10 Creative Triumphs Of WWE’s PG Era

6. Goldberg Vs. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

This was a stupid idea, on the surface.

Goldberg and Brock Lesnar stunk out Madison Square Garden at WrestleMania XX in 2004. If ever there were a match not to revisit, even in these hyper-nostalgic times, this was it - and yet WWE, buoyed by the enthusiastic response to Goldberg's appearance in WWE 2K16, opted to book possibly the most unanticipated rematch in company history at Survivor Series 2016.

Goldberg's return promo was great - organic and likeable, almost antithetical to the usual scripted mode. Their first clash was deeply divisive but objectively momentous. Goldberg's squash win was either a shocker in an era of rote formula or a total waste of Lesnar's invincible aura; everybody had an opinion. Their Royal Rumble confrontation was equally as brief, and equally as decisive: Goldberg dispatched Lesnar handily.

I was alienated by the programme at the time. Their minimal masterpiece at WrestleMania righted the wrongs, which in hindsight weren't really that bad. The build was fantastic, once WWE retrospctively earned your trust. Natural skepticism loomed over the programme - it would have been a LOLWWE moment, had the company used the Streak to get an aged, part-time legend over - but they did that and recovered Lesnar's aura.

It was a rare two birds, one stone success from a creative regime that normally has nothing for you.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!