10 Wrestlers Who Always Followed The Money
1. Goldberg
Goldberg never wanted to be a pro wrestler.
Jim Ross confirmed on a 2023 edition of his podcast Grilling JR that Goldberg didn't grow up in the business, nor did he watch it growing up. He wanted to play football, did so as journeyman for a brief time, and wasn't happy with how his career had unfolded. Like many former players, he ventured into wrestling because it doesn't require such high-level athleticism and is an opportunity to use a similar physique and skillset to make money.
He endured the Power Plant, which in itself proves an admirable level of commitment, and was a sensation at his babyface peak. Ungodly intensity, megastar big fight presentation, the most blunt, painful-looking offence in the game: Goldberg was incredible.
He was...not incredible in WWE. According to Ross, Goldberg didn't keep up with WWE after WCW had folded and Vince McMahon was troubled by what he perceived to be an apathetic attitude. This set the tone for the entire run. It was mutual. Goldberg was only ever awesome once, in the SummerSlam 2003 main event, but Triple H went over anyway. Bill by his own admission didn't even enjoy performing until WrestleMania 33.
Goldberg bounced, as well he should have, and in 2014 was asked about a return before actually coming back two years later. Asked the usual question of potential dream matches on his short-lived Who's Next? podcast, Goldberg couldn't even muster an answer to the easiest, most obvious query - and since it was his pod, he had time to prepare for it.
"I couldn’t give an educated guess as to what the good storyline would be in this day and age," he said.
He didn't rule out a return back in 2014, saying - in contrast to Eric Bischoff, who claimed in 2021 that Goldberg was "doing it for the money, come on" - that he would only do so if the conditions were favourable, "[not] necessarily the money".
But ask yourself this: since returning in 2016, has Goldberg worked more WrestleMania or Saudi shows?
Not that it matters: Goldberg is a million times better than millions of the wrestlers who do the "I love this business!" schtick in promos.