Brock Lesnar Beats Goldberg to Win WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33
April 3, 2017
Brock Lesnar finally conquered his biggest obstacle Sunday at WrestleMania 33, as he defeated Goldberg to become the new WWE Universal champion.
Lesnar absorbed multiple spears, including one through the ringside barricade. He hit 10 German suplexes on Goldberg, wearing down the seemingly unstoppable star:
With Goldberg reeling, Lesnar delivered the F-5 for the victory:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportBrock Lesnar is your new Universal Champion! #WrestleMania https://t.co/cyeS2l3j59
WWE Network showed Lesnar in the ring celebrating with the title:
WWE Network @WWENetwork#TheBeast @BrockLesnar has every right to be straight-up JOLLY after conquering @Goldberg at #WrestleMania, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! https://t.co/BTs46v5OK5
While Goldberg vs. Lesnar 3 wasn't a mat classic, CBSSports.com's Brian Campbell enjoyed it all the same:
Brian Campbell @BCampbellCBSI'll take that match for exactly what it was: A car wreck. Strong intensity. Well done. #WrestleMania
WWE Creative Humor alluded to how Lesnar's limited schedule could create problems now that he's Universal champion again:
WWE Creative Humor @WWECreative_ish"I am the Universal Champion. See you at SummerSlam" - Brock Lesnar #WrestleMania
Sunday's bout represented a WrestleMania rematch for Lesnar and Goldberg, as they first met on the Grandest Stage of Them All 13 years ago at WrestleMania.
That was widely regarded as one of the most disappointing matches in WrestleMania history since the fans in attendance knew both Superstars intended to leave WWE afterward.
Lesnar has been back in the fold for the past few years, however, and Goldberg made his triumphant return during the build toward Survivor Series.
While he was initially brought back to help promote WWE 2K17, Goldberg eventually came to terms on a deal to compete in the ring, and he faced Lesnar for the second time at Survivor Series.
The result was among the most shocking moments in WWE history, as Goldberg steamrolled the Beast Incarnate in less than two minutes.
Goldberg followed that up by eliminating Lesnar from the Royal Rumble, which prompted Paul Heyman to challenge Goldberg to a match at WrestleMania 33 on behalf of his client.
The 50-year-old Superstar accepted before going on to defeat Kevin Owens at WWE Fastlane to become Universal champion for the first time in his career.
Following Goldberg's victory, Lesnar feigned a congratulatory handshake on Raw before planting his rival with an F-5, as seen in this GIF courtesy of WWE Universe:
WWE Universe @WWEUniverseOR NOT! @BrockLesnar delivers an F5 to #UniversalChampion @Goldberg just four weeks shy of @WrestleMania! #RAW https://t.co/6pmvOpxaTN
Prior to that moment, Lesnar had come out on the wrong end of essentially every interaction he had with Goldberg.
Hitting the F-5 finally turned momentum in his favor, and it gave Heyman supreme confidence that his client would leave Orlando, Florida, as the new Universal champion, per WWE's official Twitter account:
WWE @WWE"On April 2nd 2017, announcers will be screaming DOWN GOES @GOLDBERG!!!" - @HeymanHustle @BrockLesnar #BrockvsGoldberg #WrestleMania https://t.co/g9T2NYd07R
Although Lesnar was winless against Goldberg entering WrestleMania, the prevailing expectation was that he would find a way to defeat his greatest challenger at The Showcase of Immortals.
The Beast Incarnate is in the fold with WWE for at least one more year, while it is unclear how much longer Goldberg's time as an in-ring performer will last.
Goldberg has lost very few matches over the course of his career, but he did the honors for Lesnar at the biggest show of the year, which sets the stage for Brock to go on a potentially dominant run in the coming months.
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