Top 20 WrestleMania moments: No. 14
Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania XX, 2004)
If this match had occurred a couple months earlier, it would have been a dream match, pitting two powerhouses who had similar meteoric rises to the top against one another. Instead, it was memorable for quite a different reason. I was in attendance at Madison Square Garden, and the atmosphere during the Goldberg-Lesnar match was surreal. It was widely known for a while that this was going to be Goldberg’s last match in WWE, but then word leaked out just prior to the event that Lesnar also was leaving after the bout to pursue an NFL career.
The crowd never gave either man a chance, emphatically jeering both and chanting “you sold out,” “this match s****,” “boring” and “na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye.” Goldberg and Lesnar were both visibly frustrated by the crowd’s reaction. The only person in the match who was cheered was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the special guest referee. Goldberg ended up getting what amounted to a meaningless victory. After the match, Austin delivered stunners to both men, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Comments
That was one of the worst matches in WrestleMania history. I guess timing is everything, huh? How long did it take before they actually locked up? I have never been more disappointed in a wrestling match in my life.
Posted by: Jason | March 17, 2008 1:30 AM
Both men "got what they got" as far as fan response . This was far from any kind of dream match anyway . Neither man had really been around that long to establish any kind of legacy , and lets face it they both relied on brute force and weren't very good wrestlers . Goldbergs best days were in WCW anyway .(Had to get my WCW props in ).
Posted by: jack in hebron | March 17, 2008 10:19 AM
I've never seen this match, on purpose. I've never liked Lesnar and the only thing good about Goldberg was picking him in Wcw/Nwo Revenge for Nintendo 64.
Posted by: mr. bronson | March 17, 2008 6:54 PM
Uhh, Jack...Brock was a great wrestler during his brief stint and had a handful of 4-star matches. But Goldberg is/was garbage in and out of the ring. The reaction made this match so memorable, much like Cena vs. RVD at ONS '06.
Posted by: Ryan | March 17, 2008 10:46 PM
good match
i liked it, but i liked the two complimentary stunners they got as a gift at the end of the match the most.
GO AUSTIN!!
i know his WM19 Match is going to be one of the top 5....
Posted by: The_Man | March 17, 2008 10:51 PM
The only wrestler who could stop Goldberg in WCW/nWo Revenge for the N64 for Scott Norton. I'd take his shoulder breaker finisher over the Jackhammer any day.
Posted by: Jimmy | March 18, 2008 9:33 PM