Lesnar vs. Goldberg: The Biggest Questions About the Match

After 12 years of absence Bill Goldberg finally answered the call of the WWE Universe and made his WWE return with a promise for a WrestleMania XX rematch against Brock Lesnar. Without a doubt, there could have been no bigger blockbuster announcement Goldberg could have made that night. The WWE fandom could not contain itself, brimming with excitement.  With such a colossal match-up, coming soon, there are a number of big questions that come to mind.

The first thing after getting in terms with the awesomeness of the people involved, comes the anticipation and the one big pressing question – When? There has been a challenge and there has been an answer to it, both of which in very close proximity to Survivor Series and Hell in a Cell. No one’s really investing in the Hell in a Cell hypothesis because the PPV is way too soon for a proper build-up to be pulled off. The WWE would not risk, rushing their biggest upcoming match. Survivor Series looks like a much more plausible option. Overall, with the three traditional elimination RAW vs. Smack Down matches, the PPV is already looking great, but adding Lesnar vs. Goldberg to the card would take it to a completely different level.

The only thing that makes people question the Survivor Series scenario is whether a match that big is not better off left for WrestleMania. It’s unlikely that this will be more than a one-off clash. Could Paul Heyman’s eloquence and Goldberg’s popularity stall the fight till April? Possibly, but it would require Goldberg to have a few appearances in the ring beforehand. Maybe even a clash or two with Brock backstage. The first thing to consider is whether Goldberg is up for a more intense return, or if he’s there for one unforgettable swansong and a terrific video game promotion. Realistically, the second option is more probable. Also, there’s another feud that was hinted and then forgotten, which could provide us with a Mania opponent for the Beast – Brock Lesnar vs. Shane McMahon. Overall, it’s not impossible to make the fans wait till Mania for Lesnar vs. Goldberg but it’s much more likely that we’ll get it next month at Survivor Series.

After having established the time, comes the contemplation of booking the match itself. Who should win? This is probably the biggest question that needs answering. Brock has been portrayed as unbeatable for the last three years. Generally, the fans want to see the Beast destroy his opponents. The crowd has been having a lot of fun, counting German Suplexes every time Lesnar’s in the ring. However, this time it’s different. People are starting to get bored with Brock. How many times can Lesnar pull off the same act over and over again? When is being undefeated going to bore the fans to death? In a nutshell, he’s an overpaid part-timer with a stale gimmick. The WWE Universe not only wants Lesnar to lose but they want him to lose to Goldberg.

Bill Goldberg’s victory over Brock Lesnar would be a true feel-good moment. What Goldberg said about his wife and son never having seen him live in the ring is true, as he got married a year after leaving the WWE. It is kind of ironic – being married to one of the biggest WWE legends of all time and not having seen him wrestle. It would be a great moment for both Goldberg’s fans and his family to see him return as a hero and slay the Beast that no one in the WWE could tame. Then again, Goldberg is talking about one last match and Lesnar is still under contract with the company, so isn’t Brock the better long-term investment? Won’t it be easier to set up his WrestleMania match against Shane if he’s still undefeated? Unfortunately, business-wise, it would be more reasonable if Goldberg took the fall.

Whoever wins this fight, there’s always a big worry hanging above the event. How is the match going to go? It’s a dream re-match, so the hype is there and the fans expect a lot. However, what most seem to forget is that the last time Lesnar and Goldberg faced off, it was a total disaster. Their WrestleMania XX match was overshadowed by guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin and an obnoxious, hijacking crowd. The fight left the fans completely underwhelmed. Can Goldberg and Lesnar pull off the blockbuster that’s expected from them this time around?

Although talking about this is frowned upon, it has to be mentioned that Goldberg isn’t young anymore and hasn’t wrestled for years. The fans love him and he cut an incredible promo on RAW. However, the chances of him, struggling with ring rust and age are big. No matter what people say about age not playing a big role, it can’t be denied that The Undertaker, for example, hasn’t been the same in years. He keeps coming back but his matches never end up fulfilling the expectations of the fans, purely because the whole thing is pushed by a legend, by an idea that has lost the physical representation it used to have. It’s a bit worrying that the same might apply to Goldberg, however, we won’t know that until the match comes.

Whatever we say, the Lesnar vs. Goldberg match will be a huge seller. The WWE has guaranteed itself a lot of money, booking that fight. We can only hope that what we get in the end will match up the hype we created about it.

What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised