Kurt Angle has looked back on the reaction that Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar from WrestleMania 20 received.

WrestleMania 20 took place 18 years ago. The show was held inside Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 14, 2004. One highly-anticipated match was Goldberg vs. Lesnar but things went south quickly as fans roasted both men for leaving WWE.

Backstage Reaction To Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar

During an episode of The Kurt Angle Show, the Olympic gold medalist revealed what the backstage reaction was to Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar turning into a disaster (h/t 411Mania.com).

“I was backstage watching it on the monitor and it was crazy. The fans really turned on those guys. They sh*t on the whole match. This was a big feature match, this was a money match for the WWE. It’s a dream match that everybody wanted to see, but because both guys were leaving the company, the fans didn’t want to see it anymore.

“They were surprised, but then again, they weren’t surprised. We do understand that the fans are loyal to us, as long as we’re loyal to them and I do believe they felt cheated that Brock and Goldberg were leaving. The boys, they weren’t laughing, but they were like, ‘Holy sh*t, I can’t believe this is happening.’ The match was such a big match, it was something everybody wanted to see.

“Even the boys wanted to see it. When the fans crapped all over it, it was like, oh gosh, this is crazy. Some guys were laughing, some guys were like, oh crap, this is horrible. Everybody treated it differently.”

Goldberg and Brock ended up leaving the company but returned under far more fan-friendly circumstances. Goldberg defeated Lesnar at the Survivor Series PPV back in 2016. They had a rematch at WrestleMania 33 and it was far better than their 2004 match. Lesnar emerged victorious in that encounter.

Goldberg got the call for a showdown with Roman Reigns at a less-than-ideal time.

The man who once ran rampant on WCW television was called upon by WWE at least one more time for Elimination Chamber. He challenged Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship in a losing effort.

Goldberg Battled COVID

During an appearance on the CarCast podcast, Goldberg revealed that he had COVID-19 when WWE contacted him for the match with Reigns (h/t F4WOnline).

“I have COVID when I get the phone call to go (to face Roman Reigns). I literally had two weeks in the gym to get ready for this.”

The former four-time world champion also detailed the struggle that wrestling can take a toll on someone mentally.

“In doing (wrestling), it’s very tough mentally to keep yourself in a positive space because you’ve got so many negatives going against you. And then, 90% of fans understand what the storyline is gonna be, so I’m fighting an uphill battle the whole way. But you know, at this point and throughout the years, I have been able to do this on a short schedule.”

Reports have claimed that Goldberg is now a free agent. Time will tell whether or not the 55-year-old will find his way back to WWE or pursue other options.

Those expecting Goldberg to retire may be in for a surprise. He recently told Corey Graves on the After The Bell podcast that he’ll “never” be ready to retire.

WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg has warmed up to the idea of other wrestlers using the spear attack during matches.

Goldberg just competed at WWE Elimination Chamber, where he came up short against Universal Champion Roman Reigns. This was the final match Goldberg’s WWE contract.

At 55 years old, Goldberg needs to take special care of his body to continue performing at a high level. He recently paid a visit to Dr. Beau Hightower, renowned Chiropractor and strength and conditioning specialist.

Hightower has a popular YouTube channel that shows him treating celebrities and athletes. Goldberg’s visit was the subject of his latest video and of course they talked wrestling while Bill got worked on.

Interestingly, Goldberg says he used to hate seeing other wrestlers use the spear, which has been one of his signature moves since the late 1990’s. We’ve seen countless WWE Superstars utilize the move since then, most notably Roman Reigns, Edge and Bobby Lashley.

Goldberg’s Spear

According to Goldberg, you can use the spear.. if he likes you.

“About 15 to 20 superstars at WWE use it, and I used to hate it, but now I like it,” Goldberg said about the spear. “I like it because you see them do it, and then you see the master do it. And there’s a huge difference.”

He continued, “… and if I like you, I’ll let you live through it. If I don’t like you, I’ll put my head right in the middle of your chest and you’ll be in the hospital.”

Catch Goldberg’s appearance on Dr. Beau Hightower’s YouTube show:

In the last match on his current WWE deal, Goldberg challenged WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns for the title at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event.

The match opened the main card. They brawled early until Goldberg caught him with a spear. When he went for the jackhammer, Reigns reversed it with a rock bottom-like move. After hitting the superman punch, Reigns went for the spear, but Goldberg caught him with one of his own. Reigns won with the guillotine choke and Goldberg passed out. 

