Prologue…

Brock Lesnar started off 2004 having to treat Hardcore Holly as a threat. In February he lost the title to Eddie Guerrero and was told he wouldn’t be regaining it anytime soon. Mixed with Lesnar’s still-fresh memories of last year’s Wrestlemania  Shooting Star Neck Press (presumably taught to him by Jack Evans), one could empathise with Lesnar’s decision to leave wrestling. Leaving for a period of time can be quite beneficial to a wrestler, in that they can recharge their batteries and ensure their overexposure won’t turn the fans against them. Worked wonders for Roddy Piper and others.

However, Lesnar handed in his notice A FEW DAYS before Wrestlemania XX and made it clear he wasn’t coming back anytime soon. The likes of Verne Gagne probably laughed until they could laugh no more upon hearing this, given how Vince routinely took talent from other companies and paid them NOT to fulfil their dates (allegedly).

Whereas Brock Lesnar had been pushed (and pushed HARD) and generally treated like a megastar from the get go, his opponent Bill Goldberg couldn’t have been mishandled WORSE during his brief WWE stint. From backstage segments with Goldust, losing more in six months than he had done in four years at WCW and not winning that crucial match at Summerslam 2003, it was clear WWE simply did not understand how to book Goldberg in the way fans wanted. Goldberg’s contract ran out after Wrestlemania XX (he debuted the Raw after Wrestlemania XIX) and he made it clear he wasn’t interested in a contract extension and who could blame him? The man had lost more star power than Eddie Murphy.

The build-up to the match was actually well done, as a lot of people wanted to see the battle between The Original and The Remake. Lesnar interrupted a backstage interview with Goldberg at the Royal Rumble and helped eliminate Bill from the Rumble itself. At No Way Out, Goldberg speared Lesnar in his title-losing match. Stone Cold was declared Special Guest Referee as he was the only man with the stones to officiate the match (in the, and Lesnar and Austin engaged in (ever so slightly-unbelievable) brawls and Quad Bike Theft to build more hype for the match. This may count as one of the few times ‘stupid WWE attempts at building something up’ (Why’s Brock Lesnar getting in fights with the ref who can’t wrestle?) helping the match in hindsight, as Austin’s pressence in the build-up and match gave the fans one more thing to chant.

So at Wrestlemania XX, we had the first ever ‘Loser and Winner Leaves Town’ match…

The Match…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkM41-x7wSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUCC90QR7GM

The Madison Square Garden crowd has always been aware of goings-on in WWE. During Scott Hall’s last appearance for the WWF, portions of the crowd could be heard chanting ”You Sold Out”, which was quite an achievement for 1996. This being 2004, just about everyone knew about the supposed Superstars imminent departure. Those that didn’t know were informed by the chanting and Shane McMahon who sat amongst fans,  encouraging and conducting them like a giant drunk symphonic orchestra.

In defence of the fans, both men seemed willing to do only the bare minimum in their dream match. At Madison Square Garden. At Wrestlemania.

Aftermath…

Brock left to pursue a career in American Football. That didn’t work and after a few matches in Japan, Lesnar joined UFC and is frequently reminded of 2004 as he’s still weak against Mexicans.

A return to WWE looks unlikely, despite the internet prematurely ejaculating when Undertaker and Brock had their little face off at that UFC event and started making rumours in their own minds like they always do. Rumour has it Sting was due to be the guest ref.

Goldberg left WWE but remained in good terms (somehow) as evidenced by the amount of arse-kissing in the Rise and Fall of WCW DVD for the bald-headed whisker biscuit. He now does TV shows and is apparently returning to action soon for charity.

WWE learnt so much from ‘Get a big guy who didn’t grow up loving wrestling and push him until he likes wrestling’ that they made exactly the same mistakes with Bobby Lashley, right down to ‘Match at Wrestlemania with Austin as guest ref’.

Bobby Lashley abruptly left in 2008.

And Finally…

Scott Keith: ”Next chant: “This match sucks”. Who knew they played bingo at MSG?”

Michael Melchor: [On Worst Match of the Year 2004] ”Goldberg vs. Lesnar at WMXX – and every fan at MSG KNEW it.”

Scott Keith: ”As a match, nothing interesting, but as a bizarre sociological experiment, this was tremendous.”