Every Story Has its Start

Bill Goldberg was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the youngest of four children in the Goldberg family. His brother Mike lives in Miami where he races sailboats and restores aero planes. His other brother, Steve, lives in San Diego and owns a restaurant. His sister, Barbara, is married to ESPN sports caster Larry Burnett. Their parents Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Goldberg still live in Tulsa, where Dr. Goldberg is a obstetrician/gynecologist.

Even from a very young age Goldberg was a very talented athlete. It was his football skills that made scouts from around the Midwest flock to Tulsa to watch him play. Goldberg told a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1988 about a certain incident. Scouts were coming to Tulsa to watch him play. He wanted to look bulky so he ate a 38-ounce T-bone steak the night before. During the game he feel over his feet, landed on his face, and up came the steak! He eventually did get a scholarship but it wasn't to Texas A&M or the University of Oklahoma as his family would have preferred. Instead it was to the University of Georgia where his great uncle had graduated. Goldberg said that going in he had never watched a Georgia football game. In fact he didn't even know what the team colours were!

It was during his years at UGA that he made the biggest impact next to his wrestling explosion. While at UGA he found the intensity that would later help him become on of the most physical wrestlers in the business. Once he was warned by officials for slapping the helmets of the opposing players. Goldberg's response, "I don't do anything bad or illegal, until they do it to me." It was this intensity that earned him all-star honours as a junior.

However college wasn't all positive for Bill. Two nights before Vince Dooley's final game as head coach for UGA, Bill experimented with marijuana. The next day the team performed a random drug test and Goldberg failed. By his own admission this was the worst experience of his life. He was banned from playing in the Gator Bowl against Michigan. He returned home to Tulsa in disgust. He would return to play his final season the next year. While back in Tulsa serving his suspension Goldberg bulked up. He started eating healthier and packed on 25 pounds.

In 1990 Bill was drafted to the Los Angeles Rams, here he roomed with Kevin Greene, while they both tried to make their dream happen. It didn't succeed for Goldberg, who failed the final pre season cut, but he was invited back the following season only to be cut again. However he would instead settle for the Atlanta Falcons, where he played from 1992 to 1994.

Life with the Falcons wasn't great. Bill battled constant nagging injuries before finally calling it quits. While sipping drinks at an Atlanta night club Bill met Diamond Dallas Page. It was Page who suggested that Bill give professional wrestling a try. Goldberg shrugged it off at the time but would later take Page up on the offer.

However Goldberg will be the first to tell you that he was not a big wrestling fan growing up. It was a chance meeting with Diamond Dallas Page in a club in Atlanta, Georgia that led to his decision to become a wrestler. Goldberg had injured himself to the point that football was no longer possible. At his current rate he would be released before he would have a chance to prove himself. Diamond Dallas Page saw Goldberg in the club and after just one look he told Bill to get to the Power Plant. "It just took one look at him and said you need to be with us" said Page. Besides his football record, Goldberg have studied martial arts for many years, so he was ready when WCW wanted him.

WCW

Goldberg trained in the Power Plant for four months before he was ready for his debut. And what a debut it was, on Nitro, September 22, 1997, Goldberg came to the ring for his match against Hugh Morrus, 100% concentrated and with looks that could remind you of Steve Austin, this got people to take notice. Bill totally squashed Morrus in a matter of minutes and also that got people up from their chairs.

The King of Squash Matches continued his assault against WCW's bottom rung wrestlers, including Barbarian, Roadblock, Scotty Riggs,Wrath, and Mike Anthony, none of these had a chance against Goldberg. On October 26, at Halloween Havoc, Goldberg made an impact on the mid-card of WCW, during a match between former football player Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Alex Wright, Goldberg strolled to the ring and floored McMichael and laid Wright on top of him to score the pin. This got McMichael's wife Debra, whose future with WCW was saved due to Wright's victory, gave Mongo's Super Bowl Ring to Goldberg. When Wright wanted to thank Goldberg, Bill attacked him, proving that he can take of himself.

Luckily for Goldberg, he didn't align himself with Debra, but the feud with McMichael heated up. The two were scheduled to clash at World War 3, but due to Goldberg having a groin injury, the WCW covered it up with McMichael knocking Goldberg down with a lead pipe shortly before the match. But the two hadn't seen the last of each other.

When Goldberg had recovered from his injury, he was ready to take on McMichael at Starrcade. The match wasn't Goldberg's best, but like the other matches he squashed his opponent in a matter of minutes with the Jackhammer. The feud with Mongo ended at Thunder, January 8, when Goldberg squashed him again.

