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SummerSlam (2001)
SummerSlam (2001)
SummerSlam (2001)
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SummerSlam
Promotional poster featuring The Rock
PromotionWorld Wrestling Federation
DateAugust 19, 2001
CitySan Jose, California
VenueCompaq Center at San Jose
Attendance15,293
Buy rate570,000[1]
TaglineFinally
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
Invasion 		Next →
Unforgiven
SummerSlam chronology
← Previous
2000 		Next →
2002

The 2001 SummerSlam was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the 14th annual SummerSlam and took place on August 19, 2001, at the Compaq Center at San Jose in San Jose, California. It was the last SummerSlam promoted under the WWF name, as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002. It was also the last SummerSlam held before the introduction of the brand extension in March 2002.

In the main event, The Rock defeated Booker T for the WCW Championship, after executing a Rock Bottom. The other two main matches on the card were Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship, which Angle won, after Austin was disqualified for attacking referees, and Rob Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy in a ladder match for the WWF Hardcore Championship. The other main match on the undercard was the Winners Take All Steel Cage match between WCW Tag Team Champions The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) and WWF Tag Team Champions Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon, which The Undertaker and Kane won, after The Undertaker executed the Last Ride and pinned Page to win both titles.

Production

[edit]

Background

[edit]
The event was held at the Compaq Center in San Jose, California.

SummerSlam is an annual pay-per-view (PPV) produced every August by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) since 1988. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer",[2] it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and Survivor Series,[3] and was considered one of the "Big Five" PPVs, along with King of the Ring.[4] It has since become considered WWF's second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania.[5][6] The 2001 event was the 14th SummerSlam and was scheduled to be held on August 19, 2001, at the Compaq Center at San Jose in San Jose, California.[7]

Storylines

[edit]

The main rivalry heading into SummerSlam was between The Rock and Booker T, battling over the WCW Championship. After losing the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania X-Seven, The Rock took a hiatus from professional wrestling to film the movie The Scorpion King.[8] On the July 9, 2001 edition of Raw Is War, campaigning for The Rock's return began.[9][10] Following the campaigning, The Rock returned to the WWF on the July 30, 2001 edition of Raw Is War, where he chose to align himself with the WWF instead of The Alliance for The Invasion.[11][12] This action was shown by The Rock delivering a Rock Bottom and the People's Elbow onto Shane McMahon, The Alliance leader.[10][12] Later that week on SmackDown!, Booker T and The Rock cut a promo, where Booker T challenged The Rock to a match at SummerSlam; the beginning of the Rock-Booker T rivalry.[13][14] Seeking revenge for the attack from the previous week, McMahon fought The Rock in a Street Fight on the August 6 edition of Raw Is War, where The Rock pinned McMahon. The rivalry between The Rock and Booker T intensified after the match, where Booker T and Shane McMahon double-teamed The Rock.[15][16] Later that week on SmackDown!, in retaliation, The Rock accepted Booker T's challenge.[17][18] On the August 13 edition of Raw Is War, The Rock was involved in a tag team match, where he teamed with Chris Jericho in a loss to Booker T and Rhyno.[19][20] After the match, Booker T delivered his variation of the Rock Bottom on The Rock, a move dubbed, The Book End.[19][20] On the final edition of SmackDown! before SummerSlam, McMahon announced that Booker T would defend the WCW Championship at SummerSlam against The Rock.[21][22] Later that night, the rivalry continued to intensify during a Lights Out match between Booker T and The Rock, after Booker T delivered a Book End onto The Rock through a commentators announce table.[21][22]

