Goldberg's 9 WWE Losses - From Cleanest To Screwiest
8. Vs. Roman Reigns (Elimination Chamber 2022)
The match that was expected to headline WrestleMania 36 ended up happening two years later.
Was it worth the wait?
It was mercifully different to the standard Roman Reigns ref bump/melodrama two-punch combo, at least.
Christ, can you imagine?
Goldberg being ordered to sell for minutes on end as Jey Uso ponders whether to acknowledge his Tribal Chief or realise his potential as Main Event Jey Uso as the Wise Man Paul Heyman looks on, rapt with concern, his eyes bulging out of his head, as if half the ECW locker room had asked where their cheque was.
Watching these modern Goldberg matches in succession really underscores just how phoned in everything was. The intense pre-bell stare-down was mandatory, and it feels so fake in hindsight; dressing up a sub-five minute loss for the payday as the biggest fight of the year.
This was a walk-and-brawl early. They went outside for no reason and simply returned to the ring after some punches and kick. The first spear was a good one, and Roman sold the hell out of it, like there was no air left in his lungs. This was markedly better than the turn-taking of the actual WrestleMania 36 main event, in that it was dynamic and the moves were actually registered. Reigns won with a guillotine choke. The ref didn't even get bumped!
Mad how that only happens when Goldberg doesn't want to get out of there as quickly as possible.
Cleanliness rating: 100%