Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

25. 1998: Goldberg

Essa Rios Lita
WWE.com

The only choice for that year, Goldberg was so awesome. That is the most apt word. The big fight atmosphere he conjured, the animalistic intensity, the look, that explosive gut-ripper of a spear: the man was awesome. You could only get closer to his appeal by putting the word 'F*cin'' in front of it.

You know the rest already: WCW cooled him off, the heel turn knackered him, and by the time he learned how to work a cracking back-and-forth, even he couldn’t save the promotion.

He had a terrible stint in WWE, a great one 12 years later, outstayed his welcome, and is currently rumoured to play a Sting-adjacent role in AEW.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!