“I’d like to be the superhero for kids to look up to. But don’t get me wrong I’d like to turn the corner on a movie and blow about 20 people’s heads off. … As long as it’s in good taste…”
Bill Goldberg – Wrestler+
Bill Goldberg, the son of a concert violinist and a doctor, was born and raised in Tulsa Oklahoma. From the time he was a boy, he dreamed of becoming a professional football player. And for a while it seemed he has a good shot at football stardom. He was a high school letter man in seven sports, and then a defensive lineman for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. After college he had stints with the Lose Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons. In 1995 he signed with the Carolina Panthers, but a few months later a devastating groin injury (is there any other kind?) forced him to retire from football.
In 1997 Goldberg burst onto the wrestling scene with Turner Sports’ World Championship Wrestling. For a guy who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, Goldberg plowed his way up the wrestling ranks like a bull on crack — a six-four, 285-pound bull in black briefs. He left a trail of bloody, battered challengers in his wake, all victims of his trademark moves, the “spear” and the “jackhammer.” He cemented his place in wrestling fame when he defeated Hulk Hogan in 1998. He continued on “the streak,” amassing 175 consecutive wins while chanting his tag line, “Who’s next?” He was finally defeated in a controversial loss at the hands of several guys sporting a cattle prod. Goldberg eventually found himself out of work after Vince McMahon’s rival wrestling empire, World Wrestling Entertainment (then known as the World Wrestling Federation), bought WCW. Job opportunities can be scarce for unemployed pro wrestlers, but rather than hang up his jockstrap, Goldberg continues to wrestle occasionally in Japan. And, by popular demand and after considerable hesitation, he recently returned to the spotlight with the WWE, although he’s mum about the exact details of that arrangement. He’s also concentrating on showbiz, hoping to body slam his box-office competition. He just finished work on the Warner Bros. movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action (tentatively scheduled for an early-summer 2003 release as of this writing). He starred in the movies Universal Soldier: The Return and Ready to Rumble, and has appeared on HBO’s Arli$$ and the CBS prime time series Yes, Dear.
Bill Goldberg, 36, and his live-in girl-friend, Lisa, spend their time between homes they share (along with a small herd of animals) in Atlanta and California. Goldberg claims to be the first legitimate athlete to become a major wrestling superstar. He might be wrong, but he’s built like a brick shithouse, so we’re not going to argue with him. But I did pummel him with questions — although I wisely wrapped up the interview before he started getting hungry.
How’s the movie shoot going?
I finished up about two weeks ago. I’m very lucky to be in this thing, considering the people surrounding me — Steve Martin, Jenna Elfman, Brendan Fraser, Timothy Dalton, Heather Locklear, Joan Cusack. It’s a star-packed film. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing there.
And Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny…
The interaction between myself and the animated characters took a little getting used to. But [director] Joe Dante really made me feel comfortable. And everybody else on the set, from the crew to my best friends — the craft-services guys — really helped me out a lot. I could care less about status. It’s the person inside that matters, and these people were all as genuine as could be. Of course I had to pick all of them up at certain times during the movie, so maybe they were just trying to be nice to me.
This picture will no doubt be compared to Space Jam.
I never saw Space Jam. As far as my performance against Michael Jordan’s, Jordan was the star of the thing, from what I imagine. I’m just a little filler. I’m playing a guy named Mr. Smith, the muscle for the Acme Corporation. The head of the Acme Corporation is Steve Martin. My first scene was with Steve Martin, and my second scene was with Yosemite Sam.
So were the animated characters scene stealers?
They’re all scene stealers. Daffy’s a pain in the ass. The problem with him is, you can dismember him but he always comes back together. I tried to kick him in the nuts but I couldn’t find them.
Was it important to you that the film be kid-friendly?
There’s no question I’d like to consider my fan base as mostly kids. I’d like to be the superhero for them to look up to. But don’t get me wrong, I’d like to turn the corner on a movie and blow about 20 people’s heads off. As long as it’s in good taste, I have no problem with violence on television.
How does acting compare to sports and wrestling?
Everybody bitches and moans about sitting around on a movie set. Well, go on the road for 220 days and wrestle from town to town, working five or six nights a week. Not to mention when that camera comes on, people don’t care about your injuries. They just wanna see the person they see on television all the time. So this wrestling gig is pretty stressful. And that’s why I’m in Japan right now, because [in Japan] I wrestle seven times a year. As opposed to seven times every two weeks.
Do you envision yourself leaving wrestling behind completely for show-biz or something a little safer?