The match was set up during the February 4th edition of SmackDown as Reigns and Paul Heyman celebrated their accomplishments at the Royal Rumble, which was costing Brock Lesnar the WWE Championship. 

The WWE Hall Of Famer came out and said that he acknowledged Reigns, but as his next victim. Goldberg told Reigns he wanted the Universal Championship match. That match was confirmed later in the show.

Of course. This match was originally scheduled for WrestleMania 36 back in 2020, but Reigns took time off due to the COVID-19 pandemic so WWE got Braun Strowman to face and beat Goldberg for the Universal title instead

Goldberg challenged for the WWE Championship at the 2021 Royal Rumble pay-per-view but lost to Drew McIntyre before losing to then-WWE Champion Bobby Lashley at the SummerSlam only to win the rematch when he previously competed at Crown Jewel where he beat Lashley. 

Reigns will make his next Universal Title defense against Lesnar at WrestleMania 38. As of this writing, Goldberg’s WWE future let alone his WrestleMania status is currently up in the air. 

Goldberg isn’t exactly eager to hang up his wrestling boots.

At the age of 55, Goldberg remains in marquee matches whenever he is called upon by WWE. He will be wrapping up his current WWE deal but one can’t rule out the possibility of him re-signing with the company.

Goldberg Isn’t Done Yet

During an appearance on WWE’s After The Bell podcast, Goldberg said he isn’t prepared to walk away from the wrestling industry (via Wrestle Purists).

“No. I’ll never be ready to be done. It’s something that…I can’t explain it. Once a warrior, always a warrior, you’ll never take it out of me”

During the height of the “Monday Night Wars,” Goldberg was a top star for WCW. His undefeated streak, dominant presence, and mystique led to fans gravitating towards him.

Fast forward to 2022 and Goldberg is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber. The match will take place inside the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia.

Most expect Reigns to defeat Goldberg and move on to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. Whether or not Goldberg will be brought back for a WrestleMania appearance of his own remains to be seen.

SEScoops will keep you posted on Goldberg’s future.

Goldberg has been open about the fact that his upcoming Elimination Chamber match is the last match in his current WWE contract.

There have been a lot of speculation on the wrestling future of the 54-year-old after the upcoming show. Now the former Universal champion himself has provided a hint about his involvement in the business afterward.

In the Goldberg at 54 documentary the premiered on the WWE Network over the weekend, the former WCW star said that he never imagined he would get this opportunity. He is more than willing to continue to learn and be part of the industry:

“I never imagined there would still be an opportunity,” said Goldberg. “I never imagined that there would still be the desire for me to go out and do what I did when I was on top. So things change people, change and situations change.”

He added, “I may be 54 but I really am more than willing to continue to learn about this business” said Goldberg, “and as long as I have something to offer it, then, you know, I’ll still be a part of it.”

While there is no official word on how WWE management feels about possibly re-signing the former WCW star after the upcoming PPV, they have years left on their deal with the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia.

With Goldberg being one of the last big attractions left of the Attitude Era, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the company finds value in keeping him around just for the overseas events alone.

• Bill Goldberg Needs Surgery, Reveals Why He Refuses to Have It

H/T Transcription: RingsideNews

Goldberg made an appearance on WWE Friday Night Smackdown this week to interrupt Roman Reigns in the opening segment. He challenged Reigns to a Universal Title match at the Elimination Chamber event after he cut a short and very direct pointed promo to set up the match. 

This was expected as Fightful reported that the WWE Hall of Famer was slated to make his return and was scheduled to travel to Oklahoma City, the site of WWE SmackDown. 

There was some concern due to weather as Oklahoma got hit with a snowstorm on Wednesday and Thursday. Goldberg has been booked to lose 3 consecutive World Title matches over the last two years. 

The legendary wrestler lost the Universal Title to Braun Strowman at WrestleMania 36. Goldberg challenged for the WWE Championship at the 2021 Royal Rumble pay-per-view but lost to Drew McIntyre. He lost to then WWE-Champion Bobby Lashley at the SummerSlam.  He last competed at Crown Jewel where he beat Lashley. 

WWE presents the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event on Saturday, February 19, 2022. Other matches confirmed for the show includes WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory vs. AJ Styles vs. Riddle in an Elimination Chamber Match, WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Lita, WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The Viking Raiders

Goldberg has been very open about having only one match left on his current contract. The former Universal champion also recently revealed that he has been holding off his shoulder surgery for after he has retired.

