Bill Goldberg reflects on his match against Hollywood Hogan

“What he did for me that night was an unbelievable thing”

Extra Mustard is a weekly subscriber-only column looking at the highs and lows–and everything in between–in combat sports and beyond.

As Bill Goldberg got dressed for his final match, he drifted back in time–and thought of the night that forever changed his world.

More than 27 years have passed since the fateful night of July 6, 1998. That was when World Championship Wrestling ran its Nitro at the Georgia Dome, and a red hot crowd–including a young Cody Rhodes¹–packed in to see Goldberg defeat “Hollywood” Hogan for the world title.

“I wanted to be that guy on the football field, but I got that opportunity in another profession,” said Goldberg, who became more popular than he ever imagined in pro wrestling. “And that was the night.”

Goldberg and Hogan set the pro wrestling world aflame in the summer of '98/WWE

More than a week ago, Goldberg wrestled his retirement bout against Gunther on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match, which took place in Atlanta at State Farm Arena, was for WWE’s World Heavyweight Championship². Unlike July of ’98, this was not a title that Goldberg was destined to win.

“It was a one-off,” said Goldberg, confirming there were never any plans for him to defeat Gunther–and potentially defend the belt at SummerSlam. “I had a job to do, and I did it to the best of my ability.