Hello and welcome to another ROH TV review from yours truly Nathan here as we begin the second week of the tapings from War Of The Worlds, so let's get started.
Match 1 Kazuchika Okada vs. Matt Sydal
Thoughts:
The action begins as both Okada and Sydal trade arm locks before Sydal brings Okada to the ground. Okada gets back up and hits a shoulder block and then quickly goes for the Rainmaker, but Sydal ducks out of it. Sydal goes for a tornado DDT out of the corner, but Okada dropkicks Sydal off of the top turnbuckle to the outside of the ring as we head to commercial. Back from break and Okada has gained control by ramming Sydal's head repeatedly into the turnbuckles. Sydal hits a standing moonsault on a grounded Okada for a near fall.
Okada recovers and Sydal comes off of the top rope with double knees for another near fall. Okada kicks out and recovers hitting Sydal with Red Ink for a near fall. Sydal hits a reverse Hurricanrana and follows it up with a shooting star press, but Okada gets the knees up. Okada hits Matt Sydal with the Rainmaker and scores the win via pinfall.
Match Result: Kazuchika Okada defeats Matt Sydal via pinfall after the Rainmaker.
Match Rating: ***
This was a fun Match to kick off the hour this week.
From there, we go to a pre-taped interview where Silas Young says that ACH is not a man.
We now go to the second match of the night.
Match 2 Adam Page vs. Colt Cabana
Thoughts:
The two begin by locking up and Cabana shoves Page back to the corner. Cabana goes to the outside early on and Page hits a standing shooting star press on Cabana on the outside. Back in the ring, Page hits Cabana with a clothesline and dropkicks him into the corner before scoring a near fall. Cabana recovers and jumps off of the rope and lands on his feet before hitting Page with a chop. Page gets on the apron and slingshots into the ring to hit a clothesline for a near fall. Cabana recovers and hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall of his own. Cabana wins the match via pinfall with a weird pinning combination before getting attacked by the Guerillas of Destiny. The Guerillas of Destiny hang Colt Cabana from the ropes, but this network can't show it, so that's that.
Match Result: Colt Cabana wins via pinfall
Match Rating: **
From there, we go to a pre-taped promo where The All Night Express say that they are going to make wrestling great once again. They then begin to make fun of Jushin "Thunder" Liger as well as Cheeseburger.
Next, we go back into the arena and BJ Whitmer is out to talk about his upcoming match with Steve Corino. He says that he is going to steal Corino's soul before Corino makes his way out to the ring. From there, the two men are separated as we go to commercial.
ACH tells us that we can do what we want and that Silas is not man enough to hold down his house.
It is now time for the main event of the evening.
Match 3 Donovan Dijak vs. Jay Lethal
Thoughts: Lethal and Dijak begin by beating the holy hell out of each other in the center of the ring trading fists. Dijak quickly throws Lethal over the top rope and follows him out before suplexing Lethal onto the floor. Lethal recovers and turns the momentum to his favor and drives Dijak spine first into the barricade. Lethal dropkicks Dijak off of the ring apron from the top rope. Lethal hits three consecutive suicide dives, but gets caught and thrown into the steel barricade on the outside while attempting the third one. Dijak dives onto Lethal on the outside, back in the ring and Lethal who has since recovers hits a cartwheel dropkick, but can't capitalize because he hurt his knee earlier on in the match.
Lethal goes for a lethal combination, but Dijak reverses it. Lethal hits a German suplex and a step-up enziguri before getting caught with a discus boot from Dijak. Lethal comes off of the top rope while Dijak is down, but Dijak was playing possum as he grabs Lethal by the throat and Lethal appears to be in shock. Lethal hits a superkick and goes for the lethal combination, but gets caught by a Dijak powerbomb. Dijak misses a moonsault attempt and Nana gets in the ring apron, but Taeler pulls Nana off before slapping him. In the midst of all of the chaos Lethal is able to score the desperation win over Dijak via pinfall after a Lethal Injection.
Match Result: Jay Lethal defeats Donovan Dijak via pinfall after hitting the Lethal Injection.
Match Rating: ***1/2
After the match, Lethal is jumped by the Guerillas of Destiny, and out comes Jay Briscoe who steals the ROH World Title and stares at it before handing it back to Lethal as they face off and the show goes off of the air for the week.
