WWE veteran reveals Goldberg vs. Hulk Hogan match arose from WCW's desperation

WWE veteran Vince Russo has disclosed that a high-profile match between Goldberg and Hulk Hogan on WCW Nitro in July 1998 stemmed from Eric Bischoff’s desperate booking decisions during the Monday Night Wars.

Rather than saving the marquee matchup for a pay-per-view event, WCW opted to feature it on a regular episode of Nitro. Russo, who worked as a writer for both WCW and WWE during the ratings war era, pointed to this decision as evidence of poor planning.

During his appearance on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Writing with Russo, the former writer reflected on the circumstances that led to this booking decision:

I assume that the reason Bischoff had that type of a match because he was feeling desperation. I mean, that’s what I would assume. And you know, again, bro, who put himself in a spot of desperation? He did. So if I was in that spot of desperation, Chris; perhaps, I would have done the same thing. But I would have never booked myself in a spot of desperation in the first place.

Teddy Long suggests Gunther as opponent for Goldberg’s farewell match

Building on the discussion of Goldberg’s career, WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long has proposed World Heavyweight Champion Gunther as a potential opponent for Goldberg’s retirement match. Long shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Wrestling Time Machine with Mac Davis and Bill Apter.

Long outlined his vision for the match:

If you wanted to do the right thing, if you got a guy there that you wanted to really push and you wanted to really do something with, then that retirement match, I’d put that guy over, get up, shake his hand, congratulate him, and wish him good luck.

Bill Apter supported this perspective, highlighting the potential benefits for Gunther:

Goldberg goes out on his back, puts Gunther over even more. Of course, there will be the critics ‘Oh, Goldberg’s old…’ But this will add more to Gunther’s classiness as a champion when the two of them shake hands.