The other main match on the card was Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship. The previous month at Invasion, Team WCW/ECW (Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Rhyno and Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) defeated Team WWF (Austin, Angle, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker and Kane). Team WCW/ECW won after Austin turned on the WWF when he executed a Stunner on Angle. On the following night's edition of Raw Is War, Austin stated that he did this because he felt that Vince McMahon was grooming Angle to take over his spot, and that he was "unappreciated" when McMahon insisted he return to the old Austin. Later that evening, Austin interfered during a six man Elimination Tables match by assaulting Angle. Then on the July 26, 2001 edition of SmackDown!, Angle appeared in his hometown of Pittsburgh and challenged Austin for the WWF Championship but Austin instead chose Booker T to defend his WCW Championship against Angle. Later on that night, Angle won the WCW Championship from Booker despite Austin's interference. On the July 30, 2001 edition of Raw Is War, Angle lost the WCW Championship back to Booker with the help of Austin and Shane McMahon. Afterwards, Angle challenged Austin for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam, which Austin accepted. The feud between Austin and Angle would escalate in the following couple of weeks leading up to SummerSlam especially in a Six Man Tag Team Elimination match pitting Austin and the Dudley Boyz against Angle and The Hardy Boyz, which Austin and the Dudley Boyz won.

Another main match heading into the event was Jeff Hardy versus Rob Van Dam in a Ladder match for the WWF Hardcore Championship. At Invasion Van Dam defeated Hardy to win the Hardcore Championship. In the following weeks, Van Dam and Hardy faced each other in Tag Team matches. On the August 13 edition of Raw, Van Dam was scheduled to defend his title against Kurt Angle, and as the match was underway, Hardy interfered and pinned Van Dam to win the title for himself. This led to a Ladder match for the title at SummerSlam between Hardy and Van Dam.

Event

[edit]
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentator Jim Ross
Paul Heyman
Carlos Cabrera (Spanish)
Hugo Savinovich (Spanish)
Interviewer Lilian Garcia
Michael Cole
Ring announcer Howard Finkel
Referee Mike Chioda
Jim Korderas
Earl Hebner
Jack Doan
Tim White
Theodore Long
Chad Patton
Brian Hebner
Charles Robinson

Before the event began, a dark match took place on Heat. The match was originally a handicap match featuring Lita and Jacqueline against Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler, and Ivory. Backstage, Wilson, Ivory and Keibler attacked Lita, preventing her from competing. Molly Holly replaced Lita. Lita performed the Twist of Fate on Ivory, allowing Jacqueline to pin her for the win.[23]

Preliminary matches

[edit]

The event opened with Lance Storm defending the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Edge. Storm applied the Canadian Crab on Edge but Edge countered and applied the Canadian Crab on Storm. Storm threw Edge into the referee to escape the hold. Christian interfered, attempting a Spear on Storm but Storm avoided the move and Christian performed a Spear on Edge. Storm performed a Superkick on Christian and pinned Edge for a near-fall. Edge performed an Edgecution on Storm to win the title.

Next, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) and Test faced The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) and Spike Dudley. Spike attempted a Dudley Dog on Test but Test countered by throwing Spike through a table. Bradshaw performed a Clothesline from Hell on Test but the referee checked on Spike. Shane McMahon hit Bradshaw with a steel chair, allowing Test to pin Bradshaw to win the match.

After that, WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac faced WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Tajiri. Albert interfered, leading to Tajiri attacking Albert with red mist. X-Pac performed the X-Factor on Tajiri to win the match.

Next, Chris Jericho faced Rhyno. Jericho forced Rhyno to submit to the Walls of Jericho to win the match.

After that, Jeff Hardy defended the WWF Hardcore Championship against Rob Van Dam in a Ladder match. Hardy attempted to retrieve the title belt but Van Dam pushed the ladder, causing Hardy to fall into the ring ropes. Van Dam retrieved the title belt to win the title.

In the sixth match, WCW Tag Team Champions The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) faced WWF Tag Team Champions Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon in a Steel Cage match for both titles. Page attempted to escape the cage but The Undertaker performed a Chokeslam on Page. The Undertaker performed a Last Ride on Page to win the match.

