Cactus Watches Every WCW Goldberg Match

[cactus]

I'm going to try and watch all 192 broadcasted Goldberg matches of his WCW run. Expect plenty of squashes, spears and the occasional gem. I'll throw some star ratings to the more fleshed-out matches. I might even cover his other runs if I'm not burnt out by the end of this. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Hugh Morrus (WCW Monday Nitro - 9/22/1997)

For his debut, Goldberg gets the jobber entrance as Morrus gets his full entrance. More observant eyes will notice that the cameras do focus on Goldberg more than your typical ham and egger. The commentators are mystified by Goldberg as they know literally nothing about him. Goldberg kicks out off a big Morrus moonsault and evades Morrus by hitting a backflip and landing right on his feet. There some obvious moments of inexperience showing such as Goldberg struggling with a basic wristlock transition, but the audience does not care at this moment. The fans jump for joy when Morrus is put away with the Jackhammer and you can that Goldberg has the viewers hooked. After Goldberg scores his first victory, an impressed Mene Gene tries to stop Goldberg from an interview, but Goldberg storms silently right past him. This was a incredibly unique way to debut a wrestler and I'm excited to see where this heads. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs The Barbarian (WCW Monday Nitro - 9/29/1997)

The commentators have a bit more background on Goldberg now, as they aware of his hometown and his football career. This was more of a meat and potatoes affair than his debut, with less flashy stuff. This does have a less explosive finish, with Goldberg just picking up Barbarian and landing a Jackhammer after a good amount of dead air. Mean Gene tries to get an interview out of Goldberg. He presents Goldberg a photo of himself from his football days to try and stir something out of him, but Goldberg just huffs and walks away. Not as strong as his debut, but the mystique around Goldberg continues to grow. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Road Block (WCW Saturday Night - aired 10/11/1997)

Goldberg's first match away from the bright lights of Nitro sees him debut his iconic theme music as he actually gets an entrance this time around. There isn't much to say about this. I wasn't expecting much out any Road Block match. He's talked up as a threat to Goldberg has yet to face anyone of his size. After kicking out of a big Road Block belly to belly slam, Goldberg hits a spinning wheel kick and muscles up Road Block for the Jackhammer victory. Like the Barbarian match, there isn't much build-up to the move, but the sight of seeing the massive Road Block put up in the air with ease is impressive nonetheless.

 

Bill Goldberg vs Scott Riggs (WCW Monday Nitro - 13/10/1997) 

In a bit of foreshadowing, Raven and his flock watches on from the crowd. We get the debut of the spear here. It isn't treated as a finisher yet and it is simply a way for Goldberg to cut off Riggs as he was building up momentum by running the ropes and dodging Goldberg's clothesline. Apparently Gene LeBell wants to train Goldberg according to the commentators. Riggs is caught as he tries to land a plancha and is sent violently into the guard rail rib first. Goldberg shoves back into the ring, hits his finish and wraps this one up. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Wrath (WCW Monday Nitro - 10/20/1997)

Wrath gets demolished in 20 seconds. Before he is even able to take off his jacket, he gets hit with a spear and put away with the Jackhammer. This is the first time that move gets referred to by name by the commentators. After gesturing and asking who's next to the camera as he makes his way to the back, Steve McMichael power walks down the ramp and gets in Goldberg's face. This segment opened Nitro and shows how hard they wanted Goldberg over by putting him in a spot that would get so many eyes on him. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Mike Anthony (WCW Saturday Night - aired 25/10/1997)

Dusty and Schiavone are hyping up Halloween Havoc on commentary, which is happening the day after this show aired and which Goldberg is not booked to wrestle on. This is your typical Goldberg squash. Goldberg does a cool leg sweep which he transitions in a leg grapevine. Anthony's strikes are brushed off. Goldberg manhandles him up to a gorilla press position after catching a spinning kick and drops him on his ribs before putting him away. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Disco Inferno (WCW Monday Nitro - 27/10/1997) 

This is for Disco's Television title. Atleast it would be if the match actually happened. Alex Wright tries to take Goldberg out as he makes his entrance. Goldberg quickly disposes of both Wright and Disco before Steve McMichael rushes the ring. He gets tackled by Goldberg and officials swarm the ring to try and pull them apart. All this happened in just 4 minutes. I guess this was a decent enough way to build up to Goldberg vs McMichael at Starrcade. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs The Renegade (WCW Saturday Night - aired 11/1/1997)

