5 Reasons behind Goldberg's bizarre loss to Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam 2021

#4. To protect Goldberg as much as possible

#TheAllMighty isn't finished.#SummerSlam @fightbobby pic.twitter.com/3kOW8cY6TK

— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 22, 2021

Goldberg has received an unending amount of criticism for his match against The Undertaker in 2019 and his victory over 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt in 2020. However, he has been selfless on numerous occasions since his return in 2016.

Brock Lesnar defeated him at WrestleMania 33 in 2017, marking the first clean defeat of the latter's career. Since then, The Undertaker, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre have done the same.

Bobby Lashley wasn't going to win clean because he's a top heel and has MVP at his disposal. The finish was carefully curated in a way to protect Goldberg, and it makes sense.

It ties into the previous point of WWE booking a potential rematch between the two. This is the most we've seen the former Universal Champion sell for anyone in WWE - and Lashley looked great when beating him down.

You can't escape the SPEAR.#SummerSlam @Goldberg pic.twitter.com/evDbOtucNk

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 22, 2021

The open-ended finish protected Goldberg from suffering a clean defeat and will help set up their rematch down the line, whenever that is. But he doesn't always have to lose clean.