[Stardust]

2001

[Image: http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2012/..._FLAIR.jpg]

Mar. 26, 2001
War is Over
With WCW earning a fraction of its highest television ratings and hemorrhaging millions of dollars, parent company AOL Time Warner sells the failed brand to WWE, signifying the end of the Monday Night Wars. The last episode of Nitro features a match between WCW icons Sting and Ric Flair and ends with Shane McMahon revealing that he purchased the company out from under his father, Mr. McMahon.

July 9, 2001
The Alliance
WCW competitors join forces with ECW competitors as Shane & Stephanie McMahon form The Alliance in an attempt to overthrow their father. At the Invasion pay-per-view, ”Stone Cold” Steve Austin (who’d been playing songs like "Kumbaya" on his guitar for Mr. McMahon just weeks prior) turns on WWE and sides with The Alliance. The renegade group falls to WWE that November at Survivor Series. (WATCH FINAL NITRO PLAYLIST)

Dec. 9, 2001
The Final Champion
A former WCW competitor who left the company due to frustration over a lack of opportunity, Chris Jericho becomes the final WCW World Champion when he defeats The Rock at Vengeance. That same night, he beats “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWE Title to become the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion. (WATCH) The two titles are then unified, bringing an end to WCW’s lineage.