This has made many wonder if the former world champion is considering retirement after his current contract expires. Though it appears the monster-sized athlete still has things that might keep him going.

The 55-year-old was asked if his upcoming match could be his last during a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. Responding to it, Goldberg claimed that he is focused on what’s next:

“I’m focused on what’s next, if they want to come back to me with something, we’ll talk. You never know what the future holds.”

– Goldberg

The WCW veteran admitted that it’s not easy to continue the heavyweight style of wrestling at his age. Though Goldberg claimed that it’s all worth it if he can open the door of more opportunities for his son Gage:

“As a power wrestler, it’s tough, it’s not easy to do this at my age. But I knew that, and I said the hell with it. For me, the prize is worth it, and that’s to open up opportunities for my son. If I can continue to do what I’m doing and continue to provide opportunities for him, then I’ll consider this a success.”

Gage was featured on WWE programming most recently during the Goldberg-Bobby Lashley program. While there is no word yet on if he has any plans to pursue a wrestling career, the exposure can help him in other walks of life as well.

Eric Bischoff recently named Bill Goldberg as a talent who was particularly difficult to deal with in WCW. On his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff commented on what it is about Goldberg that made him this way.

“I think on a consistent basis; it would have been Bill Goldberg. Not necessarily in a bad way. Just that, Bill was a very intense person. Emotional, and didn’t have a lot of experience, and was pretty uncomfortable in a pro wrestling environment when he first got there,” Bischoff said.

“So, as a result, you take someone who is an intense personality, a very intense personality, a bit of a perfectionist, who puts a lot of pressure on himself. But, also, lacking a lot of the comfort that comes with experience. You get a guy that’s a little hard to handle, or sometimes a lot hard to handle. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s just a thing.”

Goldberg made his WCW debut on the September 22, 1997 episode of Nitro. He defeated Hugh Morrus on that show and started his long undefeated streak. Goldberg would continuing winning matches until eventually defeating Hollywood Hogan in the Georgia Dome on July 6, 1998. His streak would eventually end at Starrcade 98 on December 27th, 1998. Kevin Nash pinned Goldberg after Scott Hall interfered and zapped him with a cattle prod.

In addition to his WCW Championship reign, Goldberg is also a 2x WWE Universal Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

H/t to Sportskeeda for transcriptions.

One-half of Team RK-Bro, Matt Riddle has a long and complicated history with Bill Goldberg. Riddle has made disparaging comments about Goldberg publicly in the past but according to comments he made recently to Talk Sport, the two have patched things up and come to some type of understanding.

“Bill and I had a conversation. It was like ‘Bill, I’m sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way’ on the way back from Saudi Arabia,” Riddle said. “We were on the plane, had a couple of cocktails. I’m not saying we’re best friends, but we are doing way better than we were.”

“I think just us talking and seeing him work [longer matches this year], you just get to know somebody and understand them.”

“He’s like me; if you just listen to the dirt sheets or watch me do interviews, you might hate me [laughs]. But in real life, I’m a pretty nice guy. I talk crap, but that’s just to drum up interest. He realises that – I think we’re all good.”

Riddle Still Wants A Match With Goldberg

Riddle recently appeared on the Cheap Heat podcast as well. During the conversation, he noted that he’s hopeful a match between him and Goldberg takes place sometime next year.

“I think we can get that match,” Riddle said on the show. “I think we pull that one out. No promises but I’m hoping by 2022, we get Riddle vs. Goldberg. It will sell tickets.”

Riddle signed with WWE in the summer of 2018 and has steadily moved up since then. He’d move to the main roster in the summer of 2020. During his time in WWE, Riddle has won the NXT Tag Team Championships along with Pete Dunne, the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Classic (also along with Pete Dunne), the United States Championship, and he is currently a co-holder of the RAW tag team championships along with Randy Orton.

Goldberg is satisfied with his match against Bobby Lashley at WWE Crown Jewel. 

The WWE Hall of Famer talked about the match on the latest episode of the CarCast podcast. He thinks the performance silenced the critics of his work in the ring. 

“I don’t have the best track record in Saudi Arabia. I’ve knocked myself out in a match, I’ve dropped The Undertaker on his head, and this and that. I needed to redeem myself. I’m not happy with my performance, but I’m satisfied with it to a point where I think it’s shut all these f*ckers up finally.”

