomeness cuz it's in their hometown of Toronto! "The biggest night of our careers, the biggest show of all time! There is too much at stake to let our personal issues come between doing the WWF and our hometown peeps proud! But no matter what happens, we do this the right way, we don't cheat!" says Edge. They are ready to go 2 out of 3 falls with The Jersey Boys Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon and all Edge can talk about is how much he looks forward to being victorious in front of their hometown peeps on the biggest stage! Edge and Christian seem to reconcile for the greater good of the WWF and the fans. Christian tells Edge, "You're my brother. You know I'll always have your back."

Finally Vince McMahon challenges Eric Bischoff to a match, says the longtime adversaries should get in the ring at long last and settle their feud like men. "At Wrestlemania it won't just be the WWF that kicks your a*s, I'm gonna kick your a*s!" Eric accepts, so long as it be a traditional wrestling match and not a street fight or no disqualification. 

The last Nitro before Wrestlemania X8 see's WCW World Heavyweight champ Hollywood Hulk Hogan coming out to his badass "Voodoo Child" theme and he cuts a final promo in the ring; "This Sunday, in what is being called the biggest and most important match in the history of pro wrestling, I return to the stage I built, Wrestlemania. There would be no Wrestlemania without Hulkamania! Hulk Hogan is the reason you people are coming to the arenas and stadiums by the millions! Hulk Hogan is the reason the boys in the back get to make their living in this ring! Hulk Hogan is the greatest professional wrestler of all time! And do you really wanna know why I left the WWF for WCW all those years ago? It wasn't just the money, brother! It wasn't just 'cuz me and Vince came to blows! It was the WWF fans! You people came to take Hulk Hogan for granted! You embraced a new generation! You people turned on me so I turned on you!"

*Glass Shatters!* WWF champ Stone Cold comes out to interrupt; "What a bunch of crap! I might not have been about saying your prayers and taking your vitamins, Stone Cold is more about drinkin' beers and kickin' a*s! But we all know damn well it wasn't the WWF fans who drove you away. It wasn't the fans who took Hulk Hogan for granted, it was Hulk Hogan who took the fans for granted! You forgot they were the one's who made you, they made Hulkamania. You thought you were bigger than your home, the WWF. So you left and went down south to WCW, but because they weren't your people you never really respected the place, and you've done nothing but b***h ever since! These people loved you, these people believed in you. And hell, for all our differences, and despite the fact I hate your guts, I'm man enough to admit I respect what you accomplished here. You had one hellacious run. But all that crap aside when you say you're the greatest of all time, you're wrong d****t, 'cuz that title belongs to me, the WWF champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin! Now our Wrestlemania main event this Sunday is the biggest match of all time, so you damn well better dig deep and find whatever remnants of Hulkamania you might have left if you hope to have a chance in hell 'cuz you are gonna get the very best of Stone Cold when I whoop your a*s! And that's the bottom line 'cuz Stone Cold 'sez so!" Hogan responds in brief, "Trust me, one thing I can promise you, Austin; You are gonna get the very best of Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania!"

Later on the main event of this final Nitro before Wrestlemania X8 see's Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff sitting down for a contract signing to make the winner-take-all stipulation at Wrestlemania official. McMahon and Bischoff don't come to blows, rather the history of the WWF versus WCW and the Monday Night War is recounted as both men finally get everything they have wanted to say off their chests in what should be an epic shoot promo for the ages. Bischoff even recounts how his animosity for Vince began. "Before I ever came to WCW I was just a guy out of work looking for a job trying to break into the business. One day I saw the WWF was looking to hire on-air talent and I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to audition as an announcer! It obviously didn't go well as your people had me interview not a wrestler, but a mop on camera, do you remember?" Bischoff then plays archival video tape of the embarrassing segment. "You didn't respect me or take me seriously. You thought I was a joke, but I think it's safe to say you're not laughing now." Show ends as Vince signs the contract in the ring with the WWF locker room behind him and Eric does the same with the WCW locker room behind him; like two generals preparing to send their armies into battle.

