A WWE Hall of Famer recently opened up about a notorious backstage confrontation involving Chris Jericho, shedding new light on the famous Chris Jericho backstage fight details. The incident took place shortly after Bill Goldberg’s WWE debut in March 2003 and remains one of the most talked-about locker room altercations in wrestling history.
Background Behind the Jericho-Goldberg Locker Room Fight
The professional wrestling industry is known for its fierce competition and occasional backstage tensions among wrestlers and staff. Chris Jericho, recognized as one of the sport’s most successful performers over the past three decades, has experienced several conflicts, but the face-off with Goldberg is particularly well-documented.
According to Jericho’s account in his book Undisputed: How to Become World Champ in 1,372 Easy Steps, the confrontation stemmed from Goldberg criticizing Jericho’s in-ring selling and past professional dealings during Goldberg’s initial weeks at WWE.
“It was Goldfinch’s first Raw, and I worked with HHH vs. Shawn and Booker T. After the match, I was pulled aside and informed that Goldsmith had spent the entire match barking to Nash about how I didn’t know how to sell properly and how I hadn’t wanted to do business with him in WCW.” —Chris Jericho, WWE Wrestler and Author
This provoked Jericho, who felt it was inappropriate for a newcomer to challenge him so soon. He confronted Goldberg directly in the dressing room but was also surprised by Kevin Nash’s behavior, who seemed to act as a dominant presence alongside Goldberg.
“It made me mad that he had only been with the company for a little over a week, and he was already up to his old tricks. It was time to put a stop to it right now. I marched straight into the dressing room and saw Nash sitting in the corner like a giant praying mantis acting like he owned the place, while Billy Boy sat across from him with a self-indulgent smile on his face. Throwing caution to the wind, I stood in front of him and stared directly into his eyes.” —Chris Jericho, WWE Wrestler and Author
Jericho delivered an ultimatum, demanding Goldberg address any issues directly rather than speaking behind his back.
“‘I heard you were saying some stuff about me during my match. I don’t know if you realize it, but things have changed. This isn’t WCW. If you have something to say to me, say it to my face.’” —Chris Jericho, WWE Wrestler and Author
Details of the Physical Scuffle from Jericho’s Perspective
The verbal confrontation escalated quickly into a physical fight, as Jericho recounted in a May 2025 interview. He described how Goldberg’s aggressive move—placing a hand on Jericho’s throat—sparked the brawl.
“We start arguing and I’m like, f*** it. So, he puts his hand on my throat, like does this sort of a thing. Now, you know, I’m not a giant, but you f*****n’ put your hand on my throat, like that’s a fight. So, I just kind of attacked him and somehow we started rolling around, and I got him over where I was able to put like a body scissor on, and then I put kind of a choke on it. I’m like, this guy’s going to get up and f****n’ kill me. But I was like, man, I can’t let go. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to f’n kill me. So then I kind of got pulled off and they pull us apart.” —Chris Jericho, WWE Wrestler
The scuffle was intense enough to attract the attention of other wrestlers and WWE staff, who intervened to separate the two combatants.
Despite the heat of the fight, both men reportedly moved past the incident soon after. Goldberg acknowledged Jericho’s victory during Jericho’s podcast.
“Oh my god. Yeah, you kicked my ass. Pretty good, man.” —Bill Goldberg, WWE Wrestler
Jericho has since mentioned that their relationship has improved, and the two are now on friendly terms, underscoring how tensions backstage can sometimes resolve into mutual respect.
Other WWE Stars’ Reactions to the Fight
John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), a WWE Hall of Famer and roster member during the 2003 incident, shared his impressions of the fight while discussing Goldberg’s career on the show Something To Wrestle. JBL highlighted that while backstage conflicts are not uncommon, they often become topics of curiosity and entertainment among those within the wrestling community.
“It just happened. You know, s**t happens. S**t happens backstage sometimes. Jericho is a standup dude. Jericho is not scared of nothing. And, you know, Goldberg and he got into a confrontation. Any time you hear about a fight, or a dust up, I don’t know if it was a full fight, but it was a dust up, the boys love it. It’s fun. And we all wanted to know what happened, we wanted to hear it from every different perspective. I heard it from Jericho’s perspective. He told me directly…what happened, like he told a lot of people. We talked to anybody who were witnesses there. You know, the boys enjoy stuff like that.” —John Bradshaw Layfield, WWE Hall of Famer
JBL’s comments reflect how moments of conflict, while serious, often become stories that resonate within wrestling culture for years, adding layers to wrestlers’ legacies beyond their in-ring performances.
Later Careers of Goldberg and Jericho
More than two decades after the altercation, Bill Goldberg recently completed his final match in WWE, though he has expressed dissatisfaction with his departure. At 54 years old, Chris Jericho remains an active competitor in AEW, despite having taken breaks recently. Their enduring careers serve as a testament to their influence and persistence within the wrestling world, even after such intense backstage clashes.
The fight and its revelations continue to fascinate fans and insiders alike, highlighting the volatility and passion often hidden behind the spectacle of professional wrestling. Future interviews or memoirs from these figures may provide further context or new insights into the incident, maintaining its place in wrestling lore.