My body is screaming for me to do that. But the reality is I’m not finished with my wrestling career. There’s no question a smart man would say, “Yes, I’d love to make the transition as soon as possible.” Look at The Rock. I personally don’t believe he should be wrestling much longer. Why would you? It’s a great gig, and he’s very lucky to be in that position, and he’s done well with it. I’d like to make that transition, but I owe a lot to the wrestling business and I’m not a pretty boy like The Rock — no offense. I think guys that look like me are a dime a dozen. It’s just gonna take some hard work, that’s all. And I’m not afraid of that one bit.
Are you worried about being type-cast as the big tough guy?
When I go into a meeting with a studio executive, I show them I can be the total antithesis of what people think. I really like playing roles that are the complete opposite of the perception. Then again, who better than me to fill a role of killing as many people as possible? But I look at both of them as opportunities. So I don’t think I’ll be typecast really. I’d love to do a movie like Twins. Love to do something with Adam Sandler.
You’ve done lots of talk shows; if you had your own talk show, who would be on your dream guest list?
There’s a couple of athletes I’d like to get in the hot seat and find out what the hell they’re thinking about. Randy Moss comes to thought. I’d like to get Bill Clinton in the hot seat. Not to destroy him or anything, but just to talk to him. He seems like a very interesting guy. And a hell of an actor.
“I was a professional athlete before I got here. Half these bozos don’t even know what a professional athlete is.”
You’ve also done several commercials. Are there any products that you wouldn’t endorse?
I can’t say offhand I’d turn anything down. If Mark Martin can advertise Viagra and drive around a track for 500 miles with Viagra on his hood, hell, I can do it. Then again, you have to take everything into consideration when you put your name on a product.
You’ve testified twice before Congress on behalf of animal rights.
I was a product of a very bitter divorce as a kid, and the only one that I had really to talk to was my dog. My best friend when I was a kid was a dog, for God’s sake, so I’ve had animals my entire life. They fill a huge void. They ask for nothing but love, food, and shelter. I wish I had some girlfriends like that in the past. But these animals don’t have a voice for themselves, and I swore that when I got in a position to make a difference, I would. It’s kind of startling being so vicious in the ring and taking up for these helpless animals. But that in itself could bring some more attention to it. Altogether, I think we have 30 animals. I adopted all of them. And there’s a lot to be said for spaying and neutering your animals.
You’re involved in a lot of other organizations too.
Make-a-Wish, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Go onto my Website [www. billgoldberg.com], and I’ve got them all listed there.
Some celebrities can barely be bothered to tip a waitress, much less help out a good cause.
Who the hell do they think they are? Number one, remember where you come from, and number two, treat people how you want to be treated. And number three, you always give back. It’s turned into a selfish endeavor for me, helping these kids. It makes me feel great. People don’t understand how I can walk into an emergency room, a kid’s hooked up to all these tubes, and I walk in with a smile on my face. I’m as happy as hell to be there. It affects me, but in a different way. You have to be positive. If I can make these kids forget about what’s going on in their bodies for five minutes, then I’ve accomplished something no doctor can do. That’s awesome. I could do nothing else the rest of my life, and I’d die a happy man. You can say I’ve fallen short in playing football or whatever, but I’ve got something a lot of people don’t have: the ability to put a smile on a kid’s face.
People might be surprised that Bill Goldberg was an all-state kicker in high school.
I was a pretty decent kicker. It’s the total antithesis of what people think a big guy’s all about.
Were you a Bulldogs fan?
I had seen them on television, but I never really thought about going to Georgia. I was from Oklahoma. That part of the country was such a hotbed for football. But I didn’t go to Oklahoma [University], because I was a firm believer that you should go somewhere and make a name for yourself without people knowing you. If you went based on your laurels, that’s an unfair advantage. If Barry Switzer was coaching anywhere other than Oklahoma, I would have gone where he was. But I had a good experience at the University of Georgia. I’m glad I didn’t go to UCLA or USC, because I knew I wouldn’t go to school — I’d be partying all the time.
Speaking of partying, you failed a random drug test and had to sit out the Gator Bowl. That must have sucked.
How I was the only one caught is probably the strangest happening on the planet. But I made a very big mistake and paid for it. I didn’t sit on the sidelines, even. I had to sit at my brother’s house, watching it on a 14-foot TV screen. And just sit there biting my tongue while Joe Theismann ripped me a new one every five minutes. Which I deserved to a point, there’s no question. We all make mistakes. But it’s how you come out of it. I was very disappointed. My parents were very disappointed. One of the worst things that came out of it was I didn’t get a chance to go up against Tony Mandarich, who played for Michigan State. He was an all-American tackle, and he was “Mr. Everything.” And it was my opportunity on a national spotlight to show what I could do. And I screwed that opportunity up. It cost me millions of dollars, I think. But then maybe if I was drafted higher, I never would have become a professional wrestler.
