Changes

On the March 26, 2001 edition of ''Raw is War'', it was announced that WWE had purchased WCW.  After the last episode of ''Nitro'' aired, a simulcast began on USA and TNT.  In storyline, Vince McMahon came out to gloat about his purchase of WCW, when Shane McMahon came out on Nitro to announce that he had purchased WCW from under his father's nose.  This was done to further a storyline between Vince and Shane McMahon, as the two were to have a match at ''WrestleMania X-Seven'', the largest show of the year, which was just six days away.  Although the purchase was made, and WCW was now off the air, the Invasion did not begin immediately following ''WrestleMania X-Seven''.  On the May 21, 2001 edition of ''Raw is War'', WCW wrestler Lance Storm came out through the crowd, and interfered in a match.  Over the next few weeks, various WCW wrestlers would come out, and interfere in matches.  Eventually, Diamond Dallas Page, one of WCW's most well-known names, would debut on Raw to start building up a match with the Undertaker at ''[[King of the Ring]]''.  At the event, Booker T would come out and interfere in the title match.  After King of the Ring, the Invasion storyline began to kickoff.

On the March 26, 2001 edition of ''Raw is War'', it was announced that WWE had purchased WCW.  After the last episode of ''Nitro'' aired, a simulcast began on USA and TNT.  In storyline, Vince McMahon came out to gloat about his purchase of WCW, when Shane McMahon came out on Nitro to announce that he had purchased WCW from under his father's nose.  This was done to further a storyline between Vince and Shane McMahon, as the two were to have a match at ''WrestleMania X-Seven'', the largest show of the year, which was just six days away.  Although the purchase was made, and WCW was now off the air, the Invasion did not begin immediately following ''WrestleMania X-Seven''.  On the May 21, 2001 edition of ''Raw is War'', WCW wrestler Lance Storm came out through the crowd, and interfered in a match.  Over the next few weeks, various WCW wrestlers would come out, and interfere in matches.  Eventually, Diamond Dallas Page, one of WCW's most well-known names, would debut on Raw to start building up a match with the Undertaker at ''[[King of the Ring]]''.  At the event, Booker T would come out and interfere in the title match.  After King of the Ring, the Invasion storyline began to kickoff.

On the July 2, 2001 edition of Raw is War, the last 20 minutes were given to WCW.  A WCW Championship match between Booker T and Buff Bagwell took place.  However, the match received poor reviews, and it is said that Vince McMahon hated the segment.  This caused the storyline to go in a different direction that originally planned.  The initial plan was for WCW to be branched into it's own entity, with it's own touring schedule, house shows, and pay-per-views.  ''Raw'' would be given to WCW, and ''[[SmackDown!]]'' to WWE.  On the July 9, 2001 edition of Raw is War, the WCW contingent turned heel when they joined forces with ECW, which had been purchased in storyline by Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.  This would lead to the pay-per-view, ''InVasion''.  At the pay-per-view, Stone Cold Steve Austin would join WCW and ECW, which later became known as The Coalition, and later, The Alliance.  In response, Vince McMahon, would reinstate The Rock, who had not appeared on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania X-Seven, who had actually been filming ''The Scorpion King''.  The Rock would go on to face Booker T at ''[[SummerSlam]]'' for the WCW Championship, which he won.

On the July 2, 2001 edition of Raw is War, the last 20 minutes were given to WCW.  A WCW Championship match between Booker T and Buff Bagwell took place.  However, the match received poor reviews, and it is said that Vince McMahon hated the segment.  This caused the storyline to go in a different direction that originally planned.  The initial plan was for WCW to be branched into it's own entity, with it's own touring schedule, house shows, and pay-per-views.  ''Raw'' would be given to WCW, and ''[[WWE SmackDown!|SmackDown]]'' to WWE.  On the July 9, 2001 edition of Raw is War, the WCW contingent turned heel when they joined forces with ECW, which had been purchased in storyline by Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.  This would lead to the pay-per-view, ''InVasion''.  At the pay-per-view, Stone Cold Steve Austin would join WCW and ECW, which later became known as The Coalition, and later, The Alliance.  In response, Vince McMahon, would reinstate The Rock, who had not appeared on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania X-Seven, who had actually been filming ''The Scorpion King''.  The Rock would go on to face Booker T at ''[[SummerSlam]]'' for the WCW Championship, which he won.

As the storyline continued, WWE changed the name of ''Raw is War'', to ''Raw''.  The reason being that the Monday Night Wars were over, and due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.  The Invasion storyline ended at ''[[Survivor Series]]'' with Team WWE defeating Team Alliance in a Winner Take All match.  The next night on Raw, Ric Flair made his first appearance in eight years, and announced that he and Vince McMahon were partners, as Shane and Stephanie had sold their stocks to him in order to buy WCW and ECW, respectively.  Steve Austin also turned babyface for the first time since before ''WrestleMania X-Seven''.

As the storyline continued, WWE changed the name of ''Raw is War'', to ''Raw''.  The reason being that the Monday Night Wars were over, and due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.  The Invasion storyline ended at ''[[Survivor Series]]'' with Team WWE defeating Team Alliance in a Winner Take All match.  The next night on Raw, Ric Flair made his first appearance in eight years, and announced that he and Vince McMahon were partners, as Shane and Stephanie had sold their stocks to him in order to buy WCW and ECW, respectively.  Steve Austin also turned babyface for the first time since before ''WrestleMania X-Seven''.