As For Dynamite: What Do You Do with Goldberg?

Twitter got into a thing about Bill Goldberg the other day, and it got me thinking.

This was awesome at the time, but in retrospect, Diamond Dallas Page is the only guy who got a legitimately good match out of Goldberg.

— Danno E. Cabeza (@DannoECabeza) June 1, 2023

So okay. After Double or Nothing, AEW head honcho Tony Khan was asked about potentially bringing Goldberd into the company for a brief run. Goldberg is a free agent, but rumor has it that his price is too high. Still, Khan noted that he’s spoken to Goldberg a few times, and that he “likes” the big man.

If you’re AEW, what do YOU do with Bill Goldberg?

Option 1: The Luchadores’ Revenge

As noted above, Goldberg ran through quite a few luchadores on his way up the ladder back in the late 90s, including in that match against La Parka in which poor La Parka tore his ACL. My first thought was therefore to put him up against a guy like Rush, a supremely physical worker who can match Goldberg’s intensity and who would no doubt relish the opportunity to get revenge for La Parka and all the other Mexican workers that Goldberg squashed during his meteoric ascent.

But the more I thought about this, the more I thought that Rush isn’t the right guy just based on where he’s positioned on the card. Rather, El Hijo del Vikingo might be a more logical, though completely out-of-the-box, opponent.

Friends, Vikingo has been AAA Mega Champion for something like 550 days. On that basis, he has an excellent case for a title shot at MJF, and that match would be awesome. AEW has been introducing Vikingo to the American audience; his match against Kenny Omega was a ratings hit. 

All we need is a way to set up the title shot.

Setup: Vikingo comes out, maybe with Alex Abrahantes, to challenge MJF at the start of Dynamite. This comes completely out of the blue. People are like, “Wait. What?!” and “Oh my God, I never knew I needed this match until just now.”

But, of course, MJF isn’t having it. He’s not taking this match under no circumstances. Not from some random luchadore, even if said luchadore is the champion of “some tiny promotion in Mexico.” 

We go back and forth with a typical MJF set-up that eventually resolves itself in a match. Vikingo can have his title shot if he beats MJF’s mystery opponent at All In.

That mystery opponent turns out to be none other than Bill Goldberg.

As I’ve said, I would put Vikingo over because Goldberg is too expensive to bring in more than once, and because the whole point is to use his single appearance to create a big money main event match in the very near future. Dude wants millions just to show up, so really… this is the only way that works. 

Plus, Goldberg hitting the stage at All In, only to job to freaking Vikingo?! That’s an all-time shocking double-swerve that you will never, ever replicate. 

Vikingo will be a made man forever. That’s actually the point.

This sets up the title match for either Grand Slam or Winter is Coming, giving the company a chance to actually make back its money on Goldberg’s appearance fee.

Option 2: MJF

I got this idea after rewatching Goldberg vs. DDP at Halloween Havoc ‘97.  To my mind, that match was Goldberg’s best. It’s the only one that I personally think holds up to modern wrestling standards.

The match set the style for future “good” Goldberg matches going forward. Goldberg dominates until he goes for the Spear, but he misses and hits the ringpost. That sets him up to sell the arm, giving DDP a comeback spot. Here, though, DDP couldn’t quite make it work, allowing Goldberg to eventually hit another Spear, followed by a one-handed Jackhammer.

Right result in 1997. 

Frustrating that this is still where we are in the year 2023.

It struck me watching this, though, that MJF could play DDP’s part here, that the only thing missing is a bit of positioning with the Jackhammer plus another ten minutes working the arm to set up the Salt of the Earth.

So, okay. If you’re gonna bring in Goldberg, he has to hit the Spear and the Jackhammer. And no one should kick out of that. The play, then, is to have him hit it too close to the ropes, so that MJF can -- just barely -- drape a foot over the line to stop the count. The champ then rolls out of the ring and collects himself while Goldberg sells the idea that the one-handed Jackhammer took something out of his injured shoulder. Commentary sells the (very real) fact that this is the shoulder that will eventually need surgery. This in turn sets up another comeback spot and an eventual submission to the Salt of the Earth.

Obviously, we set this up with the first part of this proposal, The Luchadores’ Revenge. But Goldberg wins this time, screams, “Who’s next?” and then looks pointedly at MJF. TK books the match, and you’re off. 

Again, I’d set that at either Arthur Ashe or Winter is Coming.

Option 3: Chris Jericho

Jericho famously never got his match with Goldberg back in the day. 

So. Coming off the loss to MJF, Goldberg is out to talk about his future. We’re expecting a retirement speech, but instead here comes Jericho. Hey, they’ve both lost to MJF. The guy might be a shithead, but he’s a Hell of a good wrestler. What can you do?

“You’ve been ducking me for the better part of 30 years, Bill Goldberg! I want my match!!!”

And we’re off…

Anyway. Those are my ideas. What have you got, friends?