Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33) Review

Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33)

I was going to watch this match again anyway and thought I may as well review it too whilst I have time.

This all started out with all sorts of rumours over last summer about Goldberg potentially returning to WWE and possibly facing Brock Lesnar. Both of them were asked at various points about a potential match, with both of them working the people with hints and jabs that would indicate something may well be happening.

Then, after all the hype and rumours

BILL FUCKING GOLDBERG RETURNED TO THE WWE

It was a moment that I honestly believed would never happen. With Goldberg's age and his strained relationship over the years with the company, I didn't think we'd see him in the ring ever again TBH. But he came back and cut one of the most believable, emotional promos you could get and got the fans behind him straight off the bat.

Oh, and Brock Lesnar

The match was set for the upcoming Survivor Series. The build up also featured on of the best segments in the last few years on Raw;

Goldberg's intensity was fucking amazing here. Don't give a shit how old the fucker is, this is something you can't teach, he's just got that believability that adds so much to something like this. He also looked fantastic too, in great shape for someone who came back on really short notice and had double knee surgery not long before coming back, too.

And then the match happened.

Perfect Spear. Perfect Jackhammer.

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

GOLDBERG JUST SQUASHED BROCK LESNAR IN

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

A result that hardly anyone could see coming and definitely not in this fashion. Goldberg didn't just beat Lesnar, he SQUASHED Lesnar. An incredible moment that evoked responses that harked back to the streak ending.

I'll skip ahead to the match now. Goldberg was coming in as Universal Champion. This decision made a section of fans turn on Goldberg because he bat a current favourite; Kevin Owens. Owens was on a pretty shitty title reign that lasted for around 6 months before Goldberg squashed him too. Now, I like Owens and I'm not 100% behind the decision to put the belt on Goldberg. His match with Lesnar at WM was already as big as it could be, but they obviously felt they needed to try and add some big name value to the new belt, so Goldberg got a short title run and the long plan was to give it Lesnar.

I have to say though, it was still surreal to see Goldberg with a WWE title again, even though it was the UT.

So, the rematch was set. Beforehand, the match was already getting shit on from all corners. TWO OLD BASTARDS THAT SPAM 2 MOVES, CAN'T WRESTLE, MATCH WILL BE COMPLETE SHIT, THIS SHIT CAN'T FUCKING MAIN EVENT

Well, the match certainly shut people up and here is why:

Lesnar is out first and I always liked it when he wears his beany hat. We are also reminded just how long the WrestleMania 33 ramp is

Goldberg is out next. Bill Goldberg, at WrestleMania, as champion. Damn, never though I'd see the day. He also looks even better than he did at Survivor Series, bulking up to look like Goldberg. Certainly did the trick, he looks fantastic.

First we get the introductions. Just as Jo Jo goes to introduce Lesnar, Heyman takes the mic and does it himself. Which gets a pop from the crowd. Goldberg though gets some boos as he's introduced. Oh well. We'll see if that holds up, here we go.

Both square off and Goldberg goes straight for Brock for a lock up, but Lesnar quickly reverses it and starts to send Goldberg to

Lesnar follows the first one up with another, then another.

THREE GERMAN SUPLEXES STRAIGHT TO GOLDBERG.

Brock, gets up, proud at what he's just done, but just as he starts to turn around towards Goldberg

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The camera angle on this shot is fucking fantastic too. You don't see Goldberg pop up and run at Brock, so the surprise element is all there. For once, the camera director actually did a great job here.

Goldberg gets up and starts readying himself, waiting for Lesnar to get back up again. As soon as Brock does, another DEVISTATING

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two spears to Brock

Think we all know what's coming up now.

JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMME.....................................

But Brock very wisely rolls out of the ring. Goldberg though, doesn't wait around and follows him outside. Lesnar is trying to get himself together by the barricade, just as Goldberg is stalking him from the opposite side, like a hunter after his prey.

Goldberg waits for Lesnar to get back up and RUNS STRAIGHT FOR HIM

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THROUGH THE FUCKING BARRICADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was mightily impressive though. Big crowd pop for this. Goldberg was lucky it didn't take his bloody ear off looking at the bump he also took TBH. Must have really felt it going through like that.

Crowd definitely needed this and are fully behind the match. Funny how it all works.

Goldberg gets Lesnar immediately back to his feet on the outside, fives him a knee to the gut and drags him back inside the ring.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDBERG chant starts up in the crowd.