Great main event to a really fun show this week as these tapings have proven to be very good and I can't wait to see what's in store for us next week as they continue.
That however will do it for me and this review of ROH TV, this episode is one that I would definitely recommend checking out as each match served a purpose.
Thanks for reading once again and make sure to follow me on Twitter @Headliner5 and follow @EyesOnTheRing for all of your wrestling needs. Until next week, I'll see you right back here as we continue on with the War Of The Worlds tapings.
WWE loves to make the claim that it can make stars. That they can truly helped build up megastars such as Austin, Hogan, Rock, and many more. This is true. The WWE is known for making megastars in the past, and even today, guys like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins have all utilized their popularity to be such. However, there have been plenty of times that WWE dropped the ball over the years, and with the recent releases in WWE over the last few months, it drives home the fact that they have missed considerably. Today, we look at some of the cases where WWE missed out and deprived themselves of another star and future world champion.
*Drew McIntyre
-The now Drew Galloway has attacked the indies with such vigor and poise that you forget the WWE just let him sit and not push him. When the brand split was a thing back when he was there, Drew should have been competing for the World Heavyweight Championship and pushed as a big time heel in the company. Instead, he was treated like a second rate mid carder for most of his tenure there. The WWE has to regret not giving this guy more attention, as he has excited in the indies in 2 years much more than he did in his entire WWE career. *Dolph Ziggler
-He's still under contract and still active on the roster, but does anyone care about Ziggler anymore? Why should they? Saddled with useless feuds and a plethora of losses, we seem so far away from when Ziggler cashed in his MITB briefcase on Del Rio to one of the biggest reactions of the modern era, and when he defeated Cena live on PPV. Ziggler used to go out there during his prime of 2011-2013 and steal the show every night, but his motivation seems gone and who can blame him? After all the false starts and lack of pushes, Ziggler is now and forever a mid carder, who at one point was seen as the future of the company and a possible main event talent. Unfortunately, things change.
*Mr. Kennedy
-This is likely the most tragic case on this list. Why? Because nothing seemed to go right for him. He was the biggest star in the making, with a catchy gimmick, amazing mic skills, and people were getting behind him. He had an organic build, and it seemed like when he won the MITB briefcase that he was well on his way. But injuries ruined him, along with the WWE being scared to take chances on him when he returned from injury. He should have been a star, a multiple time WWE Champion, and more, but WWE never gave him a shot again after his injuries were done. *Cody Rhodes
-The son of one of the greatest talkers ever in the history of this business just recently walked away from the WWE after 10 lackluster years. Why? Because he's a man that doesn't have to sit around and accept crumbs when he deserves a full plate. Cody is a great performer and he's the most talented wrestler in his family. Period. He's not the talker his father was, but he's miles ahead in the ring. He's not the eccentric spirit that his brother is, but he is naturally more gifted and athletically more sound. Cody Rhodes was born to be the MAN. The WWE just refused to give him that opportunity. With his ability to go out and make everything they gave him work, you'd think it would pay off at some point. It didn't. Now Cody is about to go out in the indies and show exactly what he is capable of. The WWE lost out, and can only blame themselves. As usual. *Damien Sandow
-Another big star in the making wasted. He recently was released by WWE and with all the forcing of Roman Reigns by the company to no avail, you'd think they would appreciate a guy who was genuinely over like Sandow. However, they didn't. Sandow was over, had fans on his side, and truly defied the odds before being shelved out of nowhere by the WWE and regulated to the mid card. Sandow could and should have cashed in his MITB briefcase on Cena and WON, but that fatal decision is one he never recovered from. The WWE is solely to blame for this one.
*Wade Barrett
-Barrett was supposed to be world champion. The WWE was just scared to give the belt and take a chance on him, and it cost him. Barrett never recovered and I believe that his WWE release recently will be what's best for him, but man did the WWE screw up on a possible big main event heel run.
*Shelton Benjamin
-I don't think he was truly world champion material as a standalone character, but with a manager and some promo work, he could have been a main eventer during the Smackdown era. He was working at the peak of his ability, and he seemed poised for a breakout, but aside from a small feud with Triple H, nothing noteworthy came.
*Cesaro
-After all these years, Cesaro still hasn't done anything significant except win a battle royal at Mania and then be managed by Paul Heyman briefly, which makes no sense still to this day. Cesaro is one of the best talents today in the business, yet for some reason, WWE refuses to give him a run with a title. He should be Intercontinental Champion now, and eventually working his way into the main event scene, but I truly doubt the WWE gives him that shot, although it sounds nice in theory. Maybe things will change, but I unfortunately cannot see it happening.
