10 Times WWE Ripped Up The Script After WrestleMania

8. Goldberg Makes His WWE Debut

Edge Christian
WWE.com

When "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stepped inside the ring to take on The Rock at WrestleMania 19, only a few people knew it was his retirement match. WWE kept a tight lid on the situation and didn't let the fans know that "The Texas Rattlesnake" had retired until they figured it out themselves.

What happens when a megastar like Steve Austin retires out of the blue? Complete pandemonium! The WWE creative team had to bust their brains to find a way to accommodate Steve Austin in a non-wrestling role and find someone to replace him as the top babyface in the meantime.

However, Goldberg's arrival in WWE coincided with Austin's retirement, which allowed the company to establish the debuting WCW legend as The Rock's new rival. Despite WWE buying out WCW in 2001, Goldberg hesitated to sign with Vince McMahon's company until 2003, but his debut came at the right time.

He went on to defeat The Rock at Backlash 2003 in his WWE in-ring debut and established himself as a top babyface in WWE. However, the run didn't last long, as backstage issues and creative differences led to his exit from the company in 2004.

 
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Contributor

A hardcore pro-wrestling fan since childhood, and loves to write about his passion. Nuff said.