So with all the hooplah surrounding the potential match with Brock Lesnar at WMXX being Bill Goldberg's last with World Wrestling Entertainment, who thinks an effort should be made to try and re-sign him?"
I know he's not the darling poster child of the IWC, (he has a limited moveset, he's not that great on the mic, etc.), but think of it from a business standpoint ... I'm from the south and if your from the south, you've got rednecks in your family ... it's a given ... and they freakin' think Goldberg is the shit ... (think southern accent) "I like 'at Godeburg ... 'at's one bad sumbitch" ...
Now I'm not really a huge fan, but I think he's good for the business ... The guy is so marketable ... and he's one of the few wrestlers of this era that is more of a household name.
The WWE would probbaly like to see him stay, as both a potential money maker and a way of preventing him from joining some other company and possibly giving them more attention, but it seems very likely that they would ask for him to take a pay cut, which he might not like. I imagine he could make more money doing less work if he left the WWE and just did a few big shows in Japan every so often, and hung around till the WWE was willing to offer him the same amount he originally signed for or some other promotion finally gets enough money to sign him.
WWE's perspective: yes.
Goldberg's perspective: probably no (depends on how much they offer him)
Oddly enough, I didn't care for him much before. But when he grew his full beard in a few weeks ago, I thought it really gave him a cool look. It gets him away from looking like an Austin clone and more like his own person. I even support him keeping his gray hair in the beard. I'd add a different wardrobe as well. Get rid of the plain black tights and put him in street clothes once in a while.
I say keep him around a bit longer after WrestleMania. Steve Austin playing the bad-ass who doesn't trust anyone is getting a bit stale. Bill Goldberg as the bad-ass who doesn't like anyone is more of a breath of fresh air.
I think they need to keep Goldberg at least long enough to have a match with Steve Austin. If they paid him all that money to be around for only a year, and to never have him face Austin is just bad business. I know Austin isn't in top health to wrestle on a regualr basis, but he himself has said he has a few matches left in him. One year isn't long enough to judge Goldberg on. He is just barely starting to get really over with the fans, and was a credible champion. There's just so many possibilities on things they could do with him, including a heel turn, and the big payoff money match vs. Austin. I hope they fork out the cash as keep him at least another 2 years.
WWE should keep him because from the sounds of the fans, they're interested in an extended Lesnar/Goldberg feud. There's Goldberg/Undertaker and Goldberg/Angle, which I think fans would get into.
From Goldberg's perspective, I'd probably leave unless I get similar money to what I was getting. If I'm Goldberg, I don't NEED the headaches and injuries if I'm taking a big paycut. Goldberg's got options in Japan where they seem to be VERY high on him (Ogawa laid down for him for christ's sake).
Is All-Japan still doing that invading WWE army thing? Goldberg would really help out with that, and he's worked with them in the past, so that's an option for him.
I think it'd be good to have him around (RAW needs as many faces as they can get), but I think it'll be unlikely to happen. I think both are resigned to the fact that he won't be around after WrestleMania.
Originally posted by eviljonhunt81Ogawa laid down after a million run-ins, though.
Is All-Japan still doing that invading WWE army thing? Goldberg would really help out with that, and he's worked with them in the past, so that's an option for him.
Yeah but Ogawa still doesn't lay down for anybody, run-ins, evil referees or not. I'm looking forward to the possible Goldberg/Hashimoto match because Hashimoto's had good matches with people a lot less skilled then Goldberg.
I'm not sure if All Japan is still doing the WWE Army thing because Red got hurt. It was mainly just a comedy deal anyways and All Japan cannot afford Goldberg.
Originally posted by Evil Antler GodHe's still INSANELY over with the crowd. Keep him.
Depends on the crowds. Philly popped big when Lesnar F5'ed him at the Rumble. And if I were a betting man, I'd wager that MSG will cheer more for Lesnar than Goldberg at WM.
After Red got hurt, they had Bull Buchanan, Jamal and Justin Credible doing stuff, though. TAKA was also somehow involved, I think.
All Japan could bring Goldberg in for a big Dome show every once and again. They couldn't have him touring full time, but to bring him in for huge shows doesn't seem to unreasonable.
I say let him go. He hasn't really done anything with the show(s) that another wrestler couldn't have done with the same build-up. I'm not seeing any potential for longterm moneymaking when you compare the cost to the results.
