If you didn't catch the end of WWE Super ShowDown - or at least read about it - let me the one to break the good/bad news: Goldberg defeated Bray Wyatt to become the new WWE Universal Champion.
Now, a lot of you are taking this news pretty badly. And I understand that. But, I'm here to tell you that everything is going to be OK.
Now, I am, admittedly, a huge Goldberg fan. I've even seen his Christmas slasher flick and that Universal Soldier movie he did. No, they weren't very good... actually, Santa's Slay was kind of fun. My point is, normally I would be pretty biased. But, not today!
No, today, I'm going to be as objective as I can and still attempt to make the case that Goldberg winning tonight was the right choice.
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
Now, I'm probably not going to change the minds of a lot of you, and that's fine. But, just hear me out here for a moment.
#5 The Fiend doesn't need the title
The WWE knew they had something special with Bray Wyatt's new persona, especially after his match with Finn Balor at SummerSlam last year. And, they were right. Unfortunately, they also jumped the gun a bit with him. That's where things started to get to be a bit of a mess.
The Fiend was a hit and you can't blame WWE for wanting to put him immediately into the Universal Championship picture. So, they did. The problem is, how do you keep his momentum going and not have him win the title? Once the Hell in a Cell match was announced between him and Seth Rollins, fans were salivating at the idea of Bray Wyatt holding a World Championship once again.
WWE tried their best to get themselves out of the corner they painted themselves into by calling the match a No Contest (I think that's what happened? Even now, I'm confused), and tarnishing what was actually a good match up to that point with a pretty stupid ending. So, they had a rematch in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel, where Wyatt eventually won the title.
Here's the thing...
Bray Wyatt/The Fiend is so dang over right now, he doesn't need the title in order to.... you know... be over. There's plenty of ways to kayfabe explain why he lost to Goldberg - maybe he wanted to, it's all part of his twisted plan? Maybe Goldberg figured something out that The Fiend's other opponents hadn't? The fact is, there's nothing that happens in pro wrestling that can't be retconned in a five minute segment on television.
Now without the burden of the championship, Wyatt is now free to explore way more interesting stories.
#4 This loss actually improves The Fiend character
Remember The Undertaker back in 1990? Like The Fiend, he was also an unstoppable monster who couldn't be beaten. He tore through the WWF and the only times he lost were by count-out or DQ. He was an absolute juggernaut.
And that gets boring after a while.
Eventually, Undertaker began to actually lose a match or two. It wasn't often, but it happened - and it made for a more interesting Undertaker. He didn't lose that aura that came with his character that he had earned over the years - but knowing that he could actually be beaten made his matches that much more suspenseful and entertaining. In the long run, it helped make him the legend he is today.
Of course, the early 1990s were a very, very different time than now, but the same psychology still remains. As great and unstoppable as The Fiend has been, having him this great and unstoppable over an extended period of time would just get, well... boring.
Losing to Goldberg isn't burying The Fiend. There's all sorts of ways you can take this character now. How will he respond? Did he lose on purpose - as part of a more diabolical plan? Are the two sides of Bray Wyatt at war with each other?
Hey, remember when Bray Wyatt's swamp dwelling cult leader character just kind of did the same thing over and over? We could just be dealing with that again.
One final note for the armchair bookers out there: One loss does not equal a burial. So, stuff it,
#3 Goldberg vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania
So, clearly nothing is official here. And rumors are just that - rumors. But, let's do the math. It's OK. It's not real math. It's Article About Pro Wrestling math. So don't worry.
So, Goldberg defeated The Fiend at Super ShowDown for one of two reasons: either the Crown Prince wanted to see it happen (not an entirely unreasonable suggestion), or WWE has big plans for him at this year's WrestleMania. The latter is more likely, all things considered.
Now, add that to Roman Reigns finishing up his feud with King Corbin (oh sweet Jeebus, please tell us he finished up his feud with King Corbin), and it's time to start considering what DA BIG DAWG is going to do on the Show of Shows. The answer is: a match with the same hype as Hogan vs Rock or Cena vs Rock.... just without, you know, the Rock. How in the world could WWE pass that up?
Goldberg could spend the month between now and WrestleMania training (while squashing some challenger at, say, Elimination Chamber to stay in the public eye), and WWE could build up this match to something massive.
Bray Wyatt already has two world championships - and he'll win more. But, Goldberg vs Reigns has a very limited window and it has to happen now.
#2 It gets you guys all wound up and upset
Look, I love you guys. Sportskeeda wouldn't be in business without our readers (obviously). I especially love you readers who voice your opinion in our comments sections for each article. I'm not being sarcastic, either. Part of the reason we do what we do here is to interact with you guys, and we love your passion for pro wrestling and all the other sports we cover.
So, I knew the ending to Super ShowDown, as soon as it happened, was going to really divide people's opinions. And, boy did it ever. Just in the Sportskeeda newsroom alone, we had a number of guys literally furious at the result (they've calmed down since then, it's OK). Some even took it personally. Which is weird, but it happened.
As much as I don't like seeing people I like and respect upset, it's still exciting to see a moment in wrestling drawing that much passion from the fans. Whether you liked the result of the match or not, you more than likely had a strong opinion on it, and that means something.
Pro Wrestling history is judged on moments. We can talk about great matches on a technical level all we want - as well we should - but, when we go back and look at history, it's moments like this that stand out. Goldberg defeating Bray Wyatt will be one of those moments we remember. Like it or not.
#1 Goldberg is being booked how he should have been originally. Also, Goldberg is awesome.
Yeah, I'm saving #1 for my own personal reasons, and I don't care.
Old hags like myself, who were around in the 1990s for the Monday Night Wars, were there when Goldberg broke onto the scene and began his "streak" in WCW. He became the first person to win a world championship while undefeated - at least, according to Bobby Heenan's commentary, and I don't question The Brain - and was essentially WCW's only homegrown breakout star.
Well, we all know what happened to WCW - and I think we all remember how Goldberg was booked when he eventually ended up in WWE.
Yes, he won the World Heavyweight Championship and, yes, he certainly was positioned as a badass. But, he also had the misfortune of working for WWE during Triple H's "reign of terror", as well as Brock Lesnar's ascent to the main event scene. Basically, Goldberg never had the chance to be booked correctly. Plus, the fact that WWE wasn't even trying kind of hurt, too.
Flash forward years later, and Goldberg is back in WWE and not only is he taking down monsters like Brock Lesnar with ease, but he's winning world championships the same way. Now, he's not above taking the pinfall when the story (and the company) requires him to. But, he's finally being booked as the, well, juggernaut that he was in WCW and should have been booked in WWE from the beginning.
There's a good chance that WrestleMania this year will be Goldberg's last match with WWE. Ever. He deserves an epic build up leading up to it. Bray Wyatt will bounce back from losing the title to the WWE Hall of Famer.
Let's send him out the way he deserves.
Of course, I know all of you have your own opinions on the subject - and I want to hear them! Sound off in the comments below!