You were the first player cut from the Carolina Panthers. Ever feel like sending the coach a thank-you note?
I already did. The reality is, I was in a very bad situation. I got drafted in the expansion draft right after I had stomach surgery. I wasn’t able to put the pads on one time after that surgery. So I was watching a brand-new team hit the ground running while I basically was going backwards spinning my wheels. It was a mutual decision, there’s no question.
It turned out okay for you.
I don’t believe I could have attained what I have with the kids if I would have been that successful professional football player I wanted to be. I would forgo that, and I have forgone that — mainly because I wasn’t able to do it — to be in the position I’m in right now and to make the difference I do with the kids. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an asshole too. When I’m in the ring, I’d rather eat you than look at you. But with a kid, I’m the biggest teddy bear in the world.
You’ve got an impressive car collection. I don’t picture you with fancy European pretty-boy cars.
Mainly because I can’t fit in them. Plus, my passion lies with sixties and seventies muscle cars. Growing up, I saw my buddies with their older brothers and their cool Camaros and Barracudas, the Chevelles, all the old cars. I always wanted to make it to where I could have the cars that I wanted. So maybe five years ago, I bought a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda 440 six-pack car. I just finished a two-year project on a 1970 Challenger convertible. My collection is filled with original cars, except for this Challenger that we just built. I’ve got ’68, ’69 cars with 17,000 or 20,000 miles on them. You don’t want to go out and drive those to death. So I built a car that could withstand punishment. The only alterations that I’ve done, in all of my cars I’ve had the seat scooted back three inches. You just have to squeeze in. I mean, I know I couldn’t fit in a Viper.
You have seven bikes, including a Jesse James creation.
My second one is going to paint this week. He’s a terrific builder. I walked in there the first time and said, “I want this and this ….” And he says, “Goldberg, do me a favor. You wrestle and I’ll build your bike.” So I trusted him, and he came out with a hell of a product. The second one will be much more indicative of my personality. I thought I wanted a picture of myself on my first bike. I’ve learned that I didn’t. That’s mainly why I ordered the second bike. I didn’t want to bastardize the 11-hour paint job this guy did in my honor. I started going to Sturgis because WCW had a pay-per-view there every year during the rally. If it wasn’t for WCW and the Sturgis trip, I wouldn’t have a motorcycle. That’s why I originally bought one.
You’ve never been able to go to Sturgis and be anonymous?
I don’t even know the definition of that word anymore. I’m so appreciative of the position I’m in, but sometimes it does become a hindrance. If you’re out with a lot of people and people are drinking, they get a little jumpy. They think because you’re a wrestler, they can make jokes. I’ve never been challenged. I don’t suggest anyone do it. People in Sturgis, and everywhere, have been very respectful. And if you’re not going to be amiable to your public, if you’re not going to interact with them on a positive note, don’t go out of your house. If I’m in a bad mood, I’ll stay in my weight room. I enjoy the whole deal at Sturgis. It’d be nice to walk around and be invisible, but the situation’s not gonna prevent me from going out there.
How many tattoos do you have?
Two. I thought the one that I had was gonna be it. But this tattoo thing’s kind of an addiction. I went into the tattoo parlor with just a tiny inkling that I wanted a new one. I had him touch up my first tattoo, and he drew something up on a little piece of paper, and that’s on my arm now. Mike Parsons in Atlanta is the only guy on the planet I’ll ever let touch me with ink. He did my first tattoo, which became a well-known symbol for myself, and he never duplicated it — although it’s certainly been requested. And that’s pretty honorable. My second one is a skull popping out of my skin. And I’m thinking of putting that on my new bike.
Describe the Bill Goldberg workout routine.
I’ve shifted my focus of training to martial arts. I train in Muay Thai, which is so tough for a guy my size. I have a big appreciation for martial arts; I’ll be damned if I’m not addicted to it. I’ll do 90 minutes of weights in the morning and then I’ll do an hour or two of Muay Thai, one of the most lethal forms of martial arts. It’s really hard to work out like you want to when you’re actively working as a wrestler, because you’re tired from the night before and you gotta drive or whatever. My regime is totally different now. Obviously I have more time, and my focus is different. Wrestling in Japan is a lot different than in the United States. It’s not nearly as theatrical, and it’s a lot more physical.