*Neville
-This is one that puzzles me. He should be in contention for titles as well and it seemed as if he was headed in that direction before he got injured. He will be back soon, and hopefully that means he will win the US Title from Rusev and feud with Sami Zayn and AJ Styles. Truth be told, Neville isn't WWE Champion material as of now, and unless he finds his gimmick, he probably won't be ever, but there is no doubt in my mind that he could be Intercontinental Champion and carry that belt with pride while putting on classic matches.
*Tyson Kidd
-He isn't main event material to me. However, you can't tell me that Kidd doesn't deserve to be out here right now (he is injured as of now, but still) fighting for the IC Title and the US Title. He should be in contention when he returns, but I suspect he will end up on Superstars or in secondary matches.
*Owen Hart
-Is this a controversial choice? It shouldn't be. Before Owen's unfortunate passing, he had all the tools to become a main event talent. Charisma (more than his brother Bret), promo skills (better than his brother), and an amazing in ring ability that included agility, speed, and exciting offense, Owen should have been WWF Champion. Instead, he would hold the Intercontinental title for some time, and see his final run in his shortened career finish with the Blue Blazer. He deserved so much more.
*MVP
-Although I'm not a fan of his anymore for a few reasons, during his WWE tenure, MVP was the man. He had it all. Aside from the cheesy Power Ranger costume initially, MVP was still the MAN. Promo wise he was gold, character wise he had it, and his "BALLIN" crowd pleasing move was certainly over with the crowd. He seemed like he was going to be world champion at one point, but for some reason it didn't happen. WWE ruined him and his run, only keeping him in the US Title picture and never giving him a serious run at the world title, which was a big mistake. MVP deserved much better and had he got it, there's no telling where his career would have went.
There are some other names who I kept off of this list, but the WWE has dropped the ball more times than they connected. Many of these names would have made a big impact if given the chance, but WWE never gave them the opportunity. It's sad in essence to look back on.
Dean Ambrose and Mick Foley are different in many ways, including skill set in the ring. However, at the same time, both wrestlers carry that persona of the unpredictable and the reckless. Well, Ambrose tends to perform with controlled recklessness due to the safety precautions WWE has installed since Foley’s in-ring career ended, but you get the point. If this was an unsanctioned dream match (which it is!), these two would be covered from head to toe with blood and thumbtacks!
The road Ambrose has taken to this point is perplexing, some would say. When he first arrived on the scene you had a lot of wrestling fans saying, “this guy is going to be one of the top heels in the company". If you discount his time with the Shield, which I do because it was a collaborative effort, then we’ve yet to see Ambrose get that opportunity.
For the past year, Ambrose has gotten over as one of the top faces, albeit not really getting rewarded as one. At one point, it might have been impossible to turn him into that HEEL everyone expected. The way I see it, most of the bloom is definitely off of the “face” rose and an Ambrose heel turn could be on the horizon. Especially if he forges a friendship with a Sami Zayn, the ultimate fan favorite, then stabs him in the back. That’s how I would set it up.
I’m bringing up the idea of Ambrose as a heel because if you’re going to make this work to its full potential, you’ve gotta run with Foley as a face. Honestly, I can’t even think back to a heel Foley that I can take serious. Mankind was demented yet comical. Give me Foley during the Attitude Era, getting used by Mr. McMahon and the Corporation, along with his feuds with the Rock.
The empty arena brawl on Super Bowl Sunday was certainly not a classic, but it was one of the most entertaining spots in WWE history, in my opinion. And Foley surprised a lot of people when he started cutting promos. His promos were always filled with his subtle humor, but they also carried meaning. The three top reasons I watched RAW and Smackdown during the Attitude Era were: 1. Stone Cold Steve Austin 2. The Rock 3. Mick Foley’s promos.
So, Foley and Ambrose. Ambrose and Foley. We’ll drop the PG rating to make this match work. Let's stick these two in Hell in A Cell. And I’m not talking about the hokey “Asylum Match”, I’m talking fencing all the way around and above, and maybe a few “toys” under the ring. In this fantasy, Foley’s as spry as a teenage track star. If we went with modern day Foley, we’d probably see just some punches and a sock to the throat. But this Foley, well, he’s jumping off the ring apron just as much as he did during the glory days of ECW.
