Bill Goldberg has made headlines recently by saying that he wouldn’t sign with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as the ‘product is too cheesy.’
Unsurprisingly, the 57-year-old’s blunt take on the legitimacy of Tony Khan’s show has not gone down well in AEW headquarters.
Aside from the humiliation of having a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) hall of famer question the credibility of AEW’s storylines, Khan is allegedly said to be put out as the real reason was that AEW refused to pay Goldberg’s asking price – leading to the free agent establishing an early narrative to save face.
What this latest saga means is that Goldberg is virtually out of options when it comes to being offered a deal to wrestle again given that a WWE return is unlikely.
So, why is the man who made the spear world famous, unable to convince wrestling bosses to give him a contract on his own terms? It might still have something to do with being one of the main protagonists in what is described as the ‘worst wrestling match of all time.’
Wrestling fans will know straight away that the infamous match in question was the one at WWE’s Super Showdown in 2019 when Goldberg took on The Undertaker. At best, this match could be called a comedy of errors, and at worst, the most dangerous nine minutes in WWE history.
An unmitigated disaster from start to finish
It didn’t start well when Goldberg headbutted his locker while preparing for the match in his changing room. To some extent, this type of pre-match routine was expected as Goldberg was famed for getting worked up before going out to compete. In fact, he was even encouraged to which is why cameras would follow his every move before making his way to the ring.
However, in doing so on this occasion, he accidentally cut himself and subsequently made his ring walk with blood on his forehead. This certainly raised a few eyebrows as WWE executives watched on but far worse was still to come when the contest started.
During the opening exchanges of the match, The Undertaker swerved a spear while on the turnbuckle which resulted in Goldberg concussing himself on the metal ring pole. This is when it began to go quickly and dangerously downhill as The Undertaker continued the match none the wiser.
When the referee did eventually step in to check on Goldberg’s condition, The Undertaker would push him away. Alarmingly, The Deadman then mistimed a Tombstone Piledriver before a dazed Goldberg dropped The Undertaker on his neck during a failed Jackhammer.
By the time The Undertaker pinned Goldberg to the sound of an unimpressed crowd’s booing, both men’s careers were effectively over.
However, The Undertaker escaped major criticism owing to his standing in the company with Goldberg taking the fall for the farce. The reality is that there was an unacceptable breakdown in communication between the referee and The Undertaker who failed to stop the match and prioritize Goldberg’s wellbeing.
When the fun stops, it is time to stop
Sometimes, the show can’t go on and this cautionary tale in the Middle East should have seen measures put in place to protect wrestlers who are unable to look after themselves.
At least, you see protocols in almost every other industry that have been written into law to safeguard individuals. For instance, professional soccer now has a concussion protocol when any player deemed to be suffering from a head knock has to wait up to 72 hours to play again. To that end, it’s not just other professional sports where wrestling could learn from in terms of how to successfully implement preventive measures.
In this sense, perhaps the world of wrestling could take a leaf out of the gambling industry’s book which has become the leader in prevention strategies that always feature prominently in any guide to online wagering. Indeed, the online gambling industry is adamant that entertainment should not come at the cost of a person’s welfare. Can the same be said for the WWE?
A heavy price to pay
Whether it can or can’t, the wider point is that the match in 2019 cost one of the WWE’s greatest athletes his reputation but had there been a system in place to stop the match immediately, you could argue that Goldberg’s career prospects wouldn’t have taken such a hit.
Furthermore, the former WWE Universal Champion might still be able to command the size of a check that has made wrestling companies decide to pass on his services.
