The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you around the world of professional wrestling in his weekly column, the Post Match Angle.
The Post Match Angle will return Nov. 18
You could hear the groans among wrestling fans when Goldberg announced he was coming back to WWE for his retirement match in 2025.
Even Nic Nemeth didn’t hold back with his reaction, posting what many were probably thinking, while also listing the former WCW star’s best potential opponents in Gunther and Bron Breakker — who I believe is the one who should retire Goldberg.
“On the bell, he spears & jackknife’s Gunther. G kicks out at 1. 3 minute match and good f’n riddance,” Nemeth, who faced Goldberg at SummerSlam 10 wrote on X.
He then added: “Or it can be the Steiner kid (Breakker). Relax.”
As much as another Goldberg run isn’t something that will excite most fans, it’s something he has the right to seek as one of the most well-known legends in the industry.
Some good can come from it if it is done right.
Gunther cut an incredible promo on Goldberg at Bad Blood and if Brock Lesnar isn’t coming back anytime soon, then a win over Goldberg is a nice one to add to the Ring General’s resume – just don’t have the 57-year-old Hall of Famer actually try to Jackhammer him.
That match should happen on Raw’s debut on Netflix.
Then you can start the program with Goldberg and Breakker, to whom he has been a mentor, for the Intercontinental championship at WrestleMania 41 — maybe with one squash match on TV on the road to Las Vegas.
I wouldn’t love it, but you could have Goldberg beat Breakker in a flash win in the lead-up to WrestleMania and then let your young stud get the win back and retire him in Las Vegas.
Breakker, the 27-year-old son of Rick Steiner, will probably become the babyface of the feud over time.
But Goldberg putting his career on the line to get the title shot makes more sense. Breakker can put him down with a couple of spears in a passing of the torch that should satisfy everyone.
Ten Count
Orange Cassidy delivered exactly the type of promo on Dynamite he needed to get across with his character evolving. He came off as angry, still a little uncomfortable being a leader against Jon Moxley’s crew, but fully invested in doing so. That carried over to him confronting Moxley on Collision. Also, I’m all for Darby Allin dropping into these fights like Crow Sting did in WCW.
As cool and appropriate as it was to have Roman Reigns acknowledge Jey Uso with a “Yeet”, WWE is still going to have to give me a selfless act from Reigns to help Uso or Sami Zayn for things to really feel right.
You had to appreciate the story Adam Cole and Buddy Matthews gave us – especially with the former trying to reestablish himself as a babyface. Having the legitimate ankle injury he is back from not being 100 percent in storyline could be a good point of sympathy with the audience going forward as he tries to win three straight matches to earn the right to face MJF before Rodrick Strong does. They will probably face each other after two wins a piece.
MLW continues to find cool ways to promote itself. Paul Walter Hauser calling CEO Court Baur during an “83 Weeks” interview last week to offer Eric Bishoff “full creative control” of their “One Shot” event on Dec. 5 at Melrose Ballroom was certainly one of them. It’s a cool moment for Bischoff, too, who never got to promote a show in NYC during his time running WCW.
The Wyatt Sicks’ kidnapping video with The Miz is the most dangerous the group had felt since the massacre backstage at Raw for their debut.
Thunder Rosa is one of the most under-appreciated women’s talents out there. She had a very entertaining “Day of the Dead” match on Collision with Harley Cameron, whose big personality on screen has her no longer being treated like a jobber. Rosa’s gear and presentation added a lot to it.
If Kyle Fletcher’s goal is to move out of Will Ospreay’s shadow, his superb match with Kommander on Collision is certainly a big step in that direction.
WWE choosing to have the Crown Jewel champions receive Super Bowl-like rings for each victory is a much cooler idea than just having them hold up the belt for one day and then have them be forgotten.
Kenny Omega picked a perfect opponent for his apparent return to the ring on Jan. 5 at Wrestle Dynasty after a scary bout of diverticulitis. Gabe Kidd, the New Japan STRONG champion and one of the young rising stars in the industry attacked Omega backstage to set up the match. Oh, and we are getting Ricochet versus Zach Sabre Jr., too.
As good as an Iyo Sky-Liv Morgan match for the Women’s World championship may play out in the ring, WWE not having a credible babyface to keep Morgan busy for a while feels like a problem.
Wrestler of the Week
Private Party, AEW
Good things come to those who wait. Private Party, an AEW original, finally winning the tag team championships was a great and deserved moment – especially against the Young Bucks. Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen have come a long way as talents after five years and now get to show what they can do as champions.
Social Media Post of the Week
Match to Watch
Bubba Ray Dudley & Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page & Ridge Holland, NXT (Wednesday, 8 p.m., USA Network)
NXT has put together a fun card from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia to go head-to-head with AEW with the Presidential election happening Tuesday. This will be the first WWE match for Bubba Ray Dudley (aka Bully Ray) since 2016 and it feels like you never know who may show up in this one. Holland is on the cusp.
