The show opened not with pyrotechnics or a catchphrase, but with a cold, calculated silence. Vince McMahon walked to the ring in a tailored suit, not as a rabid promoter, but as a conquering CEO. The Boston crowd, still riding the high of the previous night’s victory, roared for blood.

But the real message came after the bell. Tazz looked at the announce table, then at the ring. He walked over to the WWE announce team (Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler), shook their hands, and took his seat. The hardcore, revolutionary "Human Suplex Machine" was dead. In his place sat a company man. ECW was officially absorbed.

With a smirk, he announced that the contracts of every single Alliance member—from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to the lowest cruiserweight—had been terminated. He called out each fallen general individually: , his traitorous son; Stephanie McMahon , his scheming daughter; Paul Heyman , the mad scientist of ECW; and finally, Steve Austin .

One night after the most consequential pay-per-view in company history, the November 26, 2001 edition of WWE Raw wasn't just a fallout show. It was a funeral. It was a rebranding. And most importantly, it was a victory lap for one man: .

To symbolize the end of the invasion, Vince booked a series of "Purge" matches—Alliance members vs. WWE loyalists. The first saw (the five-time WCW champion) face The Rock .

Perhaps the most symbolic moment of the night came when —who had spent the invasion as the voice of ECW on commentary—was forced to face The Undertaker . Tazz, a legitimate tough guy but in kayfabe terms a cruiserweight, stood no chance. The Undertaker destroyed him in under two minutes.

Just as the show seemed to be a straightforward celebration of WWE’s victory, the night ended with the true hook for the next era. Vince introduced a "championship celebration" for his new WWE Undisputed Champion, . But before Jericho could speak, the familiar, synthesized strut of "Also sprach Zarathustra" filled the FleetCenter.

—who had been absent since losing to Vince at the Royal Rumble —walked out in a tailored suit. The crowd lost its mind. Flair calmly entered the ring, shook Vince’s hand… and then dropped the bombshell.