Craig Marduk

== Early Life ==
Craig Marduk was born in Melbourne , Australia in 1974. During is childhood he spent a lot of time learning about animals , especially exotic ones. Growing up after gradueting in high school he developed his passion for fighting and martial arts. At the age of 13 he started to practice wrestling in high school , and at 18 he went to a BJJ gym , gaining the black belt at the age of 22 winning the national championship.
Since that moment Marduk wanted to persue his journey becoming a professional vale tudo fighter , travelling around the world : Japan , Brazil, Thailand and of course United States.
== Unstoppable ==
Craig was Undefeated for four years in the professional circuit until he lost his first and only fight and Craig Marduk was once a respected and feared Vale Tudo fighter. However, Craig was expelled from the professional ranks after being linked to a minor scandal dealing with Marduk beating the prostitutes he paid for and being recorded saying how much he disliked the Brazilian people and community. Bitter against his peers and society, Craig’s wrath consumed his soul and Craig went back to America. 
== Costly Decision ==
One day, Craig started a bar brawl in Arizona and killed an opponent during the fight, which turned out to be Professional Wrestler Armor King. Convicted for second-degree manslaughter, Craig was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary. Two years later, Craig was mysteriously released from prison. Some anonymous "benefactor" had apparently paid off numerous judiciaries to arrange for Craig’s release. An envelope is delivered to Craig shortly after his release. Craig opens the envelope to find a plane ticket and an article about The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. 
== Tekken 4 ==
To fulfill his debt to this “benefactor” Craig entered the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. Craig made it to the second round of the tournament where he was defeated soundly by King II. After the tournament, Marduk returns to his place of former glory this time in Japan were the new prominent pro Vale Tudo organization was held. There he meets the new Vale Tudo champion, a scrawny, blond-haired man named Jeff Slater, who challenges him to a fight. Without accepting the fight, Marduk headbutts the new champion, instantly knocking him off his feet. Unable to accept his loss to King in the previous tournament, Marduk trained hard for 2 years and transformed himself into the ultimate weapon. One day, Marduk in a black jaguar mask, beat everyone in a Vale Tudo tournament to a bloody pulp. "King! You're next!" The stage was set for rematch at the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5! 
== Tekken 5 ==
In the first round of the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5 Craig got his wish and faced King. In the toughest fight of both of their lives, Craig lost again but after the fight both of them had undeniable respect for each other and in defeat, they found friendship. While returning to the waiting room, Craig was attacked. Catching only a glimpse of the attacker's back as he fled, Craig could have sworn he looked exactly like the man he was convicted of killing, Armor King. This confused Craig and he asked King if Armor King is really alive and King assured Craig that he is. King vowed to help Craig find his attacker. Craig left the tournament angry but not all was bad for Craig as he made a couple of friends: one being King who turned into a lifelong friend, and the second being Forrest Masters who showed his respect to both king and Craig after their classic match. To train and ultimately find his attacker he started to attack various martial art champions to show his superiority. One day two boxers were getting ready to fight in a typical boxing match. The boxers had just begun their bout when Marduk comes into the ring and interrupts, challenging both of them to come at him. The referee tries to stop the madness, only to be K.O.ed by Marduk. The two boxers decide to attack Marduk but are easily taken down. Marduk taunts the audience in front of the camera, tearing up the ropes in the boxing ring for good measure. Steve Fox, who is in the audience, has a look of disgust on his face as he gets out of his seat to confront Marduk although they would be broken up by security before any fists were thrown. Craig then goes to Mexico and decides to give Pro Wrestling a try wrestling exclusively as King’s tag team partner. 
== Tekken 6 ==
Soon the King of Iron Fist Tournament 6 was announced and determined to learn his assailant's true identity, Craig set out with his sworn friend, King, to participate in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 6. Neither Craig nor King won the tournament but after the tournament Craig went to the graveyard of Armor King. While at the graveyard of the Armor King, Marduk shoveled Armor King's grave, who should be dead, to see Armor King's dead body. When he opens Armor King's grave, it was really him, which revealed he was dead. Marduk felt a presence behind him so he asked the person who's behind him “who are you?” Behind Marduk is the other Armor King who reveals he is the original Armor King’s brother and that he will never forgive him for killing his brother. Craig told Armor King that he was sorry for killing his brother and that AK doesn’t know what he deals with everyday just to get through the day. Craig says that he sees his brothers face every time he closes his eyes and he regrets killing him and whether he likes it or not Armor King is going to be with him forever. With that Craig Marduk gets on his knees and tells AKII that if he wants to kill him then do it and he won’t stop him but just know that he won’t be rid of him no matter how hard he tries he will always be there. Armor King II just stared at Craig for about 15 seconds and then turns around and walks away. From that day on Craig vowed to be a better human being and donated all of the money that he had amassed throughout his life to charity leaving him dead broke. Craig went to Mexico and moved in with King, where he was still King’s tag team partner on occasion. 
