It has emerged within recent months that Goldberg reportedly has one last match on his current WWE deal. With questions raised every time he makes a return, and with his age not slowing down, his next match could well be his final one.
It would be a huge honour for any competitor to share the ring with Goldberg, but an even bigger rub if they were to beat him in his farewell. There are a huge number of vastly talented people on the roster, but WWE should still tread carefully on who to give that moment to.
10 Brock Lesnar
Lesnar and Goldberg have had their paths entangled for well over a decade, competing at two Wrestlemania shows, with their revisited feud between 2016 and 2017 being a big highlight. Given how storied their rivalry has been, it would certainly be a storybook tale to have Lesnar be the one to have Goldberg’s final WWE match.
A major detraction for this would be that fans have seen it before, and that the honour should go to a current, full-time talent. If WWE did want an easy match to market for Goldberg’s final outing, especially if it took place in Saudi Arabia for example, Lesnar would be an easy choice.
9 Kevin Owens
If by some hook or crook WWE manages to keep Kevin Owens contracted when his time with the company comes to an end within the coming months, booking Owens to take on Goldberg would be an incredibly easy story to tell.
Goldberg previously squashed Owens in less than a minute to win the Universal Championship for the first time, in a move which fans weren’t happy with. Getting his revenge and finally beating the person who ended his one and only world title reign would be a great way for Owens to recover from a period of reduced momentum.
8 Sheamus
Sheamus is perhaps one of the most underrated performers on the current WWE roster, despite a glittering list of honours in his back pocket. He consistently puts on hard-hitting, entertaining performances, and he should be in higher positions up the card.
A big clash against Goldberg could promise some great action between two heavyweights and would be a great opportunity for Sheamus to have one of those high-level matches that he hasn’t been afforded for quite a while.
7 Bobby Lashley
Fans have already seen Goldberg and Lashley go head-to-head, but as it stands, they share one victory each. Their second match was a perfect sprint, and if the pair could promise the same level of intensity, the WWE Universe would likely be more than welcome to a rematch.
Lashley has had a fantastic couple of years in WWE, reigning as United States and WWE Champion, and being the one to end the career of a legend like Goldberg would be a deserved reward to his hard work. It would make sense from a storyline perspective, though with Lashley reportedly considering his options going forwards, a younger talent could be a better choice.
6 Bron Breakker
Bron Breakker is one of the highlights of NXT’s rebrand into ‘NXT 2.0.’ He is clearly a star in the making, being pushed up to a main event position, with it only a matter of time before he is crowned the NXT Champion, with a path to the main roster likely not too far away in the future.
He has the charisma, presence, and in-ring ability to be a big deal on Raw or Smackdown, with some even considering him to be somebody who could dethrone Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Goldberg faced off with the Steiners a few times in WCW, but a match against Breakker would be highly anticipated, and a great launching pad for a young career.
5 Seth Rollins
Rollins is one of the centre pieces to WWE programming, and a certified star in the company. He has faced and defeated a vast array of stars such as John Cena, Triple H, Sting, and Brock Lesnar, and Goldberg would certainly be a welcome addition to that list.
If there were concerns about the quality of Goldberg’s farewell match, pairing him with Rollins would promise a passable affair at the minimum, with Rollins being one of those performers with the ability to elevate most of the opponents he steps in the ring with. Whilst he doesn’t necessarily need a win over a big star like Goldberg, it would be a safe choice.
4 Gable Steveson
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The Olympic Gold Medallist, Gable Steveson, is clearly somebody that WWE sees as a future star. Despite only signing to WWE during the Summer, he was included in the 2021 Draft pool, landing a place on Raw for whenever he’s ready to make his debut for the company.
It would be a remarkably huge statement to make if the rookie were to not only face Goldberg, but to retire him. It is unclear currently what skills Steveson possesses as a sports entertainer, but there is clearly a lot of confidence from WWE when it comes to Steveson’s potential and ability to become a top star.
3 Roman Reigns
At Wrestlemania 36, Reigns and Goldberg were scheduled to face off for the Universal Championship, but due to the pandemic, that never came to fruition. At the time, Reigns was a bland babyface, and Goldberg had just controversially squashed The Fiend, so fans weren’t necessarily hyped for the showdown.
With Reigns now reigning as The Tribal Chief, being the one to lay Goldberg’s career to rest would be another key moment in his fantastic heel run. A battle of the spears is still a money match, and if booked correctly, Reigns’ star power could be pushed to even greater heights.
2 Riddle
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There has been no secret of the previous tensions shared between both Goldberg and Riddle in the past, with backstage heat arising due to comments made by Riddle regarding the Hall of Famer. Whether or not that beef has been quenched in recent times, revisiting that will draw a lot of intrigue, especially if they build off that.
Riddle is experiencing success as part of RKBro, but a huge singles victory, especially against a name like Goldberg, would put him firmly on the map. It would legitimise Riddle as a serious competitor, and not just the jokey and smiling character he currently plays (even if that character is just Riddle being himself).
1 Big E
Big E has publicly lobbied for a match against Goldberg, all in the name of ‘Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat’. Goldberg’s recent feud against Bobby Lashley showcased how effective he can be in a match against another powerhouse.
E’s run as WWE Champion has proven that the company sees a future in the New Day member as a top star, so a marquee match against Goldberg could be a further way to establish him and raise his stock, especially if it ends up being his last ever match.
10 Best Wrestlers To Retire Goldberg In His Last WWE Match - TheSportster
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