Why Goldberg Was Chosen to Squash Brock Lesnar at WWE Survivor Series

Everyone remembers where they were when Goldberg squashed Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016, shocking fans in a big way. As it turns out, there was a good reason why the match turned out the way it did.

While speaking on Inside the Ropes, Paul Heyman explained why Goldberg’s shocking win over Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016 worked so well and why it happened in the first place.

Heyman said that while a match like Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles was great, no one would believe AJ could beat Brock in just 90 seconds. Goldberg, on the other hand, made that idea believable.

The story was built around surprise and nostalgia,like Clint Eastwood coming back for one last fight. Fans expected Brock to destroy Goldberg but the excitement of a final run with one last spear, one last jackhammer and one last big moment set the stage for something different.

“I mean, you know, we go down the list. AJ Styles—I love the Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles match. Can AJ Styles beat Brock Lesnar in 90 seconds with that shock value? Not credibly. Goldberg? You believe it. We had a shock value involved. And here comes Goldberg. Here comes Clint Eastwood coming back for one more fight. And you know it’s one more fight. You think he’s going to get his ass kicked by Brock Lesnar, but man, I would really love to see Goldberg come back. And this whole comeback story—one last run, one last moment, one last spear, one last jackhammer, one last ass kicking.”

During the match, Goldberg exploded out of the gate, blasting Brock with a spear right away and then hitting a second spear before anyone could catch their breath. The pace was so quick that the crowd had no idea where it was heading. Then Goldberg lifted Brock for the jackhammer, and instead of the expected kickout, he pinned him clean in just 86 seconds.

Heyman pointed out that the shock of seeing Goldberg squash Brock so fast made fans leave saying that Goldberg was the man, creating one of the most unforgettable moments in modern WWE history.

“And Goldberg fires Brock Lesnar out of his boots and you go, ‘Whoa, this match started fast,’ and he hits a second spear and you go, ‘Holy, this is going down really fast. Where are they going from here?’ And Goldberg takes that step back and you go, ‘Holy, he’s setting up the jackhammer. Lesnar’s going to kick out of the jackhammer. No way. Lesnar’s getting beat in 86 seconds. Jackhammer—one, two, three.’ And you sat there and went, ‘Goldberg is the man.’”

Goldberg’s 86-second win over Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016 was no accident since it was a planned moment designed to shock fans and show the power of surprise in wrestling. Years later, it’s still remembered as one of the most iconic and talked-about matches of modern WWE history and that’s all that matters in the end.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.