Two of the biggest stars of the 1990s, WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg, are both scheduled to appear at The Big Event Entertainment & Sports Expo in Brentwood, New York, on Saturday, November 15, 2025 (Click here for ticket information). The booking is notable due to the well-documented, real-life animosity that Hart has held for Goldberg for over two decades, stemming from an in-ring incident that prematurely ended Hart’s career.
The source of the issues between the two men dates back to a match they had at the WCW Starrcade pay-per-view on December 19, 1999. During the main event match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, Goldberg delivered a thrust kick to Hart’s head that was mistimed, resulting in a severe concussion for Hart. While Hart would continue to wrestle for a few more weeks, this injury ultimately led to his retirement from professional wrestling in 2000 due to post-concussion syndrome.
In the years since, Bret Hart has been consistently and publicly critical of Goldberg. He has stated in numerous interviews that he believes Goldberg’s carelessness and lack of skill in the ring cost him his career and millions of dollars in future earnings. Hart has often labeled Goldberg as an unsafe and unprofessional worker. “Goldberg to me was one of the most unprofessional wrestlers there ever was in the business,” Hart once said. “He hurt everyone he ever worked with. You might as well wrestle a real gorilla.”
Hart’s bitterness has not softened over time. In a 2022 interview, he was still pointed in his criticism. “I regret that I got injured by a guy that couldn’t wrestle and has no business being in the Hall of Fame. You should be in the hall of shame,” he stated.
For his part, Goldberg has expressed remorse for the incident in past interviews, maintaining that it was an accident. “I kicked Bret Hart in the head on accident a hundred years ago and I’ve been remorseful ever since,” Goldberg said in a recent interview with JAKIB Sports. “I was young in the business. People make mistakes, right? And people have to understand that.”
However, Goldberg has also expressed frustration with Hart’s continued public criticism, feeling that he has apologized as much as he can. “I can only say I’m sorry so many times and I can only be remorseful for so long,” he has stated. “If he can’t accept my apology, it is what it is. You gotta move on. And I’ve moved on.”
The booking of both men at the same fan convention will undoubtedly lead to speculation among fans about a potential interaction between the two legends, who have not reconciled despite the passage of over two decades.
The Big Event, which will take place at the Suffolk Credit Union Arena, is a popular convention that brings together stars from the worlds of wrestling, sports, and entertainment for autograph signings and photo opportunities. The November 15 show features a massive lineup of talent from multiple eras of wrestling.
In addition to Hart and Goldberg, the guest list includes other iconic names such as Sting, Mike Tyson, and The Great Muta. A number of current and former stars from WWE, AEW, and TNA are also scheduled to appear.
The full list of advertised guests includes: AJ Mendez, Swerve Strickland, Catherine Bach, Leah Van Dale (Carmella), Nic Nemeth, Bam Margera, Killer Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Cheryl Roberts, Tank Abbott, Shotzi, Priscilla Kelly, Prince Nana, Ericn Blanchfield, Donoval Razor Ruddock, Dan Spivey, Jimmy Hart, Mike Chioda, Chris Van Vliet, Mina Shirakawa, Lacey Lane & Kacy Katanzaro, Deonna Purrazzo, Layla El, Alicia Atout, Lexy Nair, Arkady Aura, Isla Dawn, Thekla, Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta, Bishop Dyer (Baron Corbin), Taz, Roderick Strong, Paul Ellering, Jackson Drake, Brad Taylor, Ricky Smokes, Emily Jaye, Tasha Steelz, Kathy Dingman, Caryn Mower, The Rougeau Brothers, The Jumping Bomb Angels, The Killer Bees, Jimmy Korderas, Willow Nightingale, Megan Bayne, Charles Manson, Zayda Steele, Masha Slamovich, Matt Morgan, Nyla Rose, Sam Leterna, Jason Knight, Brad Maddox, Hollywood Haley J, Brittnie Brooks, Taryn Terrell, The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle), Charly Arnolt, Tiffan Nieves, Rachel Ley, Mackenzie Morgan, Johnny The Bull Stamboli, Kenzo Suzuki & Horiko, Freya The Slaya, Black Dahlia, Lovely Miss Larkan, and The Righteous. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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