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Bobby Lashley is no Bill Goldberg. And that’s a good thing. I am bringing this up because many wrestling fans have been pointing out lots of comparisons between Lashley and the egotistical musclehead from Atlanta, Georgia. Indeed, some comparisons can be quite evident: both unexpectedly emerged to the semi-main event status in a course of five to six months, Lashley and Goldberg squashed wrestlers to get to the top of the position and both men's finishers are power moves that are jaw-droppingly devastating. But let me point out that Lashley is not Bill Goldberg. Despite similar sizes and pushes, Lashley contains of something that Goldberg never will have: passion for wrestling.

Lashley was a bit sloppy like Goldberg in his rookie stage and he could have easily injured his opponents but upon feuds with John Bradshaw Layfield, Finlay and most recently, Booker T (All Hail the King!), Lashley has improved his craft and is now slated for a huge push that will undoubtedly bring greater pressure on him. But with great pressure comes great results and if Lashley is pushed to the limit the same way Finlay and Booker T have done to him so far, then he will emerge as a huge star and obtain the respect Goldberg never had.

Lashley also has great experience, as seen through his tenure NAIA National Wrestling when he won three national wrestling championships between 1996 and 1998 and was the NAIA National Wrestling Champion at around the same time. More than that, Lashley would later join the United States Army where he continued to wrestle, winning the Armed Forces Championship twice. There, aggression in training, experience and action fueled this man's passion for competing in wrestling. Because if there is one thing good about the US Army, it brings out the best in you.

When he debut on SMACKDOWN and squashed Simon Dean like the pathetic jobber that he was, people poked fun at him for being a Goldberg wannabe. But they underestimated this man's dedication and his thrive for success and they certainly underestimated his wrestling skills. Goldberg wannabe? Bobby Lashley is more like the next Brock Lesnar. Together, with national wrestling accolades, his experience with the Armed Forces, constant improvement in his skills and his willingness to learn, Lashley will prove his doubters wrong and emerge as the Next Big Thing. He will be the real deal in wrestling.

That is a great contrast of what I can say about Bill Goldberg, the man who is a direct opposite of Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar. Bill Goldberg never wanted to improve, he whined when there was pressure on his shoulders rather than seeing it as a great opportunity to bring out the best of him, he flat out refused to learn or better himself, as evident by the number of injuries he caused in the roster and he bitched about doing jobs. Lashley has done about four to five jobs but you never see him complaining. Goldberg, however, makes my mother sound mouse-fart quiet.

You ever saw an episode on "South Park" when Eric Cartman complained and whined about wanting the Beefcake Weight Gain 4000? That's Bill Goldberg.

As for his wrestling background? Please. In Goldberg's view, being a football reject that moves like a wobbling chicken with his head chopped off will turn you into a wrestler. Take a look at the records of both Goldberg and Lashley outside WCW and WWF. Without even debuting in the WWF, Lashley was impressive. Goldberg, on the other hand, was impressive for showing how much talent he didn't have.

Unlike Goldberg, Lashley has what it takes to be a major player in the WWE and most importantly, in a stale wrestling industry. He's got an extraordinary physique, an impressive wrestling background, experience in Armed Forces, a growing fanbase and he has earned great respect from the locker room and the management. Goldberg showed how not to build up a wrestler and make him a major player without realizing how useless he was. To put it in simple terms, Goldberg was a failure before it happened, much like Buff Bag "Of Shit" Well and Lex Luger. But Lashley is something else.

Wrestling needs a tough, no-nonsense big man whose presence in and out of the ring will have many fans take notice and that guy is certainly not Bill Goldberg. Goldberg is a whiner, a crybaby, a temper-throwing punk and an overrated wrestler in the same mold as the Ultimate Warrior. Hell, Goldberg makes Warrior look competent.

No, That no-nonsense big man is Bobby Lashley, one of the most promising wrestlers in wrestling today. Lashley has the credentials and accolades to succeed and his willingness to learn and constant pressure will make him a big star. Much like Ken Kennedy, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, Bobby Lashley is the future of professional wrestling and he continues to impress on a daily basis while improving his in-ring skills. But the best thing about Bobby Lashley is that he is no Bill Goldberg.

And that, my friend, is a good thing.

by Joe L. --- [View Joe L's Column Index]..