Goldberg continued his winning streak for the next couple of months, without very much interesting happening, besides some good matches against Glacier and Brad Armstrong. Goldberg also had a run-in with the nWo, when he stopped an attack, but nothing more came out of that. In the start of the year Goldberg was only referred to by his surname. Saturn from Raven's Flock then wanted Goldberg, after Goldberg had squashed the rest of the Flock, Saturn wanted to attack Goldberg, but was held back by the rest of the Flock.

At Thunder before Spring Stampede, it was announced that Goldberg would face the winner of Diamond Dallas Page and Raven for the US Title at Nitro after Spring Stampede. At Spring Stampede, Goldberg and Saturn clashed in what turned out to be a fine encounter, the end came when Saturn locked on the Rings of Saturn, but in an incredible feat of strength Goldberg manoeuvred Saturn into the Jackhammer, which spells D-O-O-M.

April 20, 1998, Nitro, Goldberg against Raven for the WCW US Title. In one of the most heated and gripping matches in Goldberg's career. They went back and forth hard and heavy until Goldberg hit the Spear, when the Flock interfered, but Goldberg took care of them even the 350 pound Reese, who was demolished with a Jackhammer. Raven tried to escape via the crowd, but they threw him back to Goldberg, who finished Raven off with a Jackhammer on a stop sign to win the match and the US Title.

The feud with Saturn continued, at Slamboree the two put on a good match again, but as you probably have noticed, Saturn can't stop Goldberg. Curt Hennig was the next contender for Goldberg, but Hennig wasn't much for the physical approach he tried to play mind games with Goldberg, by saying that he was going to be the next US Champion. But when Hennig was injured Konnan took his place at the Great American Bash, stupid move Konnan, who was absolutely destroyed.

During a Nitro, Kevin Greene was interviewed and then attacked by the Giant and Curt Hennig. The same thing happened later that night during a match with Kevin Greene and the Giant, but this time Goldberg came to the rescue. Greene then issued a challenge to Hennig and Giant to clash with Goldberg and himself in a match at the Bash at the Beach, but things certainly changed.

Goldberg continued his dominance over his opponents and his popularity grew by the day, and on July 2, at Thunder J.J. Dillon announced that Goldberg would face Hollywood Hogan for the WCW World Title on Nitro, July 6. At Nitro it was time for the big match, but Hogan had an ace up his sleeve, he had a mystery opponent, whom Goldberg had to defeat before he would get his shot at Hogan.

The mystery opponent turned out to be Scott Hall, who really tested Goldberg, but it wasn't enough to stop the phenom. Goldberg also got some help from Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone, who stopped Hall's interference runners before they had an impact on the match. Then it was time for Hogan, the match pretty solid where both men had their moments, Hogan dominated with his belt and a chair, Hogan hit two Legdrops of Doom, but wasn't able to pin Goldberg, who kicked out, speared Hogan and hit the Jackhammer, and we had a new WCW World Champion. Again DDP and Malone stopped Hennig from interfering.

With Goldberg winning the World Title, the US Title was vacated. Goldberg's critics say that his opponents for the US Title haven't deserved the shot and if you go through the Squash List, you have to agree with them, it will be interesting to see which opponents he will face during his World Title regain. Due to Goldberg winning the World Title the advertised tag match with Greene against Hennig and Giant was changed to two singles matches instead.

Hennig got his long awaited shot at Goldberg at Bash at the Beach. Hennig had Goldberg in trouble during the match, when he attacked the legs, but Goldberg can't be stopped by Hennig. The next night at Nitro, Hennig wanted a rematch because he knew Goldberg's weakness, the match took place later that night and it was Goldberg's shortest match so far. A slap from Hennig followed by a Spear and a Jackhammer, less than a minute, Hennig is no match for Goldberg.

The next in line of Hollywood's flunkies was Brian Adams, but Hollywood and the rest of the nWo completely trashed Goldberg's dressing room, but that didn't stop Goldberg from totally annihilating Adams. Goldberg also rescued DDP from a beating from the nWo, but then ran into a chokeslam from the Giant.

Goldberg wants the Giant and he doesn't care who he has to go through to get to him, even Sting, this brought out Sting, who questioned Goldberg's sanity, but before Goldberg could do anything about it the Giant appeared and distracted both of them, later that night Goldberg got some kind of revenge on the Giant, when he hit him with the Spear before the show went off the air.

