WWE Raw: Goldberg spears Paul Heyman, hits Rusev with Jackhammer
WCW legend makes his mark; Survivor Series begins to take shape
Tuesday 1 November 2016 15:10, UK
Goldberg made a huge impact on the Halloween episode of WWE Raw - by flooring Brock Lesnar's advocate, Paul Heyman.
The WCW legend will battle Lesnar at Survivor Series on November 20, over 12 years since he defeated The Beast Incarnate in a powerhouse clash at WrestleMania XX inside Madison Square Garden.
Goldberg headed to Monday night's show in Connecticut to address the blockbuster bout - but was quickly interrupted by Heyman, who teased that the non-present Lesnar was in the building.
Rusev then emerged to run down the two-time world champion - the Bulgarian questioning Goldberg's stamina with the 49-year-old last competing in a WWE ring in 2004.
Goldberg provided a dominant answer, however - responding to a punch in the face by flooring The Super Athlete with a Jackhammer powerslam, the move he used to defeat Lesnar at WrestleMania.
The Oklahoma-born wrestler was not done, though, with his spear on Heyman causing the ECW architect to suffer severe abdominal pain.
Goldberg and Lesnar's clash will take place the same night as three Raw versus Smackdown elimination matches - and the red brand's squads have begun to take shape ahead of the Sky Sports Box Office event.
Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns were placed in the men's five-on-five encounter by Raw General Manager Mick Foley, while Braun Strowman qualified after winning a battle royal.
Charlotte, Nia Jax and Bayley will represent Raw in the women's five-on-five scuffle, and The New Day will captain their brand's 10-on-10 tag-team match with their opposition show.
Team-mates did war on Raw, though, with Jericho looking to prise the United States Championship - a belt he has never won - from Reigns in the evening's main event.
Reigns retained after Owens caused a disqualification and the champion was then saved from a post-match beat-down from Jericho when his former Shield stablemate, Seth Rollins, rushed to the ring.
Elsewhere, Nia Jax defeated Bayley with a Samoan Drop; Enzo Amore overcame Luke Gallows in a Halloween-themed Trick or Street Fight; and Sheamus and Cesaro knocked off The Shining Stars.
Brian Kendrick kept hold of the Cruiserweight Title after choosing to lose to TJ Perkins via count-out - Perkins administering a kneebar as revenge - and Rich Swann, Lince Dorado and Cedric Alexander bested Tony Nese, Drew Gulak and Ariya Daivari in a high-octane tag tussle.
