Why Signing Goldberg For His Retirement Match Would Be Perfect For Tony Khan
Goldberg is now officially a free agent in the world of professional wrestling. And, his availability has caught the attention of AEW's Tony Khan who recently commented on the odds of AEW bringing in Goldberg as an attraction, potentially for one last run before he officially retires. Goldberg wants one more match, AEW could use the publicity that comes with promoting it, and it wouldn't hurt AEW to give a little poke to WWE in the process.
When asked about the likelihood of AEW's interest in the star, Khan didn't come out and say he was thinking about it or that the two sides had talked. But, as Goldberg publicly discusses the fact that his contract is done with WWE and that he thinks they "owe him one more match", AEW might want to pounce before Goldberg heads to Israel where the former WCW and WWE Champion hints he's got a standing offer. Khan said he will "keep an eye" on Goldberg going forward, but the reality is, he should probably sign him.
Like Him Or Not, Goldberg Is A Household Name
Khan was complimentary of Goldberg when he spoke about him this past week. He noted, "I have a lot of respect for Bill. I think Bill Goldberg is a great professional athlete and has had a great career in pro wrestling and is a very nice person," Khan told Adrian Hernandez. "He's a household name in pro wrestling, so it's interesting to hear that he is a free agent so that's something to follow. He's one of the biggest names in wrestling and certainly will be something else to keep an eye on for us." Is that enough for AEW to back up the Brinks truck and sign him for a match or two? Maybe not, but it might be wise to see what Goldberg wants.
If it's a fair deal and a chance to let Goldberg go out on his own terms, Khan could do worse than bringing in a star everyone knows and letting him have one final match with someone in the company that could make Goldberg look dominant on his way out the door. Even better, if Goldberg is looking to shove it down WWE's throat for choosing not to offer him one more deal to go out as he'd like, AEW could find themselves with an opportunity to get a pretty friendly deal in the bag. Goldberg's name alone would bring eyeballs to AEW's product and if fans were told this was his last match, even haters would pay to see it.
There Are Plenty Of Opponents For Goldberg To Face
AEW has a big roster and one that has a number of names on it that could face Goldberg without it hurting their career. Just to name a few, Sammy Guevara, Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Eddie Kingston, and others are all believable opponents for Goldberg, who even if they ate a Spear, a Jackhammer and a pin would be fine moving forward. Each offers something to make Goldberg look good and all are matches AEW can successfully promote. If there are members of the roster who might be on their way out, Khan could even use Goldberg as a tool to send those names to WWE with a high-profile loss.
As for dream match-ups, the idea of Goldberg vs. Kenny Omega, Goldberg vs. Wardlow, Goldberg vs.MJF would perk up the ears of many fans. These would be stars that AEW might consider should they want to get more than one match out of Goldberg. If he wants another run versus one final farewell, there are storylines here that work.
AEW Could Stick It To WWE
Khan seems to be a bit preoccupied with the aim he believes WWE often takes at his product and his company. Whether that's true or not isn't clear, but perception is often reality. The more Khan talks about WWE and how they do business, the more fans believe there's a war between the two promotions. If Khan could lay in a significant blow and offer up something WWE could have (and probably should have) to the fans, it's a notch in the AEW belt and a tick on the positive side of their ledger.
AEW is still reeling a bit from the departure of Cody Rhodes, the bad press that is coming from the CM Punk drama, and past or present injuries to key stars like Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson, among others. They could use a marquee name and a household draw to take some attention away from things they'd rather fans not be thinking about. Signing Goldberg offers them a chance to steer the narrative and shift the focus to where they want it to be.
