50 Absolute Worst Things WWE Has Done In The 21st Century
16. Goldberg Squashes ‘The Fiend’ (2020)
Everything about this scenario felt like a nightmare fans were just about to wake up from.
One, there wasn't much demand to see Goldberg win another World Title in 2020. Two, Bray Wyatt's 'Fiend' persona needed some protection from a writing squad that couldn't be trusted. Three, their match was taking place over in Saudi Arabia. Those shows were still amongst the least-essential on WWE's calendar every time they rolled around, because fans knew the main events were going to suck.
Bouts like Goldberg vs. The Undertaker, DX vs. Brothers Of Destruction and he so-called Greatest Royal Rumble (which was anything but and didn't belong on a list of greatest Royal Rumbles) had been rejected by the masses. At best, they were necessary evils for the creative team - just events to get through so they could get back to business as usual on the weeklies. Bray losing to Goldberg in just over three minutes was one of the worst Saudi plots yet.
The 'Fiend' was practically shattered into pieces so Bill could hold the Universal Title prize heading into WrestleMania 36. Perhaps worst of all, Goldberg's planned match vs. Roman Reigns for the big pay-per-view didn't end up happening come crunch time. COVID forced a reshuffle, which meant former Wyatt soldier Braun Strowman won the belt inside the Performance Center.
If one's being kind, he'd point to the ridiculously fun 'Firefly Fun House' cinematic match between Bray and John Cena as an upside, but it sure didn't feel like positivity was in the air when Wyatt's alter ego fell to Goldberg in Saudi. What a dumb decision, one of many that the 'Fiend' character suffered through.