WRESTLEMANIA X8

Sunday Night Heat: Immunity Battle Royal: Won by Kane

(A battle royal featuring WWF and WCW wrestlers not on the main card competing for immunity (Mr. Perfect, Goldust, APA, Saturn, Malenko, Regal, O'Haire, Palumbo, Helms, etc.) Final four is Mike Awesome and X-Pac for WCW going up against Big Show and a returning Kane, the reigning giants of the WWF. Kane eliminates his old frenemy X-Pac while Awesome throws Big Show over the top. Kane and Mike Awesome are the last men standing and the two monsters have a cool sequence. Finish see's Kane counter an Awesome Bomb into an impressive Hurrikanerana before hitting a Choke Slam and clotheslining Awesome over the top rope to win immunity! A WWF wrestler winning here is a nice red herring that WCW may emerge victorious, WWF is 1-0)

Cruiserweight Title: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Billy Kidman

(A fast-paced, entertaining opener with lots of high-flying action. Rey Mysterio, donning a Spiderman mask to begin the great tradition of him sporting superhero-inspired ring gear at Mania, wins the Cruiserweight Title in his Wrestlemania debut from Jeff after scoring a 619 into a Hurricanrana pin on Matt, sowing the first seeds for an eventual Hardyz break-up. WCW wins the first match of the PPV, "Perhaps a bad omen for things to come" says JR.  WWF is 1-1)

European Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm vs. Chavo Guerrero

(Storm takes advantage of an injured Eddie making him tap out to the Canadian Mapleleaf in Toronto to win the European Title. Post-match a sympathetic Chavo turns face and reconciles with Eddie, assists Benoit in helping his uncle to the back. WWF is off to a rough start 1-2)

Intercontinental/United States Title Unification: Rob Van Dam vs. Booker T

(RVD wins the unified IC/U.S. Title with the Five-Star Frog Splash! First WWF win of the PPV! 2-2)

2 Out of 3 Falls: Edge & Christian vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Kanyon

(First fall goes to DDP who pins Christian after reversing an Unprettier into a Diamond Cutter. Edge says "I got this" and scores the second fall pinning DDP with a Spear to show Christian how it's done. Later Edge looks to have the match won and is about to score the last fall as he connects with a big double Spear on DDP and Kanyon! At this moment Christian finally snaps and turns on his partner! He nails Edge with an Unprettier in their hometown of Toronto on the biggest stage to major boos as DDP rolls over and covers Edge to win. Post-match Christian grabs a chair and delivers a vicious beat down on Edge to nuclear heat. Edge eventually recovers and adamantly refuses help from medics, insists on making the walk to the back on his own to cheers from the hometown fans. WWF is 2-3)

Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner

(Before the match Steiner cuts one of his typical unhinged promos running down the Canadian fans in Toronto for extra heat. Angle carries Big Poppa Pump to a quality match with lots of suplexes that ends when the Olympic hero reverses a Steiner Recliner and taps the fellow NCAA All-American to the Ankle Lock to get his gold medals back. WWF is 3-3)

Chris Jericho vs. Ric Flair

(Late in the match when the ref is bumped Arn Anderson interferes nailing Jericho with a Spinebuster for a close near-fall! Y2J applies the Walls of Jericho making Flair submit but Arn distracts the ref on the apron who doesn't see him tap out! The dirtiest player in the game uses every trick in the book to steal a win over the younger lion Jericho. Post-match Y2J reacts badly to the loss and takes out his frustrations locking the ref in the Walls of Jericho, refuses to break the hold as he's swarmed by officials. He continues to throw a tantrum and complain he's a victim of conspiracy, Jericho has started a slow-burn heel turn. WCW takes the lead 3-4)

Tag Team Titles: The Dudley Boyz vs. The Outsiders (c)

(Near the end of the match D-Von falls out of a Razors Edge from Hall and The Dudley Boyz are able to connect with a 3D to regain the Tag Team Titles for the WWF! Post-match Bubba Ray says "D-Von! Get the tables!" and they put both The Outsiders through the wood for good measure! WWF closes the gap 4-4)

Vince McMahon vs. Eric Bischoff

(Vince kicks Eric's a*s in a short, one-sided squash. Near the end Vince connects with a Vinnie Mac Stunner on Eric when suddenly the Toronto fans go crazy as a man dressed in black and brandishing a lead pipe jumps the barricade and enters the ring, it's Bret "Hitman" Hart! Vince and referee Earl Hebner look at Hart as if they've seen a ghost! Eric slowly rises and smiles thinking Hart has returned to help WCW, just then Bret nails Eric with the lead pipe! Vince is stunned as Bret turns to Hebner and says, "Do your job, Earl!" Vince stands confused as a tearful Hebner gulps, says to Vince, "I'm sorry", then calls for the bell just like he did in Montreal! Bischoff defeats McMahon via DQ! Bret screwed Vince! "The Toronto Screwjob!" proclaims JR in shock and disbelief! Hebner flees the ring in disgust as Vince stands furious when Bret bludgeons him with the lead pipe! Hart locks a bloodied Vince in the Sharpshooter wrenching it in mercilessly before he's swarmed by security and dragged away in handcuffs. WCW pulls ahead 4-5)

