Goldberg Accepts Brock Lesnar's Challenge in WWE Raw Return
Goldberg returned to WWE on Monday night and accepted Brock Lesnar's challenge on Raw.
WWE shared the comments Goldberg directed toward the four-time world champion:
Goldberg's last WWE match was a win against Lesnar at WrestleMania XX in March 2004.
On one hand, it's incredible to see Goldberg in the ring again. For a generation of wrestling fans, he'll always be a symbol of the Monday Night Wars, when Raw and WCW Monday Nitro were must-see viewing every week.
Impact Wrestling star Drew Galloway summed up Goldberg's return well:
"Not many moments like that left in wresting. Won't be sleeping for a few hours now, real/ emotional & I want to see the match now #Goldberg
ā Drew Galloway (@GallowaySpeaks) October 18, 2016"
On the other hand, it somewhat frustrating from a creative standpoint that WWE has painted itself into a corner with Lesnar. To find him an opponent, the company turned to a 49-year-old who hasn't wrestled since 2004.
Lesnar and Goldberg's WrestleMania bout is widely considered one of the most disappointing in company history. Over a decade later, fans can't expect to see a mat classic in their rematch.
Jimmy Traina is among those not looking forward Goldberg-Lesnar 2:
The biggest problem is figuring out how WWE benefits in the long run.
The company has made a habit of putting WCW's marquee stars in big matches, only to have them lose to a WWE guy. WWE most recently did it with Sting at WrestleMania 31. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to bring in Goldberg and make a big deal of his return but then have him fall to Lesnar, who would gain little from the win anyway.
If Lesnar loses, then much of the aura he has built up over the last few years evaporates. His last defeat in a singles match was to The Undertaker at SummerSlam 2015, which came in dubious circumstances so as to make Lesnar continue looking strong.
Once Lesnar is done feuding with Goldberg, WWE will also be left unable to find a realistic challenger for the Beast Incarnate. The company tried giving him a younger, less established foil in Dean Ambrose, and they had a forgettable match at WrestleMania 32. WWE is unlikely to go that route again.
Survivor Series will be a great spectacle when Lesnar and Goldberg are in the ring, but it's yet another temporary solution to solve what continue to be long-term issues for WWE.
