Why Goldberg Squashing Kevin Owens at WWE Fastlane 2017 Was the Right Choice

Goldberg's dominant tour of squash matches continued Sunday night at WWE Fastlane, as he defeated Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship in a thrilling 21 seconds. Goldberg's win may draw the ire of some fans, mainly those who have been spoiled with the type of overwrought, technical wrestling classics filled with false finishes, but this is what had to happen.

Goldberg is set to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33 after taking only 86 seconds to destroy The Beast in their last outing at WWE Survivor Series. Goldberg making even quicker work of Owens speaks more to Goldberg's current hot streak than it does to Lesnar's erosion.

If Lesnar is able to avenge his shocking loss, he would have scored an elusive victory over a man who is simply unstoppable, thereby restoring his own luster. If Owens would have been in a competitive contest that even lasted for five minutes, it would create the perception that maybe Lesnar isn't the dominant beast he once was. Maybe he had no business facing Goldberg at WrestleMania.

It's easy to argue that Goldberg vs. Lesnar does not need a world championship—or a championship of any kind. This is already the biggest match on the card between two future WWE Hall of Famers, regardless of any hardware that's at stake.But if Goldberg and Lesnar truly

But if Goldberg and Lesnar truly are the biggest match on the card, it would undermine the concept of any WWE world championship if it was simply an exhibition. It would create the implication that WWE's two biggest stars are above competing for what is supposed to be its biggest prize. More importantly, if Owens had retained the Universal Championship, a world title match wouldn't be headlining WrestleMania for only the sixth time in 33 events.

Kevin Owens was protected in defeat, as a distraction from Chris Jericho caused him to take his eye off the ball. Goldberg's win not only set up a Universal Championship showdown with Lesnar—one that will add prestige to WWE's newest world championship—it will have a similar effect on the United States Championship.

Owens and Jericho are both former world champions now on pace to compete for what is otherwise viewed as a secondary championship. Having two main event performers vie for the United States Championship will make it seem much more meaningful, especially when the previous champion was Roman Reigns.

Goldberg's victory has potentially created two championship matches where the performers will elevate each title.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.