The match was a no holds barred, falls count anywhere bout that he ended when he speared Lashley off the stage and onto a crash pad on the floor.

On the same podcast, Goldberg noted that his injured knee is hurting him, but is his life now after a career of playing football and wrestling. 

Also on the CarCast, Goldberg addressed how his injured knee is feeling and spoke about what his relationship with Lashley is like behind the scenes. He put over Lashley for being a great individual and someone he’s wanted to wrestle for years so he felt honored that Lashley worked with him.

Goldberg has only one more match left in his current contract with WWE after his Crown Jewel encounter, and he is not sure what the future holds for him afterwards.

The former WCW star recently had an interview with Ring Rules before the Crown Jewel PPV. He discussed things such as his bout with the All-Mighty and more.

Goldberg was then asked what prompted him to return to the ring after staying away for over a decade. He explained that he never had a child when he wrestled before:

“Well I never had a child when I wrestled before. My wife and I were lucky enough to have a little boy. When he grew up and understood what I used to do for a living, there were a lot of questions. And I figured if I can still get in shape physically, and if I was still wanted by the fans then I will show him in person what I did.”

• Dolph Ziggler Says He Thought About Dying During Match With Goldberg

Goldberg On His Future

The former Universal champion was also questioned about his future after his match with Lashley. Responding to it, Goldberg revealed that he has only one more bout left in his contract after the Crown Jewel match:

“I still feel as though I can wrestle. I still feel as though I can entertain. So, after this match [with Lashley] I have one more match on my contract and that’s it. We’ll see what happens. You never know.”

There is no word yet on who Goldberg may face in the final match of his current deal. Though he has previously shown interest in competing against Roman Reigns.

You can check out his interview below:

WWE decided to run it back with Goldberg and Bobby Lashley with a rematch at the Crown Jewel pay-per-view event.

Goldberg had a brace on his left knee. The match started with Lashley pulling out a steel chain of his trunks and hitting Goldberg with it. Goldberg had a small cut on the top of his head. Lashley put Goldberg’s knee in between a chair and stomped on it. Lashley crashed through a table after Goldberg moved. After hitting a jackhammer, Goldberg took off his gloves and speared him through the barricade. Goldberg tried to smash Lashey’s head in with the steel steps, but Lashley moved. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander tried to attack Goldberg, but he took them out. Goldberg speared Lashley off the stage through tables for the win.

Their first match took place this past August at SummerSlam when Goldberg stepped up to challenge Lashley for the WWE Title, but the WWE Hall of Famer fell short in his attempt as the finish called for Goldberg to no longer be able to continue while selling a knee injury. Post-match, Goldberg’s son Gage came to the ring to help him, but ended up putting the young man in the hurt lock. Since that time, Goldberg has called for revenge against Lashley by vowing to kill him. 

Fast forward to the October 4th edition of WWE Raw, the match was made official when Lashley accepted the challenge issued by Goldberg only if it was a no holds barred match. Goldberg accepted that demand and told Lashley that he was not only next, but also dead.

Goldberg noted that what had happened at SummerSlam was a misunderstanding. Lashley invited Gage to make the 16-hour trip to Saudi, but noted if Gage got involved again then what happened to him next would not be an accident.

Goldberg has one more match left on his current WWE deal, which will likely be saved for the next WWE event in Saudi Arabia. 

WWE has announced that Bobby Lashley will be taking on Goldberg in a No Holds Barred match at the upcoming Crown Jewel pay-per-view from Saudi Arabia.

These two heavyweight stars originally collided at the SummerSlam PPV in a WWE championship match in August. The All-Mighty won this match when his opponent was declared unable to compete due to a knee injury.

However, Lashley continued attacking the former WCW star afterward. He attacked Goldberg’s son Gage when he came to check on his father as well. Goldberg had vowed to take revenge over this.

This week’s Raw then saw the former Universal champion challenging Lashley for the bout. Bobby Lashley was the one who suggested the stipulation for the match.

• WWE Draft Night 2 Results: All On Air Draft Picks

WWE Crown Jewel 2021 Updated Match Card

WWE announced a few other matches for the Crown Jewel PPV alongside Lashley vs. Goldberg during the night. You can check out the updated card for the show below:

• Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
• WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Big E
• Triple Threat SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch
• Raw Tag Team Championship Match: AJ Styles and Omos vs. Randy Orton and Riddle
• No Holds Barred Match: Bobby Lashley vs. WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg

WWE Crown Jewel will take place on October 21 from the Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riddle once had beef with Goldberg but it appears the two are chummy now.