And unfortunately, I’ve let down anyone who actually reads this each week with my limited, if nonexistent, knowledge of wrestling outside of the WWE, because I know very little about Ambrose pre-WWE. Pretty much, “a lot of blood” is the only thing I’ve ever heard about Ambrose’s independent career. Luckily, that fits perfect in this match!
AJ Styles technically turned heel this past week on RAW. I say technically because he ended up beating down John Cena within an inch of his life, and Cena isn't necessarily a huge face, but by traditional standards, it was a heel turn. Styles just finished a big main event feud with Roman Reigns for the WWE Title, but to be honest, though Styles may have looked good in the matches, he is lacking that huge victory to catapult him into true main event status. He's a big time player, and proved he could delight crowds in main event scenarios, stealing the show multiple times. So far, AJ Styles has feuded with Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns, and here we arrive at a huge heel turn to jumpstart a big feud with John Cena.
Is the heel turn smart for AJ? Banding together with his brothers Gallows and Anderson is a great way to keep his momentum from shifting, but I do wonder if the Cena feud is a bit too soon. For the summer time, I'm not at all against an AJ Styles vs John Cena match at Summerslam, and I think this is what we will see, but for some reason, I feel like there were a few matches and feuds to do first before this, though Styles vs Cena being the beginning point for the heel turn truly could be the smartest decision in the long run, IF AJ wins the feud.
With the brand split coming, this leads me to believe that AJ and the Bullet Club will likely remain together throughout the summer, if not longer, and I believe Styles and Cena will both end up on Smackdown. A heel AJ Styles with the Club by his side, along with a newly debuting Finn Balor could provide us with the most exciting faction we've seen in quite some time on WWE TV (coincidentally since the Shield). With perhaps John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, Cesaro, and Sami Zayn as possible Smackdown face wrestlers, we could see a ton of big feuds for AJ leading into Wrestlemania. Here's how I see things playing out if AJ becomes the top heel on Smackdown and how I'd book him until Wrestlemania 33:
*AJ Styles vs John Cena(June 2016-September 2016)
-This is a feud for longevity, with different elements and such to be included, like maybe a main roster debut for American Alpha or The New Day assisting Cena to help deal with Gallows, Anderson, and presumably Balor as well. Let Styles get a win here, Cena can get a return win, then let Styles win a rubber match to move on to the next feud.
*AJ Styles vs Sami Zayn (September 2016- November 2016)
-I'd make this feud for sure, with other Smackdown draft picks Cesaro and perhaps someone else who gets called up from NXT to help thwart off the Club. This would be a feud I'd make for either the IC title or the US Title, whichever one is the primary secondary title for Smackdown. I'd let AJ get done with Cena and feud with Sami, who would have won the secondary title. AJ and Sami go at it for 2 months, as they put on classic matches, perhaps starting with Night of Champions, then a final match at Hell In A Cell. I'd have them fight in the main event of Smackdown a few times as well, making this a short but sweet rivalry, with AJ winning the title from Zayn and beginning his first title reign in WWE.
*AJ Styles and The Club vs Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family (November 2016-January 2017)
-With Bray Wyatt and his Wyatt Family as faces/tweeners and a big part of Smackdown, what better way to lead into Survivor Series than this huge feud? AJ, Finn, Gallows and Anderson takes on Bray, Harper, Rowan, and Braun in a 4 on 4 match, where Styles ends up getting the victory over Bray for his team. In a Smackdown main event of AJ vs Zayn the following week for the US Title, I'd have Bray's music interrupt and AJ get caught off guard to lose his belt back to Zayn and have war waged. I'd put AJ vs Bray in a tables match at TLC, or a street fight and let their feud spill over into the Rumble match, where AJ will have an encounter with the man he should face at Wrestlemania 33.
*AJ Styles vs Randy Orton (February 2016- Wrestlemania 33)
-Orton should be drafted to Smackdown, along with Cena. Those two need to work with the newer stars and if anyone could go out there and give AJ a classic at Mania, it's certainly a motivated Orton. Orton is a legend in this business, one of the biggest names of the last 15 years, and he's done it all damn near at Mania. Let this build up begin with AJ getting eliminated from the Rumble by Orton and vowing revenge. I'd let Orton get a match against Finn on Smackdown, only to have it interrupted by AJ and go from there. The match could be given 17 minutes, see AJ gets his flying forearm turned into a desperation RKO, before finishing off Orton with a 2nd Styles Clash in their Mania match, giving Styles his first ever Mania victory.
