A former football player with the Atlanta Falcons, Goldberg joined WCW in 1997. Despite losing a match to Chad Fortune early in his career, the organization heavily hyped his undefeated streak, going 173 consecutive matches without a loss. Along the way, he won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, then later the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Hulk Hogan. Goldberg's streak ended at Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash.

By the end of his WCW career, he had only six official singles defeats--three of which were to Bret Hart, whose real-life career ended when Goldberg mule kicked him to the head, causing a concussion.

He signed with the WWE in 2003, again restarting an undefeated streak on Raw. He defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, but lost it later in the year.

In his last match at WrestleMania XX, he defeated Brock Lesnar in a bout where the crowd and viewers knew both competitors would be leaving the company shortly thereafter. The special referee, Stone Cold Steve Austin, gave both men a Stone Cold Stunner at the end, and Goldberg left the company a week later.

Despite rumors of joining TNA Wrestling, Goldberg has remained retired in wrestling.