Kevin Nash Says Goldberg Was 'So Explosive' That His Body Kept Breaking Down

Kevin Nash believes Goldberg’s exceptional explosiveness placed added strain on his body, explaining that the former WCW Champion had already experienced the physical toll of professional football before beginning his wrestling career.

Speaking on the Kliq This podcast, Nash discussed the damage wrestlers suffer after spending years inside the ring. He said the physical consequences can arrive sooner for wrestlers who begin their careers performing with Goldberg’s speed and force.

Goldberg entered professional wrestling after playing college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. He later spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers before injuries brought his football career to an end. Nash explained that Goldberg did not enter wrestling with a fresh body. By the time he started training at WCW’s Power Plant, he had already spent years playing football as a defensive lineman.

“If it’s like Goldberg and you start out right in the ring, your time is—you’re f*cked quick,” Nash said. “The thing with Bill was, Bill had already played. He was All-SEC defensive end. He played pro football."

Goldberg’s wrestling style was based on short bursts of speed and power. His matches often featured the Spear and Jackhammer, while his entrance showed him striking doors and breathing smoke before walking to the ring. According to Nash, that explosiveness helped make Goldberg different from other wrestlers but also increased the possibility of his body breaking down.

Bill’s problem was he was so fcking explosive. He just tore sht,” Nash continued. “He tore his abdomen—or his f*cking—I think he tore his abdomen when he was cut in the NFL.”

Goldberg’s NFL career ended after he suffered an abdominal injury. He later moved into professional wrestling and made his WCW television debut in September 1997, defeating Hugh Morrus on Nitro. His undefeated run turned him into one of WCW’s most recognizable wrestlers. Goldberg defeated Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at the Georgia Dome on July 6, 1998.

Nash ended Goldberg’s winning streak at Starrcade on December 27, 1998, after interference from Scott Hall. Their history continued through later WCW matches, giving Nash first-hand experience of Goldberg’s physical style. Goldberg also suffered injuries during his wrestling career. In December 1999, he badly cut his forearm after striking the window of a limousine during a WCW segment. The injury required surgery and kept him away from the ring for several months.

Nash’s comments were not meant to question Goldberg’s conditioning or toughness. He argued that Goldberg’s body was being asked to produce an unusual amount of force after already surviving the demands of football. The same explosiveness that made Goldberg’s Spear and Jackhammer look convincing also placed pressure on muscles and tendons whenever he performed. In Nash’s view, Goldberg’s physical gifts became one of the reasons his body was vulnerable to injury.