There’s absolutely no denying that Ryback and Goldberg look similar. There’s also no denying that they were booked in a similar manner when they were both at their peak. Goldberg went 173-0 in WCW and when Ryback first debuted on the WWE main roster he also went undefeated for several months.
Due to the fact that he was a bald man with an undefeated streak, fans spent a lot of time chanting “GOOOOOLLLDBEERRRGGG” at Ryback. With Ryback on the rise and a strong demand for a Goldberg return, it seemed to make sense to book the two in a match together.
However, Goldberg didn’t seem ready to return while Ryback was on his hot streak, and WWE didn’t seem interested in trying to entice him to get back in the ring. WWE obviously changed their tune, and so did Goldberg, because he returned last year and he’s the current Universal Champion.
On a recent episode of his podcast, Conversation with the Big Guy, Ryback talked about Goldberg’s return and he noted that part of him thinks WWE only brought Goldberg back to spite him because he left the company last year (via Wrestlezone).
“I watched the entire Fastlane Pay Per View. I don’t have anything bad to say. They put the championship on Bill Goldberg and I don’t think he has wrestled that long since he has been there and I don’t think he has to. He looks physically very impressive, but you can just tell he is an older human being, and anybody who tries to deny that is being ridiculous. I think he has done a phenomenal job in being Goldberg still to the best of his abilities, and surely they have done a good job with him. I’m happy for him and all that going on, but part of me still looks at that and is like, come on guys, is part of this because I left? Why wasn’t he brought in when I was there for the last 5 years when that was the match that would have made absolute sense? I’m raising that point because I left and I really think it’s all a game. I look and part of me believes it is because McMahon brought him in in spite of me. The marks who disagree just don’t get it, but I’m bringing up a point, raising a question. Just like when I wrote the blog just when I left WWE about equal pay, not stating, but yet people will read it and say that he is demanding equal pay for all wrestlers, but I never said that, I had a clear question mark after raising a question and to have a conversation, but when you are dealing with a bunch of idiots that is what happens. I don’t think they are going to put a lot of time in their match—from a bell to bell physical standpoint, I don’t see that being the case. If they would have done it, they would have done so with Kevin Owens. There will be some shenanigans to switch that title over back to Brock Lesnar.”
What do you think, would you have liked to see Ryback face off against Goldberg in a WWE ring? Who would you have rooted for if the match had happened? Sound off in the comments below.