It was a nice try, but I think even Zach had a deeper imprint on WWE than Goldberg did.
If they got him away from the minefield that is Raw politics, then he's still got a Hell of a lot more to offer. A brand switch turned Big Show into a legit monster, and look at what a basket case he had been before. Goldberg could be tearing up WWE and drawing big-time in six or eight months' time, but only if they moved him over to SmackDown.
"You're A Big Hunk Of Hero Sandwich, And You Wanna Save The Girl!"
Originally posted by SnookumI say let him go. He hasn't really done anything with the show(s) that another wrestler couldn't have done with the same build-up. I'm not seeing any potential for longterm moneymaking when you compare the cost to the results.
It was a nice try, but I think even Zach had a deeper imprint on WWE than Goldberg did.
You are way off base with that one.
If you can sign him to another 1 year contract and another Wrestlemania appearence for next year you do it. I dunno what his salary was but if you can keep it the same, go for it. Too many money matches with many possible opponents to let this guy go, and you can bet Angle, and a few others can pull a good match out of him. The fans love him, he has a presence all his own, he is not a WWE creation but a unique personality. He has his shortcomings but his upside is bigger.
And yeah, down the road, Austin/Goldberg would be a smart match, although one year ago this time I saw it as a much bigger deal. Now Goldberg/Angle, or Goldberg/Lesnar, Goldberg/Rhyno, & Goldberg/Big Show, all look good to me.
RAW has a ton of faces now, with both Canadian Chrises over there as faces again: Goldberg, HBK, Benoit, Jericho (once his turn is completely official), Booker, RVD.
It needs more heels to push that aren`t Evolution or Kane (yes, there`s Christian). See why RVD and Booker have no logical WM opponents? Unless they`re really going to go with a Booker/Hardy feud, which would be nice.
"I'm the best poetic genius since Leapin' Lanny Poffo."
Originally posted by Spiraling_Shape(RAW needs as many faces as they can get)
RAW has a ton of faces now, with both Canadian Chrises over there as faces again: Goldberg, HBK, Benoit, Jericho (once his turn is completely official), Booker, RVD.
It needs more heels to push that aren`t Evolution or Kane (yes, there`s Christian). See why RVD and Booker have no logical WM opponents? Unless they`re really going to go with a Booker/Hardy feud, which would be nice.
I meant faces that can challenge Trips for the title. Christian isn't there, they won't pull the trigger with Jericho, RVD and Booker have already been crushed by the Champ.
If this is going to be the end of their relationship with Mr. Goldberg then what bothers me the most is how poorly the planned this out. How often do you have marquee name capable of headlining a main event going into Wrestlemania, who you know you don't have to worry about booking afterwards, because he will be gone. If they knew for months this is what they wanted to do, they should have left the Championship on him, turned him into a true monster heel, and then give one of their own (Like Benoit) a HUGE boost by letting them beat the unbeatable man cleanly.
You could have true David and Goliath moment without having to worry about Goldberg saving face. I'm sure if you told him he would get to be champ and kick ass up until his last match, he would go for it. it would be hackuva way to go out, even on the losing end.
Originally posted by GreekPhysiqueJohnnyOYou are way off base with that one.
If you can sign him to another 1 year contract and another Wrestlemania appearence for next year you do it. I dunno what his salary was but if you can keep it the same, go for it. Too many money matches with many possible opponents to let this guy go, and you can bet Angle, and a few others can pull a good match out of him. The fans love him, he has a presence all his own, he is not a WWE creation but a unique personality. He has his shortcomings but his upside is bigger.
Maybe you're right, but he's been there for many months and my personal view is that he haven't brought anything to the show that couldn't have been done by a great many others on RAW.
I say elevate someone who is already there and wants to stay there than throwing more money at this guy. Why bet on someone that you "might" get a good match out of by throwing your best people at him, when you can just save the money and have someone who will give you a good match no matter who you throw in the ring with him.
I think Goldberg was just another example of McMahon's "throw money at it and see if it sticks."
Steen Returns - Viking Defends Ninjas Win - Phantom Bleeds In a wild evening, the Hardcore Ninjaz won the International Wrestling Syndicate Tag Team Titles for a record fourth time in a match that they were not even scheduled to be a part of.