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On Friday 8/19, 2K Sports held a launch party for the forthcoming WWE 2K17 videogame, which will be released this October for all major gaming systems. At the event, I had the chance to speak with former WCW and WWE World champion Bill Goldberg, who was announced as a special pre-order character in the videogame. Goldberg had arrived earlier that day from a similar appearance in Cologne, Germany. Here is the complete transcript of our conversation:
MIKE JOHNSON: Mike Johnson here with former WCW and WWE World champion Bill Goldberg. How was your flight from Germany, sir?
BILL GOLDBERG: I don't remember....I really don't. You know, it was good. It was kind of an adrenaline rush....it was an adrenaline rush with all the people who graced me with their precense in Cologne. I was floored. But you know, you get a little older and the travel's a little different and you know...
JOHNSON: It aches a little more?
GOLDBERG: Well, I just had both my knees operated on in the last six weeks, so I was up and walking around and doing my thing. The trick is to drink as much water and eat as much food as possible and get your blood flowing. It was fine. It was fine. I was on an adrenaline rush from all the fans out in Cologne. It was cool.
JOHNSON: So, let's talk about WWE 2K17. Were you surprised when they reached out to you about being the pre-order character and being specially featured in the game?
GOLDBERG: No, I wasn't surprised when they reached out to me. I was surprised when they OK'd it.
JOHNSON: By they, you mean WWE.
GOLDBERG: Yeah, because 2K's been pushing it for years and well, maybe they finally came to their senses.
JOHNSON: The obvious question is then, has there been any discussions about Goldberg working with WWE directly?
GOLDBERG: [Raising voice to deepen base.] NO. [Smiles.]
JOHNSON: Would you like there to be?
GOLDBERG: [Long pause.] I would accept them. I would accept a conversation. Would I like there to be? Hmm. That would mean I am wishing for it and I'm not that guy. If it happens, it happens and if it doesn't, then my beat, my life goes on and I have a very full plate and I'll just have to kick people's butt on the big screen.
JOHNSON: Well, let me quantify that question. I know you've said in the past - and when I interviewed you before, you'd like to do something on a major stage so your kid could see 'Goldberg' in his full glory. Would you like that?
GOLDBERG: Well, he's got this [Points to WWE 2K17 banner behind him.] That takes the place. You know, I am able to provide my son with so many cool experiences now. If I'm not able to do it in a wrestling ring...it's kind of calmed down a little bit. I've gotten him driver introductions at NASCAR. I've gotten him on the sidelines at Monday Night Football. I've got a lot of cool opportunities for my boy. He's going to be in my next movie. He's going to do stunts in my next movie. We have a lot of fun together. If I get another opportunity to step in the ring and wrestle against anybody, hey, it'd be cool. If I don't get an opportunity to do it, I don't think my life is gonna end.
JOHNSON: One last question and then I'll let you go as I know there's a lot of people waiting to talk to you: after all these years, what's the legacy of WCW and the legacy of the Goldberg character in your mind?
GOLDBERG: That's a tough one man. I really don't know. I would leave it to the people to cast judgment on how you want to remember me. I was a guy who didn't take any crap and I was....my adage was the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
JOHNSON: Hence the spear.
GOLDBERG: Why do the flop and flip? Let everyone else do that and entertain people. I want to cut through people and rip their heads off. That's what I do. So, there always has to be a guy like that and that's why Brock [Lesnar]'s doing so well.
JOHNSON: Well, I thank you for your time and wish you nothing but the best with your films and everything else.
GOLDBERG: My pleasure man. Thank you.
Follow Goldberg @Goldberg.
You can pre-order WWE 2K17 by clicking here.
Mike Johnson can be reached at MikeJohnsonPWInsider@gmail.com.
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