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News On WWE Planning Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series; Goldberg ESPN Comments

TJR Wrestling

With the highly-anticipated WWE 2K17 video game set to hit stores this coming Tuesday, October 11, news has circulated around a potentially huge main event match coming soon to a WWE ring. With Brock Lesnar adorning the fiery cover of the upcoming 2K17 game, WWE is pushing the inclusion of former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Bill Goldberg as a playable character. The game will feature two versions of “The Man,” with his classic WCW model as well as his time in WWE. All the hype and publicity surrounding both men throughout the month is sure to generate a ton of buzz — so the WWE is reportedly planning to capitalize on it. A match between the two juggernauts for Survivor Series in November is all but confirmed.

WWE 2K17 has centered its media campaign around the heavyweights, with Goldberg being a special pre-order bonus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5qtZ90jf00

A WWE 2K17 commercial featuring Goldberg in a car seeing a sign for “Suplex City” aired months ago, leading many to speculate about this huge bout. If this seems like a pipe dream or you’re skeptical, former WWE announcer Jim Ross has stated on Twitter that it appears the huge match will come to fruition, sooner rather than later.

According to the Wrestling Observer, the reason why this seemingly obvious WrestleMania match is taking place instead at Survivor Series is mainly to help drive sales for WWE 2K17. Expect to see some joint-advertising around both the match and the game together. It is said that the game is the main reason Vince McMahon went ahead with the Lesnar and Goldberg plans. As of right now, there is nothing planned or expected for the two’s upcoming feud past Survivor Series.

Though story ideas often change with spectacular regularity in the WWE, creative has already determined who Lesnar will face at next year’s WrestleMania. Goldberg is not a part of those plans, nor does he have anything planned past November with the company at all.

During an interview on ESPN on Wednesday, he said he’s got a 10 year old son that never saw him wrestle and that appeals to him. He also noted his age may make it difficult. Basically, he wasn’t saying yes or no.

If this does happen, the 49-year-old Goldberg will have his first match since 2004, which was the now infamous WrestleMania “fight” against, ironically, Brock Lesnar. Both men were booed passionately and were left laid out by special guest referee, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Mike’s Take: Call me a WCW nostalgia dork, but I’m kind of psyched about this. I know I’m not the only one bitterly disappointed looking back on that letdown of a match these two had over a decade ago. This is a dream match if it’s done correctly, and both guys commit to it. I can’t see someone like Vince McMahon letting it happen unless he has 100% assurance that he won’t get burned again. Bring it on.

Follow me on Twitter: @MichaelRyne