This is how I think you should book Styles as a heel going forward until Mania 33. I think these are all feuds we'd like to see and they keep AJ as a top heel on the Smackdown brand, which I suspect is where he will end up. Cena. Sami. Bray. Orton. Four of the best names in the business today, all of them going to war with AJ til Mania 33. Book it, WWE.
A lot of times in WWF/WWE, the B show Pay Per Views are really just filler until the A list shows (WrestleMania, Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series) come around. Many times, the B list Pay Per View can be somewhat bland, and fans know it will be just a means to an end until the big show comes. However, this particular Pay Per View was awesome. Fully Loaded 2000 delivered on so many levels. This could've been the Summerslam card, in my honest opinion. This was the first time WWE used the triple main event card and it delivered truly. Let's get right into this PPV and everything that we would witness on this night.
*Team Xtreme (Hardy Boyz and Lita) vs T & A and Trish Stratus
-The Pay Per View opens with a rivalry that would revive the women’s division and captivate us for the next 6 years. Trish Stratus was relatively green (inexperienced) at the time, but she plays the role of heel to perfection. This match centered more on the rivalry the two women had than the tag teams involved, but this was a fast paced bout and a great way to start the show, with Team Xtreme gaining the win.
*Tazz vs Al Snow
-This match was for one purpose and one purpose only: to put over the returning Tazz. Al Snow looked good here as he usually does as a solid performer, but Tazz basically squashes Snow in a short 5 minute contest.
*Eddie Guerrero vs Perry Saturn WWF European title match
-This was a match to basically set up Eddie and Chyna battling for the Intercontinental title, as well as get Saturn a run at a significant title in WWE. Saturn was a very talented athlete, but WWE mismanaged him. However, he looked great against Eddie here. Chyna and Terri having a small squabble helped make this match better, but this was a match that was made due to bigger things coming for Eddie and Chyna.
*Edge & Christian vs The APA WWF Tag Team Championship
-This match was tough to gauge because WWE was obviously saving Edge & Christian for the first ever TLC match that followed at Summerslam. Edge & Christian were entertaining throughout the night as Christan faked being ill to get out of the match. Other than making the champs fear them, my question is what did the APA gain from this, other than a win on the record books. Bradshaw being a native Texan and getting pops for naming off the history of the Texas was great however, and this was a solid contest.
*Val Venis vs Rikishi Steel Cage Match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
-Val Venis had won the title about 2 weeks prior to this matchup, so it was hard to see Rikishi winning the title right back (maybe Val should've won a no. 1 contender's match and beat Rikishi for it, but that's another story for another day). Nonetheless, Val and Rikishi had a GREAT match. Rikishi flying off the cage was a GREAT spot and credit to Val for taking that bump. Val retains his newly won title however. *Undertaker vs Kurt Angle
-What do you do when you have two huge names with nothing to do? Throw them in a mini feud together. While that can suck at times, this was a good way to advance Angle as a main event talent. Angle was hilarious throughout this feud and it helped throw him into the spotlight after an underwhelming feud with Big Show. Undertaker as always had a solid performance and help sell the feud as the Bad Ass that Angle was afraid to face. This match was a bit short, but still entertaining regardless.
*Triple H vs Chris Jericho Last Man Standing Match
-This was the best match on the card in my opinion. Triple H and Jericho rarely ever have bad matches together, but this may be their best encounter. Jericho finally broke through as a main event guy and Triple H sold so much offense from Jericho. Jim Ross really helped elevate Jericho with his commentary, but in the end Triple H did what he does best and that's win.
*The Rock vs Chris Benoit WWF Championship Match
-This by far is one of my favorite matches ever. I truly believe it's one of the best between the two and one of the best in either man’s career. Rock with the smashmouth style went perfectly with Benoit’s technical expertise. Benoit sold this match very well and the finish was great, teasing us that big things were in store for Chris Benoit. The Rock held his own in this match despite not being as technically sound in the ring. It was a nice touch to see Rock use the crossface as well as break out a few new offensive maneuvers. This match gets lost in the shuffle as far as either man's career goes, but with the drama and the action in it, it's a classic. Rock picks up a victory and retains his title.
