In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Goldberg disclosed that he tore his rotator cuff during his return match against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in 2016, but chose not to disclose the injury. He continued wrestling with the injury throughout his second WWE stint.
Goldberg explained that he started using his left shoulder for hitting Spears because of the injury, which he kept a secret. He managed the pain but it impacted his ability to perform certain moves, like the Jackhammer.
He suffered from severe pain, unable to lift his arm for 5-6 years. Goldberg kept the injury private to avoid complications, concerned that if he underwent surgery, Vince McMahon might require him for a match shortly after the procedure.
Here’s what the 2018 WWE Hall of Famer said:
“If you look back and you’re just strategic in what you’re looking at, there was a time in my run where I started spearing guys with my left shoulder. Why do you think that happened?
Because I tore my rotator cuff the first night I went back with Brock, and I didn’t tell anybody, and I worked around it the whole time. Certain situations I could work around, and certain times I couldn’t (referring to the Jackhammer on “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt).
In pain, that’s an understatement. I couldn’t lift my arm for 5 or 6 years, but yet again it’s one of those things where I chose to keep it to myself because if I’d have said anything, god forbid I go to get surgery and Vince needs me.
Or if I go get surgery without telling anybody, my luck is, two weeks after I get done, he’s gonna call and want me to go wrestle, so I just stuck it out.”
At Survivor Series 2016, Goldberg had his first match after 12 years. He shocked the world as he defeated Brock Lesnar in just 86 seconds, after hitting 2 spears and 1 Jackhammer.
This was Lesnar’s first pinfall loss since he broke The Undertaker’s undefeated 21-0 WrestleMania Streak in 2014.
Also Read: Goldberg Reveals Which WWE Match Didn’t Live Up To His Expectations
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