Goldberg Shoots On Hogan/TNA, Will He Go To TNA Too?
Justncredible818 sent along the following:
The man who holds the distinct record of having the longest undefeated streak in sports-entertainment history, Goldberg, joined The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network for a special edition of the critically-acclaimed "Noonan Speaks." As many wrestling fans across the globe remember, Jimmy Noonan worked as the WWE's Head Of Security when Goldberg came into World Wrestling Entertainment, and they instantly hit it off & became good friends...even to this day. Goldberg described to The Mayhem Nation just why him & Jimmy struck an accord in such a quick fashion. "One of the main reasons we got along was no BS, no backhandedness, and we treated each other like gentlemen."
Goldberg debuted in World Wrestling Entertainment the night after WrestleMania XIX at The Key Arena in Seattle, WA -- which many people to this day believe as one of the most underrated 'Mania's in history. Jimmy asked Bill what his thoughts were when waiting to come out & exactly what was going through his head that night. "I would be remiss if I didn't tell you it was anti-climatic. I've never been a guy to mess with the book or anything, but I didn't think it was the right time to do it. I think the timing was really good. I went into the WWE with my back against the wall & my fists waiting for something to happen, even though I knew something would happen. It really wasn't a memorable night for me; it was in one sense, but it wasn't in another, and I have mixed feelings about it." A large majority of fans still feel to this day that Goldberg should have debuted the night before at WrestleMania (at Safeco Field) in some type of run-in...to which Bill agrees. "I think that would have been better. Something along those lines would have been better than the way I was brought out. But like I said, I', not the type of guy who tries to steer the ship. I'm not the creative minds that come up with all the ideas...I was just the guy who could say 'yes' or 'no' to an idea. Granted, I did come into the WWE will full creative control, but I just never really wanted to use it, so I kinda' succumbed to all the BS they put me through."
One year later saw "where it all began for the WWE (at WrestleMania XX), but Madison Square Garden was where it all ended for Goldberg's run in World Wrestling Entertainment...as he faced off against Brock Lesnar. By that point, everyone knew that they were both leaving the company after this match -- something that a fact that a large majority of fans were distraught about during the spring of 2004 & some still to this day. But even before this night took place, Jimmy asked Bill if he feels that going to the WWE, in hindsight, was a mistake. "I'd be lying if I told you I didn't feel that way every single day of my tenure there. I did it for the fans...I did it for the business. I didn't do it because I wanted to do it. I went in for the wrong reasons; I was not disappointed, and I was not surprised of what happened. I questioned my decision throughout my entire tenure there." With the circumstances surrounding Lesnar vs. Goldberg (along with Brock heading back to the NFL & Goldberg's contract expiring), Noonan asked if they should have pulled the plug on the match. "I don't see why they would have...I don't see why they should of. I personally believe that since it is a business, and it isn't a business dealing with personal feelings, and it's all about making the most money, I think they dropped the ball. Whether you're leaving or not, you should milk the cow for as much milk you could get out of them, and I think it should have been a money-making opportunity; but in a way, they thought they were hurting our feelings. It just wasn't looked at as a business...and that was the problem."
After the bout with Lesnar, both men were in a rush to leave "The World's Most Famous Arena," but their limos were delayed so both were left waiting to leave the arena & World Wrestling Entertainment possibly forever. Jimmy was there that fateful night, and asked Goldberg about what went down during the evening after one of the most controversial endings in WWE history. "I wanted to get the hell of dodge. I had fulfilled my obligation; I saw how they set us up, and I was done. To say I wanted to hang around for one more second was a farce, I wanted to get the hell out, and Brock wanted to get the hell out too. I was so frustrated with the past year & so frustrated with the BS drama that goes on at that crappy place, and I think Brock was pretty fed up with all the stuff that was going on. I wanted out, and I know that certain people are in control of certain things, and to have us sitting there waiting at the end of the night to get our cars & get us out of there, it was an absolute joke. I thought it was intentional, and anyone around at that point was going to feel the wrath of it." Todd Vincent followed up with a clarification on the statement of it being intentional, and if he knew who set up Goldberg & Lesnar. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out bro. They didn't set us up, except for the fact they put us in a sh*tty slot, they didn't put an emphasis on the match that should have been put on the match, and they had ill will towards us; therefore they didn't capitalize on the big business of the match, so that's what I mean by being set up."
When asked about the relationship with the three other principles of that night (Vince McMahon, Brock Lesnar, & "Stone Cold" Steve Austin), Goldberg was very honest about where he left things with those gentlemen (and which one of the three he has kept in contact with over the years). "Brock is one of my best friends, and he & I will always be tight. As far as the other guys are concerned, that severed my ties with those guys, I fulfilled my obligation, and if I don't have to deal with those guys for the rest of my life, that will be my choice. I'll always have animosity toward people who don't do their jobs the way I think it should be done.
One of the most talked-about topics in the entire world of professional wrestling & sports-entertainment over the past several weeks has been Hulk Hogan signing with TNA Wrestling & partnering with Dixie Carter, along with TNA iMPACT going head-to-head with WWE Monday Night RAW on January 4th. Goldberg was a part of the original "Monday Night Wars," and plenty of fans & journalists alike have been quick to call 2010 as the rebirth of the "Monday Night Wars: Round II." Mosh asked Goldberg for his comments & thoughts on Hogan coming to terms with TNA. "Is Hogan the guy to go up against Vince & right the ship? It remains to be seen, but if anyone can do it, it's Hogan. Now the question is: 'How's he going to do it?' It is going to be using himself, or is it going to be using his knowledge? I think that is the determining factor. If he goes back to the 'less is more' (the adage that made him successful), I think that would be a good answer for them. As an ex-wrestler & a person who greatly appreciates the wrestling community, I sure as hell hope it works. I've been a big proponent of competition, and I think the wrestling business was at its height when both WCW & WWE were kicking each other's asses; I really think that was the pinnacle of the business." And considering the rumored names that have been discussed as possibly making a splash in TNA (including "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, & several others), what about Bill's own return to wrestling (and if that could include finally landing in TNA) in the forthcoming new year? "Do I see myself as part of that? I don't foresee it, because at this point with me having three (television) shows on the air in the spring, it's gonna' be harder than hell for me to spend time with my son & my wife. Would I consider almost anything? Is bringing the old guys back the ticket? I don't know. I really can't comment on the wrestling business, because I'm so far removed from it. It's not that I don't like it, it's that I don't like it. Is it a reality that I could be a member of TNA? I don't see it happening, but you never say never."
WZ