In the seventh match, Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the WWF Championship against Kurt Angle. Austin performed a Stone Cold Stunner on Angle for a near-fall. Austin performed a second Stone Cold Stunner on Angle, causing Angle to roll out of the ring. Angle applied the Ankle Lock on Austin but Austin touched the ring ropes, forcing Angle to break the hold. Austin applied a Cobra Clutch on Angle but Angle ran forwards, causing Austin to roll out of the ring. Austin performed a third Stone Cold Stunner on Angle for a near-fall. Angle performed an Angle Slam on Austin for a near-fall. Austin attacked the WWF referee and Angle performed a DDT on Austin for another near-fall. Austin attacked Angle with a low blow and performed a Stone Cold Stunner on another WWF referee. Austin hit another WWF referee with the title belt and ran into Angle, who performed an Angle Slam on Austin. Angle pinned Austin but another referee, This time Alliance referee Nick Patrick stopped the count to disqualify Austin for excessive abuse towards the referees. Angle won by disqualification but Austin retained the title. After the match, Angle applied the Ankle lock on Patrick.

Main event

[edit]

In the main event, Booker T defended the WCW Championship against The Rock. The Rock applied the Sharpshooter on Booker T but Shane McMahon distracted the referee. The Rock attacked McMahon, allowing Booker T to perform a Superkick on The Rock for a near-fall. The Rock performed a Catapult into an exposed turnbuckle on Booker T and performed a DDT on Booker T for a near-fall. Booker T distracted the referee by trying to retrieve a steel chair placed in the ring by McMahon, allowing McMahon to hit The Rock with the title belt. The APA appeared, with Bradshaw performing a Clothesline from Hell on McMahon in retaliation for McMahon costing the APA their six-man tag team match. Booker T performed a Book End on The Rock for a near-fall. The Rock performed a Spinebuster and a People's Elbow on Booker T but McMahon pulled the referee out of the ring, voiding the pinfall. The Rock performed a Rock Bottom on McMahon outside the ring. Booker T performed a Scissors Kick on The Rock and performed the Spinarooni. However; The Rock quickly got up with a kip-up, and performed a Rock Bottom on Booker T to win the WCW Championship, his seventh World Championship overall and first WCW Championship reign.

Reception

[edit]

In 2013, Dylan Diot of 411Mania gave the event a rating of 8.5 [Very Good], writing, "This was a damn good edition of Summerslam. Nothing on the show was bad and two of the matches were absolutely outstanding. [This] show is well worth a watch, especially for Angle's memorable performance and another classic ladder match. The Invasion angle may have [sucked], but at least the effort in the ring was great."[24]

Aftermath

[edit]

This was the last SummerSlam to occur before the introduction of the first brand extension in March 2002, which split the roster between the Raw and SmackDown! brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.[25] It was also the last SummerSlam event to occur under the WWF name, as the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in May 2002.[26] Additionally, King of the Ring was discontinued as a PPV following its 2002 event, thus SummerSlam, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, reverted to being called the "Big Four" until October 2021 when Money in the Bank was recognized as one of the "Big Five".[27]

With the WWF's purchase of rival company World Championship Wrestling (WCW) back in March, some of their titles became defended on WWF programming. As such, the 2001 event was the only SummerSlam to feature the WCW Championship, as the title was unified with the WWF Championship at December's Vengeance event with the latter being renamed to Undisputed WWF Championship. It was also the only SummerSlam to feature the WCW Tag Team Championship, which was unified with the WWF Tag Team Championship at Survivor Series in November. It was also the first SummerSlam to feature the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and the last to feature the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, which was dropped in March 2002 in favor of continuing the Cruiserweight Championship, which was rebranded as a WWF title.[7]

Results

[edit]
No.Results[28][23]StipulationsTimes[7]
1HJacqueline, Lita, and Molly Holly (WWF) defeated Ivory, Stacy Keibler, and Torrie Wilson (Alliance)Tag team match2:55
2Edge (WWF) defeated Lance Storm (c) (Alliance)Singles match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship11:16
3The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) and Test (Alliance) defeated The APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq) and Spike Dudley (with Molly Holly) (WWF)Six-man tag team match7:18
4X-Pac (c - Cruiserweight) (WWF) defeated Tajiri (c - Light Heavyweight) (WWF)Singles match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and WWF Light Heavyweight Championship7:33
5Chris Jericho (WWF) defeated Rhyno (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) (Alliance) by submissionSingles match12:34
6Rob Van Dam (Alliance) defeated Jeff Hardy (c) (WWF)Ladder match for the WWF Hardcore Championship16:31
7The Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker) (c - WCW Tag Team) (with Sara) (WWF) defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon (c - WWF Tag Team) (Alliance) by pinfallSteel Cage match for the WCW Tag Team Championship and WWF Tag Team Championship10:17
8Kurt Angle (WWF) defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) (Alliance) by disqualificationSingles match for the WWF Championship22:20
9The Rock (WWF) defeated Booker T (c) (with Shane McMahon) (Alliance)Singles match for the WCW Championship15:18
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

