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Why Triple H did not renew wrestling star Goldberg's WWE contract

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Mohammad Bilal
Mohammad BilalMar 23, 2023 | 08:30

Why Triple H did not renew wrestling star Goldberg's WWE contract

WWE has reportedly not renewed Goldberg's contract in the company. Photo: Getty

WWE’s creative head Paul Triple H Levesque has decided not to renew wrestler Bill Goldberg's contract with the company and has released him officially. Goldberg is now a free agent and can join any wrestling company he wants to. 

But the WWE Universe is wondering why the Hunter didn’t allow a farewell match to Goldberg who once was a top performer in the wrestling industry and is considered one of the most intense wrestlers of all time. 

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Since Vince McMahon in 2016 was the man behind bringing back Goldberg from his retirement and convinced him to perform for the company, it seems Triple H, who now handles the creative decision, was no longer interested in getting the services of Goldberg.

Is there bad blood between Goldberg and Triple H? The wrestling world is abuzz with rumours that Triple H didn’t renew the contract because of his personal grudges against Goldberg. 

The two have had their fair share of personal rivalry back when both of them were at the peak of their careers in early 2000s.

Goldberg was the biggest name in WCW until 1998 when it was sold to WWE. He was unbeaten in WCW from 1997 to 1998 in one-on-one fights.

But when Vince McMahon got WCW, Goldberg was out of action for few years. It is even said that  McMahon brought Goldberg specifically into WWE to have his special feud with Triple H, who was another emerging wrestler in the company.

McMahon wanted to gain the maximum leverage out Goldberg and Triple H's in-ring rivalry. And it did work. Goldberg and Triple H went on to fight in several pay-per-views ranging from Unforgiven to Survivor Series and Elimination Chamber. Goldberg also won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship title from Triple H which after a few months was once again won by ‘The Game’.

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This led to an intense rivallry between the too. Goldberg once even confessed that he didn’t like Triple H at all.

Goldberg once even confessed that he didn’t like Triple H at all. Photo: Twitter

During his interview on WWE show Byte in 2003, Goldberg said: "The truth is I don’t like the guy and I enjoy wearing the belt that he so graciously called his own because in reality, it was mine first.”

Even Triple H minced no words back then when speaking against Goldberg. At an appearance at Tough Enough reality show, the video clip of which is viral since yesterday, Triple H is heard telling wrestlers that Goldberg had no passion for the game and would be home for three months before the next fight. Though he didn’t take his name, it was clear that he was talking about Goldberg.

Triple H back then had gone a step ahead and even tore Goldberg’s poster on the wall of one of the trainees. 

Goldberg even considered his years in WWE in 2003-2004 as one of the worst in his wrestling career as he felt that his character was turned into a monster by the company, something which he absolutely never liked.

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And in 2004, he left the company for 12 long years.

Was rivalry a reason for Triple H not renewing Goldberg's contract? It looks like the two had left their differences and after 2016, it was more of a professional relationship between the two. Triple H was the one behind Goldberg's feud with Brock Lesnar upon his return in 2016. 

Their former rivalry cannot be a reason for Paul to not renew Goldberg's contract. 

What is the reason then? One reason why Triple H didn’t renew Goldberg’s contract could be that at 52, Goldberg is past his prime and doesn’t put up good fights now, amongst the few he gets into.

It’s hard for Goldberg to put up a match for more than 3 minutes now and the WWE Universe saw this at the Crown Jewel event when his match against The Undertaker ended in a big disappointment.

Goldberg against Bobby Lashley at Crown Jewel event in 2021. Photo: Getty

Triple H, being a former wrestler, gives more weightage to wrestling and the fact that Goldberg stands nowhere in terms of putting on a good fight now could be the main reason his contract was not renewed.

But shouldn't there have been a farewell match for Goldberg? This is a question which Triple H will have to answer sometime.

What’s next for Goldberg? Since Goldberg is now officially a free agent, his fans want Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to sign him up.

Even Tony Khan has shown interest in getting Goldberg on board. “I have a lot of respect for Bill Goldberg. He’s a household name in pro wrestling, so its interesting to hear that he is a free agent so that’s something to follow. He’s one of the biggest names in wrestling and certainly will be something else to keep an eye on for us, ” Wrestletalk quoted Tony Khan as saying.

Last updated: March 23, 2023 | 08:30
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