Goldberg v Lesnar III

Whilst I ranked the Goldberg v Lesnar match at Survivor Series as my match of 2016, that was largely for the shock value of seeing someone come out of retirement to beat WWE's biggest stud in just three moves.

The guy that had been handpicked to beat the streak, the guy who has destroyed pretty much everyone on the roster, the guy who is genuinely terrifying, the guy who held the UFC championshipwas beaten by a guy who had just come out of retirement in just three moves and under two minutes.

That was such a shock that no-one predicted it happening. I predicted a Goldberg victory but I didn't think it would happen that quick. The storytelling and the writing was incredible and shocking, and that's what I want in a wrestling match. There might not have been much actual wrestling but it was great nonetheless.

It is especially so when you compare it to the first Goldberg v Lesnar match. Even Austin as a guest referee can't make it an entertaining match. Mainly because he doesn't do anything other than call it down the line. That is until he stunners everyone after the match because, well, he's Stone Cold Steve Austin.

In their first encounter, they spend a good long time sizing each other up before locking horns for a bit in an attempt to outpower each other, before sizing each other up again. The match lasts just over 13 minutes and I'm sure at least 10 of that has no action whatsoever. Brock was leaving WWE to pursue a career in the NFL so he was never going to win the match, but it would have been nice to have something a bit more exciting. I've watched this twice and that's probably two times too many.

I'm really not excited to see a third match-up. I wasn't excited to see a second one but they impressed me. However, they've pretty much booked themselves into a corner now, especially after having Goldberg win the Universal title in a very similar manner from Kevin Owens.

Since his return, Goldberg has wrestler about 6 minutes in total and the only man who has been able to lay a hand on him was The Undertaker when he eliminated him from the Royal Rumble. 'Taker has his own mystique and so it is believable that he would be able to go face to face with Goldberg.

This match has to go longer than the previous match. Brock Lesnar has to make a good showing. There's no way they will keep paying his salary to get beaten in record time. In fact, he probably has to win to take the belt from Goldberg. Because if he can't do it, who will?

There aren't many justifiable contenders and I'm guess the reason the first match was so short is because as good as he looks, Goldberg doesn't have the match fitness to hold his own in longer match ups and so is unlikely to be on a long term contract.  He has been given his title reign, and a number of paydays and will probably bow out after 'Mania.

As an aside, this should not be the main event. You should not have a couple of part timers headline the biggest show of the year when there are hard workers who deserve the limelight. In fact, not only are these two superstars part timers, but they have barely even shown up on Raw to promote the match. I think the WWE thinks the universe cares more about this match up than they actually do. It is my opinion that Bray Wyatt v Randy Orton should headline the event as the Royal Rumble winner is told they headline the event. They will probably get around this by having joint main events and putting that on earlier in the card which would be a disappointment and a disservice to how well that match has be promoted relative to this one.