5 Potential opponents for Goldberg at WrestleMania 33

You knew this would happen to Goldberg. After standing in a WWE ring and exclaiming that not only was Brock Lesnar “next” but also “last” there are rumours that the former WCW star will be around come April to be a part of WrestleMania 33.

Everyone calm down though, as these are only rumours.

For a 49-year-old man who hasn’t been in a wrestling ring in 12 years, Goldberg has been all but been awarded the WWE World title, the keys to the city and Vince McMahon’s next grandchild. We should probably pump the brakes a bit on there being more than one match in his newest venture in professional wrestling.

For starters, if Goldberg becomes part of weekly programming, it will increase ratings until his age begins to catch up with him.

Eventually, the fans will become disenchanted with the same old shtick. And to be honest, he won’t be able to keep up with a hectic travel schedule and the younger, stronger roster gunning to make a name for themselves in a “match” with the mystique of Goldberg, now a shell of the competitor he once was.

If you question that, just ask Sting or Undertaker.

If Goldberg is still setting off large crowds with promos and daring wrestlers to come out from the back and challenge him, I’d be shocked. But should he be around come March, the talk of an appearance in Orlando will pick up faster than Usain Bolt on a track. Here are five opponents for Goldberg if he makes it to WrestleMania 33:

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5: John Cena

Would a legend’s match with John Cena make sense?

There isn’t much left for Cena to do in his career. This could be one of those legend’s matches. For Cena, the quest for a 16th World Title is what drives him to remain in the main event picture still. While there has to be the perfect match for him to achieve history, he can also look at feuds that carry significance.

He can fight to keep the honour of the company that has made him. I can see this as being a one-off type of situation, where there isn’t a dance partner for Cena in Orlando. I’d be interested to see who the fans support in this kind of match. The crowd would likely be split right in the middle for this one.

4: Undertaker

The match with Undertaker could have happened this year

This is the biggest “no-brainer” of them all. The talk of this kind of a match took off earlier this year when it was announced that Shane McMahon would face The Dead Man in a Hell in a Cell match. Goldberg was supposed to be McMahon’s proxy, which we all know never materialised.

Undertaker has a few WrestleMania events left in him, so WWE is going to choose his opponents wisely as the next one could be his last and so forth. This is the only reason I can see Goldberg sticking around, because of the monumental showcase this match would bring.

3: Triple H

Would Triple H get back in the ring for this match?

I would love to see the raw brutality this kind of match would involve. Both brawlers would throw the rulebook aside and throw caution to the wind, OK, I’ll stop with all the clichés – but you get the idea. Triple H, even as he approaches 50 years old, is one of the best-conditioned performers on the roster.

This kind of match has more intrigue for me than it did for the match with Sting. I don’t foresee Goldberg defending the honour of his fan base, but I could see some type of match – a retirement match where Triple H puts an end to the buzz, as is typical of the cerebral assassin.

2: Sting

Sting would have to come out of retirement for this match

The other rumour floating around is that Sting will come out of retirement to face Undertaker. But what if WWE changes things up a bit. Would The Icon come out of retirement to be “next” in line to face Goldberg? I know this might be a stretch, but what if this were the main event?

Would fans accept it in the same way as they would accept a match with ‘Taker? Also, we don’t know if Goldberg can carry his own weight in the ring. WWE was worried about Sting not being able to carry his part in a match with Undertaker. Does the same hold true for Goldberg’s match with Brock Lesnar and potentially this one?

1: Roman Reigns

Would a match with Roman Reigns end Goldberg’s comeback?

The past versus the future. This had been discussed last year as a potential feud if Goldberg made a return to the ring. For Reigns, it is much like a potential match with Cena. The idea of Reigns leading the future of the business is still real.

But given the depth on both rosters is watered down, Reigns at some point will need a fresh feud just like everyone else. Reigns’ work in the ring has really taken off. How will his power match with the strength and bulldog mentality of Goldberg? This match will prove who really is the “big guy” in the ring.

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