No Holds Barred: 

Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H

(With the sins of Montreal fresh in their minds the die-hard Toronto fans boo Michaels out of the building, relishing every bit of punishment Triple H dishes out towards HBK in his brutal comeback match. Michaels eventually defies the odds to prove he's still the showstopper, overcoming the hostile Canadian fans and defeating Triple H with Sweet Chin Music. This is similar to their classic street fight from Summerslam 02 but made even more emotional due to the violent crowd atmosphere and setting. Post-match Triple H attacks Michaels nailing his injured back with a sledgehammer, "You sadistic son of a b***h! That man has a family!" screams JR in disgust. Triple H leaves HBK laying in a Jesus Christ pose, stands over him and gestures "Suck it!" much to the bloodthirsty Canadian fans delight. Hunter walks to the back smiling as his former best friend does a stretcher job, Shawn Michaels is redeemed. WWF ties WCW 5-5)

Streak vs. Streak: 

The Undertaker vs. Goldberg

(The highly anticipated rematch. Near the end Goldberg hits Undertaker with a Spear and Jackhammer, 1-2-Taker kicks out! First WWF wrestler to kick out of the Jackhammer! Undertaker hits a Tombstone Piledriver to reclaim his yard, ending Goldberg's undefeated streak to go 10-0 at Wrestlemania! "There's no question about it, The Phenom of the WWF possesses the most dominant undefeated streak in professional wrestling!" says JR. Paul Bearer then leads a procession of druids carrying a casket marked "10-0" down to ringside which Undertaker unceremoniously dumps a lifeless Goldberg into and he's carried off! WWF takes the lead! 6-5)

Icon vs. Icon: 

The Rock vs. Sting

(The penultimate main event. Sting gets a rock star entrance for his Mania debut with musical guests Metallica performing "Seek and Destroy". The culmination of a respect feud between two proud warriors fighting for the honor and legacies of their clans. With WWF ahead the pressure's on The Franchise to win for WCW. Near the end Rock hits the Rock Bottom and gets up for the People's Elbow, he runs the ropes and drops the elbow, Sting evades! Both men rise to their feet, Sting beating his chest in defiance! Rock charges but Sting sweeps The Rock's legs and manages to turn him over into the Scorpion Deathlock! Sting has a bloodied Rock locked in the Scorpion Deathlock ("Shades of Austin/Hart at Wrestlemania 13!" screams JR!) but Rock will not submit, just like Austin he passes out from the pain and Sting is declared victorious. He soaks in the moment then staggers over to Rock who slowly regains consciousness and in a big display of respect Sting helps The Rock to his feet, the two Icons of wrestling shake hands and embrace. "That's what this great sport is all about!" gushes JR. "It's about honor! It's about respect! It's about pride!" Rock goes to leave the ring but Sting stops him, says "This is Wrestlemania. This is your home, these are your people." Then in an extraordinary act of respect he steps out on the apron and exits first, leaving the ring to The People's Champion. "If Ya Smell!!!" blasts from the Titantron as a bloodied but defiant Rock stands tall in the ring, choking back the manliest of man-tears. He poses on the turnbuckle soaking up the cheers of the crowd as JR underscores the moment, "Up the ramp goes an Icon, in the ring remains one! And whoever emerges victorious tonight the fighting spirit of WCW will continue to live on in Sting, just as the fighting spirit of the WWF will endure in The Rock!" And now the score is 6-6)

WWF/WCW World Heavyweight Title Unification: 

