Dave Meltzer reported on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that the reason WWE signed Bill Goldberg was to prevent AEW from signing him.

“The Bill Goldberg deal. They [WWE] called Goldberg. Goldberg didn’t call them. The Goldberg deal is to sign him to a deal, which they wouldn’t have done except they feared he would go to AEW. They [WWE] wanted to make sure that there is no main stream guy that they [AEW] can add to that roster that might get them off with that curiosity with viewers or anything like that.“

In the Observer Newsletter, Meltzer compared the situation to WCW in the 90’s when Vince McMahon, without the benefit of hindsight, left the door open for WCW to sign Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan.

Regarding the Friday, June 7th Saudi show, Goldberg is reportedly going to be making big money from that show in the seven figures range, and that is the primary reason why he accepted WWE’s offer. Because Goldberg can absolutely make good money elsewhere [AEW] for very few appearances but making seven figures in one day is highly unlikely, Meltzer suggested.