8 WWE Booking Steps For Goldberg After Brock Lesnar Squash
2. Last-Minute Tension
The match has been set, but WWE have one problem: they need to get both men in the same place at the same time without causing a riot, otherwise the contract can’t be signed.
WWE’s overuse of in-ring contract signings has become one of their biggest clichés, but it makes perfect sense here. They book an official “face-to-face” for March’s Fastlane pay-per-view, and welcome both participants to a ring surrounded by security staff, and maybe even a few Raw roster members for good measure.
In a twist to the usual formula, however, the signing passes without a fight. Lesnar is quelled by the knowledge that he’s going to be able to do whatever he wants to Goldberg at WrestleMania, and Heyman’s at his smug best on the microphone. It looks like things are about to explode as he goads Goldberg, but Stephanie intervenes before anything can happen.
She explains that there’s a clause in the contract preventing them from putting hands on each other prior to the match, and that if they break it, they’ll both be fired. They’ve caused her enough headaches as it is, and given each man’s penchant for violence, she wants to ensure the match actually goes ahead.
The forthcoming weeks pass similarly to the Survivor Series build-up. WWE make use of their tremendous video packages to hype the match, and book a couple of confrontation segments where it looks like one man’s about to violate the contract, but never does.
Then, at WrestleMania 33, WWE uncoil the spring...