(Here’s the link for the match on the WWE Network: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31359957/?contentId=&contextType=wwe-show&contextId=halloween_havoc )
Now, I was never a WCW fan. I have seen a few matches here and there, courtesy of WWE DVDs. But the WWE Network has given me a chance to observe what I missed. And I missed the evolution of a true monster, a true Beast, of wrestling. Forget present day Brock Lesnar, who lost his first return match to John Cena, and almost lost to CM Punk before the WWE decided to make him WWE Champion. Forget Rusev. Forget Ryback. Forget even WWE’s ‘Lite’ version of Goldberg. WCW’s Goldberg was the unstoppable wrestling monster.
Just watch his entrance before this match begins. The build-up as the camera follows him from the locker room. The security guards escorting him to the curtains. The burst of energy as he walks through the curtains. The bombastic theme music. That’s all you needed to know about Goldberg. Pure dominance. I mentioned Ryback before, but his undefeated streak pales in comparison to Goldberg’s.
This is the only Goldberg match in WWE Network’s Best 100 Matches…List. This match is a fairly typical Goldberg match. Goldberg dominates much of the match, as is to he expected. But, early on in the match, DDP comes up tops in a chain wrestling segment. Goldberg manages to power out, but every now and then, DDP hits a quick move (even a hurricanrana at one point!), to turn the tide. After Goldberg misses a spear and hits his shoulder on the ring post, the crowd starts to believe that DDP can beat Goldberg.
It’s the crowd, more than anything that dragged me into the match. They were crazy for Goldberg, expecting him to easily batter DDP. But DDP’s resilience makes this an rollercoaster of a wrestling match. The only memories i have of DDP are his terrible run in the WWE, where none of his wrestling ability was utilized (and he was pinned by Undertaker’s then-wife…). But this match made me want to see more of DDP. Maybe after I’ve conquered the 100 Best matches!
However, I have seen one other Goldberg match that tops this one. The WWE Network says that this match contains “Goldberg’s finest in-ring performance,” but I disagree. And that is Goldberg vs Scott Steiner at Fall Brawl 2000. Like DDP, I was poisoned by the WWE version of Steiner (just watch his matches with HHH). But Steiner vs Goldberg is a massive monster vs monster match, where it is power vs power and they batter the holy hell out of each other. DDP vs Goldberg is only given a slither of time for a main event, whereas Steiner vs Goldberg is given a hefty chunk of time.
It’s interesting that on the WWE Network’s synopsis of this match it mentions that the original WCW broadcast of the PPV cut short the main event, so on the WWE Network you can see the whole thing, uninterrupted. Is pointing and laughing at WCW the only reason this match is on the List?
VERDICT: 7/10. This match is worth a watch, but I highly recommend watching Goldberg vs Scott Steiner, Fall Brawl 2000.
Does this match belong in the WWE Network’s 100 Best Matches To See Before You Die? Leave your comments below!
Click here for my review of #100 Adrian Neville (c) vs. Sami Zayn (NXT Championship vs Career Match: NXT TakeOver: R Evolution)
Click here to view my list of reviews of the WWE Network’s 100 Best Matches To See Before You Die
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