WCW 's sharp decline in revenue and ratings led to Time Warner selling selected assets such as the WCW name , tapes , and contracts to the WWF in March 2001 for $ 3 million . The final episode of Nitro , which aired on March 26 , 2001 , began with Vince McMahon making a short statement about his recent purchase of WCW and ended with a simulcast with '' Raw '' on TNN and '' Nitro '' on TNT including an appearance by Vince 's son Shane . The younger McMahon interrupted his father 's gloating over the WCW purchase to explain that Shane was the one who actually owned WCW , setting up what became the WWF 's " Invasion " storyline . Following the purchase of WCW and the September 11 attacks , the program was retitled as '' Raw '' on October 1 , 2001 , permanently retiring the '' Raw Is War '' moniker
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
WWE Raw