The Steve Austin Show – Goldberg PART TWO – SAS CLASSIC

Episode Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Bill Goldberg

Episode Overview

In this highly engaging second installment of Steve Austin’s illuminating sit-down with wrestling legend Bill Goldberg, the two icons reminisce about their respective journeys through wrestling, delve into their signature personas, discuss the business's competitive landscape, and branch out to talk memorabilia, movie roles, MMA, car culture, and more. Recorded at Goldberg's garage, the conversation retains the raw, unfiltered energy Steve’s listeners love, blending heartfelt storytelling, comedic asides, and deeper reflections on wrestling’s culture and legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Wrestling in the WWF vs. WCW—“Square Peg in a Round Hole”

• Goldberg reflects on his difficult transition into WWE, describing it as never quite fitting in, compared to the more comfortable, team-oriented WCW locker room.
  • Quote: “It was a square peg and round hole. ...I always felt as though I was a football player at a frat party, right? That. To me, that's a pretty fair analogy.” (09:46)
• The perception of Goldberg as an outsider led to him having his own locker room—often misunderstood as arrogance but rooted in his desire to avoid unnecessary conflict.
  • Quote: “If a caged animal, if a Tyrannosaurus rex chooses to be in a room because he knows that the path of least resistance is much more favorable in everybody's outcome, then so be it.” (11:43)

Comparisons, Competition, and Respect

• Steve and Bill joke about routinely being mistaken for each other in airports during the Monday Night Wars era, illustrating the heated—but respectful—competition.
  • Goldberg: “At a casual glance, yeah, I could see the similarity. ...But, you know, I'll be perfectly honest with you, it made me want to rip someone's head off when they ate Goldberg. I mean, hey, Austin, I was like you.” (16:22)
  • Austin: “The competition between the companies was a shoot... That was competition. Absolutely. I enjoyed...” (15:28)

The Persona and “Entrance”—Origins and Impact

• Austin dissects what made Goldberg’s persona so magnetic. Goldberg describes himself as “the lion,” a moral enforcer in the ring, entirely rooted in reality, not an exaggerated character.
  • Goldberg: “In the days of old, when used to throw people to the lions. I was the lion...I wasn't there to impress you with my moves. I was there to say ...I'm here to fucking make sure that you don't ever do that again. That was me.” (19:57)
• The story behind “Who’s Next” is revealed as a chance remark from a waitress, highlighting how Goldberg’s catchphrase and entrance were spontaneous and organic.
  • Quote: “The waitress comes up. She looks and she goes, 'Who's next?' And that was it. I swear to God.” (36:48)

The Heel Turn That Wasn’t

• Goldberg recounts how briefly turning heel in WCW deeply conflicted him due to the effect it might have on children and Make-A-Wish kids he worked with.
  • Goldberg: “It did. Because ...the best wrestlers are the ones that make the turn from baby to heel and back ...to get people to invest in who you are. ...I knew it would crush these kids' hearts.” (23:39)
  • He reveals he quit the heel run almost immediately: “I told the guys, I said, I'm done after Baltimore. I'm going back. Dude, it ain't working, it ain't happening.” (25:37)

Learning from Legends—Hulk Hogan and Bobby Heenan

• Goldberg credits Hulk Hogan for teaching him “less is more” in wrestling and acknowledges him as a pioneer of the business:
  • “Less is more is the biggest thing that I learned from Hogan, period. End of story.” (27:37)
• He reflects warmly on Bobby Heenan’s influence both inside and outside the ring.
  • Quote: “He helped me tremendously. ...It was an honor, a privilege, and he was fucking hilarious.” (38:03)

Crossover to MMA and Combat Sports

• Steve and Bill analyze the unpredictability of MMA, including Michael Bisping’s upset over Luke Rockhold and parallels with upsets in wrestling.
  • Goldberg: “It's a chess match. ...so one time when you think you look at a guy's record and he has no shot whatsoever...it's completely dependent upon the style.” (30:12)
• They discuss Ronda Rousey’s future, combat-sports crossovers, and the business motivations that drive fighters’ choices.

