Bill Goldberg followed in the paths of many wrestlers who have made the transition from the gridiron to the squared circle to become wrestling stars - he just did so faster and to a greater magnitude than anyone else in history. In only his second year in the business, Goldberg became one of the biggest names the wrestling business has ever seen. And now, Goldberg has transitioned from being a star in the ring to a television and feature film star.

Bill Goldberg was not a typical wrestling fan growing up, but instead focused most of his attention on football. An excellent player in high school, Goldberg starred as an All-SEC and All-American Nose Guard at the University of Georgia. When his career as a Bulldog was over, he eyed stardom in the National Football League. After spending time with the Los Angeles Rams and then winning the World Bowl with the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football, Goldberg signed on with the Atlanta Falcons in 1991. After three years with the team he suffered a torn abdominal muscle which put him out for the 1994 season. Goldberg was signed by the Carolina Panthers in 1995, but could not rebound from the injury sufficiently enough to play. He was thus forced to retire from football.

Goldberg never planned on becoming a professional wrestler. He crossed paths with many World Championship Wrestling stars while living in Atlanta. Though the world of wrestling was intriguing to him, joining the ranks of professional wrestlers was not an option that Goldberg seriously considered at the time. Later, Goldberg was working out in a gym owned by Lex Luger and Sting and was convinced by Sting to take a chance in the squared circle. After months of training in the WCW Power Plant, Goldberg made his official professional debut in WCW against Hugh Morrus, pinning the 300 pound wrestler. The next year and a half would be among the most remarkable periods in professional wrestling history.

Goldberg began quickly mowing down his opponents with his patented Spear and Jackhammer combination. Eventually he got his chance at the gold when he wrestled Raven for the WCW United States title. Showing little nervousness in his first title match, he quickly overpowered Raven and pinned him for the title belt. With his reputation and winning streak growing, everyone looked forward to a showdown between Goldberg and Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight championship. In front of a red-hot crowd in Atlanta, Georgia on July 6, 1998, Goldberg speared Hogan and then hit the Jackhammer to obtain the pinfall. With the championship belt around his waist, he was now the biggest name in the sport and finished the year as the PWI Rookie of the Year.