BRET HART AND GOLDBERG: WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS

Let’s put it out there in the open. Everyone in front of a mobile device or computer screen knows that Bret “Hit Man” Hart absolutely despises Bill Goldberg.

It’s a topic that has openly festered inside of Bret over the years. Everyone remembers in 1999 that Goldberg was the man who accidentally kickstarted (no pun intended, yet) the end of the career of the “Excellence of Execution” at Starrcade on December 19, 1999.

It’s been a very controversial match for all of the wrong reasons. 

If you look at it from a storytelling perspective, the ending of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match would see “Rowdy” Roddy Piper prematurely call for the bell for Bret as he had a Sharpshooter on Goldberg. For the second time in two years (the first being at Survivor Series 1998 in the finals of the “Deadly Game” tournament for the World Wrestling Federation Championship), the very real Montreal Screwjob from Survivor Series 1997 was reworked into a storyline, truly souring the fans who wanted a straight-up winner.

However, it is best remembered for what happened to Bret within the match. “Hit Man” took a mule kick from Goldberg hard into the head, albeit accidentally, causing him to receive a massive concussion. 

Hart finished the match, then proceeded to try and work through the injury over the next month. Sadly, he suffered several more concussions during that time period, and, due to doctor’s orders, was forced to hang up the boots permanently as a full-time wrestler.

Over the next two decades, Bret Hart and Goldberg’s relationship completely deteriorated, to the point where Bret has knocked him repeatedly for his “unsafe” style in the ring. Goldberg, to his credit, apologized profusely, but the animosity continues on between both men.

It’s sad to me honestly, as I really did enjoy their feud built off of respect heading into Starrcade 1999.

At least it led to one of my favorite memories from The Powers That Be Era of WCW:

BRET HART AND GOLDBERG AS WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!

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The path was set for Bret Hart and Goldberg back on March 18, 1999 in Panama City Beach, FL at Club La Vela for Monday Nitro.

Bret came out to the ring for an interview with Mean Gene Okerlund and proceeded to vent his spleen. In WCW for the previous fifteen months, “Hit Man” was incredibly disgruntled with how he was presented within the promotion. Although he, at this point, held the WCW United States Championship three times, Hart felt like he was lost in the shuffle and not used, in his mind, to his full potential. Bret mentioned Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Kevin Nash as possible opponents, but fans erupted when he mentioned the name Goldberg.

Bret said that Goldberg might have been “hand-fed” opponents, but he’s never faced a technical wrestler like him before. He challenged Goldberg to a match, and then subsequently stated he could beat him in five minutes, no problem.

The following week, at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, “Hit Man” came out to the ring to a thunderous ovation. Wearing his Calgary Hitmen hockey jersey, Hart began in again on the disrespect he’s received in WCW. He said that he wasn’t able to get a main-event level match with anyone, but it was going to change right then and there. Once again, Hart called out Goldberg, but with a twist.

Bret stated that “he likes to fancy himself as a big, fancy, tough football player.” But Bret, in Canada, pulled off his Hitmen jersey to show his Tie Domi Toronto Maple Leaf sweater to a massive ovation. He then said, “This is Hockey Country. So put away your silly helmet and come on out and fight me!”

That’s fighting words.

Goldberg made a beeline for the ring, and both men circled like bulls in the rodeo. Suddenly, in a flash, “Da Man” speared the daylights out of the “Hit Man”. Both laid on the canvas out cold for several moments. Tony Schiavone speculated that the way Goldberg delivered the Spear might have knocked him unconscious. Until…

Bret, seemingly unfazed, rolled Goldberg onto his back, and, in a pinning predicament, counted three on the canvas. Hart then got up, with Goldberg still unconscious, took off his Maple Leaf jersey and unveiled a STEEL PLATE strapped to his midsection!

With the Canadian fan base going crazy, Hart grabbed the microphone and let out a vicious soliloquy.

“Go ahead and respect that! Hey Bischoff and the WCW, I QUIT!”

With WCW Head of Security Doug Dillinger checking on the prone Goldberg, Hart left the ring with both Commissioner JJ Dillon and Eric Bischoff, who off-camera was WCW Executive Vice President, tailing him to the backstage area.

In truth, Bret was working through a serious groin injury and needed surgery to repair the damage. However, two months later at Slamboree, during an awesome match between Sting and Goldberg, “Hit Man” would make his return, steel chair in hand, and beat the Hell out of Goldberg with it. With a disgusted look on his face, we all knew what was on the horizon. It was inevitable.

And then tragedy struck.

On May 23, 1999, at the Kemper Arena for the WWF’s Over the Edge pay-per-view event, Bret’s brother Owen, who was portraying his Blue Blazer superhero persona, died at the age of 33, when his harness snapped as he was repelling in from the ceiling to make a grandstand entrance. 

