Who’s Next: The Dominant, Defiant Career of Bill Goldberg

In a world of loudmouth heels, mat technicians, and high-flying daredevils, Bill Goldberg was something else entirely.

With an entrance that echoed like a gladiator’s march and a persona that blended brute force with stoic intensity, Goldberg was never about finesse. He was about dominance. Now, with strong rumors swirling that his final match is set for July 2025, it’s time to look back on one of the most explosive — and polarizing — careers in professional wrestling history.

From the Gridiron to the Grapple Game

Before becoming a wrestling icon, Goldberg was a standout defensive tackle at the University of Georgia. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft and spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and the now-defunct Sacramento Surge of the World League. However, injuries cut his football career short.

His transition to professional wrestling came in 1996 when WCW (World Championship Wrestling) trainer DeWayne Bruce began working with him at the WCW Power Plant. Goldberg took to it quickly. The timing was perfect: WCW was red-hot, the nWo storyline was taking over cable TV, and the company was looking for a homegrown star who could go toe-to-toe with the industry’s top names.

They found their man in Goldberg.

The Streak

Goldberg debuted on the September 22, 1997, episode of WCW Monday Nitro, defeating Hugh Morrus in just over two minutes. He was introduced without a gimmick, no elaborate backstory, no flashy catchphrases — just a spear, a jackhammer, and a death stare.

From there, the streak was born.

Officially, WCW billed Goldberg’s undefeated streak at 173–0 before his first loss. While the real number is disputed (some estimates put it closer to 125), the impact was undeniable. Week after week, Goldberg annihilated his opponents, rapidly climbing the ranks. Fans chanted his name and clamored to see who might be next.

On July 6, 1998, in one of Nitro’s most famous moments, Goldberg defeated Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in front of a raucous Georgia Dome crowd of over 40,000. It was the peak of WCW’s popularity and Goldberg’s ascendancy. He was the franchise.

WCW’s Collapse and a Fractured Run

Goldberg’s aura began to wane through no fault of his own. WCW’s booking, famously erratic during its final years, couldn’t figure out how to use him effectively. After dropping the title to Kevin Nash at Starrcade 1998 due to Scott Hall’s cattle prod interference, Goldberg was pushed into confusing feuds and forced into situations that undermined his mystique.

By 2001, WCW was on life support. Goldberg suffered an arm injury in late 2000 and was still recovering when WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon’s WWF in March 2001. For fans, it was bittersweet. The man who helped carry WCW had never stepped foot in a WWE ring — and it would remain that way for two more years.

WWE Debut: Round One

Goldberg debuted in WWE on the night after WrestleMania XIX in April 2003, targeting The Rock, who had just beaten Steve Austin in his final match. Their feud was brief but heated, culminating in Goldberg’s victory over The Rock at Backlash 2003.

His WWE run was filled with highlights — a title win over Triple H at Unforgiven 2003, a dominant Royal Rumble showing in 2004 — but it never quite clicked the way his WCW run did. Part of the problem was chemistry. WWE’s more promo-heavy, storyline-driven presentation clashed with Goldberg’s straight-shooting, smashmouth style.

By WrestleMania XX, Goldberg was set to leave WWE, and so was his opponent: Brock Lesnar. The New York crowd knew it — and turned on both men. Though Goldberg won, the match was marred by jeers and post-match antics from special guest referee “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who stunned them both to thunderous applause.

Just like that, Goldberg walked away from wrestling.

The Return: Redemption and Reignition

Twelve years passed before Goldberg returned to WWE in 2016. Promoting the video game WWE 2K17, he teased “one more match” — and fans responded. When he finally confronted Brock Lesnar again, it led to one of the most shocking finishes in WWE history.

At Survivor Series 2016, Goldberg defeated Lesnar in 86 seconds.

The wrestling world erupted. For the first time in years, Goldberg was booked exactly as he should have been: a juggernaut. He eliminated Lesnar from the Royal Rumble 2017, then defeated Kevin Owens to win the Universal Championship at Fastlane, heading into WrestleMania 33 as champion.

There, Lesnar finally got his win in a hard-hitting five-minute sprint. But Goldberg had been vindicated — and his legacy reinvigorated.

The Later Years: Hit and Miss

Goldberg’s sporadic returns in the late 2010s and early 2020s were a mixed bag. Some appearances added to his legend. Others, like his infamous 2019 match with The Undertaker in Saudi Arabia (marred by a concussion and several botched spots), only fueled criticism.

Still, Goldberg kept coming back. He won the Universal Championship again in 2020, defeating “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a controversial decision. He lost it soon after to Braun Strowman at WrestleMania 36. He challenged for the WWE Championship in 2021 and 2022 but came up short.

While his later matches didn’t always live up to the hype, one thing remained clear: Goldberg still moved tickets. His aura, especially with casual fans, remained intact. Every spear, every “WHO’S NEXT?” chant, still got a reaction.

Legacy: More Than Just the Streak

Goldberg’s in-ring style was never about five-star matches. He wasn’t a technical wizard or a promo machine. He was something rarer — a believable destroyer.

In an industry built on suspension of disbelief, Goldberg made fans believe. His intensity was real, his moves impactful, and his presentation unmatched. From the backstage walk to the pyro-exploding entrance to the bruising squash matches, everything about Goldberg screamed legitimacy.

He also helped redefine what a main-event star could be. In WCW, amid charismatic veterans like Ric Flair and Hollywood Hogan, Goldberg stood out by saying less and doing more. He didn’t need to be loud because his dominance spoke for him.

What’s Next?

As of this writing, the rumor is that Goldberg’s final match will take place in July 2025, likely under the banner of a yet-to-be-announced independent supercard or international event. While it won’t be inside a WWE ring, the anticipation remains sky-high. Fans hope to see Goldberg go out with a performance worthy of his legend — one last spear, one last jackhammer, one final victory.

No matter the opponent or the venue, it will mark the end of an era. Goldberg isn’t just a former champion — he’s a symbol of an entire generation of wrestling. In the Monday Night Wars, he was WCW’s weapon of mass destruction. In his WWE renaissance, he was the exception to the rule.

Love him or loathe him, you never forgot him.

Goldberg didn’t just ask, “Who’s next?”

He made the whole world wonder.

Goldberg’s 5 Most Memorable Matches (with Video Links)

1. Goldberg vs. Hollywood Hogan – WCW Monday Nitro (July 6, 1998)
Significance: Goldberg’s crowning achievement, capturing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in front of over 40,000 fans at the Georgia Dome.

2. Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar – Survivor Series 2016
Significance: After a 12-year hiatus, Goldberg returned to WWE and shocked the world by defeating Lesnar in just 86 seconds.

3. Goldberg vs. The Rock – Backlash 2003
Significance: Goldberg’s WWE debut match, where he faced off against The Rock in a highly anticipated showdown.

4. Goldberg vs. Kevin Nash – Starrcade 1998
Significance: The end of Goldberg’s legendary undefeated streak, marred by interference and controversy.

5. Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar – WrestleMania 33
Significance: A redemption match for both superstars, delivering a hard-hitting contest that exceeded expectations.