Riddle has been known to ruffle some feathers in WWE. In particular, he got on the bad side of Goldberg and Brock Lesnar. Goldberg wasn’t happy with Riddle’s comments about his in-ring work. Goldberg confronted Riddle backstage during their first run-in.

These days, however, Riddle and Goldberg have buried the hatchet. Here’s what one-half of the Raw Tag Team Champions told Ryan Satin about his latest interaction with Goldberg.

“I’m pretty sure Goldberg [didn’t like me], he gave me a hug the other day at SummerSlam. There was one time that guy wanted to rip my head off and then you earn a certain level of respect. I think that’s what I had to do.”

Goldberg returns to the ring at WWE Crown Jewel on Oct. 21 in Saudi Arabia. He will collide with former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. This will be a rematch from their SummerSlam showdown back in August, which was won by Lashley.

As for Riddle, he remains in a feud with AJ Styles and Omos. Riddle was without Randy Orton this past week, who reportedly isn’t cleared to compete at the moment.

Goldberg’s latest WWE storyline with Bobby Lashley also involved his son Gage. The young star got physical during the WWE championship match at SummerSlam PPV.

The former Universal champion recently appeared on the CarCast podcast. Talking about his SummerSlam match, he said that he was feeling “dazed and confused and continually limp” after his bout.

Speaking about Gage’s involvement at the show, Goldberg revealed that he actually choked his son at one point to stop him from smiling in the ring:

“I didn’t see shit. I was choking him. He goes, ‘Dad, when you came over and grabbed me, you were choking me.’ I was like, ‘I saw you smiling man, I had to get the smile off.’

The kid is impervious to pressure. He did four hours of homework before he went out” explained Goldberg, “And jumped in the ring with a 290-pound monster who was beating his dad up. It didn’t bother him one bit.”

The WWE championship match at the SummerSlam PPV ended when the former WCW champion couldn’t continue due to a knee injury. Though Bobby Lashley kept attacking his opponent even after the bout.

Gage came to the aid of his father but Lashley put him down too with a hurt lock. The segment ended with Goldberg checking on his son and threatening Bobby Lashley.

Riddle has a preference if he had to choose between a match with Goldberg or Brock Lesnar.

Riddle has been known to ruffle some feathers backstage in WWE. While some have grown to like his personality, others didn’t really have a great first impression of the former UFC fighter. Two of those athletes were Goldberg and Brock Lesnar.

Back in 2019, Riddle and Goldberg had a backstage run-in. Goldberg let Riddle know he didn’t appreciate some comments made by him about his in-ring work. Riddle also reportedly had a run-in with Brock Lesnar where Lesnar told Riddle to stop talking about him because they’ll never share the ring.

At the very least it appears Riddle and Goldberg have smoothed things over. It’s gotten to the point where Riddle told the folks on The Bump that he’d prefer to face Goldberg over Lesnar.

“I’ll say this: I don’t want to talk too much trash, but both Brock [Lesnar] and Goldberg are premium competitors. Mr. Beast [Lesnar] came back. Mr. Beast came down to the ring and did his thing. I’m not a huge fan of Mr. Beast’s man bun. I’m a fan of his work and caliber of athleticism. So, good for him.

“Then, you’ve got Willie G., Goldberg. He was doing his thing. Him and Gage, they bring it; they’re a packaged deal. Honestly, Bill’s been kind of cool with me lately. Not too cool. Not that cool, but he’s been cooler. [Ryan Pappolla shouts out, ‘Building bridges’], Yeah. You know, the bridge was already destroyed. It got blown up. So, right now, we’re throwing some stones, and you can walk across the water.

“But if I had to pick a match between the two of them, if I’m going realistically, I’m thinking Goldberg. Goldberg at ‘Mania, I think that’s a possibility. I think I might convince him to actually wrestle me.”

Goldberg recently fell short in his bid for the WWE Championship against Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam. On the same PPV, Riddle won the Raw Tag Team Titles with Randy Orton.

WWE didn’t give the fans Brock Lesnar, but they did bring back Goldberg to challenge Bobby Lashley for the WWE Title in one of the top matches at SummerSlam. 

