Jim Ross addresses Goldberg's real-life fight with AEW star
Jim Ross was a WWE commentator and talent relations executive when Bill Goldberg worked for the company in 2003 and 2004. In a recent podcast episode, the legendary announcer recalled how Goldberg got involved in a backstage altercation with current AEW star Chris Jericho.
In 1998, Goldberg allegedly did not want to work with Jericho in WCW after feeling disrespected by his co-worker's derogatory promos about him. Five years later, the two men legitimately brawled in the locker room shortly after Goldberg joined WWE.
Ross said on his Grilling JR podcast that Jericho was in control of the fight before other wrestlers intervened.
"I walked into a fight one time with Goldberg and Jericho, and Jericho was holding his own, and we broke it up. I remember vividly Jericho got a front face lock on him and I don't know if he was afraid, I doubt that, but he was cautious. He maintained [the hold]," said Ross. [1:01:34 – 1:01:56]
Despite their real-life issues, the former rivals faced each other several times in 2003. In their most notable match against each other, Goldberg defeated Jericho in an 11-minute bout at Bad Blood.
Jim Ross on the aftermath of Chris Jericho and Goldberg's fight
At the time of the altercation, Goldberg was still relatively new to WWE after making his name in WCW between 1997 and 2001. Chris Jericho, by contrast, was an established WWE main-eventer.
Jim Ross added that both men were told to behave themselves and focus on making money together.
"And then of course the subsequent talks, 'You guys gotta get along. We gotta figure this s**t out. What's the biggest issue that we have with you two guys?' Because somewhere down the road that's a match you'd wanna book, so it was an interesting time," he said. [1:02:14 – 1:02:35]
In 2022, Goldberg appeared on Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast. The two men apologized to each other and revealed they became friends after working together.
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