At Road Wild Goldberg had a chance to get a shot at the Giant in the nWo battle royal, and Goldberg used it, he dominated the battle royal and eliminated Scott Hall, Konnan, Curt Hennig, Scott Norton, Sting, and Lex Luger before he stood nose to nose with the Giant. Goldberg was on the receiving end of a chokeslam, but bounced back and hit the Spear and the Jackhammer for the pin and the victory. Goldberg also saved DDP from a beating, when Goldberg attacked Hogan and Eric Bischoff.

Some say that Goldberg have lost a match in 1997, when Roddy Piper assembled his team to go up against the nWo and team WCW at Uncensored 1997, but as far as I know, Goldberg was knocked down by the boxer guy before he made it to the ring, so in my eyes it ain't a defeat since he didn't made it to the ring.

Hogan wants Goldberg the sooner the better, and he showed it at Nitro, August 10, when Goldberg had defeated Meng, Hogan nailed Goldberg with a chair, Kevin Nash then took the chair away from Hogan, stupid mistake, Goldberg saw Nash with the chair and speared him. At Thunder August 13, Nash made a statement about the Goldberg incident, Nash said that they have worked things out and he wanted to invite Goldberg into joining the Wolfpack. It will be interesting to hear Goldberg's answer.

At Nitro, Hogan again challenged Goldberg for a match, but the Giant would take Hogan's place. The end came when the Disciple interfered, which gave the win to Goldberg by disqualification. nWo Hollywood members then swarmed the ring and the Wolfpack soon followed, but when Goldberg wanted to Spear Scott Hall, he instead hit Kevin Nash guess they still have some things to work out. But it is kind of interesting that this was the first match that Goldberg haven't won with a pin.

At Nitro, August 24, Kevin Nash wanted to bury the hatchet with Goldberg and suggested that the teamed up to take on Hogan and the Giant in a tag team match, Goldberg agreed. Most of the match they worked well together, but when the match was thrown out the door due to interference, Nash wanted to help Goldberg, who was at Hogan's mercy, but Nash ended up hitting Goldberg with the big boot instead, and the show ended with the two nose to nose again.

Goldberg has then faced several jobbers in World Championship matches in short squashes, I don't know why the WCW destroys the belt like this, but it doesn't help Goldberg or the fans. The embarrassment of the WCW World Title continued at Thunder, when Goldberg went up against Rick Fuller, another jobber who hasn't deserved a shot at the World Title. The match was more or less saved by the interference by Hogan and the Disciple, but they weren't able to stop the Champion.

At Nitro, September 14, Goldberg got a worthy opponent in the main event, namely Sting, who hit Goldberg with everything he got, but it had no effect, this frustrated Sting, but eventually he got Goldberg in the Scorpion Deathlock, but then Hogan came to the ring and kicked Sting in the head, Goldberg then hit the Spear and Jackhammer for the win. Bret Hart then came to the ring and told what had happened, Goldberg then helped Sting to his feat.

Chris Jericho's mockery of Goldberg came to a hold on Nitro, September 28, Jericho had once again challenged the fake Goldberg, but the real deal came to the ring together with the fake. Goldberg then went after Jericho, but he threw them to Goldberg, who completely squashed them.

At Thunder, October 1, Goldberg went up against Raven, with Kanyon on the outside, Goldberg was on the recieving end and was about to loose if it hadn't been for DDP, who came to the rescue and took Kanyon out. Goldberg then hit Raven with the Jackhammer, after the match Goldberg and DDP went nose to nose.

The continuing saga with DDP, Goldberg, Raven and Kanyon continued at Nitro, October 5, DDP fought Kanyon, Raven and Lodi then hit the ring and started their attack on Pge, this brought out Goldberg, who cleared the ring, Goldberg and DDP then went nose to nose until JJ Dillon got them to back off.

Goldberg got his victory number 150 at Nitro, October 12, against the Giant, but it was by count out after Stevie Ray and DDP had stuck their noses in the match, Goldberg then speared the Giant, who then left the ring. The next week at Nitro, Chris Jericho had another of his rants about Goldberg, this brought Goldberg out, when Jericho went up against DDP. Goldberg speared Jericho and went for the Jackhammer, but DDP delivered a Diamond Cutter to Jericho instead. Goldberg and DDP then went nose to nose.

Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page put on a great show at Halloween Havoc. DDP was real fired up and threw everything he had against the champion, even a Diamond Cutter, but both were fatigued, shortly after Goldberg muscled DDP into the Jackhammer for the win. After the match the two combatants embraced. The next night at Nitro, Goldberg came to the rescue of DDP, who was under attack of Bret Hart. The next week on Nitro, Bret Hart had his way with Lex Luger, again Goldberg came to the rescue but ended up spearing Luger.