The match, which took place in the co-main event of the show that was held from Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium on Peacock, was short as expected. Goldberg sold his knee throughout the match and that played a factor in the finish. In the end, Goldberg couldn’t stand so the referee called for the bell. After the match, Lashley hit Goldberg with a chair. Goldberg’s son tried to make the save, but he got put into the full nelson. 

Goldberg made his return on the July 19th episode of WWE Raw to tell Lashley that he was next. While Lashley was ready to go, MVP wasn’t ready to give in just yet. That later changed and the match was booked. 

Many fans thought Lesnar would be the right person to face Lashley at this show, but it’s been reported that WWE wanted to save Lesnar’s return for a WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns. 

What are your thoughts on Lashley going over Goldberg? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

When it comes to dominance in professional wrestling, it is hard to think much beyond Goldberg. In his prime he was untouchable. His streak ran for 173 matches. His opponents rarely survived more than a few minutes in the ring with him.

Alas, age catches up with even the most lionhearted souls. Now, at aged 54, Goldberg realizes he is getting towards the end. However, a warrior’s spirit never dies. Talking in a recent interview with AP news, he spoke openly and candidly about his performances in the ring over recent years.

Referencing the way people have reacted to John Cena’s return and the comments that he still has that same ability hit home for Goldberg.

“I guess Roman made mention of Cena coming back and being the same guy,” he said. “Well, that’s what people pay for. That’s why they bring him back because he’s the same guy. Yeah, you have to evolve a little bit.”

“But people want to see me go out and smash dudes. That’s what made me who I am.”

– Goldberg

Goldberg Understands the Expectations He Built for Himself in the Ring

There are quite some years between Goldberg and John Cena. Age is a fickle mistress and the former WWE champion knows isn’t the same man he was back then. However, he accepts he needs to do better. For himself, and for the fans.

“I’m not proud of anything I’ve done over the past number of years,” he said. “Have I done enough to get by? Yeah. But am I proud of my performances? Hell no. No. 1, I’ve got to win. No. 2, I’ve got to provide a little bit more entertainment, more power moves and just be more like Goldberg. That’s what you’re going to see on Saturday.”

While many wrestling fans may clamor they want more from a match, they need to understand that Goldberg is not your average wrestler. His gimmick, his character is defined by what he does in the ring. He hits big moves, and he tears guys apart.

It sounds as if Goldberg is more than fired up for his match this weekend at Summerslam. Whether he wins the title or not, it will be about leaving behind a memory that he can look back on without regret.

Summerslam is just one day away, and Goldberg is once again vying to become the WWE champion. At 54 years old, his sporadic appearances have been met with mixed emotions from the WWE universe.

Talking during a recent appearance on The Bump, Goldberg addressed his future in wrestling. The conversation included a discussion about whether he would support his son in pursuing a wrestling career.

“Like I said, if I was 25, 55, or 105, I still think that I can pose a big threat to him, but he doesn’t think so. But that’s his problem. He will see the difference on Saturday. I’m still the Goldberg of old there’s no doubt about it.” Goldberg said when discussing his age and Bobby Lashley disbelief at him being a credible threat.

If there is one thing driving Goldberg more than the idea of having another belt to add to his collection, it is his family. “Everybody knows that 100 percent of my reasoning behind coming back was because of my family. My son, my wife, [they] had never seen me wrestle. My wife didn’t even know who the hell I was when we met.”

Goldberg Would Support His Son No Matter What He Wants to Do

As a father, seeing your child follow in your footsteps is a dream. For professional wrestlers, especially those who achieved great things, there is an added worry. It’s not the danger of the profession but rather the weight of expectation and the anchor that can be around a child’s ankles. This is a phenomenon that Goldberg is painfully aware of.  

“I don’t want to choose his path. The kid’s 15-years-old, and he’s a hell of a baseball player and a hell of a football player. And if one day he wanted to step in the ring, you know, I would support it 100 percent,” Goldberg answered. “But I would also let him know to be prepared to be a target, as he is probably right now. As a father, I would be behind him 100 percent.”

“Just know, if he did, he would be the biggest and baddest to ever step in the ring, just like his dad.”

-Goldberg

Goldberg’s son has a lot of years ahead of him before he needs to decide on a career path, and even his father pursued several other avenues before settling on professional wrestling. However, should that be his eventual direction, he has a wealth of experience in his corner.

Goldberg appeared on the latest episode of the Bump to talk about his upcoming SummerSlam match against the WWE champion Bobby Lashley among other things.

