Bill Goldberg’s WWE documentary is a reminder of his greatness
Though it’s hard to believe now, there was once a point when Bill Goldberg was viewed as a has-been in the world of professional wrestling. After rising to worldwide fame during his time in WCW, a disappointing WWE run in the early 2000s curtailed the Goldberg hype. Indeed, in his last WWE appearance at Wrestlemania 20 in April 2004, he, alongside Brock Lesnar, was booed mercilessly by a braying New York crowd.
More: Boxing
As the years progressed, Goldberg began to fade ever so slightly from wrestling history. His extraordinary success in WCW which saw him become a world champion inside 18 months became a mere footnote, instead of the asteroid strike it really was.
Every few years a rumour would spread that Goldberg was considering a return to wrestling, but as he got older and began a family, it seemed that a comeback was increasingly unlikely. Professional wrestling, allegedly, had moved on and apparently his days of destruction were over. Instead, a new breed of talent were set to take the industry forward.
And then, in October 2016, everything changed. After being announced as featuring in a WWE videogame, Goldberg appeared on ESPN, and subtly hinted at a wrestling return. ‘I want the ability to be that guy again, but there’s a compromise here, at 49 years old, do you risk losing your legacy?’
Fans didn’t have long to wait until the decision was made, for Goldberg appeared on Raw later that month to set up a Survivor Series showdown with old rival Brock Lesnar. Goldberg’s first WWE match in 12 years was spectacular, as he needed just 84 seconds to defeat Brock Lesnar in the main event.
Rumblings of a Goldberg victory grew louder in the hours leading up the match after his odds to win reduced, but few expected the dominant fashion of the victory. After pushing Lesnar down to the ground at the beginning of the bout, Goldberg speared the former WWE and UFC Champion twice, before finishing him with the Jackhammer.
Speaking on his new WWE 24 documentary on the WWE Network. Goldberg spoke candidly of his nerves prior to his comeback, and how he was inspired to return to the ring because his son had never seen him wrestle. The redemption for Goldberg to rematch Lesnar over a decade after their first meeting was perfectly highlighted in the film, as the disgust he had felt regarding himself and the industry completely disappeared.
And Goldberg’s story was far from over. After competing in the 2017 Royal Rumble, Goldberg destroyed Kevin Owens in 21 seconds to become the new Universal Champion at Fastlane in March. Though his title reign would only last until Wrestlemania 33 the following month when he lost to Brock Lesnar in a short, but gripping match, it signified his popularity in the modern age.
One of the most unforgettable moments of his WWE 24 documentary was the reveal of just how hard Goldberg had to work to get into ring-shape. The legend of Goldberg was a shaven headed, barrell-chested muscular dynamo, which is difficult enough to maintain at 29, let alone 49. And yet with the mentality which saw him become a professional NFL player and a huge wrestling star, Goldberg gritted his teeth, got in the weight room and sweated out the strain to great success.
Over a year on from his return to WWE, Goldberg’s reputation has been dramatically enhanced. The intense loner who alienated all he came into contact with is now a team player, who offers advice to those who wants it, but above all else, is a family man who knows what is important in life.
More: WWE
WWE 24 frequently showcases the reality of wrestling, and they really don’t come any realer than Bill Goldberg. Legacy, family, and happiness are all that matter to most people, but many of us struggle to achieve success in just one of those fields. For Goldberg, it was wrestling that gave him true contentment everywhere. .
[contf] [contfnew] 
METRO
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
