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The last few hours have been quite a roller-coaster ride for WWE fans. At first, it was Dean Ambrose posting a video to bring back his Jon Moxley gimmick and then, Goldberg used social media to tease his return to the company.
It was followed up by WWE announcing their event in Saudi Arabia, set to take place on the 7th of June, as they advertised some of the top names in the company, including Bill Goldberg.
Needless to say, the wrestling legend is set to make another appearance for WWE in Saudi Arabia; and while it may be exciting news, it has its ups and downs.
So, here are 3 reasons why he shouldn’t return and 2 why he should…
#1 Why he shouldn’t: Not the best in-ring performer
I might incur the wrath of many Goldberg fans here but the truth is that The Myth was never truly the best in the ring. Sure, he has a great physique that looks imposing even against some of the biggest superstars in the business; that is what truly made him look unbeatable.
It is no coincidence that most of Goldberg’s matches throughout his career were short. Even in his prime, they used his invincibility factor to give him squash wins in matches that barely went for over five minutes.
Now, with age not on his side – he is 52 years old – he has naturally become slower, and one would expect that whoever is ‘next’ will be participating in a short match that doesn’t reveal the otherwise glaring decline of the legendary wrestler, in an effort to preserve what is left of his aura.
That is not really something that bodes well for any event, let alone a show organized by the biggest wrestling promotion in the world.
#1 Why he should: Nostalgic ride
While I might have sounded very condescending towards the legendary wrestler in the last slide, I cannot deny his greatness. Bill Goldberg is not just your average Hall of Famer; he is one of the few legitimate stars of the industry.
When we speak of people like him, the conversation goes beyond the number of titles he has won. Like The Undertaker – who is often regarded as the greatest wrestler of all time despite not having many WWE Titles to his name – Goldberg has managed to make himself more than just a wrestler.
Right from his entrance, to his sheer dominance in the ring, he walks and talks like an unbeatable man. When fans watch him in the squared circle, they are taken back to the good ol’ days of yore, bringing a smile to their faces.
#2 Why he shouldn’t: Tarnishing his legacy
With that, we come to the cold hard truth of life. While the WWE Universe might look forward to nostalgic arcs every now and then, lasting but a fleeting moment, the obvious victory of Father Time always leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
One of the greatest scenes in the history of cinema took place in Pulp Fiction where Marsellus Wallace (played by Ving Rhames) explains to Butch (played by Bruce Willis) the truth about the boxing business. He says that all boxers age like vinegar, and delude themselves into thinking they would age like wine.
And that’s the truth. A relevant example is Shawn Michaels' sub-par performance during his return last year. There is no one who truly beats Father Time. So when Goldberg’s obvious ‘vinegar-ness’ becomes apparent during the match, it would somewhat tarnish the legacy of a man who has been projected – for the majority of his career – as indomitable.
#2 Why he should: Money
Goldberg means money - of that, there is little doubt. When his DVD was released by WWE in 2014, it sold over 100,000 units as he was among the four stars – alongside The Undertaker, The Rock and CM Punk – to achieve this honor.
Going by this, it shows that Goldberg draws, and when someone attracts money like that, it is only natural for WWE to extract any and all financial value from such opportunities. It is no surprise that WWE will indulge in this practice again, whilst giving Goldberg a fair shake for a one-off show.
The problem?
#3 Why he shouldn’t: Adds nothing creatively to WWE
This. Part-timers like Goldberg add nothing to the company creatively - not in the long run, and in most cases, nothing beyond the spectacle of their return. WWE can’t build storylines around them and have to make-do by sticking together bits and pieces.
For example, Seth Rollins had virtually no storyline with Brock Lesnar heading into WrestleMania. He had just earned the right to compete for the title by winning the Royal Rumble, and there was no pre-existing grudge between the two. Rollins' eventual win was met with relief that Lesnar's run had ended, rather than any sort of creative payoff. So, in the long term, squandering story for 'OMG Moments' isn’t really a good thing.
