How WWE destroyed the legacy of The Fiend by setting up Goldberg vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36

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Goldberg defeated The Fiend and won the Universal Title at Super Showdown and will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36

Super Showdown 2020 ended with a bang as Goldberg won the WWE Universal title from The Fiend.

The WWE had built up The Fiend (Bray Wyatt) as a creature that haunts his rivals, makes them turn into their basic selves and even defeated two of the best easily.

The Fiend made light work of Daniel Bryan and The Miz, and even a hammering from Seth Rollins wasn’t enough to beat Wyatt’s latest avatar.

Bray Wyatt WWe Super Showdown matches
Bray Wyatt as the Fiend (Image credit: WWE)

But here, in Saudi Arabia, an ageing Goldberg destroyed Wyatt with several spears and a jackhammer. Goldberg picked up the crown without much fuss and even though The Fiend did his vanishing act and all, this was truly a poor way to end his title reign.

The Fiend was genuinely one of the most intriguing characters WWE produced in years, and they wasted him.

The creative team did save themselves a bit by ensuring he goes against John Cena at WrestleMania, but they have buried him in favour of Reigns.

Is Reigns vs Goldberg right for WrestleMania?

Given that Reigns will have one of the two main event slots (unless something else transpires) at WrestleMania 36, the question is have WWE messed up?

Going back to the 2020 Royal Rumble, we saw how the crowd reacted when Drew McIntyre and Reigns were the only ones left in the Rumble.

WWE Raw results, winners, grades and reaction
Drew McIntyre is the challenger for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania (Image credit: WWE)

It seemed that Reigns was going to win the Rumble and the crowd was voicing its displeasure. They erupted once McIntyre claymored the Big Dog to win, and the Scot seems to be riding that wave, which was the right move for WWE.

Imagine a fight between The Fiend and Reigns, that would have made more sense but there should have been a build-up.

What we have now is Reigns basically came out and challenged Goldberg, who is 53. Goldberg hadn’t wrestled for most of the year and was made the challenger for The Fiend.

The Fiend, who had tortured souls, was nothing more than cannon fodder for Goldberg. If WWE wants the PPV to be great, they should have kept Wyatt as his character could dissect Reigns and take him to another level.

WWE TLC 2019: Tables, Ladders & Chairs results, winners, grades and reaction Daniel Bryan, Fiend, The Miz TLC 2019
Daniel Bryan attacks The Fiend (Image credit: WWE)

Goldberg could have lost his title at Elimination Chamber. And Reigns could have won a No.1 contenders match, and they could have built up that storyline.

This isn’t to say that Reigns cannot do justice to a spot in WrestleMania. The Big Dog is one of the hardest workers in the business and has put up several quality matches.

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However, that would have been a possibility if he faced someone fitter at WrestleMania. Goldberg is ageing and it is doubtful he can last the in the ring for more than 15 minutes.

It will be a battle of the spears in WrestleMania 36, but it should and could have been a lot more.