 The developing rivalry between the two wrestlers led WCW to announce the creation of the WCW Hardcore Championship in November 1999.In January 2001, the champion Meng signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) after his WCW contract expired.The WCW Hardcore Championship was vacated; a few months later, WCW was purchased by the WWF, and while the WWF used WCW's World Heavyweight, United States, Cruiserweight, and Tag Team Championships in the subsequent Invasion storyline, the WCW Hardcore Championship was not re-introduced.