Worth the wait? Now that he has made his WWE debut, will Goldberg prove to be worth his weight in, err, gold?

Wrestling Digest, August, 2003 by Kevin Eck

While Hogan has been an overwhelming success in WWE, the same cannot be said for his former NWO brethren. Hall was in WWE for four months before he was released for his unprofessional behavior on the federations European tour.

Nash wrestled in just a handful of tag-team matches before having to undergo surgery in April 2002 to repair a torn biceps. He returned to the ring three months later in a 10-man tag-team match and suffered a torn quadriceps seconds after being tagged in. Nash returned as a baby-face this past April to challenge his longtime friend Triple H for the world title.

ERIC BISCHOFF

The "never say never" cliche, which often is used in professional wrestling, was never more appropriate than when the former WCW president appeared on the July 15, 2002, "Raw" and hugged bitter rival Vince McMahon.

While not a wrestler, Bischoff has become one of the program's central characters as the smug, duplicitous "Raw" general manager. For several months, he and "Smackdown" general manager Stephanie McMahon raided each other's talent in a re-creation of the real-life wrestling war of the 1990s.

When "Stone Cold" Steve Austin returned to WWE earlier this year, he immediately engaged in a feud with his new boss on "Raw." Bischoff eventually fired Austin--which he had done for real in WCW eight years ago---due to Austin's neck injury. Linda McMahon, however, brought back the "Rattlesnake" several weeks later and named Austin and Bischoff co-general managers of "Raw." creating a situation in which the enemies have to work together.

While Bischoff has been tremendous in his role, WWE may have signed him a year too late. He could have greatly enhanced the invasion story line by coming in as the leader of the invading WCW faction. Ditto for the NWO angle. And while Bischoff and Vince McMahon embracing made for a great hell-freezes-over moment, the big money would have been in a Bischoff-McMahon feud.

SCOTT STEINER

Excitement over the arrival of "Big Poppa Pump" started building last October when WWE aired vignettes announcing that he was on his way. Steiner finally made his long-awaited WWE debut at the Survivor Series, assaulting Matt Hardy and Christopher Nowinsi in an impromptu beat-down that sent the sold-out crowd at Madison Square. Garden into a frenzy. With both "Raw" and "Smackdown" bidding for his services, Steiner chose "Raw."

Although he's more effective as a heel, Steiner was brought in as a babyface, and he had the fans' support in his quest to win the world title from Triple H. When the two met at the Royal Rumble, however, the crowd turned against Steiner, whose work in the ring was sub-par due to a combination of nagging injuries and ring rust. It was because of his physical condition--specifically his surgically repaired back and nerve damage in his foot--that WWE had been hesitant to sign him. After losing to Triple H the following month at the No Way Out pay-per-view, Steiner abruptly was demoted to mid-card status and didn't even have a match at WrestleMania XIX.