Eric Bischoff Reveals Goldberg Nearly Signed With WWE In 1997

Eric Bischoff opened up about how close Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg was to signing with WWE before ultimately joining WCW in 1997.

Speaking on his podcast, 83 Weeks, Bischoff shed light on the high-stakes scenario that nearly saw Bill align with Vince McMahon’s promotion instead of WCW. Goldberg, who transitioned to professional wrestling after leaving the NFL, was a hot commodity on the radar of multiple promotions, including WWE. Bischoff revealed that during negotiations, he inadvertently caused delays in finalising a deal, leading to mounting frustration on Goldberg’s side.

“Bill got really impatient, and I remember getting a phone call from somebody—I don’t remember who it was. They said, ‘Look, if you don’t have time, that’s great, he’s going to go to WWE and take his shot there.’”

Realising the risk of losing a future star, Bischoff scrambled to mend the situation. Despite the tension and Goldberg’s growing interest in exploring other opportunities, Bischoff managed to secure the powerhouse wrestler’s signature for WCW.

“I went, ‘Alright, let me get to this,’ because I had given my word to somebody that was setting it up that I would get to it right away. I felt bad that I let it slip however long I let it slip. I got a hold of Bill, and we patched it up really quickly, and he joined WCW.”

His eventual debut in WCW became a turning point for the company. He emerged as one of its biggest stars and a central figure in the iconic Monday Night Wars. His undefeated streak and explosive in-ring style solidified his status as a wrestling phenomenon.

What Infamous Backstage Altercation Damaged Goldberg’s Reputation Forever According To Former WWE Star Maven?

Former WWE star Maven recalled the infamous backstage brawl between Chris Jericho and Goldberg in 2003 and how this fight cost Bill his tough guy reputation. Maven spoke about the altercation and how Jericho was able to get the better of Bill and that turned many heads in the locker room due to the size difference between the two as many would have expected Bill to get the better of the fight.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com