Goldberg knows this is his big chance to finish Lesnar off now, three spears and now he's looking for his other devastating patented move. The move nobody has ever kicked out of (well ok, Hogan did technically, but he wasn't supposed to but fuck I'm not going into all of that now). Nobody has ever kicked out of it; OK????

He puts Lesnar into position.

HERE IT COMES.

Just as he's about to get Lesnar up, Brock reverses it and gets Goldberg into position for the F5.....................But Goldberg counters that and delivers ANOTHER

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Lesnar.

Are you fucking kidding me?????!!!!!!!

Goldberg again signals for the JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, he gets Lesnar into position. Could this be it?

JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that little detail of Goldberg doing the throat slash beforehand too. He pins Brock, well this is it.

Well this is it, Goldberg is going to retain. He's hit 4 fucking SPEARS and the damn JACKHAMMER for crying out loud.

1..............................2.............................................................................

BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO FUCKING WAY

Goldberg is shocked to fuck.

THIS ALWAYS FINIHERS THEM OFF???!!!!!!!

He gets right back up, goes into the corner and readies himself for seemingly another spear attempt.

WHOLE CROWD IS LIKE

Goldberg waits patiently for Lesnar to get back up again.

Heyman is screaming at Brock “He's in position again”. He knows another spear and surely that would be that.

Lesnar gets back up, Goldberg runs straight for him................BUT

BROCK FUCKING LESNAR JUMPS STRAIGHT THE FUCK OVER GOLDBERG

NO REALLY

BROCK FUCKING LESNAR JUMPS STRAIGHT THE FUCK OVER GOLDBERG.

This guy is nearly 300lbs FFS. It's NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sends Goldberg crashing head first into the corner.

The crowd are like “WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED”?

Lesnar picks Goldberg up and now it's the real time for some SUPLEX CITY BITCH.

He delivers a FIFTH............THEN A SIXTH

Crowd also fully counting these too

SEVEN..........................EIGHT...............................NINE

Lesnar gets up, looks around and sees the crowd ALL CHANTING FOR A TENTH GERMAN SUPLEX TO BE HIT

So Brock fully obliges

TEN......................TEN FUCKING SUPLEXES TO GOLDBERG

Lesnar stand over Goldberg, waiting for him to get back to his feet. As he does, Brock picks him up into the F5

1........................2.................................................................3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:brock IS THE NEW UNIVERSAL CHAMPION

Brock even gives a fan a nice little fist bump on his way out

Wow. What a spectacle.

Where to really start. Going in, most people were totally shitting on this whole match and were expecting them to stink out the place, as they did at WM20, probably worse being as it was 13 years later. Even I was wondering just what they were going to come up with TBH, as it couldn't be another squash like SS, this is WM after all. I was thinking of a brawl to cover any limitations Goldberg may have. But what we got was FUCKING AMAZING. I still cannot believe how perfectly they booked this match, I mean, I would live to know who was the agent for this, if there was one, because they got it spot on.

It's as simple of a match structure as you like, but this is pretty much exactly how it should have been booked. Just let them go out there, hit all there big moves, try and get the crowd going and make it into a spectacle, and they succeeded on all of those fronts and more.

That first spear was spectacular and like I said in the review, the camera angle was so perfect for that. The fucking leapfrog from Lesnar was a total WHAT THE FUCK moment too, as was the spear through the barricade. I also didn't really expect Goldberg to take (m)any suplexes TBH, let alone 10!!!

The crowd were not the best all night, barring the ladder match and this match followed the God awful Wyatt/Orton match and at the start of Brock/Goldberg they were all wondering what was going to happen, but fuck they soon woke up and this match ended up getting one of the biggest reactions and was a big highlight of the whole event. I love the crowd's reaction to Brock's leap and they were all 'Yessing' the suplexes. You see, as maligned as that whole stick is, the crowds still get behind it and chant along at all the suplexes.

The one thing I would change and yes I know it's nitpicking something as great as this, but I would personally have had Goldberg kick out of the F5. Yes I know they may be trying to go back to telling the story of it only takes one F5 to stop people again, but after what Lesnar took, including by the way the fucking JACKHAMMER, I would have had Goldberg survive the F5, then have Lesnar flip out for a moment and then have to hit another one to finish him off. It's only a minor thing as I adore this match.

Lesnar beat Goldberg clean as a whistle too. That needs to be said more.

THIS MATCH IS UNDER FIVE DAMN MINUTES TOO.

Amazing.

Well that was longer than I planned lol.

Thanks for reading.

