8 Exact Moments WWE Fans Turned On Popular Wrestlers

With the exception of one baseball bat wielding rafter-dweller, Goldberg was the last big name WCW holdout WWE had failed to tempt their way following their purchase of the company in 2001. Two years after the sale, and having sat out his chunky Time Warner deal before a brief spell in Japan, Big Bill was ready to return to gainful employment in the States.

Meanwhile, a young college wrestling champion by the name of Brock Lesnar had risen from nowhere to become the company's hottest property, winning WWE's top prize just five months after his bow and headlining WrestleMania XIX opposite Kurt Angle shortly after. The next night, Goldberg made his dramatic WWE debut, spearing The Rock and seemingly setting up a few years' worth of lucrative dream feuds. Surely it was only a matter of time before Brock Lesnar was next.

Their stars finally aligned a year on, with the pair scheduled for what should have been one of WrestleMania XX's marquee matches. The situation, however, had dramatically altered. Goldberg - possibly as a consequence of his refusal to expand his schedule - was grossly misused in long matches, often with unfavourable outcomes, and as a consequence had grown tired of the whole charade. His opponent felt similarly, with one eye on a pro-football career and having been refused time off to be with his family.

Mutually dissatisfied, both Brock and Bill arranged for their exits immediately after the Madison Square Garden meeting - and those in attendance knew it. What should have been a showdown of superstars was purposely sabotaged by a disgruntled set of fans fully aware of the circumstances. The two were booed out the building, and they'd have to wait until 2017's unexpected rematch to right the wrongs.