After 12 long years away from wrestling, Goldberg is finally returning to the ring when he faces Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. Goldberg hasn’t wrestled a match since 2004, but his fans have not forgotten about him. When Goldberg returned a few weeks ago the crowd responded by chanting his name loudly, and Goldberg has said he was humbled by the response.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently interviewed Goldberg for Fox Sports, and he also spoke to Vince McMahon about Goldberg’s return. Vince commented on the reaction that Goldberg received from the crowd, and noted that it confirmed Goldberg is still relevant.
“The reaction to Goldberg confirmed our confidence that Bill is still not only relevant in the WWE world, his reaction was met with passionate exuberance even after a decade’s absence,” WWE Chairman Vince McMahon told Jim Ross. “Bill’s son has never seen him perform and Bill’s wife and son were blown away with the reaction in Denver. Survivor Series is going to be on fire!”
When Goldberg left WWE, he left on bad terms, and he was booed by the fans on his way out the door. Now 12 years later, Goldberg sees his rematch with Lesnar as an opportunity to fix things.
Related: Watch Goldberg’s Face To Face Meeting With Brock Lesnar From WWE Raw
“I’m a 49-year-old guy who was humbled as I could be in Denver when I heard the reception that the fans gave me,” Goldberg told Ross. “I left them on a sour note 12 years ago and now I have a chance to return and rectify it. It was very cool.”
During the peak of his popularity in his WCW days, Goldberg wasn’t really known for his skills on the microphone. However, he received a lot of praise for the passionate promo that he cut when he returned. Goldberg told Ross that the promo worked well because he spoke from the heart.
“WWE trusted me to express myself as Bill Goldberg and not the old, superhero Goldberg. I had no script and I spoke from my heart and it felt great. The Denver Raw was the first time in wrestling that I could simply be myself and I loved it. I could die tomorrow knowing that I gave my wife and son a glimpse into the world in which I once lived. ”
Vince McMahon and Goldberg talk more about what the match means for fans around the world, and for Goldberg’s legacy in the full interview which can be read here.