Goldberg vs Scott Steiner (No DQ) (WCW Fall Brawl 2000) Review

Goldberg vs Scott Steiner (No DQ) (WCW Fall Brawl 2000)

So, this is always regarded as the 'other good Goldberg match' when referring to his best work from WCW. The other being the DDP one of course. I have always been a big fan of this match also, but it's been a while since I have watched it and apart from them throwing bombs at each other, the other aspect I remember is the Vince Russo (GO AWAY, PLEASE) finish and all that bollocks. So we'll see how this one holds up.

This is the build up video for the match; (If YT hasn't blocked it yet)

So in the build-up to this match had Goldberg give Midajah a Jackhammer through a table, Steiner locked Goldberg's girlfriend in the Steiner Recliner, and Goldberg broke Steiner's face with a lead pipe. Plus, all the 'He didn't follow the script shit with Russo at New Blood Rising. So Scotty is wearing a protective mask in this one. First we get a short Steiner promo with Mene Gene (tried upping it to YT, but it was blocked).

This is going to be 'Clash of the Titans' says Gene, Godzilla ,

Well, Freakzilla vs King Kong.

“See there's only two things I care about Mene Gene; My freaks and my peaks, and after I beat his ass, I'm going back to the hotel and cos I'm a loaded sex pistol and I'm ready to explode.”

Right-on, Scotty, Gene then says something but is cut off, but it seems to end with 'Bastard'. LOL.

Right, here we go. This is a No-DQ match, remember. Steiner is out first and starts jawing at the Buffalo Bills, who are at ringside, on his way to the ring. He's still giving them some stick as Goldberg makes his way by his usual entrance. Goldberg high fives the Bills (Have a feeling this will come into play later on).

Steiner starts outside the ring as he has to put his mask on first. They start by pacing around each other in the ring, whilst Scott is still shouting at the Bills, lol. They finally lock up and they both get in the corner and Steiner starts stiffing Bill with some punches and forearms. He whips Bill off the ropes, but Bill ducks and hits Scot with a big shoulder tackle to send him down to the mat. Bill then picks him straight up and delivers what I can describe as a FUCKING AWESOME POWER SPOT

He whips Steiner off the ropes, but Scotty wants none of this shit and bails to the outside. Doesn't last long though as Bill follows him out. He tries whipping him into the guardrail, but Steiner blocks it and sends Bill onto it instead. He throws Bill back into the ring and sends him down to the mat with a clothesline and a short elbow drop for a 2 count. Steiner still on the attack as he gets Bill in the corner and starts chopping him clubs to the head. He whips Bill into the opposite corner and runs at him, but is hit with a BIG BOOT RIGHT PLUM IN THE FACE

Goldberg picks him straight up into a sweet Butterfly Suplex

I do love seeing Bill just man-handling people. Goldberg then just gets onto Scott and starts clubbing away at his mask with stiff right hands. He sends Steiner into the ropes, but it gets blocked and Bill eats a DIAMOND CUTTER

Hey DDP, there's a trademark claim here, bud. He follows this up with a belly to belly suplex into another 2 count. He picks Bill up and seems to be trying to hit a Piledriver, but it's reversed and Goldberg just plants him down to the mat with a powerslam.

POWER MOVEZ GALORE HERE..............JUST WANT WE WANT

Goldberg gets a 2 count of his own here. He then gets into the 'Spear position' and runs at Steiner, but Scotty moves and Bill nearly hits his shoulder onto the corner post (well I say nearly, he seemed to block it, not sure if that was intentional or not, although Tony did say he put the brakes on). Scotty then goes onto the top turnbuckle, but Bill is back up and catches him into a big powerslam

That seemed to take it's toll on Goldberg, as he drops to the mat and Steiner rolls out the ring to the outside. Bill follows him and out and tries throwing him into the guardrail again, but again it's blocked and Steiner throws Goldberg shoulder first into the steel steps. At this point, Midajah (one of Stenier's favourite freaks and has a chest bulge higher than the moon), comes down to ringside carrying a lead pipe (this was the weapon as to why Scotty has his mask).

Meanwhile, Steiner picks a chair up and hits Goldberg over the shoulder with it as he's still down by the steel steps, before throwing the chair and Bill back into the ring. He picks Bill up and dumps him upside down into the corner of the ring. He picks up the chair again and starts attacking Bill's midriff with it.

