The Internet Wrestling Community has been buzzing the past few days about the possibility of Bill Goldberg making a return to WWE.
This news isn't coming from a wrestling Web site quoting anonymous sources, it's coming straight from the man himself. Goldberg wrote on his Twitter page that he is in negotiations with WWE. Obviously this is a surprise considering that Goldberg has had almost nothing good to say about WWE since his one-year stint with the company ended in 2004.
On Wednesday, Goldberg wrote: "YES.. I am in negotiations with the WWE. Looks like 'ole Hogan and TNA missed the boat. Shame for the fans they didn't even try."
Goldberg also addressed a potential return to wrestling on Thursday: "Is it out of the question for me to have 1 more match? Answer is no...my son has never seen me wrestle and I'd love to see his reaction."
As to why he would consider going back to WWE, which is something he said in the past that had no interest in doing, Goldberg earlier today wrote: "My desire to return to the wrestling world in any capacity is based on the fact that if I continue to let my issues with the business stand in the way, I'd be very selfish. Times have changed and I don't work for people anymore.....I work with them. Depriving the fans and my family would be a shame."
Goldberg, 43, has not wrestled since his infamous match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XX in 2004 at Madison Square Garden. Both he and Lesnar were booed out of the building, as the word was out that both guys were leaving WWE.
Personally, I'm skeptical that we'll see Goldberg working for – or with – WWE again. I got to know Goldberg a little bit when I worked for WCW, and while I thought he was a nice guy, I never got the sense that he was a big fan of the wrestling business. I think he viewed wrestling as just an opportunity to make a lot of money once his NFL career fizzled out. Perhaps he is looking for one more big payday, but I just don't know how much value his name has at this point.
There has been speculation that WWE is interested in inducting Goldberg into the WWE Hall of Fame next year since the event is in Georgia.
Baltimore Sun photo 1998