20 Things You Didn't Know About Bill Goldberg

From the NFL to the wrestling wring to the movie screen, it's been a wild ride for Bill Goldberg.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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From his days as a highly-touted football recruit at the University of Georgia to his years of domination in WCW and WWE, William Scott Goldberg has had a storied career. Sprinkle in a brief stint in the NFL as well as several on-screen appearances, and the two-time world heavyweight champion has seemingly done it all.

Yesterday, Goldberg turned 48, though you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. The son of a classical violinist and an obstetrician/gynecologist, Bill Goldberg was raised in the Jewish tradition in Tulsa, Okla., and has taken that identity with him throughout his career.

From wrapping himself in tifilin at the request of the widows of four rabbis who were murdered at a synagogue in Israel, to being an outspoken activist for the ASPCA, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to this cat-loving, wrestler-spearing champion. In celebration of the big fellas’ bday, here are 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Bill Goldberg.

20. He went 176-0 after his WCW debut.

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19. He once had a backstage fight with Chris Jericho in 2003.

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18. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.

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17. He sparred with Kimbo Slice for a SHOWTIME special.

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16. He almost got his degree in psychology from the University of Georgia.

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15. He has three cats named Moe, Larry, and Curly.

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14. He is a vegetarian.

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13. He ended Bret Hart's career with a botched kick to the head.

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12. He threw out the first pitch at Marlins Park, then leveled some dude in a purple shirt.

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11. He owns a 1970 “Lawman” Super Boss 429 Mustang.

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10. He has a pet goat named Goatberg.

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9. He's posed in several photos with kittens.

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8. He starred in Santa's Slay as what can only be described as the Santa from hell.

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7. He once put on Tefilin and recited the Shema.

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6. He has his own podcast, Who's Next With Bill Goldberg.

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5. He was discovered by Lex Luger and Sting while rehabbing at their gym in Atlanta.

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4. He only lost five matches throughout his entire career.

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3. He's a spokesman for the ASPCA.

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2. He participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge…kind of.

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1. He chose to play football at Georgia thanks to a bottle of Wild Turkey.

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