Goldberg vs The Fiend and 4 other WWE squash matches fans disliked

Squash matches are not an uncommon sight in WWE. Over the years, the company has used short, one-sided matches to introduce superstars as serious threats on the roster. These quick, dominant wins usually take place between superstars and local enhancement talent. This helps promote the victorious competitors whilst giving the local talent some TV exposure.

However, squash matches sometimes involve two established superstars. When done right, these contests generate shocking moments that live very long in fans' memories.

Perhaps the most memorable squash match of the past 20 years was Goldberg's 86-second victory over Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016. It established Goldberg as a top-level threat after 12 years of retirement while not doing any serious damage to Lesnar's image.

It set up the Icon's current run in the company, and a WrestleMania 33 rematch where the Beast finally defeated his nemesis. The squash of the Conqueror was a smashing success.

Some squash matches, however, have not been as well-received, leaving a bitter taste in fans' mouths.

Here are 5 WWE squash matches that did not go down well with fans:

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#5: WWE Universal Champion Bray Wyatt is decimated by Goldberg, WWE Super Showdown 2020

WWE Super Showdown 2020 saw Bray Wyatt defend his Universal Championship against Goldberg. The Fiend was having a very impressive run at the top of the card having defeated the likes of Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.

He was expected to beat Goldberg as a way of elevating his title reign on The Road to WrestleMania. To the shock of fans, however, the then 53-year-old Goldberg defeated the New Face of Fear in 2 minutes and 57 seconds.

It felt like all the momentum Wyatt had accrued as the most dominant force on the roster had been wasted. A Hall of Famer and bonafide legend of the business dethroning a younger star proved to be very unpopular with the fans.

#4: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan loses to Sheamus in 18 seconds, WrestleMania 28

WWE WrestleMania 28 saw 2012 Royal Rumble winner Sheamus face World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan in the opening match. Fans were excited to see indie legend Bryan have a great match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All.

The future Yes! Movement leader kissed his valet, AJ Lee, after the bell had been rung only to turn around to a Brogue Kick by Sheamus. The Celtic warrior won the title in 18 seconds, setting a record for the shortest World Title match in the history of the Showcase of Immortals.

This match was very unpopular with fans, mainly due to its short duration, which did not give the two superstars the chance to show what they could do on the grandest stage.

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#3: A dream match between WWE icons The Undertaker and John Cena only lasts three minutes, WrestleMania 34

On the road to WWE WrestleMania 34, John Cena found himself in a peculiar position. The 16-time world champion did not have an opponent at the Show Of Shows.

The free agent came up short in his bid to engineer a 17th world title win at the 2018 Royal Rumble and Fastlane premium live events. He then pondered attending the Show Of Shows as a fan before repeatedly calling out the Undertaker for a dream "Legend vs Legend" match.

After weeks of not responding to the Cenation leader, the Deadman showed up at the Showcase of Immortals, defeating Cena in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Fans understood that the match was kept short and sweet due to the competitors' advanced age and ring rust. However, it still left a bit of a bad taste in their mouths because they knew how much better a match between these legends could have been.

#2: WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens falls to Goldberg, Fastlane 2017

At WWE Fastlane 2017, Universal Champion Kevin Owens faced Goldberg on the 188th day of his first reign. The Prize Fighter was engaged in a feud with then-best friend Chris Jericho. Goldberg was riding the momentum of his quick and decisive destruction of Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016.

Neither man could afford to lose, so the fans wondered how the match would be booked to keep each competitor looking strong. The answer was a 22-second loss for Owens after a distraction from Y2J led him into a devastating spear.

Owens ended up in the United States championship match at WrestleMania 33 as Goldberg dropped the Universal Title to Lesnar.

This was not well received by fans since they saw this as KO losing his opportunity to be cemented as a main eventer to two sure-fire Hall of Famers.

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#1: Brock Lesnar makes light work of WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, Smackdown, Oct 4 2019

When WWE moved Smackdown from Tuesdays on the USA Network to Fridays on FOX, the premiere episode was stacked. In addition to an appearance from The Rock, Brock Lesnar had his first TV match in the company for almost 15 years.

The Beast's opponent on that special episode was WWE champion Kofi Kingston. The former New Day member was coming off an epic six-month reign in which he had faced the likes of Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton and Samoa Joe.

Few expected him to win, but Kingston was expected to put up a heroic performance to keep him as the top Babyface in the company going forward. He lost the match in 8 seconds, and was almost immediately moved back into the tag team division.

Fans who had waited 11 years to see him win the big one were left bitterly disappointed by how his reign ended.