WWE will be trying to break records with 2016’s WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in North Texas, and – thanks to injury and other factors – a lot of uncertainty about what the roster will look like come next April, we can expect a lot of names from the past to get thrown around over the next several months.
One name that keeps popping up quite a bit is Bill Goldberg. Despite the fact that his pro wrestling heyday was more than fifteen years ago, and his WWE run lackluster, the fact that he still commands attention from fans is a testament to how over he was at his peak.
Forbes continues expanding its coverage of the business with a short piece from Ring Rust Radio host Donald Wood arguing that WWE owes it to its shareholders to bring in Goldberg – for whatever dollar figure he asks:
Adding a legend like Goldberg to the event—regardless of how much it costs—will be the kind of attraction WrestleMania 32 needs to become the highest grossing event in WWE history.
Though its had an impact on his standing with hardcore fans who dislike it when stars like Brock Lesnar or Goldberg don’t profess a love for the artform of pro wrestling, the former National Football League star has been forthright about money being a major factor in any potential return to the ring. And he often puts it on WWE as the party who lets emotion get in the way of doing business.
He told Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri earlier this year that issues between he and the company go back to resentment against guys who became stars outside of Vince McMahon’s promotion:
It’s kind of funny that guys like me who had the balls to say something about the WWE through the years, and their treatment, and they sound like they’re crying or b—hing or moaning. People want to look down on them like they’re crying. It’s pretty funny how that crap is coming true. All of that stuff I’ve been saying for the past 10-15 years is coming true. Anybody who’s never listened to me can kiss my ass (laughs). It’s just speaking the truth. I don’t have any ill will with them. They just don’t know how to do business, their ego gets in the way. They’re a successful company, they always have been and they always will be, but they could be a lot more successful.
One of Goldberg’s business managers, Louis “Uncle Louie” Gregory, wrote a blog postfollowing up on the Forbes piece where he agrees with most of Wood’s points. He also said that he believes a Mania comeback is possible for his Legends of Wrestling partner, but again puts the onus on WWE setting aside their ego:
I remain optimistic that the time will come for big Bill’s return to the ring but I am realistic in my acceptance that it will be when the time is right and when the planets align. I have to believe the planets are as close to aligning as they ever have been. But will they click into place?
Forbes hit the proverbial nail on the head, dead center. As a publicly traded company, the question of WWE profitability beckons and hesitation impacts potential profitability which directly and adversely impacts the bottom line if not acted on.Business decisions cannot or should not be made with pride or emotions. That’s a lesson I have learned the hard way.
There must be a balance of cost vs. revenue, fan reaction and how a decision can impact the future. Those are the questions that WWE should be asking itself while considering a future return of Goldberg. Time to break out the jackhammer and break through the past. That’s the only way the fans of today will get to see what a real Spear looks like!
In an update from the post above there has in-fact been some communication between Bill Goldberg and WWE about potentially working a match at Wrestlemania 32 with Brock Lesnar.
Though many fans will see this as a bad move considering Goldberg and Lesnar’s disastrous match at WrestleMania 20, WWE see this as a way of fixing that as both wrestlers have admitted they did not want to be there at that time and “was not into the match” and both “wanted to leave the WWE”.
Goldberg has also mentioned lately he’d like to square off with Lesnar again as this time would be different.
There’s also rumors that the interest of TNA in Goldberg was sure to have spun heads at the WWE corp as Goldberg is still considered a huge draw to WWE but as always with Goldberg it’s going to come down to money as much as anything.
Partial Source world wrestlingnews/cagesideseats
