In a blast from the past, the WrestleMania XX showdown between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg has resurfaced, revealing Lesnar’s dissatisfaction with his payday for the lackluster encounter with the WWE Hall of Famer.
The infamous singles match took place at Madison Square Garden in 2004 when both Lesnar and Goldberg were on their way out of WWE, resulting in what many fans consider the worst WrestleMania match in history. Their indifference toward putting on a compelling show was palpable.
Jim Ross, WWE Hall of Famer and iconic commentator, disclosed on his podcast that both Lesnar and Goldberg received $250,000 each for their lackluster performance.
However, Lesnar was far from pleased with his compensation, leading to a contentious exchange with Ross over the phone.
Recalling the incident, Ross shared,
“I remember sitting in my office in Stamford, and Vince’s assistant said Brock Lesnar’s on the line. He wanted to talk to Vince, and Vince wants him to talk to you. So that was my prep for that conversation, and like… here he is. So there he goes, and I get on the phone with him, and he’s in a foul mood because he got his payoff, thought he got scr*wed.”
When confronted by Ross about the basis for his dissatisfaction, Lesnar allegedly claimed, “I just think you guys scr*wed me.” The conversation ended abruptly with Lesnar hanging up on Ross.
The WrestleMania XX debacle marked a low point in both Lesnar and Goldberg’s initial WWE careers. Lesnar would make a triumphant return to the company eight years later, while Goldberg’s comeback took even longer, spanning 12 years.
Despite Lesnar’s discontent with the payoff for the ill-fated match, it remains a historical moment in WrestleMania lore, showcasing the complexities and challenges faced behind the scenes in the world of professional wrestling.
