The Legend: That Goldberg ended Bret 'The Hitman' Heart's legendary career when he kicked him with undue force during their match at Starrcade 99. The Evidence: Well, it's pretty damning here. You can't really argue with the video. Goldberg and Bret Hart had a hot feud in WCW in 1999. At that point it was one of the only decent parts of the product. Their angle where Goldberg speared Hart, who was wearing a steel-plate underneath his hockey jersey, was one of the best things that Hart did during his WCW tenure. The two clashed in a No DQ match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Starrcade on December 19th. Towards the end of the match, Goldberg caught Bret with a mule kick, striking him hard in the side of the head. Bret sustained a concussion from the kick and multiple others thereafter. The cumulative effect of those concussions effectively ended Bret's career and he officially retired from professional wrestling in October 2000 after WCW released him from his contract. Is It True: Pretty much. Although Bret wrestled several matches after Starrcade 99 (his last match was against Kevin Nash on the January 9th 2000 Thunder taping), it was the kick that did him in. However, there is no ill will between the two. Although Bret was initially angry at Goldberg's clumsiness, he has since said that he and Bill are and always have been good friends and that he 'doesn't have a mean bone in his body'. Goldberg also regrets the incident. At a 2013 Q and A, Goldberg had this to say:
Everytime I mention the Bret Hart thing, I feel remorseful about the kick. Though Bret and I are very good friends, and he doesnt hold it against me, till the day I die am going to feel bad about it. And theres nothing I can do to take it back. Ive explained myself millions of times. I am remorseful, but like I said, what else can I do?
So, yes, Goldberg may have ended Bret's career but this is wrestling and accidents do happen. It obviously wasn't intentional and it's good to see that the two remain on good terms.
