Insecurities Played a Role in the Goldberg and Chris Jericho Real Life Feud

WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg truly became a household name during his time in WCW, where he was booked as an unstoppable force of nature. However, he never had a proper program with Chris Jericho in WCW as they had issues backstage. Eric Bischoff also believes Goldberg was intimidated by Jericho in WCW.

Chris Jericho was a rising star in WCW as part of the Cruiserweight division, who got himself over thanks to his feuds with the likes of Dean Malenko. He also started calling out Goldberg on WCW television but it never led anywhere.

While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff talked about Chris Jericho and Goldberg’s issues in WCW. Bischoff stated that he believes Goldberg was intimidated by Jericho’s natural charisma and in-ring skills, which led to Goldberg disrespecting Jericho.

“Jericho doesn’t take s*** from anybody. He doesn’t — I think at his core, I don’t think Chris wants to fight anybody or is a fighter by choice. But that doesn’t mean he’s not good at it. And I think Bill disrespected Chris. Well, I know he did. And Chris wasn’t going to tolerate that. I think the reason Bill disrespected Chris, and this is going to come out so f****** wrong. It’s going to come out right the way I mean it, but it will be heard differently by different people and probably certainly by Bill himself. Just add another guy to the list I used to work with that’s pissed me off. But I got to call it like I feel it.

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I think Bill was intimidated by Chris. Not physically, not in a real fight necessarily. But I think Chris was so good and had so much depth. Not only as a performer, but he could do technically in the ring. I mean, he was gifted at an early age. But I think Bill was intimidated by that. And Bill’s way of dealing with being intimidated is to go into Bill Goldberg mode and shut it all down. That’s what happened. It’s just a lack of respect, and insecurity on Bill’s part. And I say insecurity, I mean as a performer. Because let’s face it, Bill was still really new at this point. It’s not like Bill had been in the business for five or six or eight years at this point like Chris had. Bill was still learning every single minute. From the minute he walked into the building to the minute he went home, he was in a learning mode. And he compensated for that, because he was Bill and he was intimidating, and he could be.

But at his core, I think he was insecure at this stage of his career he was insecure with what — he was aware of what he didn’t know and wasn’t capable of and didn’t want to compromise that because it might expose him. I sounds like a shrink, but that’s my honest feeling. Chris was a great guy. Is a great guy to this day. And so is Bill. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t insecurities at this point in Bill’s career. And again, not because Bill had any doubt in his physical ability or his ability as a man, but because he knew he was limited in the ring and he wanted to get — and Chris wanted to have a match with him in a program. Which would have required that Bill adapt his style and work differently to work with a guy like Chris and make it work and make it make sense. And I don’t think Bill was ready for that consciously or maybe maybe it was subconsciously. That’s what I think happened.”

Goldberg and Chris Jericho also had a backstage confrontation in WWE, where Jericho won. Regardless, Goldberg and Jericho are on better terms now and that is all that matters.

What’s your opinion on what Eric Bischoff said? Do you believe a Chris Jericho vs Goldberg feud would have been great in WCW? Sound off in the comments!