Not much to say about this as it lasts 17 seconds. Goldberg charges the ring and hits a spear before getting the win with the Jackhammer. Alex Wright tries to sneak up on Goldberg in the post-match, but Goldberg notices and Wright backs off as Debra McMichael comes down to bicker with Wright. Wright humorously claims that he will deal with Goldberg later. Wright and Goldberg would never have a singles match together despite WCW obviously cooking something up here. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Manny Fernandez (WCW Main Event - aired 12/13/1997)

Goldberg squashes a jobber so obscure that he doesn't even have a Cagematch profile. The poor guy doesn't get in any meaningful offence and the couple of punches he lands have no effect on WCW's new monster. Goldberg keeps this simple and just mauls Fernandez. Fernandez gets turned inside out by a devastating clothesline. Then we get a spin neckbreaker, a Jackhammer, and they go home.

 

Bill Goldberg vs Frankie Lancaster (WCW Worldwide - aired 12/14/1997)

This is rather bad, even by squash match standards. Lancaster has zero charisma and doesn't sell the threat of Goldberg at all. The commentators spend the majority of the match talking about Eric Bischoff and only talk about the match when Lancaster is up for the Jackhammer. Goldberg felt like an afterthought here, and that is never how you want your next big star to be treated. 

  

Bill Goldberg vs The Renegade (WCW Saturday Night - aired 12/27/1997)

After making a big deal of Goldberg not speaking, Goldberg speaks for the first time in a pre-tape about his upcoming match with Steve McMichael on the B show with no build-up. That's such a WCW decision if I ever saw one. His promo is fine, by the way. Not as intense as the man has looked in the ring. Renegade lasts a total of 2 seconds longer when he last faced Goldberg. Spear, Jackhammer and Renegade is sent back to the showers. McMichael comes out and gets speared for his troubles, but is able to fight back and we have another pull apart. Even though I know it won't be pretty, this has made me intrigued to see their PPV match, so they did everything that they set out to do here. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Steve McMichael (WCW Starrcade - 12/28/1997)

Suprise suprise, this wasn't very good. Pairing a very green Goldberg with an abysmal worker for his first PPV match is a baffling choice by WCW. I believe this is the first every Mongo match that I have seen. He is very awkward in how he moves and he struggles to even take a flat bump from Goldberg's spear. This lacked the intensity that can be found in Goldberg's enhancement matches. A table is brought into play and McMichael takes a bump from the apron through it. The damage from this fall stops Mongo from being able to pick up Goldberg for his finish and Goldberg is able to land a Jackhammer and get his first PPV win. Goldberg being able to scoop McMichael up with ease was the most impressive part of this match. This wasn't good, but it was short enough to not completely stink out the joint. ★½

[cactus]

Bill Goldberg vs Glacier (WCW Monday Nitro - 12/27/1997)

Goldberg doesn't get a huge reaction when he comes, but the crowd soon perk up when he starts hitting his moves. I get the feeling that WCW had buyer's remorse with Glacier at this point as they feed him to Goldberg and don't let him look particularly strong. He gets beaten in a minute. A very standard Goldberg squash. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Stevie Ray (WCW Monday Nitro - 01/05/1998)
This was a lot more competitive than any of Goldberg's earlier matches and it seems that WCW were testing him for bigger things. Ray lands a back suplex and the commentators seem shocked at Goldberg not being firmly in the driver's seat. Ray puts up more of a fight than any opponent that Goldberg has fought so far. Goldberg does a decent job in this short back and forth match, with the only flaw I could see in his work is how obviously he called spots with Ray before whipping him across the ring. This was a moment where he looked lost, but he was able to stick the landing as he has the crowd going crazy for him when they reached the finish. One interesting note is that Ray gets up immediately after being pinned. I'm unsure if this act of no-selling was Stevie showing off some bad blood towards either Goldberg or WCW. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Steve McMichael (WCW Thunder - 01/08/1998)
On the debut version of Thunder, Goldberg and Mongo run back their Starrcade match. This is straight to the point and keeps the match brief to hide the limitations of both men. Mongo tries to tackle Goldberg as he is walking up to the ring with a half football tackle, half suicide dive. Whatever if was it looked bad. There seems to be some confusion when Goldberg goes to lift Mongo up in the suplex position and it is quite awkward to watch. Although it is over half the length of their first match together, this still isn't anything to write home about. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Barry Horowitz (WCW Saturday Night - aired 01/10/1998) 
Horowitz feels so out of time for 1998 WCW. At least he's cut the mullet finally and he's a rocking a swell jacket with a handprint on the back where he would tap himself on the back. Barry's back slapping ends up costing him as he doesn't see Goldberg lining him up for a spear. Clocking in at just 16 seconds, there's not much to say about this. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Jerry Flynn (WCW Monday Nitro - 01/12/1998)
For the first time in his career, the crowd are going crazy for Goldberg as he makes his entrance. Jerry Flynn being a shoot style worker gives Goldberg an excuse to try out his faux-MMA stuff. We get that neat rolling leg lock he does as well as a cross armbreaker attempt. There is a fair bit of intensity as they roll about on the mat. Goldberg powers out of Flynn armbar attempt and lifts him and slams to the mat before following up with a spear and a Jackhammer. Goldberg gets hit in the mouth at some point as he somehow bleeds in this 88 second bout. This was a lot better than I thought it would be. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Kendall Windham (WCW Thunder - 01/22/1998)
You can tell that Kendall wasn't worth a damn just by this short match. They actually open with some technical grappling. Goldberg lands a nice single leg takedown before immediately flubbing his rolling leg submission. Not sure who's fault that was. Anyways Windham throws some bad punches, which Goldberg shrugs off. Crowd goes banana, spear, Jackhammer, night-night. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Mike Tolbert (WCW Saturday Night - aired 01/24/1998)
I have literally nothing interesting to say about this. Powerplant trainee Tolbert looks to be in excellent shape for a job guy. He tries to attack Goldberg as he's making his way into the ring, but is met with a spear. Next. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Brad Armstrong (WCW Monday Nitro - 01/26/1998) 
Brad Armstrong makes the absolute most out of his minutes here before ultimately being fed to Goldberg. I should say he makes the most of his minute and change as this one doesn't even go 2 minutes! Armstrong begs off when Goldberg is not reacting to his shots and his little strut he did when he thought he had evaded before getting speared out of his boots cracked me up. You can see why he was so respected by other wrestlers just by this brief match alone. This was a lot of fun for what it was. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Yuji Nagata (WCW Thunder - 01/29/1998) 
This is the first time that Goldberg gets his pyro. Goldberg seems like he enjoys tangling with any wrestler with experience in shoot wrestling as he tries out more stuff such as the slick kneebar he busts out here. Nagata actually has the big man stunned from his kicks, but Goldberg violently counters Nagata's suplex attempt with spinning neckbreaker before wrapping up. I wouldn't mind seeing this pairing work a more substantial match. 

 

Bill Goldberg vs Meng (WCW Saturday Night - aired 01/31/1998) 
Meng is treated as Goldberg's biggest test yet and this his longest match so far. This was a lot of two hosses pummeling each other. There's not a lot of moves, but a whole of struggle. Both men claw at each other and try to grab a Fujiwara. Goldberg's punches look like shit though and should stick to throw elbows if he can't make his potatoes look good. Goldberg dropping both Meng and Jimmy Hart on their heads as he throws them is a telltale sign that Goldberg might not be a safe worker, but I'll be lying to say that I wasn't entertained by Meng getting powerslammed on his head. Not a technically sound match, but I enjoyed this. ★★★

Bill Goldberg vs Sgt. Lee Parker (WCW Boston Brawl - 31/01/1998)
I can't review this one as this show is lost media. This was one of WCW'S audio only PPVs so I couldn't even review it properly if this ever surfaces. Parker gets beaten in a minute and change. I doubt we are missing much here.

 

Bill Goldberg vs Mark Starr (WCW Monday Nitro - 02/02/1998) 
Starr tries to get the headstart by pummeling on Goldberg as he enters the ring, but Goldberg grabs a single leg and absolutely faceplants poor Mark Starr. The commentators build Goldberg up by saying that he is always adding moves to his arsenal and right after this, he debuts a gorilla press to front powerslam move. This was a very typical Goldberg match, but Starr sold the spear particularly well.