Debunking The Myths Of Goldberg vs Regal 1998
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MAT CLASSIC: DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF REGAL VS. GOLDBERG
by Buck Woodward @ 5:00:00 PM on 4/28/2004
It's weird how "time and talk" can reshape, and in some cases distort,
history. That two pound fish you caught while sitting on your
friend's boat in 1989 becomes the shark you had to kill with only a
pocket knife when you retell the story in 2004. The concert that was
"okay" when you saw it in 1993 became "the greatest performance of all
time" when you talked about it last week at a party. In wrestling,
this type of talk happens all the time. The "legendary" match that
you've heard about for years ends up being a snoozer when you finally
track down a tape of it.
A prime example of the "legend" outshining the match would be the
infamous Steven (William) Regal vs. Bill Goldberg match from Nitro on
February 18, 1998. People will talk about how "Regal stretched
Goldberg and got fired for it" or how "the match was brutally stiff"
and truth be told, the bout hardly seems like a UFC battle broke out
on TNT that night. With Goldberg recently leaving WWE, and William
Regal returning to television, now seemed like an interesting time to
look back at the match, and debunk some myths.
First, we will look at the match itself, then the aftermath.
The Background
There was no real storyline to the bout, as it was simply the red-hot
rookie Goldberg, building up his "streak" (they weren't even counting
the victories yet) going against the veteran Regal. Most expected the
match to be another "three minutes or less" win for Goldberg. Regal,
overweight and, by his own later admission, in less than good shape
personally, was lost in the shuffle of the large WCW roster.
The Match
Regal made his way to the ring to boos, as the announcers were already
putting over Goldberg, as well as discussing the Louie Spicolli-Larry
Zbyszko feud from a previous segment. Goldberg had his pyrotechnic
entrance, although at this point he hadn't started standing in the
middle of the sparks as the fireworks went off.
The bell rang as the fans chanted Goldberg's name. Goldberg grabbed a
side headlock, but Regal snapmared him to the mat, threw a kick to the
back, and as Goldberg rose, threw a pair of European uppercuts. They
struggled in a collar and elbow tie up, and Regal went for a three
quarter nelson, stepping on the back of Goldberg's leg to try and
bring him down to the mat. Goldberg grabbed an armbar, but Regal
reversed it and went into a waistlock. Goldberg dropped into a
leglace and applied an ankle lock, but Regal made the ropes.
They locked up, and Regal poked Goldberg in the eyes. Regal hit a
pair of forearms, and grabbed at his leg. Goldberg didn't go down, and
Regal went for an arm. Goldberg reversed the hold and applied an
armtwist, then cradled Regal to the mat, but they were in the ropes.
Regal kicked Goldberg in the side of the head on the break, the first
move that Goldberg sold for (remember, at the time, Goldberg didn't
sell anything).
They circled each other, and Regal hit a knee to the midsection on a
lockup. Regal took Goldberg down with a sidemare and applied a
headlock, but Goldberg grabbed a headscissors. Regal powered out of
it and applied a front face lock. Goldberg got out with a pair of
knees to the midsection and backed Regal into a corner. Regal poked
Goldberg in the eyes on the break and hit an uppercut. Regal went for
a hiptoss, but Goldberg reversed it into an armdrag. Goldberg
maintained an armbar, but Regal kicked Goldberg in the head to break
it.
Then the match seemed to slow down, as it looked like there was
miscommunication in the ring. Regal reached for Goldberg's leg,
tripping him to the mat. Regal grabbed the arm again, but Goldberg
moved behind Regal and hit a back suplex. Regal stopped a Goldberg
whip and headbutted Goldberg in the midsection, then hit some
forearms. Regal clipped the leg of Goldberg, and hit a series of
knees to the midsection, but Goldberg came back with a sloppy spinning
neckbreaker.
Goldberg shot Regal into the ropes and hit a shoulderblock. Goldberg
hit a forearm in a corner and went for a kick, but Regal blocked it
and hit a series of palm strikes to the face, then a headbutt. Regal
went for a whip, but Goldberg reversed it and hit the spear. The crowd
came alive again, and Goldberg hit the jackhammer for the pin at the
5:15 mark.
The Aftermath
Here is a fact: Steven Regal was fired after this match. Now,
everything else depends on who is telling you the story.
Version 1: Regal decided he wanted to make Goldberg look foolish in
the match, and as a result was fired either immediately after the
match, or the next day, for his unprofessional behavior.
Version 2: Goldberg didn't want to take any bumps for Regal, so Regal
purposely put Goldberg in holds to make him look weak and didn't give
Goldberg the amount of offense he was supposed to get in the match.
Version 3: Regal refused to be squashed by Goldberg, and insisted on
calling all the spots, leading to the miscommunication.
Version 4: Regal was fired for his behavior on a flight several weeks
earlier, along with other factors, and the Goldberg match was not the
main reason.