SummerSlam (2001)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
SummerSlam (2001) was the fourteenth annual professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on August 19, 2001, at the Compaq Center in , drawing an attendance of 15,293 spectators. The event highlighted the ongoing storyline, which featured a rivalry between the WWF roster and the invading faction composed of wrestlers from (WCW) and (ECW). The card consisted of eight matches, including several championship bouts that advanced the inter-promotional conflict. In the opening contest, Edge defeated to capture the WWF Intercontinental Championship, marking his first title reign in the promotion. This was followed by a six-man match where The Dudley Boyz and Test (representing the ) overcame The APA and . X-Pac then unified the with the WCW Cruiserweight Championship by defeating Tajiri. Subsequent matches included pinning Rhyno in a singles bout, and a high-stakes Hardcore Championship Ladder Match where Rob Van Dam climbed to victory over defending champion Jeff Hardy, securing the title for the Alliance. In a steel cage match for the tag team titles, The Undertaker and Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon, unifying the WWF and WCW Tag Team Championships under WWF control. The co-main events were pivotal: Kurt Angle retained the WWF Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin via disqualification after interference, and The Rock overcame Booker T to win the WCW Championship, symbolizing a major WWF victory in the Invasion narrative. Overall, SummerSlam 2001 is remembered for its role in escalating the Invasion angle, with multiple title unifications underscoring the WWF's dominance over the during a period of industry consolidation following the WWF's acquisition of WCW earlier that year. The event's buy rate reached approximately 570,000 households, reflecting strong viewer interest in the cross-promotional drama.

Background

Company context

In March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) acquired the assets of (WCW), including its trademarks and video library, for $2.5 million, marking the end of the Monday Night Wars between the two promotions. This purchase, announced on the March 26, 2001, episode of Raw Is War, allowed WWF to integrate WCW talent into its roster and storyline programming. Shortly thereafter, on April 4, 2001, (ECW) filed for bankruptcy, enabling WWF to sign several of its wrestlers as free agents and incorporate ECW elements into its narratives. These acquisitions set the stage for the "" storyline, where WCW and ECW talents united against the WWF under the banner of The Alliance. In the kayfabe narrative, was portrayed as the owner of WCW following the purchase, while acquired ECW on the July 9, 2001, episode of Raw, formally establishing The Alliance as a rival faction led by the McMahon siblings. This inter-promotional rivalry became the central focus of WWF's mid-2001 television programming, pitting established WWF stars against defectors from the acquired promotions in a simulated corporate war. SummerSlam 2001, held on August 19, 2001, at the Compaq Center in , served as a pivotal event in this Invasion era, promoted exclusively by the WWF. As the fourteenth annual and the second pay-per-view following the debut of The Alliance at the event in July, it emphasized the ongoing conflict between the WWF and The Alliance through its card structure and thematic presentation. The event's overarching theme reinforced the narrative of inter-promotional supremacy, building on the real-world acquisitions to heighten dramatic tension in WWF's product.

