WWE: 10 Awesome Wrestling Reunions

3. ECW (2001)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhBaREV0zVw The Invasion angle that rocked WWE in the summer and fall of 2001 got off to a rough start in July. A blunder of a match between Booker T and Buff Bagwell nearly ended the experiment before it began. The roster of former WCW was nowhere near strong enough to provide WWE with any legitimate competition, despite being full of bright young talent. It was against that background, and with desperation setting in, that WWE took a chance and resurrected another promotion. On the July 9 episode of Raw, Kane and Chris Jericho found themselves on the receiving end of a beat down courtesy of the WCW faction. Suddenly, backup hit the ring and a standoff between the two sides ensued. Then it happened: the WWE Superstars slowly turned on. and assaulted, Jericho and Kane. Paul Heyman rose from the commentator's position and entered the ring, joined by the likes of Tazz, Raven, the Dudley Boyz, Justin Credible, Lance Storm, Mike Awesome and the debuting Tommy Dreamer and Rob Van Dam. Heyman cut a scathing promo and stood gloriously in the center of the squared circle with the men he helped make stars in America. By the end of the night, ECW would join forces with WCW and it would be revealed that Stephanie McMahon had bought the company. That element severely watered down what could have been a huge money-making angle but for that one night, the reemergence of ECW popped the crowd and gave viewers a truly memorable moment.