So there you have it, Fully Loaded 2000. What did you think of this PPV? Let us know what you think below in the comments.
Some questions are hilarious in wrestling when speaking of comebacks. Now, when asked if Sting should go to WWE, I remember responding with a resounding YES. When asked if Stone Cold should come back, I responded with a huge YES. When asked if I wanted The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and even Rob Van Dam back, I gave a big YES. Nostalgia can be great yet detrimental for wrestling. However, what it does do for sure is make headlines. Thus, when the teasers for Hatch came along, many of us began to wonder what could be to come. I think I knew from the start what this was in relation to, and I was correct. It had something to do with WWE 2K17.
Now, there have been trailers every year for WWE 2K and after watching the return of the Ultimate Warrior, which then led to his Hall of Fame induction, we saw Sting get in the ring after being announced for the 2K game before as well. With Goldberg announced now for the game, it would almost seem as if he will follow that same path and either get a Hall of Fame induction himself (I guess it's deserved... I mean KoKo B Ware and the Bushwhackers are in there) or something that feels like it's a long time coming, an in ring return before retiring for good. Could Goldberg be setting up for a big time return and a possible appearance at Summerslam? Survivor Series? Surprise entrant at the Rumble? A big match at Wrestlemania 33? It is very likely knowing the WWE history and Goldberg has said he's not against a possible match or return for the sake of his son seeing him in action.
That begins to beg the question of who would Goldberg face if he did come back? With Ryback likely on his way out of the door and into the indies or TNA(no chance ROH hires him), the most logical match seems to be off the table. So, who would Goldberg come to fight? Would he sign a contract to fight multiple matches? Common sense would say Goldberg should sign a contract over the summer to do a mini run from Survivor Series (shortly after the 2K17 game releases) to Wrestlemania 33 before hanging up the boots forever. Why? Well, you can bring Goldberg back on an episode of RAW and have him as the fifth member on a main event team going into the PPV. It keeps the attraction of Goldberg alive for future reference and holds off a singles match until Mania. I'd let Goldberg be involved in storylines periodically under a part time schedule (2 weeks of RAW in a row, miss a week, repeat) until it's time for the Mania build.
I'd have Goldberg as a special entrant in the Rumble as well, and while he wouldn't win, I'd have him get eliminated by whoever his Wrestlemania 33 opponent will be. And there goes the toughest part of the entire Goldberg return. If Goldberg were to return and fight at Wrestlemania 33, who in the hell would you put him against? Who makes sense? Who can afford to take what will be an obvious loss? No chance Goldberg comes back and loses in his final match ever, so this presents the challenge. You want to have a big money match, a big feud for Goldberg, but let's be honest: Goldberg was never known for his actual wrestling. He was not. He was known for being dominant. Destroying opponents in less than 5 minutes. When he was in WWE for a year, he had to wrestle full length matches of 20 minutes and it didn't work. You saw his weakness. You saw that he wasn't the guy we thought in WCW. So if he comes back much older and less mobile and active, wouldn't it likely backfire to an extent at Wrestlemania?
This would lead to a true ring general coming in to give Goldberg one of the better matches of his career likely, but all the current ring generals can't afford to take a loss to someone like Goldberg. Bray Wyatt vs Goldberg? While this would be interesting, and a big headline match for Bray yet again at Mania, would it make sense? Would it be smart for Bray to build up a feud with Goldberg, only to lose in 9-11 minutes? Likely not. How about AJ Styles vs Goldberg? While AJ could carry Goldberg to a great match, there's the dangerous factor of Goldberg that could end up injuring AJ if he's reckless with his moves. Sami Zayn vs Goldberg? No. Seth Rollins vs Goldberg? No. Dean Ambrose vs Goldberg? No. Roman Reigns vs Goldberg? As much I would love to see Reigns get speared and lose to a Jackhammer, that match would be horrible and there's no way they would make Reigns lose, so no. So who? Here are a few small choices and why they could afford the loss and the feud.
*Sheamus vs Goldberg
-This match makes the most sense from an aesthetic point. Sheamus and Goldberg are both physical beasts and this match could end up as a slugfest and a brutal contest. It would allow Goldberg to have a prominent match against a newer name without taking too much of the shine from anyone, and Sheamus isn't really in the future plans of WWE for the main event I'd assume, so him taking a loss in an 11 minute match would not be so bad. This is likely the smartest option as Goldberg doesn't hold the same drawing power as a Sting, Brock, or Rock in his return, and it will be a harmless feud and match to give him one last moment in the sunset.
