10 Best Late Career Runs In Wrestling History
7. Goldberg (2016-2017)
Bill Goldberg started one of the most unlikely career revivals in wrestling history last year. After 12 full years away from WWE, the former WCW Champion was close to 50 years old by the time of his return, but the fans took to him immediately. Goldberg’s early promos were passionate, from the heart, and completely believable, and after his establishing his family-based motivations early on, he became WWE’s default top babyface.
The ensuing Brock Lesnar feud has its detractors, but it worked. Goldberg’s appearances regularly spiked WWE’s ratings, and his 85-second Survivor Series squash provided one of 2016’s biggest talking points. Doubts over his in-ring capabilities persisted, but the crowds were still responding to him, and sometimes, that’s all that matters.
Fatigue naturally set in when Goldberg needlessly became Universal Champion at Fastlane, but the Lesnar feud stayed hot throughout. It culminated in a fantastic five-minute brawl at WrestleMania 33, with Lesnar finally vanquishing Goldberg once and for all, and sending him back into retirement. Though he managed less than ten minutes of actual wrestling throughout his comeback, Goldberg definitely left a mark, and fulfilled his goal of playing superhero one last time.