Bill Goldberg accepted the challenge to face Brock Lesnar in a rematch in his first appearance on WWE television in over 12 years on Monday Night Raw. Goldberg beat Lesnar at WrestleMania XX in his last appearance on a WWE program.
As expected, Lesnar didn't make an appearance on Monday Night Raw. However, the WWE is expected to prolong the suspense surrounding Lesnar's next fight. He is set to return to WWE TV next week in Minneapolis.
The two protagonists aren't expected to share the same ring until November 14 at the Raw from Buffalo, according to Inquisitr. Fans initially thought that Goldberg vs. Lesnar would be showcased on Wrestlemania in Orlando next year, before it was decided by promotion officials to feature the fight at next month's WWE Survivor Series. Goldberg's return was announced last week when he was challenged to a rematch with Brock Lesnar by Paul Heyman during an episode of Monday Night Raw earlier this week.
The WWE Survivor Series is quickly becoming one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year. While it traditionally lags behind three other WWE shows-WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam- in pay-per-views, according to Forbes. But the Goldberg vs Lesnar match will surely boost its ratings.
There's an element of novelty and nostalgia in the match since Goldberg has been away for 12 years. It is also expected to be treated with more hype than Lesnar's Survivor Series match against the Undertaker last year.
However, the new generation of WWE fans isn't familiar with Goldberg and there should be an effort to promote his Spear and Jackhammer combo while marketing him as an exciting opponent for Lesnar There are also reports that Goldberg will see action on November 14 at Monday Night Raw in Buffalo against a lower level opponent in order to prove that he is a threat to Lesnar.
Goldberg also said in an interview that he is aware of his aging, saying that at 49, he is an old man for wrestling. There is also a perception that Vince McMahon isn't so interested in Goldberg's return to WWE,which is why the fight was not booked at Wrestlemania.
