I was in the front row in Grand Rapids, MI when Goldberg jackhammered Paul Wight aka Big Show, then known as The Giant, on WCW Monday Nitro.
My friends and I, and the rest of the thousands in attendance, were on our feet. Each of us were blown away by what we witnessed.
Goldberg hoisted the 7’ behemoth above his head and held him there for a few seconds before he finally executed the slam portion of his finishing maneuver.
But that’s not what got us out our seats. It was the spear that Goldberg crumpled The Giant with first that spring us from our bottoms. The arena erupted into one of the loudest ovations I’ve ever heard.
Much older now and a Hall of Famer in WWE, the senior Goldberg still delivers the spear with an emphatic crunch. It’s just not as crunchy as it used to be. It’s also not as exciting.
In his prime Goldberg would mow opponents near in half. Back then the spear was unique to him, which contributed to its appeal. These days the momentous tackle feels almost as common as a clothesline.
It’s Roman Reigns’ finisher. Edge famously uses it. So does Bobby Lashley. Charlotte Flair does too. And Ricky Starks also. Oh, we can’t forget Moose. Batista used it. So did Kelly Kelly.
Just in case you forgot, Paul Wight aka Big Show once used the spear as part of his repertoire.
That night I watched Show, then known as The Giant, take one from Goldberg, it made me leap to my feet.
Watching any other wrestlers do the spear since then, with Edge, Lashley, and Charlotte being the only earned exceptions, makes me yawn. |THIS.
[By The Champ | Photo courtesy of WWE]
This is “Railing”, a professional wrestling column written Mr. Joe Walker for THISENT.com.
Dedicated to the memory of Louis Thomas Jr.
Post-Credits Bonus:
For the record, OG Rhyno’s gore is different from the spear.