*Rusev vs Goldberg
-This is the one I'd be most excited about. Rusev is a great worker and character and him playing the antagonist going into Mania against Goldberg with Lana by his side would be golden. In the weeks leading up to it, allow Rusev to utilize Lana to gain the upper hand on Goldberg and put him in this finishing move once or twice making Goldberg pass out. Make the build believable and make Rusev look good as well. Let the match be a brutal fest with Goldberg winning after a back and forth contest. Rusev won't be hurt by that loss, and the next night on RAW, he can come right back and start another feud to move on with.
*Kevin Owens vs Goldberg
-To be fair.... I don't want this match. I think it would be a waste of Owens, but if anyone could make this work and still pull off getting over in a losing effort as a heel? Owens is that guy. The exposure for him in this feud would be huge and if he would kick out of two Spears and a Jackhammer or two, before taking the fight to Goldberg and then Goldberg gets a quick win, this could work. Especially if Owens goes to shake Goldberg's hand after the match is over and as Goldberg goes to shake it, Owens lays him out with a Pop Up Powerbomb, leaving us with a long lasting memory for Mania purposes even in a losing effort. Also a likely and smart scenario.
*John Cena vs Goldberg
-This match is really just here for the purposes of a "dream match", though I'd never want to see it. Cena vs Goldberg would be a big match and Cena not going over makes this even better. Goldberg kicking out of the AA, along with Cena kicking out of two Jackhammers before finally falling to a third, then the two shake hands in a show of respect after the match.
*Randy Orton vs Goldberg
-This is the only other match I could imagine working, especially since the last time it happened, Orton wasn't a star yet. Orton could give the match that extra boost needed and the Spear being turned into a RKO or the Jackhammer attempt being turned into the RKO with a huge Goldberg kickout followed by Orton kicking out of a huge spear would be worth it alone. Plus, Orton could handle the loss.
These are some of the smartest matches. There were a few I was on the fence about like Cesaro and Goldberg, as Cesaro would make it great, but I truly believe that Cesaro shouldn't have to carry the match and really lose it. Samoa Joe vs Goldberg would be one that I'd like to entertain the thought of, but to be honest, Joe could not take the loss. It's just not a smart idea to make that match happen, but if it did happen, I'd not hate it at least.
However, there is always the chance the WWE goes full retard and books a horrible match choice. In that event, here are matches to avoid booking for Goldberg in the event he does return.
*Triple H vs Goldberg
-We don't need no stinking rematches. Honestly, despite the issues they had in the past, this is not a good look. Let's not revisit this. Ever. Again.
*Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg
-The rumor has always been Goldberg wants a redo of their Wrestlemania 20 match, but I'm not so sure that's smart. Not to mention the subtle yet interesting placement of Suplex City in the commercial teaser for the 2K17 game. This first match was horrible and this match would be even worse. Let's keep these two away from each other if he does return. Seriously.
*The Undertaker vs Goldberg
-Imagine if this happened 10 years ago or if Goldberg came back during the Undertaker's second prime? It would have still been disappointing from a match standpoint, but it would have been entertaining. Unlike Taker vs Sting, the spectacle here is not enough. Taker is much slower and Goldberg would be rusty so the logical choice is to never bring this match up again or think about it happening in reality.
*Luke Gallows vs Goldberg
-This would be the weirdest match ever. Yet I feel like this would be an idea the WWE would come with. Please don't. WWE seriously. Please don't. Same goes for a Goldberg vs Balor match, or Goldberg vs Anderson. Just don't do it.
*Big Show vs Goldberg
-It's bad enough Shaq vs Big Show is rumored. Let's just avoid this rematch for the sake of seeing a huge Jackhammer that was much cooler 18 years ago when it first happened. The same goes for a Goldberg vs Kane match or anything like that.
Goldberg returning would be an interesting scenario, and I'd welcome it for the purpose of nostalgia at Mania that doesn't overshadow the current stars. Should Goldberg return? He doesn't NEED to, but why not? He's not as familiar of a face to this generation and with the game coming out, why not let him have one more walk down that aisle before officially closing the door.
