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The last RAW of 2020 ended in a cliffhanger, and the first RAW of 2020 ended in a shock with Goldberg's return. After Drew McIntyre defeated Keith Lee in the main event to retain the WWE Championship, he was given an ovation by the legends before Goldberg showed up.
When Goldberg shows up to confront a World Champion, it's clear what the picture is like. Goldberg didn't beat around the bush and challenged Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2021.
Now, this is a mixed bag of a match. While Goldberg isn't the most popular part-time legend, there are valid reasons why WWE brings them up. Even from Goldberg's point of view, he's able to make a massive paycheque to wrestle for a few minutes. If Vince McMahon is willing to pay Goldberg so much for so little, why not take it while he can?
Here are a few reasons why the match between Drew McIntyre and Goldberg is a good idea, and a few reasons why it's a bad one:
#3. Is a good idea: Goldberg brings ratings
The first thought when Goldberg returned for a WWE title match is that it's a move to get the ratings back. As you may know, RAW ratings in 2020 went down significantly, reaching an all-time low in December.
It was a bad sign, and it was clear that things had to change. WWE went with their usual option of using part-time legends as a band-aid. And despite all the criticism that Goldberg receives, he is a big ratings draw. He has proven time and again to be good for the ratings, and the overall appeal to casual fans is much bigger as well.
Goldberg's return gives a lot of attention to RAW as well as the 2021 Royal Rumble event. There's no doubt about the buzz he brings in, and more eyes on the product is what Goldberg is best at getting.
#3. Isn't a good idea: Goldberg's matches don't last for long
The reality is that Goldberg's matches don't last very long. He admitted himself years ago in an interview that even in his peak with WCW, people never paid to see him have long, technical matches.
He compared himself to Mike Tyson, in the sense that people would pay big money to see him wreck his opponents in just a few minutes. And that's exactly what it was.
Even in WWE at an older age, it's clear that Goldberg can't go inside the ring for too long. So WWE tries to utilize quick-but-intense matches. The bad part about Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg at the Royal Rumble is that the match may hardly last for a few minutes. We'll be lucky to see Goldberg in the ring for five minutes.
The last time he faced 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt in Saudi Arabia, he defeated him clean in less than three minutes. That is just one of many examples. Goldberg works best in short matches, and we can't expect a long one at the Royal Rumble against McIntyre.
#2. Is a good idea: Goldberg could take Drew McIntyre to the next level
This is something important to note if Drew McIntyre is going to win at the Royal Rumble 2021. Beating Goldberg would do wonders for his WWE Championship reign - one that has already been filled with incredible title defenses (at least the first one).
Goldberg can genuinely help to elevate Drew McIntyre. McIntyre deserves it after carrying the company on his back during the most difficult year in WWE history.
#2. Isn't a good idea: There are better opponents for Drew McIntyre than Goldberg
In his time as WWE Champion since April, Drew McIntyre has successfully defended the title against the likes of Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Keith Lee, among others. Every single title defense has been notable, and we can't remember the last time that we've had a WWE Champion so consistent.
Goldberg is a great opponent for Drew McIntyre, but the reality is that there are better ones. Goldberg is unlikely to bring the best out of Drew McIntyre that some of the others have done before.
#1. Is a good idea: Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg is the biggest WWE Championship feud since WrestleMania 36
While we mentioned that Goldberg wouldn't be able to bring the best out of Drew McIntyre, there's no doubt that he is his biggest and most notable opponent since WrestleMania 36.
While Drew McIntyre has taken things to the next level, he hasn't faced a star of the caliber of Brock Lesnar after WrestleMania 36. Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg is the biggest WWE title feud since then, and there's little doubt about the fact that it will cause a lot of buzz.
When looking at Drew McIntyre's past opponents in 2020, the biggest names (apart from Brock Lesnar) are Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. It was with Randy Orton who he had the most important rivalry, but it pales in comparison to how big a feud against Goldberg is.
WWE's desire to get a ratings boost coincides with wanting to put out the biggest title feud imaginable. Goldberg is the perfect guy for that.
#1. Isn't a good idea: Goldberg will likely walk out as the WWE Champion
This is the biggest concern we have about the Drew McIntyre-Goldberg match at Royal Rumble 2021. While it's a big dream match, the outcome is what makes many fans feel a sense of dreadfulness.
Last year at Super ShowDown, 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt seemed untouchable. He was the Universal Champion and had been ripping his opponents apart since SummerSlam 2019.
In 2 minutes and 56 seconds, Goldberg squandered all his momentum by defeating him clean and capturing the Universal Championship. In the end, it all turned out to be a waste since the Goldberg-Roman Reigns match never happened anyway.
Our question to WWE would be this - why sacrifice Drew McIntyre's hard work and momentum for someone who will only be there until WrestleMania 37. Sure, Goldberg would bring eyes to the product, but he doesn't need a World Championship to do so.
It would be a slap in the face to Drew McIntyre, who carried WWE in the COVID-19 era.
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