Exactly When WWE Made The Decision For Goldberg Vs. Drew McIntyre Royal Rumble 2021
How long have WWE had the Royal Rumble clash up their sleeve?
On the first Monday Night Raw of 2021, we learned that Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship at this month's Royal Rumble against none other than 1998's hot ticket Bill Goldberg, in something of a remix of the pair's respective WrestleMania contests last year.
Have WWE been planning the big Scot's clash with the WCW veteran for some time now, or is it an on-the-hoof decision to toss in a legend in response to alarming ratings, à la the entirety of last night's show?
No prizes for guessing: it's the former. According to Dave Meltzer, speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE higher-ups only signed off on the incumbent champion's contest with the Hall of Famer this past Saturday. Two days later, Goldberg was in situ in the Thunderdome to challenge McIntyre to a match at the annual January event. If the basis for his beef - that Drew 'doesn't respect legends' - sounded a bit flimsy, and somewhat flung together, well, that's because it was.
Goldberg, 54, last wrestled for WWE at 2020's WrestleMania 36, where he dropped the Universal Championship to Brawn Strowman. Victory on 31 January would pave the way for him to defend the WWE strap against Roman Reigns at this year's 'Mania - effectively the original plan for the last edition before the pandemic took over.