The Japanese are really into wrestling, aren’t they?
They really are, but it’s a totally different type of crowd. Their reaction is not one of frenzy, it’s quiet. I really like wrestling in Japan, though, because they’re so appreciative of the art itself. They take it very seriously.
What was your worst injury?
When I put my arm through a limo window. That was both the worst and the stupidest.
You had another arm injury recently at a celebrity car race.
That was pretty stupid too.
Maybe you should start thinking a little more before you act?
I need to start thinking, period. I just go on adrenaline and react, not really act. Something happened that night behind the scenes, and I wasn’t very appreciative of it. I didn’t spill any blood backstage. That wouldn’t have shown my leadership qualities, so I took it out on an inanimate object, which probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. It wasn’t that I improvised, I just kinda went above and beyond the call of duty. I wanna make good television, and even though it was the worst injury of my career, it was great television. I came within a centimeter of losing the use of my right arm, so it was very stupid.
How did you make the transition from football to wrestling?
When I was playing for the Falcons, I worked out at an Atlanta gym called Main Event Fitness, owned by [wrestlers] Lex Luger and Sting. After I rode to a wrestling match with Sting, Lex, and Steiner, after meeting these guys and knowing what they’re all about, seeing they don’t try to be the guys they portray on TV, I thought I could do it.
How’s wrestling training compared to football?
Nothing’s harder than football. Don’t get me wrong, it was tough. If I hadn’t been through two-a-days and three-a-days playing football, mentally I wouldn’t be nearly as prepared as I was for it. I’m a professional athlete, and nobody’s gonna make me say I quit. I went in there with an attitude of, “Bring it on.” They didn’t try to destroy me, because they knew I had it in my heart to do something and be the best at it. It’s not that I aspired to be the best professional wrestler all my life, paid my money, came in off the street, and weighed 200 pounds and 150 of it was fat. Those are the guys they try to bury into the ground to make sure they have the heart for it. They didn’t have to do that with me.
“Animals ask for nothing but love, food, and shelter. I wish I had some girlfriends like that in the past.”
Did you take any heat from the other wrestlers for not paying your dues?
That was a big problem, but I tried not to listen to it. I’ve been paying my dues with blood, sweat, and tears on a football field for years, and these guys have absolutely no idea what that’s all about. Though I didn’t go out on the road and wrestle for $50 for ten or 15 years, that’s not what it’s all about. Most people who opened their mouths about me not paying my dues were the people who had to be in that position for so long because they didn’t have it. I didn’t choose my spot. I just worked very hard at trying to bring in a character I thought people would like. I told Eric Bischoff in our first conversation that I’m not gonna be some jerkoff that you throw around the ring for $500 a week. I wanna be the best at what I do and I wanna show you what I can do. I never thought I’d be wrestling Hulk Hogan after six months in front of 42,000 people in the Georgia Dome. They saw something in me, and I was in the right place at the right time. I didn’t have any wrestling experience, but I was smart enough to have studied the game before I got in it. I had a couple of different moves that people had never seen before. And I had aggressiveness that you can’t buy or teach. I had a look. It pisses me off to this day that people say [I didn’t pay my dues]. But people can say whatever they want — go out there and fill the seats.
How involved were you with developing your character?
I remember when they wanted me to wear baby-blue tights and shin pads, and had no idea what to call me. It was my idea to wear the black, to wear the gloves, to call myself just Goldberg. I wanted to be the Mike Tyson of wrestling. I didn’t talk for six months. I went out and did short matches. I’m not talking down to the business or anyone who gave me the opportunity to be in that position, because I’m very appreciative. But I’m not appreciative of people who don’t understand that it’s a business. If it’s your position to lose every night, then you’re as important as anybody else. It was my position to have 175-0. I didn’t choose it. They thought it was a good business decision, and looking back on it, I don’t think they were wrong. You know why I take offense to it? Because I came from the real world. I was a professional athlete before I got here. Half these bozos don’t even know what a professional athlete is.
Any wrestlers you’d really like to get in the ring with?
I would have loved to have been in the ring with Andre the Giant. I’d be curious to see if I could pick him up. That, and he was such a legend.
Did you personally, Bill Goldberg, see the end coming for World Championship Wrestling?
I was injured at the time, so I was not in the loop. As far as the backstage stuff and rumors, I heard them all. It was a shame. WCW was the birth child of Ted Turner. I think when AOL and Time Warner merged, AOL came in and didn’t want to have anything to do with wrestling. I think they pretty much took it out from under Ted, which was a shame. Hell, if I had known it was going for what it was purchased for from Vince, I would have bought it myself.
