Let's Talk Wrestling : WWF Invasion 2001 (Review)

WWF

Invasion

Cleveland, Ohio

July 22nd, 2001

Tag Team Match

Lance Storm & Mike Awesome vs. Christian & Edge

A solid opening match. Felt way too rushed and could of used another few minutes though. Once the end started to come everything just moved too quickly. Good finishing sequence though with Edge and Christian, techincally being heels who got cheered, picking up the win.

3 / 5

Singles Match (Special Referee: Mick Foley)

Earl Hebner vs. Nick Patrick

A super quick comedy match almost between these two refs. Some decent spots given both men aren’t wrestlers. It was over super quick so it didn’t overstay its welcome.

2.5 / 5

Tag Team Match

Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire vs. The APA (Bradshaw & Faarooq)

A hard hitting tag match. Hit a weird snag towards the end though. Nothing overly impressive and APA was dominate the majority of the match.

2 / 5

Singles Match

Billy Kidman vs. X-Pac

An odd match. Both men were playing the opposite roles in what they normally would. It felt like it should of been so much better as well with these two because of their styles but both almost were super down played the entire match.

1.5 / 5

Singles Match

Raven vs. William Regal

Another odd pairing that got zero crowd reaction the entire match. The two just didn’t work together well and it was sloppy and messy looking without anything great really happening. Ending with a run in from Taz that was never really explained much didn’t help either. This was a match set to fail from the start it seemed.

1 / 5

Six Man Tag Team Match

Chris Kanyon, Hugh Morrus & Shawn Stasiak vs. Albert, Billy Gunn & The Big Show

Another dead crowd match and one of the most rushed 6 man tags you could ever witness. No story going into this or anything to hold the match and not even long enough for anyone to really shine.

1 / 5

Singles Match

Tajiri vs. Tazz

A fast action packed match that was just short. Tazz ruled most of the match with Tajira getting his mist in for a quick and cheap win. Crowd was either way for it and Tajira was made to be the underdog. ECW guy vs ECW guy was odd for this PPV though in the long run.

1.5 / 5

WWF Hardcore Title Match

Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Rob Van Dam

A fun match between Hardy and RVD for the hardcore title. It focused on what it knew it needed to be which was a fast moving physical bout. Both men took some great spots and hard hits throughout and the fans were very into it.

3.5 / 5

Bra And Panties Tag Team Match (Special Referee: Mick Foley)

Stacy Keibler & Torrie Wilson vs. Lita & Trish Stratus

As a match, its awful. As everything else, I mean it just feels wrong now a days sort of and odd to watch.

.5 / 5

Team WWF Vs. Team WCW/ECW Inaugural Brawl

Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Rhyno & The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley) (w/Paul Heyman, Shane McMahon & Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. Chris Jericho, Kane, Kurt Angle, Steve Austin & The Undertaker (w/Vince McMahon)

Seemingly the entire PPV was built around this one match. Getting a big tag match with huge names from all 3 companies was great. The match itself gave everyone their time to shine but also gave fans the chaotic nature one would expect from a match like this towards the end. Ending wise it made perfect sense as to not make Team WCW / ECW look weak or destroy them and built up an angle which would play out for months following between Austin and Angle.

3.5 / 5