…I think this is more of an Invasion question. I just finished reading Jim Ross's excellent new book and his chapter on the purchase of WCW made me wonder this. If there had been a universe where WWE had already had experience with instituting a brand split a few years before the purchase of WCW, do you think they would have done a better job with their plans for the two separate, competing brands they initially envisioned in 2001 for the invasion angle?
No, because Vince McMahon already had it in his head that WCW was the losing brand and they were never going to get one over on "his" promotion, plus the network didn't want any part of it anyway. Without a fundamental change in attitude from a lot of people right from the start, it was doomed to failure.
Also, take a drink.