10 Fun Facts About My Trip To WWE WrestleMania XIX
4. WWE Alerts Everyone In The Key Arena That Goldbergs Coming Out
In 2003 I wasnt as internet savvy as Ive become today, so during the Mania XIX broadcast when WWE played a promo for the WWE debut of Goldberg, I went nuts along with 60,000 other fans. He was a huge name and the prospect of the dream matches he could have in WWE was mind-blowing. He was set to debut at Backlash one month later.
I managed to get tickets for the post-WrestleMania RAW, which wasnt quite the phenomenon of an event its become now but it was still incredible to think Id get to go to a live Monday Night RAW. It kicked off with Eric Bischoff showing the world Steve Austins medical records, signifying the end of his in-ring career.
For the last segment of the show, The Rock came out to cut a promo. As The Great One was bantering with the crowd, there were WWE technicians setting up pyro that was CLEARLY for Goldberg. At this point on the broadcast, you can hear everyone chanting Goldbergs name before Rock came up with the genius line Rock knows you know his accountant, Ira Goldberg.
The Seattle crowd laughed in appreciation at Rocks attempt to deflect the chants but as soon as the Goldberg music hit, we jumped to our feet and watched the electric debut of one of WCW's biggest ever stars. Even if WWE did very much give it away to the live crowd that night, seeing Goldberg's debut in person was fantastic.