8 Things We Learned About WWE Buying WCW From Dave Meltzer On Talk Is Jericho

6. Invasion Remains One Of Jericho's Biggest Payoffs

Glance at the match graphic above and you'll see that the WWF didn't have much true WCW talent to work with at Invasion. DDP and Booker T were the big incomers, but there wasn't much depth beyond that. That's why they had to draft ECW into the fold and add Rhyno and The Dudley Boyz to the 'Alliance' side.

That didn't matter to fans; people had been desperate to see WWF vs. WCW for so long that they were willing to try it on even with the dearth of top names. Invasion, site of the 'Inaugural Brawl' for control of everything, did huge business at the gate and box office. What's more, it was worthwhile for the talent.

Chris Jericho said on his pod that Invasion was his second-biggest payoff for one night. It wouldn't be topped in WWE until he headlined WrestleMania X-8 with Triple H the following year. That, for working a 10-man tag-team match, was amazing to Y2J.

It showed how much interest there was in cross-promotional warfare. That's exactly why Vince McMahon's original plan called for something a little less in-house...