Goldberg Not Happy With Final WWE Match

Newsweek

2 days ago

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Just days after competing in what was billed as his final match, WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg has expressed disappointment with how his retirement was handled.
In a new, candid interview, Goldberg revealed he was "less than thrilled" with the execution of his final bow against World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.
The match took place this past Saturday, July 12th, at the Saturday Night's Main Event premium live event in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Goldberg did not hold back his frustrations.
"A Little Less Than To Be Desired"
Goldberg explained that while he was grateful to face a talent like GUNTHER, he had always envisioned his retirement match happening on a grander stage. He felt that a Saturday night television taping was not the ideal send-off.
"You always have your dreams of how you're going to do things," Goldberg said (H/T to Ringside News). "And ultimately to have a little bit more control over the time and the space would have been much more preferred, let's just put it that way."
His frustrations went beyond the choice of event. He also revealed that he was not given a proper chance to address the fans after the match, despite it being the end of his iconic career. "They cut me off for freaking 20 seconds with the microphone in my hand, for God's sakes," he stated.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: Bill Goldberg poses in the ring with Triple H during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: Bill Goldberg poses in the ring with Triple H during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
WWE/Getty Images
The Grand Tradition Of The Final Bow
In the world of professional wrestling, the retirement match for a legend is often treated as a sacred and emotional moment. Superstars like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels had their careers ended in epic, story-driven main events at WrestleMania, WWE's biggest stage. These farewells are remembered as some of the most emotional moments in wrestling history.
Goldberg's match, by contrast, took place at a smaller "B-level" premium live event. While Saturday Night's Main Event holds a nostalgic place in wrestling history, the modern version does not carry the prestige of a show like WrestleMania or SummerSlam, which may have contributed to Goldberg's feeling that his send-off was undervalued.
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More To The Story?
Goldberg also hinted that he has more to say on the matter once he is able to. His comments suggest he may be under a short-term contractual obligation that prevents him from speaking freely.
"I got two weeks before I can really, you know, spill the beans and, you know, make my feelings kind of known about the entire rundown from the inception of the idea to its delivery," he revealed.
The match itself saw Goldberg put up a valiant fight before ultimately being put to sleep by GUNTHER's sleeper hold, allowing the dominant champion to retain his World Heavyweight Title.
While Goldberg passed the torch to a current-day star, it is clear he feels the story of his final chapter was not told the way he had hoped.
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