Goldberg has had enough of Jericho's mockery of him, so when Jericho started on his tirade at Nitro, November 9, Goldberg hit him with the Spear. The next week on Nitro, Bam Bam Bigelow made his debut and started screaming for Goldberg, who answered the challenge but security officers made sure that they wouldn't touch each other. Later that night Goldberg ordered Bischoff to get Bigelow in a match, which Bischoff could only oblige. The match never got underway, since the two combatants started brawling in the aisle.

At World War III, Goldberg has his share of run-ins, first he helped Rick Steiner fend off Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell and the nWo referee. Later Goldberg made sure that Bam Bam Bigelow didn't have an impact on the battle royal.

The next night on Nitro, Kevin Nash teased Goldberg, who answered back. The Giant challenged Goldberg to a match which took place later. Goldberg won the match with his signature moves, but Bam Bam Bigelow made an attack, but the security officers had a lot of work to do since Kevin Nash also made his way to the ring. The problems with Bam Bam Bigelow continued at the November 30 edition of Nitro, but again security got between the two brawlers.

At Nitro, Goldberg had demanded a match against Bam Bam Bigelow and got it, but before the match got underway, Kevin Nash also joined the fun and a ton of security guards. The next week on Nitro, Terry Taylor turned last weeks incident into a three way dance, but the match didn't get a clean finish as Hall interfered.

Goldberg took on Scott Hall in a match at Nitro, December 21, when Kevin Nash came to the ring and disctracted Goldberg, Hall then got the advantage for a little while, until Goldberg made a comeback. When Goldberg was ready to finish off Hall, Nash dragged Hall out of the ring, Bam Bam Bigelow then entered the ring and attacked Goldberg.

At Starrcade Goldberg clashed with Kevin Nash in a no disqualification match for the WCW World Title. The match showed everybody, that Goldberg can do more than the Spear and the Jackhammer. The no DQ rules, was really in Nash's favour as both Disco Inferno and Bam Bam Bigelow, but Goldberg fended them off, until Scott Hall came to ringside and used a stun gun on Goldberg. Nash then hit the Jackknife Powerbomb and pinned Goldberg. It will be interesting to see, where Goldberg goes from here.

The next night at Nitro, Nash announced that he wasn't to pleased with his win over Goldberg the following night, due to Hall using the stun gun on Goldberg. Nash also mentioned he still had respect for Goldberg and demanded that the WCW Executive Committee should grant Goldberg a Heavyweight Title rematch at the next Nitro.

In what was supposed to be Goldberg's big chance of regaining the World Title at Nitro, January 4, 1999, proved to be a spiel by nWo. Backstage Goldberg was confronted by the police, who had a warrant for his arrest. We later found out that he was arrested for aggravated stalking of Ms. Elizabeth. The charges were later dropped, when the police found out that WCW books them at the same hotels and arenas, and that Goldberg owns the gym that Elizabeth is member of. Goldberg then made it back to the arena, but only to discover that the nWo had played possum, Hogan, Nash, Hall, and Scott Steiner all stood in the ring celebrating. Goldberg ran to the ring, but there was just to many - Lex Luger then apparently came to the rescue, but he also turned nWo. Scott Hall then used the stun gun on Goldberg again, and then painted nWo on Goldberg.

At the following Nitro, Goldberg talked about the match at Starrcade and we also found out that Goldberg would take on Scott Hall at Souled Out in Ladder Match, where the stun gun would be the present for the lucky contender. At Souled Out, January 17, 1999, Goldberg was supposed to take on Scott Hall in a Ladder Match, where the Stun Gun would be suspended above the ring. But due to Goldberg having problems with his knees, a clip from backstage showed Goldberg lying on the floor favoring his knee.

Goldberg still took on Hall, but he was wearing a kneebrace. The match was very hard fought and both men took some good bumps. When Goldberg went for the stun gun, after he had knocked Hall off the ladder, Disco Inferno made it to the ring and knocked Goldberg off the ladder. Hall then got the stun gun and used it on Goldberg, but he just shrugged it off, took the stun gun an used it on Disco. Goldberg then speared, Jackhammered and used the stun gun on Hall to get the win. After the match Bam Bam attacked Goldberg, Hall then got the stun gun and used it on both Goldberg and Bam Bam.

The events at Souled out lead to a Three Way Dance at Nitro between Goldberg, Hall, and Bam Bam. In the start of the match Goldberg and Bam Bam teamed up, but Goldberg eventually started to make it on his own. When Goldberg was about to hit Hall with the Jackhammer, the nWo Wolfpack interfered and started attacking Goldberg. This brought out the 4 Horsemen, who made the save.