Goldberg certainly in some trouble at this stage as he is busted open at the top of his head. Steiner throws Bill over his head and starts mocking him with some press ups

He gives Bill a backbreaker, which follows into another 2 count. Steiner tries to put Goldberg is a sort of full nelson hold, but Bill tries to fight back with some elbows, but is instead thrown to the other side of the ring via his head after a belly to belly suplex.

You just gotta love two wrestlers that look like this, just throwing each other around like this. Just how it should be done. At this point, Midajah hands Steiner that lead pipe; Yeah, this'll go well. Just as Steiner turns around, he's hit with a

SSSSSPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all know what this means – It's Jackhammer time. Just as he's about to hit it however, here comes Vince fucking Russo

BRO, BRO, BRO

Who immediately hits Goldberg with a cough*rubber*cough baseball bat.

For fuck sake.

Russo starts celebrating doing this as the commentary team say “Get the camera off him” - Yeah, my sentiments exactly. Steiner covers Goldberg but GOLDBERG KICKS OUT. Yeah, fuck you Russo. Steiner throws Goldberg out the ring ans Russo starts taunting him with the bat, but Bill is having none of this shit and starts going after Russo, but is blind sided in the back by Steiner. He follows this up by ramming Goldberg into the guardrail.

Steiner goes over and half sets up a table, before picking Goldberg up and planting him straight through it with a powerslam as he and Russo (urrrrgh) celebrate. He throws Bill back into the ring, who is dead at this point, and screams “It's over, Jackie/daddy/something”. He immediately puts Goldberg into the STEINER RECLINER submission hold.

WILL BILL ACTUALLY QUIT?????!!!!

No, of course he won't, as he powers out of it and picks Steiner up and dumps him RIGH ON HIS ASS

This totally unfazes both of them though as Steiner no sells this and immediately runs at Goldberg and hits him with a clothesline. He sends Goldberg into the opposite corner and plants him on the top turnbuckle. He also climbs up but is met with some Goldberg headbutts, which sends Steiner crashing down to the mat. Just as he does this, Midajah hits Goldberg over the back with that damn lead pipe. Russo gets involved again and follows suit with his baseball bat. Goldberg is still perched on the top turnbuckle as Steiner climbs back up and delivers a head bouncing belly to belly suplex

He immediately follows this up with a cover pin but gets a damn close 2.9. What the fuck has Scotty gotta do here, maaaaaaaan. He then puts Goldberg back into the Steiner Recliner. Will Bill quit this time????

I mean FFS, he's been hit with chairs, pipes, bats, put though a table, dumped on his head twice, survived two recliners lol.

Goldberg crawls over the ropes and dumps Steiner straight onto the outside, who immediately picks up the chair again. He tries to hit Goldberg with it but Bill ducks this time and hits Steiner with a spinning neckbreaker. Goldberg clambers up into the corner and seemingly into the spear position, but that fucking Russo runs in again, but Bill is ready this time and stops him and throttles him by the throat.

About damn time.

But just as he's taking care of him, Steiner hits him in the stomach and over the head with the lead pipe

I assume this will finally kill off Goldberg. Unless he's got a missile launcher somewhere, because even I'm wondering what it'll finally take. Goldberg is knocked the fuck out as Steiner again puts on the Recliner. Ref has no choice but to ring the bell and declare Steiner the winner as Goldberg is unconscious.

Steiner finally gets the win.

Fucking dipshit Russo comes in with his fucking top off and put one foot on Goldberg and does a victory pose. Moron.

Goldberg is dead on the floor as Russo/Steiner/ Midajah celebrate the win. Oh and Scotty says fuck you to the camera

Russo continues being an insufferable twat as he starts mocking the Buffalo Bills. The Bills finally get out of their position as they get in the ring and help Goldberg out the ring. Wish they could have got involved sooner and twatted Russo TBH.

So, the match. Did I like this as much as I used to? Yes. It was pretty great before the interference, then it became a case of Goldberg being beat the shit out of for a longer period than I remember it being. It was great when they were literally throwing each other around and Bill did a decent job at some of his selling, and I guess it did take a shit load to finally beat him. I think only a missile from space was missing to try and put him down. Some of the power moves are wonderful to see, even though Bill was lucky as he got planted on his head a couple of times. I'm not saying the interference ruined the match or anything like that, but it went on much longer than I expected. I guess it was designed to keep Goldberg looking strong as possible in defeat, but i just felt it went on a tad too long, esp with Russo being involved.

All in all though, it's still a very good match up until that point but is isn't better than the Goldberg/DDP match IMO. Still highly enjoyable tho and fun as fuck for the most part.

Recommended of course,