== Chance in the NFL ==
Craig turned his life around and eventually got married to a woman named Wanda Ferraton and had a son named Gage Goldberg Marduk. Soon after, Marduk moved to Los Angeles where he went to an open try out for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. Marduk made the team as a back-up defensive tackle and played with them for one season before he was released. Marduk missed the following NFL season when he wasn’t signed to a contract by any team. That year wasn’t a waste however as his good friend Forrest Masters was able to get him a role as a villain in his latest movie Mortal Kombat 2. He was able to sign a NFL contract with the Atlanta Falcons and played with them for 3 seasons. In the final game he played as a falcon Marduk tore his lower abdomen off his pelvis. He was selected by the new expansion team the Carolina Panthers in the NFL expansion draft but never played a game for them. He had hopes of returning to the league after rehabilitation but, due to his lack of success, wasn't considered a major asset. Murdok has described playing in the NFL as "a mixed emotional experience" because, despite reaching the goal of simply playing in the NFL, he didn't obtain the level of achievement that he desired. 
== WCW ==
Soon Pro wrestlers Lex Luger, Kinnikuman, Diamond Dallas Page, all whom he befriended during his time in Mexico, convinced Craig to wrestle professionally in America as the popularity of pro wrestling in America had reach astronomical heights. Marduk then signed a contract with one of the industries top companies WCW(World Championship Wrestling). On the September 22 edition of WCW Monday Nitro, Marduk wrestling under the ring name Goldberg defeated Hugh Morrus in his debut match. Soon afterward, he began to dish out quick lessons to his fellow WCW wrestlers in the range of 1–2 minutes. Goldberg's succession of wins saw him quickly advance up the card, and he was pushed as a singles wrestler. The newcomer captivated fans with his monstrous yet silent charisma, brute strength, and agility that saw him vault the ropes, perform high kicks and even the occasional backflip. Goldberg acted as WCW's counter to the WWE's Alexander the Grater. Goldberg made his pay-per-view debut at Starrcade defeating Steve McMichael. Goldberg later squashed Brad Armstrong at SuperBrawl VIII and pinned Perry Saturn at Spring Stampede. Around this time, WCW began counting Goldberg's consecutive wins on television as he continued to climb up the ranks. Goldberg's win over Saturn was his 74th consecutive without a loss, and the next night on Nitro he challenged Raven for the United States Heavyweight Championship that Raven had won the night before at Spring Stampede. Despite interference from Raven's Flock, Goldberg overpowered them all and defeated Raven for his seventy-fifth straight win and his first professional wrestling championship. Two days later, on the April 22 edition of WCW Thunder, he made his first successful title defense against Mike Enos. Goldberg then started a feud with Raven and The Flock. At Slamboree, he ended his feud with the Flock after a successful title defense against Saturn. Goldberg would continue to make successful title defenses against Konnan at The Great American Bash and Curt Hennig. By this time, he had adopted the catchphrase "Who's next?" in reference to his rapidly-expanding winning streak and for nostalgia remembering when he called out King by saying "King! You're next!" As Goldberg was getting over as a main eventer, he continued to defend the United States Championship and was slowly becoming a contender for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship that was held by nWo leader Victor Ortega. Ortega eventually promised Goldberg a title match, which was to take place on the July 6th edition of Nitro. However, Ortega elected instead to make Goldberg earn it in a match with his stablemate Lightning which Goldberg won. Goldberg was able to defeat Ortega later in the evening to become world champion, in turn vacating his US Title. At Road Wild, Goldberg won a battle royal, consisting of New World Order (nWo) members. After Diamond Dallas Page became the number one contender for the WCW Title, Goldberg and Page began a feud with each other. At Halloween Havoc, the feud was settled after Goldberg defeated Page to retain the title. At Starrcade, Goldberg's undefeated streak was ended at 173 victories when he lost his title to Thunder after Lightning, disguised as a ringside security guard, made a run-in and shocked Goldberg with a taser gun. Goldberg, however, avenged this act by facing Lightning at Souled Out, in a Ladder Taser match. Goldberg won when he used the taser, which was hung high above the ring, requiring the ladder to obtain it. At the same time, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) began mocking Goldberg with the character Gillberg, a perennial jobber who dressed similarly to Goldberg and mocked his signature entrance and mannerisms, but was small and scrawny, using the catchphrase "Who's First?" since he never won. At Spring Stampede, Goldberg gained his revenge against Thunder after defeating him. Then at Slamboree the following month, Goldberg was "injured" in an attack by Rick and Scott Steiner and took some time off to prepare for his role in the movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action alongside Brendan Fraser. He returned two months later and defeated Rick Steiner at Road Wild. Goldberg then restarted his feud with Diamond Dallas Page also involving Page's allies, The Jersey Triad, which culminated in a match at Fall Brawl that Goldberg won. After Goldberg settled his rivalry with Page, he began focusing on Sid Vicious and challenged him to a match to end Sid's winning streak. The two feuded with