During the talk, the former champion was questioned about the other world title match on the show between the Universal champion Roman Reigns and John Cena.

The wrestling veteran was asked if he is team Cena or team Roman going into the PPV. Replying to it, Goldberg claimed that he is neither because he hasn’t faced either Cena or Reigns in his career so far:

“I’m team neither one of them, neither one has stared across the ring and seen me as an opponent, so I look at both of them the same. They’re just future victims.

I am a great fan of both of them for what they have done individually. I’d love a piece of Roman Reigns, and I think maybe even more so, I’d love to get my hands around Cena’s throat. But that’s wishful thinking.”

• Goldberg On How Long He Wants To Continue Working In His Current Role

Goldberg Reveals Detail Of Current Contract

Goldberg then mentioned how his focus is on Bobby Lashley for now before revealing that he only has two more matches left in his deal with the promotion:

“We’ll see. Let me take care of Bobby Lashley first and hey, I only got one more match, or two more matches on my deal here. So we’ll see what happens.”

While WWE could always negotiate a new contract with Goldberg, the expiration of his current deal can open other possibilities for the former WCW champion in the current competitive environment.

Do you think the 54-year-old will explore other options when his current contract expires or will he seek a new deal with his current employers? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

The story of Bill Goldberg is one that needs no introduction. He was the beast before the beast, the monster before the monster. He had the streak before it was even a thing. Now, he is a part-time nostalgia act, playing a very specific role within WWE.

Despite preparing to face Bobby Lashley at Summerslam this coming Sunday, Goldberg still had the time to talk to DAZN about his career, and in particular, the names that he still has on his list.

Goldberg is 54 now. Interestingly enough, has been playing the nostalgia act with WWE for longer than he was main eventing in WCW. The run that built his name.

Despite his age and being self-aware that he is a limited-use resource, there are still a couple of names on Goldberg’s list. There are three individuals that Goldberg would still love to face in a WWE ring, but he also knows that he isn’t in a position to make demands when it comes to opponents.

Goldberg Knows Who He Wants to be Next!

Talking honestly, Goldberg admitted he has a lot to be thankful for as a result of his wrestling career. While getting match fit is harder and harder with age, he isn’t ready to hang up the boots just yet.

One fight he would like to see realized is against the face that (used to) run the place, John Cena.

“Cena, that’s always been a dream. Never been in the ring with him. We’re two completely different characters. Hey, you never know. You never know.”

– Goldberg

Following that, there is a potential rivalry building with the Original Bro, Matt Riddle. He and Goldberg do not seem to be on the best of terms when it comes to their personal relationship. However, great recognizes great, or so it would seem.

“The cocky kid (Riddle) spouting off his mouth in the beginning, and I didn’t appreciate it very much by any stretch of the imagination. But the guy has put in a lot of frickin hard work and a lot of hard work, and he’s dedicated his life to this business. Whether I like him as a human being or not, I have to understand and appreciate his passion for the business and his work ethic. Because he works hard and that I appreciate as an athlete and as a human. Is he a prick sometimes? Absolutely. But that’s him. That’s his character, and so am I.”

The other fight Goldberg would love to see happen before he leaves the ring behind him is Roman Reigns. Oddly enough, it’s not because he wants the Universal Title or because he feels that he needs to conquer the top of the wrestling mountain. His want to face Roman is far simpler and far more deep-seated than wrestling.

“I want Roman bad. I want a piece of somebody from Georgia Tech. Like, I can taste it. The comparisons, the football background, I truly believe that’s a match that needs to happen. Am I clamoring for it? Am I begging for it? No. Am I holding my breath for it? No, I do what my job asks me to do.”

A Poetic End Would Be a Fight With the Kid he Inspired

One other name Goldberg would like to fight is a far more poetic tale and one that would be a heck of a fight too.

“Big E has to be on that list. I’ve watched him for years develop, and I’m very proud of him. I do remember when he was in my autograph line 150 years ago. As a little kid having aspirations of doing things that he’s doing now. The road that he’s taken and the hard work that he’s put towards it, he’s reaping the benefits, and I’m extremely proud of him. I’m very happy for him.”

Despite the prospect of fights with Reigns and Cena, as a wrestling fan and storyteller, there is something about an angle between Goldberg and Big E that speaks much louder than anything else. If executed in the right way, it could be the most fitting way for the big man to end his career and come full circle.

