Goldberg shoots on Triple H at the press junket for the movie "Ready To Rumble."

2001-01-26

On April 1st I attended the Warner Bros. Press junket for their READY TO RUMBLE feature film. Bill Goldberg sat down with myself and three other journalists to discuss the movie and wrestling in general.

After a few questions about the film I addressed the constant internet rumor that his arm had in fact healed and that he was sitting out until WCW numbers took a turn for the better. The following is his answer, as well as whom he thinks is responsible for starting those allegations.

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'I think that's, parden me, the biggest crock of s**t I've ever heard. Because I think I'm going to be instrumental in turning the company around so why the hell would I stay out??? I think that's ridiculous. It pains me to even hear that.

But you know what? That probably came from Triple H. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who I think is a piece of s**t. And I'll throw a challenge out to him to meet me in my backyard and I'll give him the damn address. I'll even send a car for him. Because that kind of c**p is ridiculous in my business. I am very adamant about being out there for the fans because that's the only reason I'm out there doing what I do.

Granted, I get paid a decent amount of money. Being in front of people and getting the adulation that I get I don't care. It feels good! No question. But I don't need that.

I could sit at home and watch TV and play with my dogs, you know? Go fishing and drive my cars man, and I'd be cool the rest of my life. But you know what? Then I'd be screwing all these kids. Because I can provide them, hopefully, with something they can't get elsewhere.

When I go to an autograph session or I get out of the ring and I shake these kids hands, and he looks at it like he just touched God…ok…that for me, that makes me very emotional. Very emotional. And that means everything to me.

So throw the money aside, throw the fame…I don't care about that. The difference I can make for kids is the best. And to say that I'm sandbagging because I want the company to turn itself around until I come back, that's a crock. Like I said, I'm going to be instrumental in it.

And I think that I'm probably one of the smartest people on the planet. Because not only do I realize that I have to slow down a little bit in the ring, but that if I go back too early with this, I could lose my arm. And there ain't nothing in the world worth that.

Look at Mankind and what he does to his body. You think he's stupid? I think he's ridiculous. I think he's absolutely ignorant. But I respect him because he's set a goal, and he's followed it. He's attained it. He always aspired to be a professional wrestler, so he'll go to any length to entertain. And I don't disrespect that. I just disre…I don't applaud his path. Because he's going to kill himself in the process.'

Bill Goldberg
April 1st, 2000