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We're back with another exciting WWE News Roundup.
A multi-time world champion will return to in-ring action soon, and today, we'll look at his imminent future in Vince McMahon's company. Meanwhile, a top name was involved in an obvious botch during the pre-taped SmackDown episode for February 18 (spoilers).
Drew McIntyre recently recalled facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36, and a current WWE talent highlighted his crazy idea for The Beast Incarnate. Not too long ago, Naomi and Charlotte Flair had a main event showdown, after which the latter reacted to the outcome of their match.
Without further ado, let's take a closer look at these news stories.
#5. Goldberg's current WWE schedule
Goldberg's upcoming encounter will go down in Saudi Arabia on February 19. As part of this year's Elimination Chamber premium live event, the WCW icon has a shot at Roman Reigns' Universal Championship. But could he actually become the new titleholder?
The answer to that is probably no. Following Elimination Chamber, WWE has not advertised Goldberg for any other shows on the road to WrestleMania 38. Also, ahead of the Saudi Arabia event, he will be featured on the February 18 SmackDown episode in a pre-taped segment.
While this does not confirm that Roman Reigns is set to be Goldberg's last-ever opponent, the latter's current run will likely be a short one. The WCW legend returned to the blue brand earlier this month, and he has only made one other on-screen appearance since then.
Interestingly, the former Universal Champion's previous match also went down in Saudi Arabia. At Crown Jewel 2021, he defeated Bobby Lashley in a No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere bout that lasted 11 minutes and 25 seconds.
It marked Goldberg's lengthiest singles contest ever since he returned to in-ring action in 2016.
#4. Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey's WWE segment includes a botch (Spoiler)
While Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey will have a one-on-one showdown at WrestleMania 38, both women are also set to be on opposite teams at Elimination Chamber.
The Saudi Arabia event features a tag team match pitting Rousey and Naomi against Flair and Sonya Deville. As part of a pre-taped SmackDown segment that will air on February 18, the four stars took part in a contract signing for their upcoming bout.
Like most contract signings in WWE history, this one eventually led to a brawl as well. Rousey slammed Flair's head onto a table, but the latter did not properly sell the impact due to a timing issue.
Check it out in the Twitter clip below:
After an awkward sell from The Queen, Naomi kicked Sonya Deville, and the babyfaces flipped over the table together to stand tall ahead of Elimination Chamber.
Many fans later took to Twitter to bash the botch. But since the episode was pre-taped, WWE can hopefully edit out Flair and Rousey's awkward spot in post-production.
#3. Drew McIntyre recalls his full-circle WWE moment against Brock Lesnar
WrestleMania 36 was the event that solidified Drew McIntyre's spot on the top card, as he defeated Brock Lesnar to capture his first-ever WWE Championship.
Two years later, The Scottish Warrior has highlighted how their bout felt like a bar fight in the Performance Center. Here's what McIntyre recently said on The Jake Asman Show:
“It almost felt like I was in a bar fight with Brock Lesnar, an empty bar with a ring in it… a street fight, if you like... If you could’ve read my mind, I remember thinking, ‘Don’t try any funny business, Brock, or I’ll drop you where you stand.’ And I genuinely believed that, which is insane to think, but that’s how I felt in that moment.” [7:02-7:23]
The two-time WWE Champion had been on a long journey heading into the WrestleMania showdown against Lesnar. As a result, the world title victory instilled a sense of pride in McIntyre, who also said:
“I remember seeing his prone body afterwards once I beat him with the title in my hands, thinking, ‘My goodness, it happened.’ Through hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and sacrifice for a lot of others, friends and family, this moment finally happened.” [7:23-7:37] (H/T - Danny Hart of Sportskeeda Wrestling)
While Drew McIntyre is currently not in the top championship picture, it feels as though he will end up there once again at some point down the line.
#2. NXT UK's Mark Andrews shares his crazy idea for Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns in WWE
Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns are set to wrestle in WWE again at this year's WrestleMania event. Heading into The Show of Shows, there are numerous possibilities regarding a stipulation for their match.
Speaking on his My Love Letter to Wrestling podcast, NXT UK star Mark Andrews recently reacted to the idea of seeing Lesnar vs. Reigns inside Hell in a Cell:
"There's only been a handful of Hell in a Cell matches at 'Mania, right? We had Shane vs. 'Taker back in the day? Brock vs. Reigns, Hell in a Cell, that would be huge. That would be wild." (H/T - Saunak Nag of Sportskeeda Wrestling)
The former NXT UK Tag Team Champion also had some fun with the fantasy booking element of witnessing a Hell in a Cell match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.
He jokingly highlighted a scenario where The Beast Incarnate delivers an F5 maneuver off the top of the cell structure:
"I know they don't do it much these days but the early Hell in a Cell matches, they teased me too much because they went on the top of the cell and you never see that these days, right?" Andrews continued, "So, I've still got that tiny glimmer of hope that Reigns vs. Brock at 'Mania, F5 off the top of the cell!"
While the two top superstars have never faced each other inside Hell in a Cell, they were locked inside a Steel Cage for the Greatest Royal Rumble event in 2018.
#1. Charlotte Flair calls Naomi the "second greatest athlete" in WWE
The latest episode of WWE SmackDown featured Charlotte Flair's successful title defense against Naomi. Both women fought each other in the main event that lasted almost 20 minutes.
Speaking on Talking Smack afterward, Flair reacted to her latest match:
"Tonight was athlete vs. athlete, and I've always said Naomi was the second greatest athlete in the company. Tonight, Ronda saw firsthand why everyone calls me The Opportunity." [3:19-3:30]
The Queen was also asked about the upcoming tag team match pitting her and Sonya Deville against Ronda Rousey and Naomi. Here's what Flair had to say:
"I just beat Naomi, and Ronda has never beaten me. That's how I feel." [3:42-3:47]
In singles competition, Rousey has technically defeated Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series 2018. That match ended via disqualification when The Queen attacked her opponent with a kendo stick, followed by a vicious assault.
The ex-UFC star also emerged victoriously from this year's Women's Royal Rumble by last eliminating Flair. However, it will be interesting to see if Rousey can win against the WWE SmackDown Women's Champion by pinfall or submission.
