Bill Goldberg followed in the long path of wrestlers who have made the transition from the gridiron to the squared circle and become a wrestling star - he just did so faster and to a greater magnitude than anyone else in history. In only his second year in the business, Goldberg became the biggest name and biggest star in the business.Bill Goldberg was never a wrestling fan growing up, but instead focused most of his attention on football. An excellent player in high school, Goldberg starred as an All-SEC Nose Guard at the University of Georgia. When his career as a Bulldog was over, he eyed stardom in the National Football League. After spending time with the Los Angeles Rams and the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football, Goldberg signed on the the Atlanta Falcons in 1992. After two years with the team he suffered a torn abdominal muscle which put him out for the 1994 season. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers in 1995, but could not rebound from the injury sufficiently enough to play. He was thus forced to retire from football.

While in a bar a year later, Goldberg met Diamond Dallas Page. Page was impressed with his size and look and recommended that he take a look at a career in professional wrestling. Later, Goldberg was working out in a gym owned by Lex Luger and Sting and was further convinced by Sting to take a chance in the squared circle. After months of training in the WCW Power Plant, Goldberg appeared in a nationally televised fight against Roddy Piper. Months later, he made his official professional debut in World Championship Wrestling against Hugh Morrus, pinning the 300 pound wrestler. The next year and a half would be one of the most remarkable in professional wrestling history.

Goldberg began quickly mowing down his opponents with his patented spear and jackhammer combination. Eventually he got his chance at the gold when he wrestled Raven for the WCW United States title. Showing little nervousness in his first title match, he quickly overpowered Raven and pinned him for the title belt. With his reputation and winning streak growing, everyone looked forward to a showdown between Goldberg and Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight championship. In front of a red hot crowd in Atlanta, Georgia on July 6, 1998, Goldberg speared Hogan and then hit the Jackhammer to obtain the pinfall. With the championship belt around his waist, he was now the biggest name in the sport and finished the year as the PWI Rookie of the Year.

Over the next year, Goldberg found himself battling members of the NWO and other wrestlers striving for his title. Finally, Kevin Nash, after interference from Scott Hall (who used a tazer on Goldberg), was able to pin the champion. Goldberg subsequently placed himself in a hunt to reclaim his gold, often taking on various factions of the NWO. During one of these confrontations, Goldberg ran out into the parking lot of an arena and punched his fist through the windshield of a car. In doing so, he suffered a cut to his arm that took almost 190 stitches to close and which almost hit a nerve, seriously placing his career in jeopardy. For almost six months he was forced to the sidelines and relegated to making publicity appearances and participating in the many charities supports. Finally after a lot of speculation that he might not be able to make it back to the ring, he did so in June 2000 to a great ovation from his fans.

Bill Goldberg became the biggest name in professional wrestling andwas able to utilize his notoriety to obtain roles in Hollywood features and appearances on television shows. Now, returning from a severe injury, fans wait to see whether he will once again rule the ring as he once did.

Life Before Wrestling... Goldberg's trademark intensity was first discovered by his high school football coaches in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The phenom received both All-City and All-State honors while playing football at Thomas Edison High School. The University of Georgia offered Goldberg a full scholarship. Goldberg became a core member of the Georgia Bulldogs, earning a membership in the Junkyard Dog Club -- an honor bestowed only on the university's best defensive players. After graduating in 1990, Goldberg was drafted in the eleventh round by the Los Angeles Rams. Injuries plagued the phenom. He was cut twice from the Rams before being drafted by the Sacramento Surge, one of the teams in the World League of American Football. The Surge was a championship team, but in 1992, Goldberg rejoined the NFL as an Atlanta Falcon. Two years later, the phenom suffered a torn abdomen. Goldberg was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 1995, but was unable to accept the position. Goldberg's training regiment, martial arts background (Judo and Jujitsu) made professional wrestling an natural fit for Goldberg -- but the phenom fought the idea of sports entertainment for some time. Sting and The Total Package, then owners of a gym Goldberg frequented, finally convinced the former Atlanta Falcon to give wrestling a try.

The Beginning... After a mere four months at the Power Plant, Goldberg was working WCW television. On Sept. 22, 1997, Goldberg kicked out of Hugh Morrus's No Laughing Matter moonsault and scored the first victory of his now famous streak. For the next few months, Goldberg scored victories over dozens of up-and-coming wrestlers, rookies and veterans in the twilight of their careers. Fans immediately began responding to Goldberg with wild approval -- but the cheers didn't reach the nWo locker room. In the fall of 1997, the New World Order still dominated the promotion, but its members were intensely focused on WCW's established talent. Goldberg continued to register pay-per-view wins and, on April 20, 1998, he earned his first belt by defeating Raven and his Flock for the U.S. Title. The victory not only gave Goldberg credibility, it transformed him into the number one contender for the World Title.