each other, which culminated in a match at Halloween Havoc for Sid's U.S. Title. Goldberg defeated Sid via referee stoppage, and thus won his second United States Heavyweight Championship. Later that night, he answered an open challenge from World Heavyweight Champion Kinnikuman and defeated him to win the championship. On the next night's edition of Nitro, commissioner J.J. Dillon ruled that the match had not been sanctioned by WCW and that, therefore, Goldberg's victory was void. The title was vacated and a 32-man tournament was held to determine a new champion, which started that night. Goldberg entered the tournament and wrestled his first match against Jessie Maivia later that night, choosing also to defend his newly won U.S. Title in the match. Interference from Sid Vicious cost Goldberg the match and the title as well as his second official WCW loss. Goldberg continued his rivalry with Vicious and defeated him in an "I Quit" match at Mayhem. Shortly thereafter, Goldberg joined forces with Maivia, teaming with him to defeat Creative Control for the WCW World Tag Team Championship. One week later, they lost the title to The Outsiders (Lightning and Thunder). At Starrcade, Goldberg challenged Maivia for the World Heavyweight Championship. In the course of the match, Goldberg delivered a stiff kick to Maivia's head, legitimately giving him a concussion and tearing a muscle in his neck. After being diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, Maivia wrestled only three more matches and retired several months later. Despite that, Goldberg lost the match to Maivia, but Maivia vacated the title the next night on Nitro, saying he did not want to win that way and granting Goldberg a rematch. Goldberg was defeated again due to outside interference from the Outsiders, who began to beat on Goldberg with baseball bats. In a swerve, Maivia took one of the bats from The Outsiders and began beating on Goldberg himself, doing enough damage to score the pin and regain his championship. After the match, Lightning, Thunder, Maivia, and Jeff Jarrett announced the reformation of the nWo, and gave Goldberg a new target for a feud. However, it would not last long. Shortly after his title match loss, Goldberg injured himself on the December 23rd edition of WCW Thunder, during a sequence where he chased the nWo limousine into the parking lot. A spot in the sequence called for Goldberg to pound on the windshield of the limousine with his hands. To ensure his safety, Goldberg had assistance from a piece of metal pipe and his hands were covered in black tape. However, Goldberg did not limit his pounding to the windshield and instead moved down the limousine breaking its windows. There were four windows on the side of the limousine and Goldberg broke the first two with his hands. He then got aggressive, putting his forearm through the third window and immediately gashing it. Goldberg finished the sequence by pounding on the hood of the limo with his bloody arm, but immediately after it ended he was taken from the arena and rushed to a nearby hospital where the wound was patched. Goldberg lost a large amount of blood due to the accident and came within one centimeter of having to have the arm amputated. After taking time off to recuperate, Goldberg returned to WCW on the May 29th edition of WCW Monday Nitro interfering in a handicap match between Thunder and the team of Tank Abbott and Rick Steiner on Nitro. At The Great American Bash, Goldberg betrayed Thunder during Thunder's World Heavyweight Title match against Jeff Jarrett and turned heel for the first time in his career, aligning himself with The New Blood faction. This did not last long, as Goldberg would again be lost to injury and miss time. As a result of this betrayal, Goldberg feuded with Thunder and defeated him at Bash at the Beach, with help from fellow New Blood member Scott Steiner. Goldberg participated in a triangle number one contender's match against Thunder and Steiner at New Blood Rising, which Thunder won. Goldberg walked out of the match midway through while Thunder had him ready for the Jackknife Powerbomb and swore at Vince Russo as he left the ring, turning face again. He then began a rivalry with Steiner, culminating in a no disqualification match at Fall Brawl which Goldberg lost due to outside interference. After his loss to Steiner, Goldberg's rivalry with Russo accelerated and in October, having finally had enough, Russo gave Goldberg an ultimatum. If Goldberg was to lose another match at any point in time, unless he managed to duplicate his undefeated streak, his career would be over and he would be forced to retire from professional wrestling. Goldberg defeated KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) at Halloween Havoc in a handicap elimination match. He started a feud with Lex Luger. This culminated in a match at Mayhem, which Goldberg won. They continued their rivalry and battled in a rematch at Starrcade. Goldberg won the match, but afterwards, he was attacked by Luger's partner Buff Bagwell. Goldberg feuded with both Luger and Bagwell, who called themselves Totally Buffed. His streak was broken at Sin when Goldberg, teaming with Power Plant trainer Dewayne Bruce, lost to Totally Buffed in a tag team no disqualification match after a "fan" maced him, enabling Totally Buffed to pin him. The storyline was intended to enable Goldberg to have shoulder surgery, but WCW was sold to the WWF in March, while Goldberg was still recuperating. The WWF did not buy out Goldberg's contract with Time Warner (the parent company of WCW) as they had done with several other WCW employees, so he was not involved in the WWF "Invasion" angle. Goldberg instead remained under contract to Time Warner until May of the next year, when he agreed on a contract buyout.
