I will admit I was pretty shocked at the end of Survivor Series 2016. Did anyone expect Goldberg to squash Brock Lesnar? It was the most surprising moment in recent WWE history and it certainly told us one thing: Goldberg wasn’t going away anytime soon.
I was even more shocked to learn he will actually wrestle at least three more matches in his current and likely final WWE run. We will see him at the Royal Rumble, Fastlane and WrestleMania 33.
It presents a rare opportunity to use a popular veteran wrestler to give a rub to the long term-future of the WWE.
The biggest rumour floating around is that Goldberg is going to face Lesnar in a rematch at WrestleMania 33. This is truly a tremendous waste in my opinion. Neither of their matches has been particularly compelling and little is gained by a victory for either in the long-term future WWE plans.
Goldberg needs to face more compelling opponents. His limited remaining schedule should include matches that either benefit the future stars of the company or provide unique dream matches for the company’s bottom line. Pointless rematches seem a waste of time at this point.
With that in mind, I present my list of top five opponents Goldberg should face in 2017:
#5 Braun Strowman
You know what is really strange? Braun Strowman has quickly become one of the most compelling parts of the Raw brand. I am just as surprised as you are. It is even fair to say that he has improved by leaps and bounds in the last few months in all aspects of the business.
They have made him look like an unstoppable monster with months of solid booking and have backed it up with pretty solid matches as well. He is starting to get support from the crowd as a major player on the Raw brand.
Also read: 5 Potential opponents for Goldberg at WrestleMania 33
That is why he needs someone like Goldberg to face.
We know Vince likes matches between big men and this fits the bill nicely. Goldberg looks better when he has an opponent of similar size and Strowman will be able to do that. The match doesn’t have to be a long match to seem like a major deal.
Win or lose, Braun would come out of that match as a star going forward.
#4 Roman Reigns
Will people ever stop hating Roman Reigns? I mean sure, he gets pushed to the moon. But he is pretty solid in the ring and likely isn’t deserving of the constant grief he gets from the WWE Universe.
I think it would be wise to turn him heel and now is beyond the time to do so. He could mock the legends and demand respect from the WWE fans. One of Roman’s better matches was when he was nearly booed out of the stadium at WrestleMania 31 against Brock Lesnar.
It truly looked like a brutal, physical battle. Why not let him work a similar match with another star at a big stage?
#3 Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens sure has gotten the raw deal in recent months.
How many non-title matches has he lost? How many times has he relied on Chris Jericho to win his matches? Sure it has been entertaining but it hasn’t really established him as a top-level heel going forward. It is something the WWE will desperately need in the next few years.
Kevin Owens has shown that he is able to put on high-quality matches with pretty much every style of opponent.
He could make Goldberg look good and it would give Kevin Owens the major matches he deserves going forward. I would look forward to the high quality of chin locks that Owens would employ in such a match.
#2 The Undertaker
Since Undertaker is part of no brand, he can face whoever he wants. Goldberg would seem a good opponent for the Dead Man.
I am surprised this match has never really happened yet and this idea would finally allow one of the biggest stars of WCW versus one of the legends of WWE. It may not be the most technical affair but it would seem like a big deal. That is what WrestleMania is all about.
I mean Undertaker had a match at WrestleMania with Shane McMahon. I’m sure Goldberg would be a major step up in star power, right?
#1 John Cena
Seriously this match hasn’t really happened? John Cena seems to be more of a part-timer at this point. He is a star that doesn’t really need to contend for titles in his career anymore. With his star power and impressive mic skills, he can make any match into a must-see event.
Cena doesn’t get enough credit for the fact he has likely had the best couple years in terms of match quality recently. He can have a solid match with a wide variety of opponents.
I certainly don’t know what Goldberg is capable of these days in terms of match quality but it would seem to be a big deal and a huge money-making draw for the WWE in the limited matches both stars have left.
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