8 Damning Things Goldberg's Universal Title Win Says About WWE In 2017
3. Short-Termism Conquers All
Does Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg need the Universal Championship?
Absolutely not. The duo were flying without it, and bringing it into the equation adds nothing to the rivalry. Instead of upping the ante, WWE have only increased the level of fatigue surrounding Goldberg’s ongoing revival. Their short-termism has rarely been more obvious.
Goldberg is still getting good reactions, but they’re noticeably diminished from when he first returned. Bill’s Fastlane victory wasn’t celebrated with anything like the same fervency as his Survivor Series triumph, and this is a surefire sign that fans are tiring of the act. People loved the idea of Goldberg coming back around, but now that he’s champion, it’s a completely different matter. It’s a good job there are only three more shows until WrestleMania, or Goldberg’s return may have gone the same way as Batista’s in 2014.
Goldberg’s run will likely come to an end at WrestleMania. He has been used only for a cheap, long-term nostalgia pop, and when he departs, WWE’s neglected full-time stars will be left to pick-up the pieces. For the past few months, WWE have sacrificed their future for the sake of a cheap nostalgia run.
The impact of Goldberg’s spell on top will be felt throughout the rest of the year, and will leave WWE with an uphill battle to salvage their main event scene’s credibility.