== New Japan Pro Wrestling ==
In August, he returned to the ring in Japan. He initially joined All Japan Pro Wrestling, defeating Satoshi Kojima and Taiyō Kea. He went on to defeat Rick Steiner in a match for the W-1 promotion, and teamed with Keiji Mutoh to defeat KroniK. His success in Japan led the WWF – now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment – to begin contract negotiations with him. 
== WWE ==
After leaving Japan, Goldberg signed a 1 year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in March, debuting in WWE on the March 31 edition of Raw, the night after WrestleMania XIX. Immediately, he began a feud with Forrest by spearing him. Their rivalry intensified when Forrest held a segment entitled The Forrest Concert, where he taunted Goldberg along with Gillberg. He defeated Forrest in his debut match at Backlash. The match was won by Goldberg following three spears and a Jackhammer. Goldberg went undefeated over the subsequent half-year, defeating 3-Minute Warning in his first match on Raw. Goldberg defeated Christian on the following edition of Raw in a steel cage match. Goldberg next feuded with Chris Jericho. During Jericho's first edition of the Highlight Reel, an interview show, where Goldberg was the guest, he complained that no one wanted Goldberg in WWE and continued to insult him in the following weeks. On May 12 on Raw, a mystery assailant attempted to run over Goldberg with a limousine. A week later, Co-Raw General Manager, Alexander the Grater, interrogated several Raw superstars to find out who was driving the car. One of the interrogatees was Lance Storm, who admitted that he was the assailant. Austin forced Storm into a match with Goldberg, who defeated Storm. After the match, Goldberg forced Storm to admit that Jericho was the superstar who conspired Storm into running him over. On May 26, Goldberg was once again a guest on the Highlight Reel. Jericho expressed jealousy towards Goldberg's success in WCW and felt that since joining WWE, he had achieved everything he had ever wanted in his career and all that was left was to defeat Goldberg and challenged him to a match. Backstage things started to get a little too real between the two and Murdok and Jericho got into an altercation and though no punches were thrown, Jericho was able to get Marduk in a front face-lock. At Bad Blood, Goldberg settled the score with Jericho and pinned him. Goldberg entered a rivalry with Alex, challenging him for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam in the second Elimination Chamber match in WWE; after squashing and eliminating Bass Armstrong, Terryman, and Jericho, he was pinned by Alex after Robin Mask threw a sledgehammer inside the Chamber. Alex proceeded to attack Goldberg with the sledgehammer and as a result, Alex retained the title. Goldberg continued his feud with Alex and finally defeated him for the World Heavyweight Championship at Unforgiven, after agreeing to put his career on the line. The next night on Raw, Goldberg successfully retained the championship against Chris Jericho. A week later, Alex issued a $100,000 bounty to anybody who could take Goldberg out of the game. Steven Richards, Big Bear, La Résistance and Tommy Dreamer all attempted to collect the bounty but were unsuccessful. On October 20, Mel Masters collected the bounty after he interfered in Goldberg's title defense against Terryman on Raw and attacked Goldberg, placing a folding chair around Goldberg's ankle and jumping off the middle rope onto the chair, shattering his ankle. Furious, Goldberg demanded a match against Mel. Alex, however, got involved in the match between Goldberg and Mel trying to cripple Goldberg, but Goldberg fought back and speared Alex before attacking Mel with a sledgehammer. At Survivor Series, Goldberg retained his championship against Alex despite interference from Evolution. On November 17, Goldberg faced Alex, Bass Armstrong, and Mel in a Handicap match on Raw but was pinned following an RKO, a Batista Bomb and finally a Pedigree. After the match, The Scorpion unexpectedly came out to seemingly assist Goldberg after Evolution continued their assault on him following the match. After scaring off Evolution however, he turned on Goldberg and chokeslammed him. The following week, The Scorpion attacked Goldberg again while he was defending his championship against Alex in a rematch from Survivor Series and later that night, expressed his desire to face Goldberg for the title. