[Feature Story] Bill Goldberg's Golden Opportunity

by Matt Saye

Championship matches of any description come few and far in-between. For Bill Goldberg, he's in for a chance at getting two.

At the LCW Survival Project pay-per-view three weeks ago, Bill Goldberg eliminated eleven men which, since he didn't win the entire gauntlet tournament, put him in position as the number one contender for the LCW International Championship. Goldberg set his sights firmly on taking the gold from LCW International Champion Dr. Death Steve Williams, until fate threw him a second, much bigger opportunity!

This past week on LCW Showdown, LCW General Manager Harley Race was fuming about Sid Vicious' actions the previous week, where he attacked and intentionally powerbombed LCW Universal Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin on the steel entrance stage; despite being under strict instructions not to involve himself in the night's events.

Race was so angered by the attack and Vicious' blatant disregard for Race's orders that he thought about pulling Sid Vicious' number one contendership for the LCW Universal Championship (that Vicious had earned by winning the Survival Project) from him, but then he had a revelation.

During a sit-down interview with Austin live via satellite from his home in Victoria, Texas, Race reminded Austin that he wouldn't be medically cleared to compete at the LCW Night of Horrors pay-per-view, and that by the time Austin was cleared, the 30-day defense rule on the title would have expired. Race suggested that Austin be replaced by someone else, defending the title on his behalf, and should that person defeat Vicious at Night of Horrors, they would be entitled to an opportunity at the gold – against Austin – the following month at the LCW Redemption Day pay-per-view in November.

However, should Vicious beat the replacement, Austin loses the title but automatically becomes the number one contender and gets a chance to regain the title at Redemption Day.

Race then announced the participants for the match to determine Austin's replacement, which will take place next week on LCW Showdown: Magnum TA vs. Bill Goldberg. Many top company officials are unsure of Race's decision, as it's one in a long line of decisions he's made since his return all of a week ago! Since then, he's brought back the Women's Division (also known as the Lady Legends) and got himself in a yelling match with Sid Vicious.

One official anonymously commented: “The way many see it, if Race hadn't booked Austin to defend the championship, Vicious may not have had the platform on which to attack Austin. If anyone should be punished, it's not Vicious, it's Race for booking a title match so close to the pay-per-view. It's a safety issue for Austin. While he may think he is and would want to be a fighting champion, he was going into a match with an unstable individual and made himself a target by defending the title so closely to Night of Horrors.” LCW Founder Christian Calaway has rebutted the claim saying, “Race is doing just fine.”

Can Bill Goldberg get the opportunity of a lifetime, to become both LCW International and LCW Universal Champion in one night? Or will Magnum TA get the chance to walk out of an LCW pay-per-view with the title he held for so long around his waist? One way or another, someone is taking on Sid Vicious at LCW Night of Horrors, and you can find out who next Wednesday on LCWShowdown.com!