8 Damning Things Goldberg's Universal Title Win Says About WWE In 2017
Love him or loathe him, Goldberg's current run is a brutal indictment of WWE's current state.
Bill Goldberg's 85-second squash of Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series was WWE's most divisive moment in 2016. While many celebrated it as a fresh piece of booking, others bemoaned the decision's long-term implications, and more specifically the damage done to Brock Lesnar's monstrous aura.
Goldberg's push continued through the Royal Rumble, at which he eliminated Lesnar after spending just a few seconds in the ring with the Beast Incarnate. Things peaked at Fastlane, however, and if Survivor Series caused a few arguments among WWE's fanbase, Goldberg's 22-second Universal Title victory over Kevin Owens has sent the Universe into a tailspin.
Whether you agree with the decision or not, making Goldberg the Universal Champion was a bold move on WWE's behalf. They've hedged their bets on a 50-year-old man who is at least a decade removed from his prime, and he'll now headline WrestleMania 33 in a title match that's unlikely to reach five minutes.
There's more to this than meets the eye. Goldberg's championship victory isn't just a potential problem in itself, but the direct result of a number of issues currently plaguing WWE's New Era.
His comeback hasn't been without merit, but Goldberg's Universal Title win says a lot about the company's current situation - and it doesn't look good...
8. There’s No Faith In The Current Generation
A 50-year-old part-timer should not be carrying one of WWE’s most important championships into the biggest show of the year, particularly when considering how talent-rich Raw’s roster is these days.
Kevin Owens had a horrendous Universal Title reign, but it wasn’t his fault. His run was plagued by endless interferences and the complete destruction of his old “Prizefighter” character, but he remains a compelling performer. Only Chris Jericho, his former best friend, can rival his wit on the microphone, and his match with Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble proves he still knows how to put on an outstanding match.
Seth Rollins’ athletic prowess is undeniable, meanwhile, and Roman Reigns has proven his in-ring ability time and time again when it comes to big matches. Elsewhere, Braun Strowman is more over than anyone could have imagined, Samoa Joe is surging, and the likes of Sami Zayn and Cesaro are among the best wrestlers on the planet. The talent is there: it’s just not being utilized.
Sadly, putting the belt on a star of yesterday shows that WWE have zero faith in their current stars as “The Guy.” A few of these men have been entrusted with World title reigns in the past, but if WWE believed in them at the moment, one would be taking the Universal Title to Orlando.
As a direct result of their own inability to create new stars, WWE have nobody to blame but themselves for this.