Goldberg was unlike any other during his prime in the world of pro wrestling. The man was truly a specimen. His strength allowed him to dominate his opponents in squash matches. Fans who grew up during the Monday Night Wars may remember how short those matches used to be.
Goldberg was extremely popular during the nineties. His popularity has definitely dwindled in this age of the Internet. Most of the criticism is directed towards the WWE Hall of Famer’s inability to have a great match. It’s true that Goldberg was never an in-ring technician, but he managed to have some good matches during his time in WCW and WWE.
Vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33)
Goldberg versus Brock Lesnar I is considered one of the worst matches in WrestleMania history. Both men were leaving WWE at the time and didn’t give a… never mind. Their second outing against each other saw Goldberg pick up a somewhat surprising win in a matter of minutes at Survivor Series 2016.
The third and final match in this trilogy went down at WrestleMania 33. This turned out to be a decent match compared to their previous encounters. It featured back-and-forth action with a bunch of finishers. Goldberg put Lesnar through the barricade with a spear.
Lesnar would pick up the win against his longtime opponent after nearly five minutes of action.
Goldberg vs. Raven (WCW Nitro April 20, 1998)
Goldberg’s first singles title win in the industry came at the expense of Raven. The challenger met the WCW United States Champion on the April 20, 1998, episode of Nitro. This match was contested under Raven’s Rules.
Goldberg overpowered his way through Raven’s flock to get his hands at the cult master. The crowd reaction made for a terrific viewing experience. The challenger won the title following a spear/jackhammer combo.
Elimination Chamber (SummerSlam 2003)
The main event of SummerSlam 2003 saw six RAW superstars compete for the World Heavyweight Championship inside the Elimination Chamber. Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and Triple H competed in the high-stakes match-up.
Goldberg was booked to look absolutely dominant in this match. The powerhouse singlehandedly destroyed his competition. He and Chris Jericho also gave fans one of the greatest Elimination Chamber eliminations with the spear through the glass pod spot.
Despite his amazing performance, Goldberg failed to defeat Triple H for the title. The Game used a sledgehammer to hit Goldberg during a spear spot. I remember being absolutely livid watching Hunter extend his “reign of terror” with that controversial win.
Vs. Hollywood Hogan (WCW Nitro – July 6, 1998)
Goldberg’s undefeated streak led him to an inevitable confrontation against the nWO. The powerhouse met Hollywood Hogan for the WCW Championship on the July 6, 1998 episode of Monday Nitro. Nearly 45,000 people packed the Georgia Dome to watch the contest despite it having no build-up.
This match wasn’t a five-star classic, but it had some great in-ring storytelling. Goldberg got a huge ovation every time he powered up against the Hulkster. The challenger put an end to the champion’s dominant WCW World Champion run despite multiple interferences.
Goldberg vs. DDP (WCW Halloween Havoc 1998)
Goldberg’s most outings in WCW had him destroy his opponent. This match, however, turned out to be different – and great. Diamond Dallas Page met the WCW World Champion in the main event of Halloween Havoc 1998.
Most fans would argue that DDP carried Goldberg to a solid match. The champion did put some effort into the world title match. The contest featured some great spots. The Diamond Cutter out of nowhere looked flawless.
Honorable Mentions
- Vs. Bobby Lashley (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
- Vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (WCW SuperBrawl IX)
- Goldberg vs. Chris Jericho (WWE Bad Blood 2003)
- Vs. Saturn (WCW Spring Stampede 1998)
- Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner (WCW Fall Brawl 2000)
Also read: Ernest ‘The Cat’ Miller Claims To Be The First Person To Ever Defeat Goldberg
