WWE News: Goldberg on if WWE and the fans should forgive Hulk Hogan, copying "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

What’s the story?

In a recent appearance on CBS Sports’ In This Corner Podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg opened up on a myriad of topics.

Goldberg gave his take on whether WWE and the fans should forgive Hulk Hogan for the latter’s racist rant. Besides, Goldberg also addressed the longtime banter of him copying “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s WWE character during the time Goldberg himself ascended as a top star in WCW.

In case you didn’t know…

It was back in 2015 that WWE fired Hulk Hogan in light of a few leaked tapes that were released on the internet—ones that featured Hogan mouthing racist profanities.

The WWE has remained firm on its stance of not rehiring Hogan after the aforementioned incident surfaced in the media, and Hogan—on his part—has issued multiple apologies in the ensuing years for his racist rant.

For long, the professional wrestling community has witnessed banter regarding the Goldberg character in WCW copying several elements from the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin character in WWE—with said banter first emerging at a time when Austin was regarded as the biggest star in the pro-wrestling industry.

The heart of the matter

Goldberg opined that everybody deserves a second chance and that Hulk Hogan could be accorded a chance too. Goldberg stated—

"Oh, that's not for me to judge—I think everybody deserves a second chance—I think you put (Hulk Hogan) in the locker room and give him the floor and let him speak his mind. That's what he deserves. Who knows what happens from there but it's not for me to say by any means. I can just give you my opinion and say that he deserves the floor and who knows where it goes from there."

Furthermore, as regards the long-running rumours that he copied “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in order to better his own character of Goldberg in WCW, Goldberg elucidated that he “never copied a damn thing from Steve Austin’.

Goldberg added that when one has a character as grandiose, successful and self-encompassing such as Stone Cold, one can’t help but take cues from his rise to help better one’s own hopeful rise—something which Goldberg admitted to, as he took notes from Austin to help with the rise of Goldberg in WCW.

Goldberg explained that watching Austin from afar, he took notes on what to do & what not to do—with Austin being a positive influence on his career. Goldberg continued that he made Austin’s acquaintance when he came over to WWE, and they’ve been friends ever since.

What’s next?

Goldberg retired from the sport of professional wrestling last year, while Steve Austin stepped away from the sport several years back owing to injury issues.

As noted, Goldberg is presently dealing with shoulder injury issues. Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan continues to expand his thriving businesses in Florida.