At 54 years of age, it’s safe to say that Goldberg has more wrestling years behind him than in front. Though he is willing to continue his current role for as long as he can.

The former WCW star recently had an interview with Sports Illustrated where he talked about things such as his early career, returning to pro wrestling and more.

During the interview, he also talked about the effect his age has on his performance. While Goldberg claimed that he will still be him regardless of what age he is, he did admit that it has become harder for him to continue physically:

“Whether I’m 25, 35, or 105, I’m still Goldberg,” he says. “My mentality allows me to still get in the ring and entertain the people to an extent that I don’t tarnish anything or everything that I’ve done.

Those are considerations you need to make when you come back. I don’t need to come back, I don’t have to. I’m here because I want to be here. Mentally, I know I can do it. Physically, it’s a little harder. But given enough time, I still can do it.”

‘The Payoff Is Not Mandatory’

Though talking about his future, Goldberg claimed that he is willing to take the opportunities presented to him as long as he thinks that he can still provide something as the character:

“As long as I can still provide something as this character, I’m willing to take these opportunities, because these chances pale in comparison to the payoff, the payoff is not monetary or glory-driven. It’s a chance to provide moments with my family that are few and far between in this world.”

Goldberg is set to challenge Bobby Lashley for the WWE championship at the SummerSlam PPV this Saturday. You can check out an updated match card here.

WWE Superstar and WCW Legend Goldberg recently spoke to WWE India. The former Universal Champion discussed several topics during the interview, including his WWE SummerSlam 2021 match against Bobby Lashley.

“I don’t come back and choose the people I’m going to go after” Goldberg began, alluding to the complaints from fans about his return and instant title shot. “If I could have come back and chosen one person to go after, it would have been Bobby Lashley.”

“There is a way you should represent the championship title and I don’t believe he’s been doing it properly” the former WCW Champion added. “He’s very callous. In this match, my name should not be Goldberg, it should be karma. He deserves a lot of things coming to him and I will hopefully be the guy who delivers that.”

Goldberg on Bobby Lashley

Goldberg has been on the losing end of his last big WWE matches, which include the Royal Rumble contest against Drew McIntyre and his WrestleMania 37 contest against former WWE Superstar Braun Strowman.

“My last outings have fallen short of a number of reasons” Goldberg explained. “I plan to change the outcome of this one and have it not be a resurgence of me coming back for one night, doing my thing, and walking off into the sunset, riding off into the sunset.”

Here is the currently confirmed card for the upcoming PPV event:

• WWE Universal Championship Match – Roman Reigns (c) vs John Cena
• Raw Women’s Championship Match – Nikki A.S.H. (c) vs Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair (Triple Threat Match)
• WWE Championship Match – Bobby Lashley (c) vs Goldberg
• Edge vs Seth Rollins
• SmackDown Women’s Championship – Bianca Belair (c) vs Sasha Banks
• SmackDown Tag Team Championships – The Usos (c) vs Dominik & Rey Mysterio
• United States Championship – Sheamus (c) vs Damian Priest

Booker T is aware of Rene Dupree’s injury accusations hurled towards Goldberg.

Dupree had been signed with WWE from 2002 through 2007. He got called up from OVW in 2003. He had been on television during Goldberg’s first run with WWE. At some point, Dupree had a pretape with the former WCW Champion. During an appearance on That 90’s Wrestling Podcast, Dupree alleged that Goldberg broke his collarbone after several botched spots where he was hit with the French flag.

On a recent edition of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T questioned why Dupree is all of sudden publicly airing out his issues with Goldberg.

“When I hear that kind of talk like that, as far as he broke my shoulder (collarbone) or whatever, the time to speak up about that collarbone thing was back then, and say, ‘What the hell are you doing? You’re about to hurt me. Hit me like that one more time and see what happens, we’re going to be in a fight.’

“I’m just saying, that’s what I would have said. I wouldn’t be talking 15 years later about how bad it hurt. We would have had to confront each other about something like that happening. I just hate to hear people talk about, ‘WWE is desperate.’ I’m sure he (Dupree) wished he was the person in that spot where still the company was ‘desperate’ but he was the guy in that spot.”

Booker T also brought up an infamous incident involving Dupree and Hardcore Holly. It’s been said that Holly put the boots to Dupree over failing to admit he racked up parking tickets after letting him borrow his car.

Do you agree with Booker T’s comments on Rene Dupree airing his grievances with Goldberg?