Kevin Nash, the WWE Hall of Famer and one of professional wrestling’s iconic figures, recently opened up about a pivotal moment in wrestling history—the end of Goldberg’s unbeaten streak at Starrcade 1998. Speaking on his podcast Kliq This, Nash shared candid insights into how his WCW World Title reign should have progressed and reflected on what might have been had events unfolded differently.
At Starrcade ’98, Nash defeated Goldberg to claim the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, a moment that abruptly ended Goldberg’s meteoric rise and undefeated run. While the decision remains one of the most debated moments in wrestling lore, Nash expressed that his title run was cut short prematurely due to backstage politics and controversial incidents like the infamous “Fingerpoke of Doom.”
“I would have liked to have a run as a babyface,” Nash admitted. He acknowledged that earlier in his career, during his “Diesel” days, he hadn’t been ready to carry a babyface role. Yet at the time he won the WCW title from Goldberg, he felt the circumstances were ripe for a new chapter in his persona and a fresh direction for the company.
Elaborating on how the storyline might have evolved, Nash envisioned a trilogy of matches between himself and Goldberg that would have kept both stars strong. He outlined a plan where he wins the title cleanly, Goldberg regains it in a hard-fought rematch, and then Nash puts Goldberg over in the final chapter. “We could have gotten three out of that… a clean win, a run back, and then he wins the third,” Nash explained, emphasizing the storytelling opportunity that was lost.
When asked whether he agreed with ending Goldberg’s streak at all, Nash was pragmatic. “People say whatever they want to,” he said, clarifying that their goal was simply to transition the title away from Goldberg. Despite the backlash, Nash stood by the move backstage, highlighting that the decision wasn’t personal but rather part of the booking strategy.
Looking back, Kevin Nash’s reflections provide fans and historians a glimpse into the “what if” scenarios of late 1990s wrestling. His thoughts underscore the complexities behind major wrestling booking decisions and how plans are often reshaped by a mix of preparedness, timing, and creative directions. While Goldberg’s streak remains legendary, Nash’s perspective invites fans to consider how his own run as WCW champion could have been a defining arc in its own right—one that might have added another memorable chapter to wrestling history.
For those interested, Nash’s full commentary is available on his Kliq This podcast, where he dives deeper into his career and other wrestling stories from his unique insider viewpoint.
