Pro wrestling legend Goldberg made his triumphant return to the WWE this evening, appearing on the promotion’s flagship series “Monday Night Raw” following a 12-year hiatus.
The 49-year-old entered the ring to respond to a challenge laid down last week by Brock Lesnar’s “advocate” Paul Heyman. After a little hemming and hawing, Goldberg’s answer was as emphatic as the Denver, Colorado, crowd’s chants of both his name and “Holy S–t! Holy S–t!” (Yes, “This Is Awesome!” also made the cut.)
“I thought to myself, maybe I have one last ass-kicking in me … maybe I have one last Spear in me … maybe I have one last devastating Jackhammer in me,” Goldberg said. “So, Brock Lesnar, not only does that mean that you’re next, but most importantly, it means, Brock Lesnar, you’re last!”
Watch video of Goldberg’s highly-anticipated return:
"@BrockLesnar, not only does that mean YOU'RE NEXT … more importantly, it means BROCK LESNAR, YOU'RE LAST!" – @Goldberg #RAW pic.twitter.com/9ooRIHSvLi
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2016
The WWE may want to reinforce the ring for this one.
Lesnar-Goldberg II could theoretically take place in two weeks at “Raw” exclusive pay-per-view “Hell in a Cell,” but it will more likely hold for the January “Royal Rumble” or potentially even April 2017’s “WrestleMania 33.”
Last week, Heyman had laid down this gauntlet: “Goldberg: You sir, are hereby challenged to a fight. One-on-one. Beast versus The Myth. Icon versus icon. Anywhere, any place, any time. Brock Lesnar versus Goldberg!”
“In Suplex City, you’re not Goldberg,” the mic-maestro concluded, “You’re ‘Next!’”
On this “Monday Night Raw,” Goldberg referred to promo-master Heyman as a “fat little stooge.” Lesnar himself will be in-house next Monday to respond to the response, likely setting the date. Even the coming “Survivor Series” could be in play.
Goldberg is 1-0 versus Lesnar in their suddenly renewed rivalry — a fact that Heyman previously said keeps him and his killing machine up at night. So, double or nothing?
While Goldberg has long-since retired from the squared circle and shunned the limelight, Lesnar still wrestles part-time, in between real fights in the UFC. Goldberg is only back in this whole thing through promotions for new video game WWE 2K17.
Bill Goldberg really made his mark in old WWF competitor WCW, where he started an unbelievable (which is the perfect adjective, because wrestling is fake) 173-0. The massive grappler was incredibly strong and surprisingly agile in his day — not at all unlike the decade-younger Lesnar, who is perhaps even more reclusive than his elder. Goldberg did compete in WWE, but left amid some drama he copped tonight to causing.