Goldberg might not have caused Bret Hart to retire after all, WWE legend suggests
Since 2000, Bret Hart has repeatedly blamed Bill Goldberg for causing an injury that forced him to retire. WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff worked with both men during his days as a WCW executive and on-screen performer. In a recent podcast episode, he provided a unique take on Hart's accusation.
Goldberg unsuccessfully challenged Hart for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade 1999. The Hitman suffered a concussion during the match, which he believes occurred when his opponent kicked him in the head.
Bischoff said on 83 Weeks that Hart may have inflicted the career-ending injury on himself after hitting his head during a ring apron spot:
"Because if you go back and you look at what happened earlier in that match, there was a spot where Bret was wrapped around the ring post and bounced his head, it was either off the ring or off the floor, pretty severely. Could that have been it? Was it the kick? I don't know and, I'll be honest, after watching that as closely as I did, Bret did have his hand up [when receiving the kick]." [From 02:46 – 03:11]
Hart has never shied away from giving his honest opinion on Goldberg. In 2020, he said on Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions that his former opponent was "dangerous" and wrestled like a "real gorilla."
Eric Bischoff says Bret Hart is also to blame if Goldberg injured him
At the time of the Starrcade 1999 match, Bret Hart was an experienced wrestler while his opponent was still relatively new to the business.
For that reason, Eric Bischoff thinks Hart should take responsibility if he suffered an injury while receiving a move from his in-ring rival:
"Who was the experienced performer? Who was the one that should have been actively involved in laying that match out? That's as much Bret's fault as it is Bill Goldberg's fault. Bret was the more experienced, seasoned professional. He was the ring general." [From 08:12 – 08:31]
Bischoff also blasted Hart for constantly making negative comments, calling him a "miserable human being" and a "rain cloud."
What do you make of the Starrcade 1999 incident? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
Please credit 83 Weeks and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.