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan

(Finally it all comes down to this: Legend versus legend. Champion versus champion. The two biggest stars of all time. Both men faces of their promotions, both men faces of their eras. Near the end of the match Austin hits Hogan with a Stunner. 1-2-Hogan Hulks up! Austin is stunned (ha) as Hulkamania lives again and Hogan digs deep drawing on the power of the Hulkamaniacs in the Toronto Skydome! "Whatcha' gonna do, Stone Cold?!" Big Boot, Atomic Leg Drop! 1-2-Austin kicks out! Hogan goes for a second, Austin evades, and in the middle of the ring Austin hits a final Stone Cold Stunner on Hogan, 1-2-3. Austin defeats Hogan for the Undisputed Championship and WWF regains control of the promotion! Stone Cold celebrates raising both championship belts high having scored the final victory for the WWF in The Monday Night War! A humbled, defeated Hogan turns face with the loss, offering an earnest handshake to Austin which after some hesitation Stone Cold returns. Hogan exits the ring as The Rock leads the WWF locker room down, nodding to Hogan as he passes. Rock enters the ring and shakes Austin's hand congratulating him, the WWF wrestlers celebrate with Austin including a tearful Vince who gives Stone Cold a big hug. Austin looks genuinely touched as he shakes McMahon's hand and toasts beers with his old nemesis, then he gives Vince a Stunner in classic Stone Cold fashion for old times' sake to hearty laughter from the boys! Hogan stands at the entrance ramp as he turns to look back on this scene before walking away. Confetti falls over the ring and the PPV ends as JR proudly proclaims "Tune in tomorrow for Monday Night RAW!")

The Raw after Wrestlemania see's a victorious McMahon standing in the middle of the ring, next to him is a podium displaying the new WWF Undisputed Championship. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Monday Night RAW! You know, it seems like for the longest time Eric Bischoff and I have been the most bitter of rivals. He's beaten me down, he's humiliated me, and I can honestly say I have never hated an individual more than I hated him. And yet, through all our wars he always managed to bring out the best in me. Through every battle, win or lose, the WWF was always stronger for it in the end. I can't say I like him, but damn it, I do respect him. So in the spirit of our war finally coming to an end, and because I would rather have a son of a b***h working for me than a son of a b***h working against me, I am proud to introduce the new Commissioner of the WWF, Mr. Eric Bischoff!"

Eric comes out with a smug grin to the surprise of everyone, him and Vince shake hands and embrace, the handshake that ends The Monday Night War. Vince then says he plans to extend the same courtesy that Eric showed his WWF wrestlers and announces he has no plans to fire any WCW talent ("That's not good business!") Vince promises that going forward him and Eric will work together to create the best promotion possible, the best of WWF and the best of WCW. Suddenly Triple H and The Outsiders jump the ringside barricade, Triple H grabs a mic and interrupts; "What the hell is this about?! You guys spend years pitting us against each other, the worst of enemies, now standing hand-in-hand?" Triple H and The Outsiders enter the ring. "Vince, you trust this guy after how long he tried to put you out of business? You're both pathetic!"

*Glass Shatters!* Undisputed champ Stone Cold walks down to the ring to a huge pop, takes his championship belt from the podium then grabs a mic. "Triple H, you're the last sonbitch alive who should be questioning anyone's choices! You chose to turn your back on the WWF and all it got you was an a*s-kicking! Hell, you're lucky Vince hasn't banned your a*s from ever stepping foot into this ring again, so why don't you and your punk-a*s buddies just piss off once and for all!"

Triple H attacks Austin and the two trade punches, Hall throws his toothpick in Eric's face then him and Nash beat down Vince and Eric, kicking them out of the ring and tossing the podium out as well before joining Triple H in attacking Stone Cold. Suddenly a famous guitar riff not heard in a decade blasts from the Titantron, could it be? Yes, the crowd roars as "Real American" fills the arena and from the entrance ramp emerges The Immortal HULK HOGAN! No longer "Hollywood", he's returned to his classic red and yellow ring attire and rushes down to help Austin! Triple H and The Outsiders are in disbelief! "Hulkamania is running wild again!" screams JR! Austin and Hogan fight off The Outsiders! Stone Cold hits Triple H with a Stunner, Hogan follows with the Atomic Leg Drop! The Outsiders and Triple H retreat back into the crowd as The Hulkster strikes his classic poses for the WWF fans! Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan stand tall in the ring, the two legends toast beers in honor of the World Wrestling Federation!

Author's Note

I just wanted to give a special shout-out to WhatCulture Wrestling for providing a wonderful template for me to work with in their "How WWE Should Have Booked:The Invasion" YouTube video. And thank you to all the fans for reading! Hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it.