Hollywood Stories—Behind the Scenes of “The Longest Yard”

• Both recount their experiences filming “The Longest Yard” alongside Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds, sharing tales of on-set camaraderie and hard-partying nights.
  • Goldberg: “I'll tell you how stupefied they were. ...on the bar are two gentlemen ...passed out ...Kevin Nash and [Steve Austin].” (44:45)
• Sandler is praised for his kindness off-screen as well:
  • “So I called Adam, and not only did Adam get on the phone with [a sick kid], but Adam drove down there and saw him.” (47:47)

Car Culture, Stunt Driving, and the Goodwood Festival

• Steve and Bill geek out over Goldberg’s car collection and motorhead exploits. Goldberg shares his thrill about driving a Craftsman truck at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Europe.
  • Goldberg: “I'm driving Mike Skinner's backup truck in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. ...It's the coolest thing that I've ever done in a car or vehicle.” (49:14)
• They talk performance driving schools, rental car shenanigans, and the evolution of their love for speed.

Chopper Stories and to Ride or Not to Ride

• Both discuss the realities—and perils—of custom chopper culture, including the pains of owning and rarely riding big custom bikes as priorities shift with age and family.
  • Goldberg: “With this rigid and the monstrous rear tire ...this is a spine buster. ...Let somebody else have fun with them. They're badass. ...But it's not enjoyable anymore.” (59:52)
• Both reflect how, for safety and family, their joy has shifted from two wheels to four.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Goldberg on his wrestling character (19:57):
  “I was the lion... I wasn't there to impress you with my moves. I was there to say …I'm here to fucking make sure that you don't ever do that again.”

• Goldberg on the heel turn and kids (23:39):
  “All the kids that I did so much stuff with, it meant so much to them, and they didn't get it. ...I knew it would crush these kids' hearts.”

• On “Who’s Next” origin (36:48):
  “The waitress comes up. She looks and she goes, 'Who's next?' And that was it. I swear to God.”

• Steve on the Monday Night Wars rivalry (15:28):
  “The competition between the companies was a shoot... That was competition. Absolutely. I enjoyed…”

• On “The Longest Yard” set (44:45):
  “We were walking through the lobby ...on the bar are two gentlemen ...passed out, and one was named Kevin Nash and the other was ...looked just like you [Steve].” – Goldberg

• Goldberg on Bobby Heenan (38:03):
  “He helped me tremendously. ...It was an honor, a privilege, and he was fucking hilarious.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• WWE vs. WCW locker room dynamics: 09:33 – 12:55
• Being mistaken for each other in public: 14:10 – 16:43
• Defining the Goldberg persona & entrance: 19:57 – 23:08
• Goldberg’s ill-fated heel turn: 23:31 – 26:41
• Relationship with Hulk Hogan: 27:37 – 29:08
• Discussion of MMA upsets (Bisping/Rockhold, Holly Holm): 30:12 – 32:15
• Origins of “Who’s Next” and entrance security: 35:05 – 37:18
• Filming “The Longest Yard” stories: 39:34 – 47:47
• Goldberg at Goodwood Festival of Speed: 49:02 – 50:22
• Chopper and motorcycle stories: 57:25 – 64:36

Tone, Chemistry & Style

The episode is a freewheeling, often hilarious and sometimes heartfelt exchange, with Steve Austin’s straightforward, blue-collar charm matching Goldberg’s mix of humor and depth. There’s mutual respect but also plenty of ribbing, illuminating what made them megastars. The conversation jumps seamlessly from wrestling shop talk to life lessons, shared regrets, and the joys (and pains) of aging out of certain “badass” pursuits.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a treasure trove for wrestling nostalgists and newcomers alike, offering authentic, behind-the-scenes insight into an era when wrestling was at its commercial and creative height, as told by two of its defining tough guys. It’s peppered with stories about adapting to change, the burden and privilege of stardom, and finding new passions while staying true to one’s roots.

For more deep-dives and classic stories, check out other episodes at podcastone.com.