What's the truth? Well, in July of 1999, after being rehired by WCW,
Regal was on an edition of WCW Live (WCW's Internet talk show) and
talked about the Goldberg match. According to Regal, he and Goldberg
were told that they would be having a six minute match. Goldberg had
not worked many matches, and very few that went more than three
minutes, so Regal tried to work some holds into the match. Goldberg
didn't know what was going on, and resisted a lot of the moves. Regal
said he didn't blame Goldberg for what happened, and that he was on
friendly terms with Bill. Regal blamed the booker of the match (who
he would not name) for putting Goldberg in a situation he wasn't ready
for. However, Regal said he did take the heat for things following
the match. As for his firing, Regal took full blame for it, and
attributed it to his own personal problems (which he has since
defeated).
Thoughts
Was there miscommunication in this match? Absolutely, and you can
tell Goldberg (who it should be pointed out was still very green at
this time) didn't know how to "work" a match. He resisted things like
Regal going for a single leg takedown, and seemed tentative on other
moves. Did Regal stretch him? Nope. Goldberg was never in any hold
for more than a few seconds. Did Regal stiff him? While the kicks and
palm strikes could be seen as possibly being stiff, at no point did
Goldberg cover up from them. Was Regal trying to show him up? I don't
know. I tend to think that Regal just didn't want to be squashed for
six minutes, so he tried to work a more competitive match, something
Goldberg wasn't used to.
So, in my opinion, this simply was a match between a rookie and a
veteran with a lot of miscommunication, and is hardly the "shoot" that
the legend has turned it into. In some ways, the miscommunication
adds a sense of realism to the bout, but it is hardly the fierce
battle that "time and talk" have made it in the memories of some fans.
You can write me at BuckWr...@aol.com.
Steve 9194
Presto
news:20040430012633...@mb-m06.aol.com...
> Hi Bill, it's good to see you've found work after being let go from the
WWE.
Work? So that WAS Goldberg I saw in the middle of the road. I saw some big
bald guy holding up a cardboard sign in the middle of the road that said
"Will Squash For Food".
--
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The Vick
>
>http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=2140&p=1
>
>MAT CLASSIC: DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF REGAL VS. GOLDBERG
>by Buck Woodward @ 5:00:00 PM on 4/28/2004
>
I have this on tape and obviously Buck Woodward was watching a
completely different match.
Fact: Goldberg tried to stiff Regal and had his bluff called. Regal
owned Goldberg for everything except about the last half minute where
Regal had to sell Goldberg's finishers for the boring winning streak
angle to continue.
The Vick
APWW's Rabid Wolverine
Slammy Award for Best On-Topic Poster 2002 and 2003
APWW Award for Best On-Topic Poster 2002
The Vick
>
>"Steve 9194" <stev...@aol.com> wrote in message
>news:20040430012633...@mb-m06.aol.com...
>> Hi Bill, it's good to see you've found work after being let go from the
>WWE.
>
>Work? So that WAS Goldberg I saw in the middle of the road.
/me asks Presto for directions to where Goldberg is the middle of the
road :)
>I saw some big
>bald guy holding up a cardboard sign in the middle of the road that said
>"Will Squash For Food".
wanna...@cogeco.cant
news:pb359057t53s2gpdb...@4ax.com...
>
> >I saw some big
> >bald guy holding up a cardboard sign in the middle of the road that said
> >"Will Squash For Food".
>
That must be Goldberg. Because Austin's sign said "Will Stun For Beer"
dojj
--
*shakes fist*
poster in disguise
"The Vick" <vick_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6m25909upelhauvhi...@4ax.com...
> >On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:21:13 -0500, ~I澡攬驍~ <sck...@lycos.com > wrote:
> >
> >http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=2140&p=1
> >
> >MAT CLASSIC: DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF REGAL VS. GOLDBERG
> >by Buck Woodward @ 5:00:00 PM on 4/28/2004
> >
>
> I have this on tape and obviously Buck Woodward was watching a
> completely different match.
>
> Fact: Goldberg tried to stiff Regal and had his bluff called. Regal
> owned Goldberg for everything except about the last half minute where
> Regal had to sell Goldberg's finishers for the boring winning streak
> angle to continue.
>
i've seen the match as well
it just ain't pretty is all i can say
goldberg looked very green and regal came across as being difficult to work
with
now, whether this was because goldberg wasn't experienced enough to make the
match work or if regal just wanted a non squahs match i don't know, but
goldberg looked well out of place and th eonly thing he pulled off with any
authority was the finisher
even then, i don't think regal would have let him if he didn't want to :)
so no wonder regal takes the heat for it, he can't say that goldberg was a
great opponent can he, and htis way he reinforces the fact that bill was a
bit of a "pushed to quick" rookie at that point