wrestling / Columns

Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar: Twelve Years In The Making

October 19, 2016 | Posted by Jeremy Lambert
Goldberg - Brock Lesnar Image Credit: WWE

It’s official. Goldberg and Brock Lesnar will square off for the first time ever at Survivor Series. This is a match that been building since their confrontation at Wrestlemania 20. Goldberg got the better of things at Wrestlemania 20, but neither man looked all that strong as Steve Austin stood tall to end the segment.

That was 12 years ago. A lot has changed since then. Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Goldberg is a former EliteXC announcer, Donald Trump shaved Vince McMahon’s head. Yup, a lot has changed in 12 years.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the fans desire to see Goldberg and Lesnar compete in a legitimate match. Their brawl at Wrestlemania 20 was the highlight of the show. No one remembers or even speaks of the main event; they only focus on Goldberg and Lesnar and how the crowd couldn’t sit still or remain quiet throughout the entire fight.

On Monday, Goldberg came out and delivered one of the most passionate and intense promos in a WWE ring in a long time. All to set up their match at Survivor Series. For the first time ever. One-on-One. Beast vs. Berg.

What can we expect from this epic clash?

Goldberg is nearly 50 years old and hasn’t wrestled since going to a no contest with Kane in February 2004 on Raw. He hasn’t won a match since defeating Jonathan Coachman in January 2004 on Raw. He hasn’t won a match against an actual wrestler since defeating Scott Steiner and Test in January 2004 on Raw. He hasn’t won a one-on-one match against an actual wrestler since beating Matt Hardy in January 2004 on Raw. He hasn’t won a one-on-one match against an actual wrestler on PPV since beating Triple H at Survivor Series 2003. So, 13 years to the event will Goldberg’s chance to pick up his first one-on-one PPV win.

Lesnar is a different kind of animal. He’s ten years younger than Goldberg and wrestles nearly four times a year. That’s quadruple the number of times Goldberg wrestles. He hasn’t lost since losing a triple threat match to Roman Reigns in February 2016. He hasn’t lost a one-on-one match since losing to The Undertaker at SummerSlam 2015. He hasn’t legitimately lost a one-on-one match since losing to Triple H at Wrestlemania 29.

Goldberg talked about getting in the cage and fighting. Lesnar actually did it. Goldberg is the one promoting 2K WWE 17. Lesnar is the one on the cover. Goldberg wants to be a hero for the kids. Lesnar doesn’t give a fuck about heroes or kids.

If their confrontation at Wrestlemania 20 taught us anything, it’s that you can expect the unexpected. Both men hit the other with everything they had, but neither man went down. It wasn’t until Steve Austin dropped them both with a stunner that each man was out in the ring. Unless something changes in the next couple of weeks, Steve Austin will not be present at Survivor Series 2016.

That means Goldberg and Lesnar will settle things mano-a-mano. Yes, Paul Heyman will be at ringside, but Goldberg is going to have his wife and kids at ringside, they’ll just be behind a barrier because Heyman’s dad is a Jewish lawyer and that gives him special access to accompany Brock to ringside and remain in front of the barricade. Goldberg is also Jewish, but he’s not a lawyer.

Goldberg vs. Lesnar is a dream match of epic proportions. Before, you could only play out the match through the video game WWE 2K17 because Goldberg and Lesnar have never been in the same video game together ever before and that’s why you should buy WWE 2K17 because it’s the first time you’ve ever been able to use Goldberg in a video game. At Survivor Series 2016, the video game comes to life. But if you’ve been playing WWE 2K17 then it’s like you’re already playing real life because it’s the most realistic and authentic WWE action to date. You can brawl in the crowd and brawl backstage. You can even cut promos this year. It’s exactly like watching Raw or Smackdown every week except the power is in your hands. Except when the power isn’t in your hands because if you play Universe mode, sometimes random stuff just happens because the WWE Universe is nothing if not unpredictable. The unpredictable nature of the game depicts the unpredictable nature of the WWE.

It’s a match 12 years in the making. It might be the most intense and unpredictable match of all-time. It likely won’t be a wrestling classic, but it will definitely be a battle of two bulls, unwilling to give an inch. It’ll be two men fighting over their last meal. It’ll be two gladiators, willing to kill for the enjoyment of others. It’ll be a clash of the titans. Two men enter. One man survives.

Follow me on twitter @jeremylambert88 or I’ll fight you.