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff announced that Goldberg would be defending his championship against both The Scorpion and Alex in a triple threat match at Armageddon. Goldberg teamed with Terryman and Rob Van Dam to face and defeat The Scorpion, Mel, and Bass Armstrong in a six-man tag team match. On December 8 on Raw, Goldberg faced The Scorpion in a Lumberjack match which ended in a disqualification when Evolution and Big Bear entered the ring and assaulted Goldberg. At Armageddon, Goldberg ultimately lost the title when Alex pinned him after interference from Evolution and a chokeslam from The Scorpion. During the Royal Rumble, Goldberg crossed paths with then-WWE Champion Buffaloman when the latter interrupted Goldberg during a backstage interview. While Goldberg was in the midst of dominating the Royal Rumble, Buffaloman interfered in the match and hit Goldberg with the F-5. With his attention turned toward Buffaloman, Rip Saber eliminated a distracted Goldberg from behind. Goldberg vowed revenge on Buffaloman and after defeating Big Bear and Jonathan Coachman in a No DQ match, he declared Buffaloman his next victim. On February 2, Goldberg was given a front row ticket to No Way Out by Alexander the Grater. Smackdown! General Manager Paul Heyman appeared on Raw and, along with Vince McMahon attempted to get Goldberg to back off in his vendetta against Buffaloman which resulted in Goldberg spearing Heyman and accidentally spearing Alexander when he was aiming for McMahon. Goldberg attended No Way Out as a fan, confronting Buffaloman at the event and, after several insults by Buffaloman, entered the ring and executed a Jackhammer on him. Goldberg was then detained and escorted out of the arena by security guards. During the main event between Buffaloman and Eddie Guerrero, Goldberg reemerged from the crowd and cost Buffaloman the WWE Championship. This led to a match between the two being scheduled for WrestleMania XX with Alexander the Grater serving as special guest referee. Fans knew this would be the final WWE match for both Goldberg and Buffaloman and thus gave largely negative reactions through the performance because they were very upset. After the match Buffaloman showed Alexander a middle finger and received a Stone Cold Stunner, Goldberg then celebrated his victory with Alexander only to also receive a stunner.
== MMA Commentator ==
On July 22, 2 years later, Marduk served as color commentator in mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion World Fighting Alliance (WFA) King of the Streets pay-per-view in Los Angeles, California. When asked whether he was interested in becoming a mixed martial artist, Marduk stated, "I'd love to, especially if I was 21 or even 29, but these guys are so far ahead of me in terms of experience. I never say never, though. But I don’t see myself stopping my movies, my shows, my commentating, or being a dad to do that". On June 2, Craig Marduk also commentated on K-1 Dynamite USA. Marduk became a color commentator for the EliteXC organization during their inaugural event. The event, EliteXC Destiny, was broadcast live on Showtime, on February 10. He has continued in this role through all of EliteXC's showcase and combined cards, including Dynamite!! USA, Strikeforce Shamrock vs. Baroni, EliteXC: Renegade, and EliteXC: Street Certified. During this time Marduk also starred in movies like: The Longest Yard, Santa’s Slay, Half Past Dead 2, and Kill Speed as well as guest appearances on many T.V. Shows. 
== Legacy ==
Marduk is an animal welfare advocate and an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) spokesman, and has addressed the United States Congress in order to raise awareness of illegal animal fighting. Every year, Marduk also plays golf in the Jimmy V Golf Classic and visits with children in local hospitals who are undergoing cancer treatment. Mardok co-owns and operates the "Extreme Power Gym" Muay Thai and Amateur boxing training facility in Oceanside, California. He also owns over 25 vintage cars, including a Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible, Shelby Cobra 427, and a Mustang Boss 429 "Lawman" (one of the two cars used in the Vietnam War to entertain the U.S. Army).