In the main event of WWE Backlash 2003, Goldberg defeated The Rock despite The Great One almost clinching the victory with a low blow.
Goldberg debuted for WWE in 2003, two years after WWE had purchased select assets of the bankrupt WCW.
The Rock, who had already gained popularity in Hollywood courtesy of his iconic role in The Scorpion King, requested for Vince McMahon to sign Goldberg.
On his Something to Wrestle With podcast, Bruce Prichard recalled that although The Rock was initially excited to wrestle Goldberg, their storyline didn’t have a good start.
The People’s Champion began to have reservations about his match with Goldberg, which made him all the more desperate to avoid working with the WCW icon. Prichard said,
“I think it was two weeks, three weeks into this. Rock, who begged us to bring Goldberg in, comes to us and says, ‘Hey, I got an idea. I’ve been watching the little guy with the mask (…) Rey Mysterio, is that his name? Holy sh-t, man, we could tear it up! How about we just slide Rey into the match, I do something with Rey? That’ll be a great f-cking match.’”
“What do we do with Goldberg, Rock?’ (…) ‘Erm, I don’t know, but me and Rey could have a hell of a match.’ So, two weeks in, Rock was bailing on him and just like going, ‘Oh man, I’m just terrified of this match.’”
Although The Rock was serious about wrestling Rey Mysterio, McMahon pushed through with the original booking for Backlash.
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