Key storylines

The storyline, which pitted the WWF against the invading of WCW and ECW wrestlers, dominated the buildup to SummerSlam 2001, with tensions escalating through inter-promotional clashes on weekly television. A central narrative revolved around WWF Champion , who had shockingly aligned himself with the leaders , Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, and ECW owner following the pay-per-view in July, betraying the WWF in the process and raising questions about his loyalty amid hints of internal discord within the invading faction. This turn positioned Austin as a key antagonist, defending his title against WWF loyalist , who had earned the championship opportunity by winning a on Raw and repeatedly confronted Austin over his defection, leading to a heated rivalry intensified by being appointed as the special enforcer for their WWF Championship match. Parallel to this, The Rock, returning from a film commitment, targeted WCW Champion Booker T as part of the broader inter-brand warfare, mocking Booker's leadership of the Alliance and demanding a shot at the WCW Championship to symbolize WWF's dominance, with their encounters on Raw featuring verbal barbs and physical confrontations that underscored the Invasion's promotional stakes. The high-flying contingent of the roster fueled another prominent , as ECW's , the reigning Hardcore Champion and Alliance standout, clashed with WWF's in a series of aerial showcases that highlighted their contrasting styles and loyalties, culminating in a ladder match stipulation born from their Raw and SmackDown rivalries over the title's unpredictability. The — and Kane—sought retribution against WCW's and after Page's obsessive stalking of 's on-screen wife Sara, which included invasive photographs and attacks, prompting the WWF tag team to challenge the WCW Tag Team Champions in a steel cage match to settle the personal vendetta within the context. Additional midcard conflicts amplified the brand divide, including Edge defending the WWF against member , stemming from Storm's aggressive invasions of WWF shows and Edge's retaliatory strikes, as well as X-Pac challenging Tajiri for the WWF in a unification match with the WCW Cruiserweight amid their history of technical and martial arts-infused brawls that crossed faction lines. The event's undercard also featured a six-man tag team bout representing the grassroots Invasion battles, with WWF's APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq) alongside facing the Alliance's (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Test, building from chaotic multi-man melees where the groups clashed over supremacy and faction allegiance.

Event

Venue and production

SummerSlam (2001) took place on August 19, 2001, at the Compaq Center in , marking the fourteenth annual edition of the event as a (PPV) spectacle held on a Sunday night. The Compaq Center, an indoor arena with a capacity of approximately 17,500 for wrestling configurations, drew an attendance of 15,293 spectators. The event was produced by , who oversaw the overall production elements including lighting, staging, and video packages. Broadcast on PPV platforms across the and internationally, it featured English-language commentary from and , with the duo providing play-by-play and color analysis that emphasized the high-stakes rivalries. Spanish-language commentary was handled by and . Prior to the main card, the pre-show segment aired on Sunday Night Heat, which included a six-woman match where Lita, Jacqueline, and defeated , , and in 2:55, serving as an appetizer to build anticipation for the evening's lineup. Promotion for SummerSlam (2001) heavily incorporated elements of the ongoing storyline, with advertisements and vignettes portraying the event as a pivotal battleground in the WWF's war against the WCW/ECW , using dramatic promos to hype inter-promotional clashes.

Match results

The SummerSlam (2001) event consisted of eight matches on the card, each with specified stipulations and outcomes as follows. The opening contest was a singles match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, in which Edge defeated champion by pinfall following a at 11:16. Next, in a six-man match, , , and defeated Bradshaw, Faarooq, and by pinfall after delivering a 3D to at 7:19. The third match was a title unification bout between WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac and WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Tajiri, where X-Pac emerged victorious by pinfall with an X-Factor at 7:33; during the contest, Tajiri's associate Albert interfered by attacking X-Pac, prompting Tajiri to spit green mist at Albert and creating an opening for the finish. In the fourth match, a standard singles bout, defeated by submission via the Walls of Jericho at 12:34, with 's manager providing interference that was ultimately countered. The fifth match was a for the WWF Hardcore Championship, pitting against champion ; RVD won the title by climbing the ladder and retrieving the belt suspended above the ring at 16:33, following a series of high-risk maneuvers including Hardy's Swanton Bomb off the ladder and RVD's Five-Star Frog Splash through a table. A steel cage match for the followed, where WWF Tag Team Champions and Kane defeated champions and Kanyon by pinfall after Kane executed a on Kanyon at 10:13. In the WCW Championship match, The Rock defeated champion Booker T by pinfall with a Rock Bottom at 15:19, despite interference attempts from Booker T's associate at ringside. The main event was for the WWF Championship; defeated champion by disqualification at 22:30 after Austin attacked the referee, resulting in Austin retaining the WWF Championship.

