Who’s next? Maybe a better question for Bill Goldberg these days is what’s next? And the answer is quite a bit.
The former pro-wrestling phenom has hooked up with GLORY kickboxing and will be working for the organization in some capacity moving forward. And yes, that could include Goldberg stepping into the ring for a fight, he told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour.
Goldberg, 48, said he was already offered a fight with former WWE star Alberto Del Rio at GLORY 21 on May 8 in San Diego, but turned it down because it was too soon. The Southern California resident has not ruled out competing for GLORY at some point, though.
“Whether you see Goldberg hosting the top-10 knockouts, whether you see him a as part of the front office, whether you see him donning the gloves, I’m prepared to do what it takes to get this thing to the forefront, because I think it’s the next thing coming,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg is the co-owner of Extreme Power Gym, a Muay Thai facility in Oceanside, Calif. What many people don’t know is that he has trained in the martial art over the last 10 years and developed a love for it.
“It’s a passion of mine for me,” Goldberg said. “It’s not anything that I’m looking to gain publicity, to strike off the bucket list, to make waves like a CM Punk thing right now. That was never my intention.”
His main goal right now is to draw attention to GLORY, because he believes in the product wholeheartedly. The relationship all started on social media when the GLORY Twitter account responded to a tweet Goldberg made about an event.
“I’d like to bring GLORY and I’d like to bring kickboxing to the forefront like MMA is right now,” he said. “Because I think once people see it, they’re gonna fall in love with it. If I have to be the face of GLORY, if I have to get in the ring for GLORY, I’m gonna do what it takes to get this to the next level. I can guarantee you that.”
For the former WCW and WWE superstar to actually don the gloves and get in there, he said it has to be done right. Goldberg wants to cast a positive light on the sport and one of the reasons he said no to the Del Rio offer was that he wasn’t sure how having two pro wrestlers fighting would be perceived.
“Whether I have a fight right now or not, it’s not gonna change me going into the ring religiously, going into the gym religiously,” Goldberg told Helwani. “It’s my second home now.
“I really love it. I’m not trying to swerve anybody. My ass is in the gym training like I’ve got a fight. If one comes to fruition, if in the cards it is a possible thing to do for the elevation of GLORY kickboxing, then ill set up a training camp and you’ll be the first person to know.”
Goldberg said he does private sessions three times per week and spars on the weekends. The former pro football player said it’s his way of staying active and competing though his days as a professional athlete are over. At least, mostly. Goldberg is definitely considering a GLORY fight if it makes sense.
“I think if it’s done properly, if it’s a kick in the pants and it’s a positive for the business,” he said. “If it’s done negatively, then it’s gonna do nothing but kick it back a notch and I don’t want to be associated with anything that’s not done properly.”
Right now, though, he’ll be hosting GLORY’s top-10 knockout show Friday night on Spike TV. Goldberg is going to be involved with GLORY, in some way, moving forward. They’re still ironing out all the details.
Goldberg uses Melvin Manhoef as the example of what GLORY means to him.
“Every single time he goes out and he puts the gloves on, you know his opponent is getting knocked out or he’s getting knocked out,” Goldberg said. “And that’s the type of fight you have in GLORY each and every fight. If I can lend myself to a promotion and do whatever it takes to get that promotion in front of more eyes in getting it to the forefront of combat sports, I’m more than willing to do that.”
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