Rocking Bret to his core, WCW, understandably, gave him as much time as he needed to recover from the traumatic loss of his baby brother.

After making an appearance on the July 5 Nitro from the Georgia Dome, where he stated that he wasn’t sure if he’d ever wrestle again, “Hit Man” made his in-ring return on August 20, 1999 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA during a live event against WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. They would wrestle two more times that weekend, in Reno, NV and Inglewood, CA respectively, and then wrestle again on September 3 and 4 in Pensacola and Tallahassee, FL. Bret would make his televised wrestling return on September 13, 1999 in Chapel Hill, NC, teaming with the Hulkster in a losing effort to Lex Luger and Sting.

On October 4, 1999, in the same building where Owen passed away, Bret and Chris Benoit, current WCW World Television Champion, faced off in a classic Stampede-style wrestling match. Both men went three segments, until “Hit Man” caught the “Crippler” in the Sharpshooter and was forced to tap out. Handshakes, hugs, and tears were shed. Bret looked to the sky and pointed up, dedicating the match to his brother.

“The Excellence of Execution” was back.

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At the same time, Goldberg was beginning his rise back to the top after the “steel plate incident” in Toronto.

After Slamboree 2000, Goldberg missed two months of action due to the attack from both Bret and the reunited Steiner Brothers during the match with Sting. In truth, it was to film UNIVERSAL SOLDIER with Jean-Claude Van Damme. 

“Da Man” would then make his own return at the Georgia Dome on the July 5 Nitro, shocking the audience during the band Megadeth’s performance of “Crush Em”.

After getting revenge on Rick Steiner at Road Wild in August, Goldberg then set his sights on Diamond Dallas Page and the Jersey Triad, with whom he defeated convincingly at Fall Brawl in September. Finally, heading into October, a dream match was on the books, as Goldberg would be going face-to-face with the “Millennium Man” and United States Champion Sid Vicious.

By Halloween Havoc on October 24, 1999, the promotion would be under complete upheaval.

The Powers That Be - Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara - signed on with the promotion on October 4, 1999 after leaving the World Wrestling Federation. Not signed to official contracts, Russo left the promotion on short notice due to personal conflicts with WWF head honcho Vince McMahon. Ferrara, who was on the outs with Mr. McMahon as well, was not far behind.

Russo and Ferrara began drafting and working on a brand new direction for WCW, who was still reeling after Eric Bischoff was sent home in mid-September 1999. The long-term plan was to rebuild the television product while using the established veterans with the young, unproven talent to prepare for the future of the company from 2000 and beyond.

They also knew that they needed to craft a massive storyline heading into Starrcade, WCW’s biggest event of the year, to keep fans invested on the short term.

BRET HART VS GOLDBERG was the meal ticket.

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The rivalry between both men kicked back up the day after Halloween Havoc on the October 25 Nitro, when Bret and Goldberg faced off in a first-round match in a tournament for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

How did this all come about? Let me explain.

The night before at the pay-per-view, there was a hold-up of the Big Gold Belt. Hulk Hogan and WCW Champion Sting was scheduled to face off in their grudge rematch from Fall Brawl. Prior to the bell, Hogan whispered something in the Stinger’s ear, laid down in the middle of the ring and made Sting cover him for the pinfall loss. The second the match was over, Hogan got up, and left the arena, not to be seen for months.

Sting, still champion, laid down the gauntlet and issued an Open Challenge. Out walked Goldberg, who had won the United States Championship from Vicious earlier on in the night. The referee sounded the bell, and the match was on.

After taking a Spear, as well as three Stinger Splashes, from the champion, Goldberg persevered, nailing a Spear and a Jackhammer to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. 

For the second time in his young career, Goldberg was a double champion!

Following the match, Sting argued with the referee that it was not an official WCW Title defense. Referee Charles Robinson disagreed and ate a Scorpion Death Drop for his troubles.

As Nitro went on the air the next night, Sting, sans face paint, made his way out to the ring, calling out Commissioner JJ Dillon. Once JJ arrived, the Stinger stated that he was trying to bail WCW out of a tough situation with the main event. However, he did not state that the World Heavyweight Championship was on the line against Goldberg.

The Commissioner agreed, and the WCW Championship Committee announced that Goldberg was NOT World Champion. However, NEITHER WAS STING! Dillon stated that, due to the Scorpion Death Drop delivered on the referee after the match, Sting was STRIPPED of the WCW Title.

Mr. Dillon then announced that there would be a thirty-two-man tournament for the vacant title, which would begin on that night’s program. Sting unleashed his anger and frustrations by giving the Commissioner a Stinger Splash and a Scorpion Death Drop for his worries.

With all of that out of the way, Bret Hart and Goldberg faced off in a first-round match in the main event. Coincidentally, Goldberg’s newly won United States Championship was also on the line.

