Bill Goldberg
Bill Goldberg (born December 27, 1966) is a former football star turned wrestler. He currently stars in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) on the Monday Night RAW program.
Pre-Wrestling
He played college football with the Georgia Bulldogs, and then played pro football with the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams, and then was signed by the Carolina Panthers, until his football career was ended by an abdominal injury (he tore all his abdominal muscles from his pelvis, and had them surgically reattached).
Wrestling History
World Championship Wrestling era
Goldberg became a wrestler, training in the World Championship Wrestling Power Plant wrestling school and entered the ring professionally on September 22, 1997. He then started on the path of what make him a wrestling superstar, his undefeated winning streak. He would have one hundred and seventy-six wins before wrestler Kevin Nash handed him his first loss.
He would become the WCW United States Champion on April 21, 1998, by defeating Raven. He would “loss” the title when he gave it up after winning the World Heavyweight title (from Hulk Hogan) on July 6, 1998.
He became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion on July 6, 1998 when he defeated the at the time NWO leader, Hulk Hogan. He would hold the title until wrestler Kevin Nash handed him his first loss in the WCW on December 27, 1998. Of course, it took wrestler Scott Hall getting involved with a tazer gun for Kevin Nash to win.
He would become a second time holder of the WCW US Championship on October 24, 1999 but would be defeated by Bret Hart the next day, losing the title.
Amazingly enough, he would team with Bret Hart to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship on December 7, 1999. They would hold the title for only a week, losing the titles to the Outsiders (who were Kevin Nash and Scott Hall).
When the WCW was bought out by the WWF (now WWE), Goldberg isn’t signed. At least, not right away.
Post WCW era
Goldberg would travel the independent wrestling circuit after he run in the WCW. He would make his biggest splash in Japan, becoming one of the biggest pulls in the country. This would finally prompt the WWE to sign Goldberg.
World Wrestling Entertainment era
Goldberg would make his World Wrestling Entertainment debut on the RAW immediately following the 2003 WrestleMania (WrestleMania XIX), on March 31, 2003. He would immediately start a feud with The Rock, which would acuminate at the 2003 Backlash PPV event, which he would win, his first in the WWE.
Later in the year, he would defeat WWE RAW World Champion, Triple H, winning the title. This match took place at the 2003 Unforgiven PPV Event on September 21, 2003.
He would hold the title until December 14, 2003, when he would lose the title back to Triple H in a triple threat match which included Kane, during the 2003 Armageddon PPV event.
Goldberg attended the 2004 No Way Out, as a audience member. However, after a taunting from Brock Lesnar, Goldberg left the audience and entered the ring, where he would proceed to give Brock a Jackhammer. He was promptly "arrested" by security (via orders from Paul Heyman, Smackdown!'s General Manager. He would come back during the WWE Championship Title Match and cause Lesnar to lose the match. Currently, a match to be played out at 2004 Wrestlemania (or aka Wrestlemania XX) will be between Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar.
Title History
World Championship Wrestling
- April 20, 1998 – WCW United States Title (1)
- Defeated Raven - Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Vacated on July 6, 1998 after winning World title
- July 6, 1998 – WCW World Heavyweight Title
- Defeated Hulk Hogan - Atlanta, Georgia
- Lost to Kevin Nash on December 27, 1998
- October 24, 1999 – WCW United States Title (2)
- Defeated Sid Vicious - Las Vegas, Nevada
- Lost to Bret Hart on October 25, 1999
- December 7, 1999 – WCW Tag Team Title
- Teamed with Bret Hart
- Defeated Creative Control - Madison, Wisconsin
- Lost to the Outsiders on December 13, 1999
World Wrestling Entertainment
- September 21, 2003 – WWE RAW World Heavyweight Title
- Defeated Triple H - Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Lost to Triple H on December 14, 2003
Miscellaneous Information
Trademark Moves and Sayings
His favorite catch phrase is “Who’s Next?” or “You’re Next!”. He also recently used “Believe the Hype” coming into the 2003 Unforgiven PPV Event.
He has two of the most famous wrestling moves in recent wrestling history; the Spear and the Jackhammer. He often uses these moves as finishing moves.
He leads with the Spear. He waits on the opposite side of the ring, waiting for his opponent to get and/or turn around. When they do, he charges at them like a linebacker in football, tackling them to the ground. Then, in a move called the Jackhammer, he picks his opponent up over his head, legs up in the air, then slamming them to the ground, covering immediately for the pin. Very rarely has anyone kicked out of a pin following this combo of moves.
Rumors
It is rumored that after the next WrestleMania (WrestleMania XX), Goldberg’s contract with the WWE isn’t going to be renewed. This has yet to be confirmed.
Misc
He used to be a bouncer. It is unknown where this was however.
He has a degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia.
He was the first man to simultaneously hold the WCW United States and World Heavyweight Championships.
External Links
http://www.billgoldberg.com – The Official Bill Goldberg website
http://www.billgoldberg.net – A popular fansite/message board dedicated to Bill Goldberg
http://www.wwe.com – The Official World Wrestling Entertainment website