Goldberg: Keys to Maximizing Shocking WWE Survivor Series Win over Brock Lesnar

In the aftermath of Goldberg's stunning trouncing of Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016, WWE has to lean on what made that bout the biggest talking point of the year—the surprise factor.

The subsequent chapters of this story have to upend expectations. There is potential to feed off the massive buzz that moment created, to spread the electricity born that night to more permanent members of the roster.  

To do that, WWE's best bet is to continue the outside-the-box thinking it employed at the Nov. 20 pay-per-view. 

No one saw what happened at Survivor Series coming. Even those who predicted an upset from Goldberg couldn't have foreseen that the powerhouse would treat Lesnar like a no-name jobber.

After a 12-year absence, Goldberg smashed into The Beast Incarnate. He hit two spears and a Jackhammer for a three-count. The bout lasted just over a minute.

Now what?

Goldberg looks like WWE's most dominant titan. Lesnar's aura of invincibility is riddled with cracks. The most anticipated next step is for the two warrios to meet again and complete their trilogy. 

David Shoemaker of The Ringer wrote, "The point of Sunday's match wasn't the squash itself — it was the promise that the feud would continue. They'll probably have a rematch at WrestleMania 33 in April." 

The company seemingly investigated the audience's interest in that possibility when it posted a WWE.com poll asking fans whether they wanted to see Lesnar vs. Goldberg III.

The setup to that could already be on the way. On the Raw after Survivor Series, Goldberg announced that he will enter next year's Royal Rumble.

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that Lesnar is headed for that Battle Royal, as well. 

Lesnar and Goldberg will inevitably cross paths at the Rumble. Should one man cost the other a shot at winning the event, a WrestleMania match would be the obvious followup. In fact, that's just how WWE crafted the first collision between these men in 2004.

That year, Lesnar interfered in the Royal Rumble, which led to Goldberg's exit. Goldberg responded by spearing The Beast Incarnate at No Way Out, opening the door for Eddie Guerrero to dethrone Lesnar.

And with that, a WrestleMania XX showdown was born.

WWE can't just repeat that narrative. It can't have things play out the way so many expect it to. The better option is to let this rivalry diverge into two separate stories in order to involve the wrestlers of the New Era.

It isn't interesting enough for Lesnar to simply gain revenge on Goldberg, win their third encounter and move on.

Instead, this is an opportunity to showcase character development for The Beast Incarnate. He has long been WWE's apex predator, alone atop the company food chain. The loss to Goldberg has to change that.

It has to madden him, to splinter his confidence and turn him into a more desperate, unnerved animal.

Lesnar can bicker with his advocate, Paul Heyman. He can go missing from Raw as the show's authority figures search for him. He can become obsessed with Goldberg, morphing into the squared circle's version of Captain Ahab.

But somewhere on the hunt for his white whale, Lesnar should find a new foe. 

During one of his rampages, he can run over universal champion Kevin Owens. KO would step up to Heyman's monster soon after and challenge him, questioning whether Lesnar is still the beast he once was. 

Owens is the ideal foe for this story with his sharp tongue and mastery of mockery. He can needle Lesnar on the mic and then stand toe-to-toe with him once the bell rings.

As for Goldberg, WWE is best off letting an emerging star send him riding into the sunset. 

One of the major complaints about Goldberg's win over Lesnar was that it elevated a guy who will only be around for maybe two or three more matches. The guys at Busted Open radio were among those to question the decision:

WWE can remedy that by letting Goldberg tangle with Rusev rather than Lesnar for the third time.

For one, The Bulgarian Brute has motivation to step in the powerhouse's way. On Oct. 31, Goldberg flattened Rusev as a warm-up to Lesnar.

Why are emerging stars like Rusev always the fodder before the big showdown? Why not paint him as a man on Goldberg's level, a conqueror capable of doing what Lesnar couldn't?

Should Rusev beat Goldberg, he would siphon some of the momentum generated in that minute-and-a-half match at Survivor Series. He would have a victory like no other to brag about for ages. He would have ended Goldberg, sending the superhero out of the spotlight.

This route would replace the expected Lesnar-Goldberg rematch with two surprising pairings. WrestleMania 33 would get two marquee matches with these megastars instead of one. And it would create a scenario set up to advance future storylines rather than celebrate the past.

Goldberg vs. Lesnar is the story fans can see coming. Dividing up those two immortals for battles with Owens, Rusev or other cornerstones of what's to come is the better move.