50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE WrestleMania

Almost unbelievably, WrestleMania 33 was only Bill Goldberg's second whirl on WWE's top pay-per-view. He'd worked an infamously unwanted scrap vs. Brock Lesnar at XX in 2004. That was dumped on by a trolling Madison Square Garden crowd who realised both men were leaving the company right afterwards. Smiling guest ref Steve Austin was the only one who got a favourable reaction from New York.

Orlando in 2017 was somewhat different. 'Mania 33's re-rematch (they'd clashed again at Survivor Series 2016) between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar is the only time Bill lived up to the hype on the biggest show. Other matches like that bizarre one vs. Brock in 2004 and Braun Strowman in 2020 tanked for various reasons. He and Lesnar more than made up for XX’s car crash with a thumping five minute power move explosion in Florida.

It's still one of the most fun matches this writer has ever seen live. Brock and Bill should've slipped Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt a wee thank you note for stinking up the joint with their WWE Title bout before the Universal Title took centre stage. Fans in the Camping World Stadium were delighted when Lesnar and Goldberg hurled one another about the ring then went to the finish pronto like they'd set the momentum bars to fast in WWE 2K24.

This was the only time WWE got Goldberg right at 'Mania. Expect that to remain the case, 'cause it doesn't look likely the ex-WCW squash match machine will ever lace up a pair of boots on the show again. If he does, then it'll be a Rock vs. Rowan style sprint, surely.