Column: Before they retire, can Goldberg & John Cena take care of one last thing?
The following is opinion and reflects the views of the author and not the website.
Image: WWE
I don’t ask for much in this wrestling life: a few listeners when I fill in on Sunday editions of Wrestling Observer Live (all through July!), weekly TV and PPVs that generally are worth my time (also true of WOL on Sundays), and the flame of sweet nostalgia to keep burning until I eventually lose a Buried Alive match.
I do have one more, though: I want to see an in-ring confrontation between John Cena and Goldberg to close WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
I don’t need a match, just two of the biggest personalities in the last 30+ years to exchange some less than pleasantries and physicality in less than ten minutes time. I want it and I think you do too.
**********
In all their years within the WWE family, the two have never shared the ring outside the 2004 Royal Rumble where Goldberg head-butted Cena after entering the match at number 30…and that was it. I mean, we did get the dream Goldberg vs. Jonathan Coachman no DQ match the night after, but it’s not the same.
Goldberg was gone after that year’s WrestleMania only to return more than 12 years later. Cena was still around, but a one-on-one match never happened. Creative issues? No interest by Vince McMahon or by either Cena or Goldberg? Something else? I don’t know, but the time for that moment seemed to have passed us by.
Until now.
Unless there’s a swerve coming, Goldberg is heading into what is his final match at this weekend’s SNME. He’s 58 and has gone on record about the hardships in getting physically and cosmetically ready for this one last bout. His longest match since returning in 2016 was 11:25 against Bobby Lashley and that was almost four years ago. He and Gunther aren’t going 20 minutes Saturday and that’s ok.
Cena, 10 years Goldberg’s junior, has been plugging away in his final year with 15 dates left until he hangs up the jorts at year’s end. Eight of those remaining dates are basically confirmed and one of those remaining seven should be a surprise confrontation leading to what WWE loves the most: A MOMENT.
**********
I don’t love to fantasy book, but allow me to lay out a pretty simple scenario:
Goldberg loses to Gunther on Saturday as most expect and after he gets through whatever retirement speech he wants to give, Cena’s music hits. You get the “holy shit” chants and Cena then does a very rehearsed heel promo schtick running down Goldberg, his WCW run, and the like. He’s pleased with himself but gets too cocky, turns around into a Goldberg spear, gets a jackhammer, and Goldberg leaves to a thunderous ovation. Roll credits. Done.
It seems like a missed opportunity for a big fan service moment to not have these guys cross paths at least once before their respective runs come to an end, coincidentally in the same year. It wouldn’t make sense to do it at another time because, well, why would you? Cena being an asshole and mocking Goldberg on his final big night seems all too perfect. If Cena’s final dates are going to (and should) matter, this would have more impact than a random Raw or SmackDown appearance to say the same things he has been saying.
If this is already planned, I will look like a genius. If not, I will look like a sad man who just wanted two action figures to get pulled off the shelf and put in front of each other for the first time.
In an organization built on moments, this seems like one too perfect for WWE to not have it come to life on Saturday.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.