At WCW Starrcade 1999, Goldberg caught Bret Hart with a thrust kick right under the chin. The kick left Hart with a concussion and ultimately led to him retiring from full-time competition the next year. Hart has gone on to criticize Goldberg for the botched kick, saying he doesn't believe Goldberg should be in the Hall of Fame for injuring him and others.
Speaking to Inside The Ropes, Goldberg responded to the criticism levied at him by Hart and others.
"I would have loved to work more with Bret Hart and I would have loved, more than anything, to have not kicked Bret Hart in the head and what happened, happened," he said. "There have been things said on the Internet, either by Bret or other people, that I was 'malicious' or 'he shouldn't have been in the ring with me.' I'm really sorry man, but if I really wanted to hurt the guy, he would have never have gotten up. No joke. He never would have gotten up. Accidents happen. He was an idol of mine and still is. That's one thing I will forever be remorseful for is the misplaced kick. He did kinda know it was coming. There are a couple of things in my career that I wish I could have changed. That was one of them. The length that I had an angle with him and my 'inability to be professional.' It meant very much to me to be believable. I didn't want to present a character that was, no offense, like Ric Flair. I don't run around and be goofy. I'm a competitor, not an entertainer."
Bret has repeatedly stated that he told Goldberg, "don't hurt me" before they went to the ring at Starrcade. Bret would continue to wrestle a handful of matches after Starrcade 99, which only made the problem worse as he did not take proper time off due to the concussion.
If you use any of the quotes above, please give a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
