17 Ways WWE Has Changed Since It Was The WWF

17. The Original Brand Split's False Start

When Linda McMahon launched the 2002 "Brand Extension" as an acceptance of Ric Flair and Vince McMahon's inability to work together, the planned format required the splitting of the company's raft of massive megastars to keep both brands afloat.

It was a short-sighted start to what was presented as a very long-term plan. Within weeks, said megastars were absent from the brands they'd been sent to shore up, and confusion over what to do with floating champions led to several hastily rebooked topline programmes that undermined the supposed Red Vs Blue divide.

Stone Cold Steve Austin's frustrated post-WrestleMania walkout had damaged the integrity of the idea at inception, but it totally f*cked both his feud with new heel Raw "Owner" Ric Flair and the flagship's direction in general when he left again in June. The panic booking that followed but a bullet in the brand split in under two months - McMahon defeated Flair to assume 100% storyline control and rethink the severed ties.

Introducing Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon as warring General Managers was an extremely positive start - imbuing the gimmick with the same newness the unwelcome "WWE" name change desperately required...