WWE Universal Championship Match Set For Elimination Chamber 2022
Goldberg returns to challenge Roman Reigns at premium live event in Saudi Arabia.
WWE Hall-of-Famer Goldberg wasted little time after reports surfaced this week that he would return in time for the upcoming Elimination Chamber "premium live event," showing up Friday night on SmackDown to challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship.
Reigns, the Usos and Paul Heyman were in the ring cutting a show-opening promo tracing Paul E's Prodigal Son travels to and from the Tribal Chief, with Heyman taking potshots at Brock Lesnar along the way. He wound down the promo and handed the mic to Reigns, but before the champ could speak, Goldberg emerged.
Goldberg surprisingly acknowledged Reigns, but as his "next victim," laying down the challenge succinctly before leaving.
Those with long memories will recall that Goldberg, then the Universal Champion (after defeating The Fiend in Saudi Arabia), was slated to face Roman at WrestleMania 36 two years ago, but the pandemic put a pin in that, and the legend instead faced and was bested by Braun Strowman. Reigns would return at SummerSlam and capture the title a week later.
Goldberg's forays in the ring have played to diminishing returns, losing to Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble 2021 and to Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam later that year. He then defeated Lashley in a Falls Count Anywhere match at Crown Jewel in October against Lashley before disappearing until Friday.
It remains unclear whether this is a one-shot deal of if Goldberg is sticking around until WrestleMania 38, but this match is now on the Hall-of-Famer's dance card.