The paychecks for the heavily criticised WrestleMania 20 match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg have been revealed.
In what was billed as a dream match and quickly turned into a nightmare, Lesnar and Goldberg faced off for the first time ever at the Showcase of the Immortals in 2004. With news breaking before the opening bell that both men would be departing WWE the next night, the Madison Square Garden crowd let their feelings be heard almost immediately.
Brock Lesnar Left WWE The Night After WrestleMania 20
In a match that not even special guest referee “Stone Cold” Steve Austin could save, chants of “you sold out” could be heard before the opening lock-up, with the boos and jeers continuing for the remainder. Both competitors delayed the physicality until late into the match, with Goldberg eventually winning by hitting the Jackhammer onto Brock Lesnar.
Appearing on a bonus episode of Grilling JR [via Ad Free Shows], Jim Ross would reveal how much each man would take home following the infamous encounter:
“I don’t know how long they worked, how long is this match? [JR is told it’s 13 minutes long] For 13 minutes of work they made 250,000 a piece. Quarter million dollars for 13 minutes work, but I don’t know, it’s just funny how that stuff works out. It told me it wasn’t about the money, even though that’s the story that’s going around.”
In the same episode, JR would detail what was the main issue with the first time encounter between the two former Universal Champions.
Following a 12 year hiatus, Goldberg would return to WWE in 2016, having a return match against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. In what was one of the most shocking results in WWE history, the WWE Hall of Famer dominated the match, pinning The Beast Incarnate in under 90 seconds.
Both men would return to WrestleMania 33 to write the wrong of 13 years prior, having a less than 5 minute match that was more favourable received by the WWE Universe.
Brock Lesnar would return to the company in 2012 on the Raw after WrestleMania 28, and has remained a part time performer for the company ever since. It is rumoured that The Beast will be facing off against GUNTHER at WrestleMania 39, in what is seen by many as another dream match for the former WWE Champion. If the match were to take place, one notable wrestling personality has described how they want the reported match to play out.
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