Suppose instead of a sale, Ted Turner and Vince McMahon had a hardcore match to decide ownership of the company. Who would you put your money on?
I’d have to say Vince has the size and experience advantage. But as much as WCW meant to Ted, he probably would have pulled something out of his hat.
What about bad blood between you and certain other wrestlers? There are stories about Triple H.
During my tenure at WCW, there were a number of things going on with the jealousy deal and little cliques going on. Triple H was part of that little clique. He said something when I was out with an injury that I really didn’t like whatsoever, saying I was sandbagging it and I didn’t want to come back and take the responsibility of helping the company. I took it very seriously at the beginning, which maybe wasn’t the right thing to do. Fact is, he wasn’t in my company. We had absolutely no chance of wrestling each other, so who the hell is he to talk anything about me? I confronted him at a licensing conference in New York. I was a little bit out of line in the way I handled it. But I don’t think if I’d walked up and knocked him out it would have been in line, either. I wanted to prove a point, which to me was, wrestling’s wrestling, but when you attack someone’s character without even knowing them, you obviously have nothing better to do. I didn’t come from this wrestling business, so everything to me is not “work.” Everything to me is not fictitious. To me, he crossed the line.
The wrestling business can be tough on relationships. How have you and your girlfriend managed to survive?
She was familiar with the business before I went out with her. So she knew, but it doesn’t make it any easier. We’ve had our rocky roads, don’t get me wrong, but she’s been there for me. That’s all a guy can ask. She knew me when I was a long-haired redneck who went to the University of Georgia barking all the time.
Are there wrestling groupies?
I would plead the Fifth, but yeah. There’s no question about it.
How long will you be with the WWE?
I don’t want to say anything about the tenure of the deal, but I will say that I decided to come back based on the fans. It was a constant thing over the past two years that people would e-mail me, write me letters, or stop me on the street and ask when I was going to wrestle again. I owe a lot to this business, and to the fans, and this seemed to be what they wanted. So I did it for the fans. Especially the kids, because over the past two years, even though I wrestled occasionally in Japan, the kids couldn’t watch me on TV. They kept asking me to come back, and that broke my heart.
After such a long time away from the ring, does Bill Goldberg feel physically able to wrestle full-time again?
I’ll never do it full-time again, but as for wrestling on a regular basis, I myself question whether I’m really physically up to it. But I guess there’s only one way to find out. I get hurt just walking down the street, so staying out of the ring isn’t any guarantee I would stay healthy.
One of your main reasons for hesitating over the WWE was your concern for your character and possible story lines. Do you still have those concerns?
Well, sure, my integrity is very important to me. But the fans wanted the Goldberg character, and I think the company realizes it. From a business standpoint, you want to protect your investment and keep the fans happy. I think they’re smart enough to realize that they shouldn’t do anything that would compromise that.
So we won’t be seeing you in any gay-wedding story lines anytime soon?
Definitely not.
You’ve gotten off to an incredible start, defeating The Rock at the pay-per-view event Backlash. To borrow your tag line, “Who s next?”
There are a number of people I’d love to wrestle, and from a fan’s perspective, I think they’d love to see me get in there with Austin, Triple H, or this new big dude, Lesnar.
What about your movie career?
I’m definitely still pursuing that. have the Looney Tunes movie coming out, and I’ll keep an eye out for other opportunities. But the reality is, this wrestling business is tough, and careers can be short. So you really have to take advantage of the opportunity, and wrestle while you can. I want to enjoy it while it lasts.
Any plans for marriage or kids?
No to both. My animals are my kids. Not to say that I don’t want to have kids, but right now the most important thing in my life is my career. We all know that we have a certain window of opportunity in whatever we do, and I don’t think it would be fair to a child if her father wasn’t there, or to a woman if her husband wasn’t there. So that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
As mentioned, Bill Goldberg has an updated web site, along with an active Instagram account. Since the wrestling days, Bill went on to meet his future wife on the movie set for Santa’s Slay. (The misspelling must be intentional there, what with it being about a demon and all.) In fact, our article hero has done a few interesting things after retiring. That said, the non-profit Wanda’s Wee Zoo sounds like it may be the most fun thing in the bunch. It’s fairly new, but we plan on keep an eye out for news on it. Currently we cannot be sure whether it plans to be a refuge for baby animals, or maybe a regular animal rescue where you can just pee anywhere you want to.