“Hit Man”, who was dealing with an ankle issue caused in his loss at Halloween Havoc to The Total Package, took a nasty spill to the floor, reaggravating his injury. With the referee down, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Sid Vicious made a beeline to the ring. Goldberg tried to fight, but was overcome by the three monsters. Hall choke-slammed him, Nash side slammed him, and Sid devastated him with a Powerbomb.

Hart, not aware of the shenanigans that transpired, rolled into the ring, crawled over to Goldberg’s prone carcass, and pinned him for three. 

Bret Hart, injured leg and all, not only advanced to the second round of the WCW World Title Tournament, but also won the U.S. Championship!

Over the next few weeks, Bret, while continuing on with the tournament, wanted to vacate the championship back to Goldberg due to the way he had won the match. The Powers That Be refused that, instead forcing him to defend the title in a four-way ladder match on November 8 from Indianapolis, IN against Hall, Vicious, and Goldberg. 

Hart, already spent after a second round win against the Revolution’s Perry Saturn, climbed the ladder to regain, or officially win, the U.S. Title. However, Nash, special guest referee, nailed Bret in his bad leg, and handed off the title to Hall. Nash signaled for the bell, and raised Hall’s hand. The Outsiders played everyone again.

Ultimately, Bret Hart made it to the finals of the WCW World Title Tournament at Mayhem in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 21, 1999, and, in a match that included interference from Dean Malenko, Hall and Nash, and Goldberg, he submitted Chris Benoit with a Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring to become World Heavyweight Champion!

(FUN FACT: The Bret turning Benoit into the submission clip was used in the introduction to Malcolm in the Middle on Fox.)

It was indeed ironic that in the same building where he quit back in March - the Air Canada Center - was the place “Hit Man” would become champion.

The next night on Nitro in Detroit, Bret announced his intentions and offered Goldberg a shot at the World Title at Starrcade. The reasoning was due to the way “Da Man” was screwed out of the United States Championship a month earlier. 

Goldberg accepted the offer. Respect was the foundation being laid down as Hart and Goldberg began their journey towards December 19.

Two and a half weeks later on the December 9, 1999 Thunder, the WCW World Heavyweight Champion and the #1 contender, a mere ten days from the pay-per-view, were put together to face off with Creative Control, Patrick and Gerald, for the WCW World Tag Team Championships.

Creative Control were hired guns that forced fellow WCW wrestlers to follow the creative direction that The Powers That Be wanted for television. On 11/22, the night after Mayhem, they defeated the Filthy Animals of Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr to win the Tag Team Titles. 

After one successful defense against Booker T and Buff Bagwell on the following week’s Nitro, the twin enforcers suffered a massive indignity, losing a handicap “I Quit” match to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper on December 6.

Goldberg, who saw the Hot Rod as a mentor, was tired of seeing the abuse dished out by the champs and demolished both men. After a Jackhammer to Gerald, Piper, who was forced to become a WCW referee earlier in the month, choked the daylights out of Patrick with his belt, forcing an “I Quit”.

On Thunder, Creative Control would be looking for revenge against Goldberg, while trying to create some dissension between him and Bret.

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Prior to the match, referee Mark “Slick” Johnson went into The Powers That Be’s office, presumably to receive his marching orders on what they wanted to go down: a Patrick and Gerald win.

To be completely honest, the match wasn’t anything special. However, there was a lot of story.

“Slick” Johnson was attempting to fast count Bret when he was being pinned and threatened to disqualify Goldberg for trying to stop the outright assault Creative Control was getting away with.

“Rowdy” Roddy had enough.

Making his way into the arena, Piper confronted the crooked Johnson and sent him to the floor. Once the sides were balanced, Goldberg and Hart dominated. While the WCW World Champion hooked one of the twins in the Sharpshooter, Goldberg Speared and Jackhammered the other one for a three count.

BRET “HIT MAN” HART AND GOLDBERG WERE NOW THE WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!

After the fight, Bret, with two titles over his left shoulder, grabbed the microphone from ring announcer Dave Penzer. He told Goldberg that at Starrcade, the world would see who truly is the “Best There Is, Best There Was, and the Best There’ll Ever Be”.

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The reign of Bret Hart and Goldberg only lasted four days.

On the following December 13, 1999 Nitro, “Hit Man” and Goldberg were in the ring to kick off the program, barking at one another about who was going to win at Starrcade. Suddenly, the Outsiders entered the arena, issuing a challenge to the pair for the Tag gold. The champs accepted, and a massive war was going to close the show.

However, there were some complications.

Just before the match in the backstage area, WCW’s resident “Professor” Mike Tenay called for medical assistance, as Bret was laid out in his locker room. Goldberg, after checking on his Starrcade opponent/partner, took both Tag Team Titles and made his way out to the ring.