Reception

Critical reviews

The between and for the WWF Hardcore Championship received widespread praise for its innovative high-flying spots and strong chemistry between the competitors, earning 3.5 stars from in the and four stars from reviewer John Moore at TJR Wrestling. Critics highlighted the match's energetic pacing and crowd engagement as a standout highlight of the undercard. Similarly, the WWF Championship match between and was lauded for its intense storytelling and physicality, with Meltzer awarding it 4.5 stars and Moore rating it four and three-quarters stars, noting it as one of the year's best bouts. The main event WCW Championship clash between The Rock and Booker T drew positive notes for its solid execution and dramatic interference, receiving three stars from Meltzer and three and one-quarter stars from Moore, who described it as a reliable showcase despite some predictable elements. However, the steel cage match pitting Kane and against and Kanyon faced criticism for its plodding pace and lack of excitement, garnering just one star from Meltzer and one and one-quarter stars from Moore. Overall, professional reviews commended the event's athletic displays and several high-quality matches but highlighted flaws in the Invasion storyline's booking, which sidelined key WCW and ECW talents and prioritized angles over wrestling depth, as reflected in Meltzer's average rating of approximately 2.94 stars across the card. Fan reception echoed this, with high praise for the in-ring athleticism on platforms like Cagematch.net (7.99/10 average user rating) but disappointment in the storyline's progression and uneven utilization of the roster. Retrospectively, Meltzer's Wrestling Observer assessments from the early 2000s positioned the show as a mixed bag, strong in isolated performances but undermined by narrative shortcomings.

Commercial performance

SummerSlam 2001 achieved approximately 565,000 pay-per-view buys, representing a strong commercial showing amid the WWF's peak popularity in the early 2000s. This total was comparable to the 570,000 buys from SummerSlam 2000, though the 2001 event capitalized on heightened interest from the Invasion storyline, which had driven the preceding InVasion pay-per-view to a record 775,000 buys. The live event at the Compaq Center in San Jose drew a total attendance of 15,293 and generated $907,105 in gate revenue. Television buildup contributed to the event's momentum, as Monday Night Raw episodes in August 2001—such as the installment rating 5.4 and the go-home show at 5.3—maintained strong viewership in the mid-5.0 range, underscoring the angle's draw on weekly programming.

Aftermath

Title changes

The title changes at SummerSlam 2001 had lasting impacts on the Invasion storyline, with several championships shifting control between the WWF and the in the weeks that followed. While the event itself saw five title alterations, the aftermath featured further developments that continued to favor WWF dominance. Edge's victory over for the WWF Intercontinental Championship propelled Edge into a prominent role, leading to defenses against Alliance members like Christian. Storm's loss marked the end of influence in the midcard singles division. X-Pac's unification of the WWF Light Heavyweight and WCW Cruiserweight Championships created the WWF Cruiserweight Championship under WWF control, diminishing the Alliance's hold on lighter divisions. However, X-Pac lost the title to on the September 4, 2001, episode of Raw, briefly returning it to Alliance hands before Tajiri reclaimed it later that month. Rob Van Dam's ladder match win over Jeff Hardy for the WWF Hardcore Championship extended RVD's streak, with him defending the title successfully against Hardy in a rematch on the September 10 episode of Raw, solidifying his status as an Alliance standout in the hardcore division. The Brothers of Destruction's unification of the WWF and WCW Tag Team Championships strengthened WWF's tag division, with and Kane defending the unified titles against Alliance teams like the Dudleys until Kane's injury sidelined the team in October. The Rock's win over Booker T for the WCW Championship symbolized WWF's takeover, but he lost the title to on October 21, 2001, at No Mercy, unifying it with the WWF Championship to create the Undisputed WWF Championship. Kurt Angle's disqualification victory over allowed Austin to retain the WWF Championship, but Angle captured the title from Austin at on September 23, 2001, shifting momentum further toward the WWF.

