5 superstars from the 2005 ECW Invasion: where are they now?

While after both WCW and ECW closed their doors in 2001, their names were kept alive by WWE as part of their storylines. In 2005, Eric Bischoff, former head of WCW, was the Raw General Manager and developed a feud with former ECW owner Paul Heyman, who currently fills the role of advocate for WWE Universal champion Brock Lesnar.

However, when Heyman was called out by Bischoff, he didn't come alone; he brought out the likes of Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, The Dudley Boyz, Rhyno, and Balls Mahoney, and in doing so rekindled the passion for ECW, the promotion that pushed the envelope and the direction of the professional wrestling in the 1990s.

What happened during this particular invasion? What happened to those involved, not just before and during the invasion, but afterward? Where they are now may surprise fans. Here are five superstars from the 2005 invasion and where they are now.

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#5 Joey Styles

After moving away from in front of the camera, Styles took on different roles behind it.

He was the voice of ECW throughout the 1990s, and his famous ‘Oh my God' cry reflected his passion for what he was seeing both in and out of the ring. After ECW closed its doors in 2001, Styles walked away from commentating for a brief time, though he joined MLW as their play-by-play commentator for a year.

In 2005, Styles was brought in as a commentator of Raw, but towards the middle of the following year he decided he was ‘quitting' WWE, but in fact he was joining Paul Heyman as his play-by-play commentator on the new ECW program, alongside another former ECW star from the promotion's initial run in the 1990s.

In 2008, Styles transitioned from an on-air role to that of the Vice President of WWE's Digital Media until 2016. After departing WWE, he commentated for various independent wrestling promotions for a short time, adding notoriety to those companies shows.

#4 Tazz

Tazz has an ongoing radio program and podcast today.

During his career, he was known for being able to choke out anyone and everyone with whom he stepped into the ring. When Tazz initially debuted in ECW, he had long hair and was known as the Tazmaniac. As time passed he was reintroduced as Taz, the human suplex machine.

Draped in black and orange, Taz had a tough as nails persona, reflective of his home in the Red Hook district of Brooklyn. He had feuds with the likes of Rob Van Dam and Mike Awesome, but none were as prominent as his feud with Sabu. Those two men pushed each other to the limit and in the process created some of the most violent contests the promotion had ever seen.

Although Tazz joined WWE prior to the Invasion angle in 2001, he became a part of the 2005 invasion angle as part of the talent that lined up against Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. During an in-ring promo with fellow commentator Michael Cole, he said that he was leaving Smackdown because he was returning home…to ECW.

At that point, he left the ring and walked into the waiting arms of Paul Heyman, who embraced him and welcomed him back into the fold. He then joined Styles as the color commentator on ECW.

#3 Axl Rotten

Rotten sadly left us after the ECW invasion came to an end.

Much like his tag team partner Balls Mahoney, Rotten was known for his violent and dangerous style of wrestling during his time in ECW. Initially, Axl worked alongside his ‘brother' Ian, and the duo was known as the Bad Breed. After he and Ian split, and the ensuing feud between them, Axl and Balls Mahoney formed the ‘Chair Swinging Freaks,' coming to the ring dressed alike and united in their love of violence.

After leaving ECW in 1999, Rotten went on to compete in various promotions in North America and Japan. However, he joined the new ECW in 2005 as part of their invasion angle, reunited with the likes of Mahoney, Rhyno, The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in their fight against Eric Bischoff and the Raw roster. Once Rotten was released from WWE in 2006, he returned to the independent circuit until 2014. Unfortunately, much like his partner Mahoney, Rotten sadly passed away in February 2016, his body found after a reported heroin overdose.

#2 Balls Mahoney

images via pwmania.com

Mahoney much like his partner Rotten also passed away years after the invasion angle came to an end.

ECW was known for having ‘The chair swinging freak' in their employ. If anything stood out about Balls Mahoney, it was that he not only didn't back down from a fight but was ready to bring the fight to anyone that crossed his path.

A fan favorite with the faithful during his time with ECW in the mid to late 1990s, Mahoney would swing a chair at will, leaving those he came into contact with easily at the mercy of his attack.

During ECW's 2005 invasion of Raw, Mahoney came down to the ring and helped lead the charge of his fellow ECW compatriots against the efforts of Eric Bischoff and the Raw brand. Many have asked what happened after his second run with ECW under WWE's employ. Well, after being released by WWE in 2008, Mahoney competed on the independent circuit. Unfortunately, one day after his 44th birthday, Mahoney passed away of a heart attack, on April 12th, 2016. He is survived by his son, Christopher and his wife Gayle.

#1 Rhyno

images via youtube.com

Rhyno has remained active in the ring competing for both the WWE's Raw and Smackdown Live brands.

The man-beast was a significant part of ECW towards the end of the promotion's run. His massive strength and ability to wipe out his competition with a single GORE meant that Rhyno was someone that was quite special in the company.

After being part of the company's invasion angle in 2001, Rhyno was again part of the ECW Invasion four years later, returning as part of a Paul Heyman-led ECW invasion that didn't back down to Eric Bischoff or any of the Raw and Smackdown Live talent.

Once ECW returned as a WWE produced weekly program, the talent was booked accordingly. Today, Rhyno is part of the Raw brand as one half of a tag team with Heath Slater, and the pair is former WWE Smackdown Live tag team champions. While Rhyno isn't on television much that isn't to say he is any less involved. It should also be noted that Rhyno ran for state congress in Michigan.