Chasing the World Title... A few months passed, but Goldberg never received his title shot from Hollywood Hogan. The phenom grew tired of waiting, and decided to take the fight to the nWo. When the black-and-white rushed the ring to interfere in a match, Goldberg intervened, protecting wrestlers, announcers and officials alike. By July 6, 1998, the nWo needed to stop Goldberg before he destroyed their evil empire. Hollywood Hogan not only stopped running that evening, he did the unthinkable: The champion challenged Goldberg to a World Title match on Nitro. Hogan piled his two decades of experience atop his opponent, in hopes of crushing the life out Goldberg's almost mythical reputation. He brought Goldberg to the mat hard, ran to the ropes and delivered his infamous leg drop. And, just like he'd done during his debut match and over a hundred times thereafter, Goldberg refused to lose. Despite outside interference, the most famous wrestling persona could do nothing but fold from the force of the Spear, and writhe from the impact of the Jackhammer.

Dealing with Loss... Goldberg was the WCW World Champion. The nWo had reached an unprecedented low point, but the group still had some surprises left for WCW and Goldberg. Although beating Hogan might be the greatest win of Goldberg's career, most people believed there was another nWo member who could defeat the phenom. Despite their past problems, Nash and Goldberg became allies -- until Nash won the WW3 pay-per-view's 60-man battle royal and earned a World Title shot at Starrcade. After a month of mind games, Nash and Goldberg clashed. Thanks to a returning Scott Hall (and a cattle prod), Nash handed Goldberg the first defeat of his career. Jan. 4, 1999, an apologetic Nash told Nitro fans he wasn't happy with the conclusion of his Starrcade battle with Goldberg. If the phenom was willing, Nash would be willing to give Goldberg a rematch that very evening. Nash's honorable offer, however, was nothing more than a ruse. Hogan returned to WCW that evening, used Elizabeth to have Goldberg arrested and then had Nash surrender the World Title to him in the main event. Goldberg spent the first part of 1999 seeking revenge and battling newcomer Bam Bam Bigelow. Although he hadn't won back his belt, Goldberg finally settled his scores and accepted a match against Sting for the Slamboree pay-per-view. Instead of starting to rise through the title ranks, Goldberg was attacked by Bret Hart and taken out of the sport for several months.

The Rebirth of an Enemy... Goldberg returned to WCW in late summer '99. After reestablishing his in-ring dominance, the phenom finally returned to the World Title scene at the 1999 Halloween Havoc pay-per-view, when Sting made an open challenge to the locker room. Goldberg accepted and, after a thrilling match up, pinned the current World Champ. The following evening, Sting said he hadn't actually planned to put up the gold -- but was only trying to give Las Vegas fans a better show. The incident resulted in neither Sting or Goldberg as champion, and a 32-man tournament to decide the new World Title holder. The event marked the beginning of an elaborate plan to rob Goldberg of his rightful title, and the reformation of the New World Order. Over the next few months, a calculated plan -- designed to look like a series of unfortunate mishaps -- brought about the return of the New World Order, featuring members Hart, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Nash and Scott Steiner. While warring against this new group, Goldberg destroyed his hand punching through a limousine window.

 
A Legend Reborn... After four months of rehabilitation, the phenom returned -- but not as the hero fans had once known. Embittered by his injuries and problems within the promotion, Goldberg became a bounty hunter going to the highest bidder (Vince Russo, at the time) and was obsessed with personal gain. It only took a few months for Goldberg to rediscover the love of the fans, and the reasons he'd become a role model years earlier. Throughout the fall of 2000, Goldberg fought the good fight, battling his one-time employer, Vince Russo, and offering his help to Booker T., Sting and other heroes. Goldberg's good deeds haven't gone unnoticed. Currently the phenom is attempting to relive his rookie year winning streak of 176-0. If the phenom fails, he will lose his job with WCW. But, according to Goldberg, this new streak has little to do with a fear of unemployment. After several years in the sport, the phenom has finally began to find himself, and his purpose, in the world of professional wrestling. Every win represents a lesson to his fans about determination, intensity and the fruits of honest, hard work.