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Re: Bill Goldberg: Star or just hype?
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chapo
But, what was Goldberg's character? An unstoppable power guy, a gimmick that has been dozens of times? His character wasn't the streak, that was the appeal. Goldberg never had a character. He served 1 purpose, main rival of the NWO. When that was done, so was the Goldberg appeal. If he had a character, he would have remained a big deal afterwards.
Gotta disagree.
Goldberg's character was this badass ex-football player who just ran through people. Very simple character. People absolutely loved him up until WCW died. Watch some of those 1999-2001 WCW Nitros, Thunders and PPVs and you'll hear constant chants of Goldberg and terrific pops when he came out. He was STILL a big deal after the streak ended. Its just that once his jets were cooled after January 4th, 1999, WCW's hottest draw (the streak) was gone, and there was more of a reason to watch WWF. The streak helped mask a lot of problems WCW was having because it was so big, but it ending exposed a lot of problems that not even Goldberg's popularity could save (problems such as the booking, writing, angles, feuds, etc).
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Bossy's Law-in any online wrestling discussion, inevitably someone will mention that Daniel Bryan is the best or better then someone/something else, even if Daniel Bryan has nothing to do with the discussion.
Anybody who actually watched him in WCW is justified in saying he was hype. C'mon, a streak gimmick. What talent and wrestling ability is required into making that work? And the reason why his WWE run was a bust was because the only way you could book Goldberg as a monster was already done at that point, exposing him in the process. He was no longer a monster. Charisma isn't enough to make you a true star, let alone top 5 in WCW, especially with guys like Flair, Sting, Hogan, Savage, Hall, Nash, Jericho, DDP, Steiner and many more, who were miles ahead of Goldberg in regards to charisma, not to mention, most were far superior in the ring and on the mic. Goldberg lacked the complete package and I'm willing to bet there are some who would rate him above Sting & Flair, despite both being a lot closer to the complete package than Goldberg ever was.
@KO_Bossy, thats what makes me have doubts about Goldberg, it was a simple character that could have worked for anybody who had the slightest bit of charisma and an athletic background. It's easy to make a guy look so superior when mostly booking him in squash matches. But eventually, that ran it's course and when it came time to actually work a match, Goldberg was exposed. Completely different from Hogan, Flair, Sting, Rock, Austin, Lesnar, those guys could actually work and didn't have to rely on a streak angle to get and remain top stars. Without that streak, Goldberg blended in, simply because he lacked other things that are somewhat required to remain a top guy.
The push of Goldberg was a gift and a curse, as it maintained interest in WCW after the NWO fad began to sizzle but a curse in the sense that it hid Goldberg's flaws for so long that when the streak was over, it was a what's next moment. The evidence is there, without the streak, Goldberg was just another guy, largely due to his weaknesses that only a streak of squash matches could cover up. He didn't have enough charisma to completely ignore the fact that he was an injury prone performer, who was in the right place at the right time. Brock was booked perfectly as a monster who could destroy anybody but when given a legit challenge, could perform at a high level.
It also doesn't help matters that the final moments of the streak and afterwards, WCW was a revolving door of bookers, who made a bigger mess of the company. But at the same time, thats what happens when you book a guy so strong and are completely oblivious to the fact that he was a horrible worker and eventually, it would come to light and did. IMO, that takes a few points away from Goldberg. Arguably a star but definately not top 5 WCW, possibly not even top 10, as so many others possessed more strengths than Goldberg, who was basically just over as fuck. If overness means anything, 95% of the Attitude Era would go down as GOATS.
Talented or not,Goldberg was hugely over and I found him very interesting
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Stone Cold on CM Punk's epic promo-CMPunk just melted my 52 inch TV with a scorching hot
promo...delivery, content, and attitude...one of
the best promos I've ever seen.
Hulk Hogan on CM Punk-I think CM PUNK has stepped up and proved he can hold his own with anybody in the ring and anybody on the mic,he's on a roll. HH
My favourite wrestlers:
1.Stone Cold Steve Austin
2.HHH
3.CM Punk
4.Brock Lesnar
5.The Rock
One of the biggest stars for WCW challenging NWO as did Sting. Talented or not is not the question as he was hugely over after his initial doctored push. As far as his abilities go, two things can be said, He was not trained as well as he should have been which Bret Hart held against the powerplant more than Goldberg and his match up with Regal, instead of looking like a complete idiot, he used the opportunities allowed by Regal to do and show his stuff as and when he could in the match (his rolling one leg take down of Regal for example).
He was this one of a kind star who could carry the huge responsibility they set on his Traps of looking and being a real ultimate bad ass who could take down and take out anybody.
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“My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!” ~ De Sade
goldberg was the austin of wcw, before people get furious about why i said that, let me explain, both had this badass attitude, both were mega over, and both were the main focus at one time of there shows. IMO goldberg is a star, drew the fans to wcw the only force big enough to stand up to the NWO(kayfabe wise at least)
Nah seriously I can't really tell if I was watching Goldberg during that era but I might have liked him who knows.
You missed that era? Poor soul. You couldnt go anywhere without seeing a goldberg shirt, well at least here in the US.
Goldberg is/was a star. He still has that charisma about him that lands him gigs for the right reasons. Unlike other ex stars who make jokes out of themselves.
In thering, he reminds of Cena...meaning they both could wrestle but were booked with the same formula match after match.
You missed that era? Poor soul. You couldnt go anywhere without seeing a goldberg shirt, well at least here in the US.
Goldberg is/was a star. He still has that charisma about him that lands him gigs for the right reasons. Unlike other ex stars who make jokes out of themselves.
In thering, he reminds of Cena...meaning they both could wrestle but were booked with the same formula match after match.
Are you serious?
Cena is 10 times a better wrestler than Goldberg. The lack of wrestling ability from Goldberg was a big part of the reason for the streak and him squashing many of his opponents. Cena isn't the greatest wrestler but when matched up with the likes of Jericho or Punk, he can hang in. Bret Hart, arguably the greatest wrestler of the 90s, couldn't pull a good match out of Goldberg and ended his career because of it.
Yeah, except he himself was basically a Warrior knockoff
He actually was.
Both debut, run through a bunch of lower card guys, win mid card titles, win World title while still mid card champions. Big difference is that Warrior was 10 times more over than Goldberg and if it wasn't due to his own greed, would have been face of the company for years to come.
Goldberg's only purpose was to play hero against Hogan & the NWO. After they broke up, where could you possibly take him without burying the entire roster yet still make him look like a monster?