Invasion storyline progression

The outcomes at SummerSlam 2001 significantly advanced the storyline by shifting momentum toward the WWF in key championship matches, while providing the with limited midcard gains that underscored their underdog status. In the co-main event, The Rock's victory over Booker T captured the WCW Championship for the WWF, symbolizing a unification of promotional prestige under WWF control and positioning The Rock as a central defender against ongoing incursions. Similarly, the unification of the World Tag Team and WCW Tag Team Championships saw and Kane defeat and Kanyon in a steel cage match, consolidating tag division dominance for the WWF and depriving the of one of its few remaining strongholds. These results amplified the narrative of WWF resurgence, setting the stage for intensified cross-brand conflicts in the ensuing weeks. Despite these setbacks for the , the event offered a notable boost in the midcard when , representing the ECW contingent, climbed to victory over in a to claim the WWF Hardcore Championship. This win elevated RVD's profile within the , injecting fresh energy into their roster and highlighting the threat posed by ECW's high-flying style, even as it contrasted with the WWF's control of the major titles. Meanwhile, Steve Austin's hard-fought retention of the WWF Championship against via disqualification—amid a brutal no-holds-barred encounter—reinforced his role as the 's volatile co-leader alongside , but also exposed vulnerabilities as Angle's resilience foreshadowed mounting WWF resistance. On the August 20, 2001 episode of Raw, the Alliance marked "Steve Austin Appreciation Night" with a locker room celebration, where Austin asserted his leadership and urged unity to overcome the WWF, solidifying his heel alignment and co-leadership dynamic with Shane McMahon. However, Kurt Angle's retaliatory milk truck assault on the Alliance during the broadcast symbolized WWF defiance, escalating hostilities. These developments, including the Alliance's tag team title loss and the WWF's acquisition of the WCW crown, heightened narrative tensions, propelling the angle toward its climax at Survivor Series 2001, where a high-stakes elimination match would determine the survival of the Alliance. Overall, SummerSlam served as a pivotal chapter, tilting the balance toward WWF dominance while sustaining the inter-promotional war through targeted Alliance advancements like RVD's triumph.

References

  1. https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2001
  2. https://www.si.com/wrestling/wwe-summerslam-attendance-history-highest-and-lowest-crowds-ever
  3. https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2001/results
  4. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwf-summerslam-2001
  5. https://www.f4wonline.com/newsletters/wrestling-observer-newsletter/august-6-2001-wrestling-observer-newsletter-wcw-purchase-price-revealed-263966/
  6. https://www.wwe.com/classics/wcw-ecw-invasion
  7. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/11/ecw-files-for-bankruptcy
  8. https://slamwrestling.net/report/rock-wins-wcw-title/
  9. https://dailyddt.com/2019/08/06/wwe-summerslam-rock-booker-t-classic/
  10. https://blog.ticketmaster.com/step-inside-sap-center-san-jose-ca/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292705/
  12. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=2221
  13. https://25yearslatersite.com/2021/03/28/summerslam-2001-the-invasion-summerslam/
  14. https://www.iwnerd.com/dave-meltzer-star-ratings-wwe-summerslam-2001/
  15. https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-summerslam-2001-review/
  16. https://www.cagesideseats.com/2016/8/17/12491766/ranking-the-summerslams-according-to-dave-meltzer-s-ratings
  17. https://wrestletalk.com/stats/every-wwe-pay-per-view-buyrate/
  18. https://vsplanet.net/ppv-buys/
  19. https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/summer.html
  20. https://www.2xzone.com/ratings/rawhistory.shtml
  21. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2001/08/20/rock-wins-wcw-title/
  22. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/WWF_Raw_(September_4,_2001)
  23. https://www.wwe.com/videos/full-match-jeff-hardy-vs-rob-van-dam-hardcore-title-ladder-match-summerslam-2001
  24. https://www.backsportspage.com/summerslam-2001-alliance-warfare-and-a-two-belt-steve-austin/
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