Goldberg's WWE Return May Be Closer Than Fans Think
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Talk surrounding WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg's anticipated final match has significantly intensified following a new report indicating renewed internal discussions about the legend.
According to WrestleVotes Radio via Sportskeeda's Backstage Pass Patreon on May 8, 2025, Goldberg's name has recently surfaced within WWE creative and marketing circles.
This development marks the first substantial internal mention of Goldberg since his memorable appearance last fall. The timing fuels speculation that plans for his promised farewell bout in 2025 might finally be taking shape.
For context, Goldberg has publicly stated his intention to have one last match this year. This stems from a reported agreement with WWE CCO Paul "Triple H" Levesque to provide a proper retirement match, as Goldberg felt his last official bout against Roman Reigns in 2022 was not a fitting conclusion to his storied career.
While absent from WWE programming for much of 2024, Goldberg made a significant appearance at the Bad Blood premium live event in his hometown of Atlanta on October 5, 2024. Attending ringside with his wife and son, he became the target of verbal jabs from the dominant then-World Heavyweight Champion, GUNTHER.
The situation escalated when GUNTHER mentioned Goldberg's family, provoking the Hall of Famer to jump the security barricade. A tense confrontation ensued before officials separated the two massive competitors.
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
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
The WrestleVotes report directly addresses this history and the current internal climate. "Following direct outreach from contacts, we can report that Goldberg's name has been discussed both creatively and within WWE's marketing division over the past week," the report stated. "Usually, this indicates a television appearance is in the works."
The report continued, tying the discussion to recent events and rumors: "Goldberg has previously announced he will have one final match this year; his last WWE appearance to date took place at Bad Blood in Atlanta during an interaction with GUNTHER. Rumors and speculation have circulated for days suggesting Goldberg might get involved somehow in the upcoming GUNTHER vs. Pat McAfee match [at Backlash]."
WrestleVotes elaborated on the potential logic behind such a scenario. "Now, if you boil it down, why might they be doing this? He's got the history with GUNTHER already. He has said he's doing one more match."
The report also noted a connection between Goldberg and GUNTHER's current opponent. "If you want to bring someone in, you might as well do it where there is existing background. Obviously, Pat McAfee is also a former football player, much like Bill Goldberg, providing another connection."
However, WrestleVotes was careful to clarify the current situation regarding this weekend's event. "So, if this is the direction they choose... However, we are not reporting that Goldberg is confirmed for Backlash. We don't have that for sure. What we're reporting is Goldberg's name has surfaced in Stamford and throughout the company. This suggests that if a return doesn't happen this weekend, it could be soon."
"Let me just state: the fact that Goldberg is wrestling one more match isn't the mystery. The mystery is, who might it be? And all signs now indicate that it's looking like GUNTHER."
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
WWE Superstar Details Horrific Injury As They Face Months Out Of Action
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE RAW superstar Zoey Stark has revealed the full extent of the brutal knee injury she suffered during the May 19th episode of RAW. In a video posted to social media, Stark confirmed she underwent major surgery to repair a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The video showed the moment she was injured during a triple-threat qualifying match for Money in the Bank. Stark landed awkwardly after attempting a missile dropkick and had to be carried out of the arena by WWE medical personnel. Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Stark, who was sidelined with a similar knee injury in late 2021 while in NXT. That injury also required surgery and kept her out of action for approximately nine months. Before this latest setback, Stark had been the last remaining member of the "Pure Fusion Collective" faction on RAW. Her partners, Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville, had both been released by WWE earlier in 2025. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Stark first signed with WWE in 2021 and found early success in NXT, winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Io Shirai (now IYO SKY). After being called up to the main roster in the 2023 WWE Draft, she was immediately placed in a high-profile storyline. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, served as the enforcer for WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus during her heated feud with Becky Lynch. Stark played a crucial role in that program, helping Stratus in major matches at Night of Champions and Payback. Stark's recent video update noted that her surgery, originally scheduled for two hours, ultimately took three and a half hours to complete. The video ended by teasing a further update, promising that fans will find out "What's next for Zoey Stark?" on the June 16th episode of RAW. Stark is someone who is liked within the locker room and a solid in-ring worker. Once she's back, hopefully, she returns to full strength and can continue to build on her career while on the main roster. It will be interesting to see if she gets a renewed push once she's back in action and what brand she will end up on once she returns. We wish her a speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Triple H Addresses Big Celebrity Potentially Making WWE In-Ring Debut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H has addressed the possibility of seeing SummerSlam host Cardi B step into a WWE ring, admitting that if she wants to wrestle, it would be difficult to stop her. The multi-platinum selling artist will host the first-ever two-night SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on August 2nd and 3rd. Speaking to Billboard, Triple H was asked about the potential for her to get physically involved. Well, let me answer the second part of it first. So, can you see her ... I don't know if anybody can control Cardi B, let me just start with that. So if she wants to, I think it's going to be hard to talk her out of it. And then what can we expect? Who the hell knows. The one thing I know about Cardi is, whatever she's going to do, is what she's going to do. And you're sort of kind of just hanging on to the tiger's tail a little bit there. So she's a lot of fun to work with. Has been so far with this." He praised the collaboration, noting that Cardi B's genuine, long-time fandom makes her exciting to work with. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "She's excited to do it. I think, as everybody knows, she's a big fan and has, you know, talked a lot about the business over the years and all that stuff and comments on it a lot. So when you work with people like that, it's exciting. We'll see, we'll see where that goes. But we're thrilled to be working with her. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. MoreYou know, there's a lot of artists out there across so many different things now that are just, they're fans and looking to come in and do things with us, and we'll vet through them and try to figure out the ones that can do the most and be a positive for our fan base, and just help to expand the product out beyond the realm of just just wrestling fans, and get the rest of the world into what we're doing." This partnership has been years in the making. WWE was reportedly interested in having Cardi B involved with SummerSlam in 2021, but her pregnancy at the time prevented those plans from materializing. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Drew McIntyre Reveals Off Limits Topic During CM Punk Feud
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Drew McIntyre has revealed there was one topic he considered off-limits during his intensely personal and brutal 2024 feud with CM Punk: their families. The rivalry between McIntyre and Punk was often praised for blurring the lines between storyline and reality. However, in a recent interview with Gorilla Position, McIntyre explained that while he and Punk didn't agree to any rules beforehand, he has a personal boundary he will not cross. "I mean, I've got personal rules, and I imagine he has something similar, family is off-limits," McIntyre stated (H/T to WrestleTalk). He noted that acknowledging CM Punk's wife, AJ Lee, was acceptable because of her history in wrestling, but he would not go further. "I would never say anything negative about her, she's a lovely person, unlike him," McIntyre clarified. "But no, that's just something personal for me and I imagine for himself, the way we were brought up, kind of old school, was like 'okay, it's nothing to do with your family, leave them out of it.'" BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Drew McIntyre (R) connects with a punch against CM Punk during their strap match at the WWE Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event at Uber Arena on August 31, 2024... BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Drew McIntyre (R) connects with a punch against CM Punk during their strap match at the WWE Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event at Uber Arena on August 31, 2024 in Berlin, news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation While family was off the table, McIntyre made it clear that anything else was fair game. "As far as the guys, just unload," he said. "Some people have got upset with the things I've said, I don't give a f--k. You're not that character, that's not really you, grow the f--k up." The feud between the two stars culminated in a bloody Hell in a Cell match at WWE Bad Blood in October 2024, which was won by began 2025 by reigniting his intense rivalry with Damian Priest. The feud started with an elimination at the Royal Rumble and continued through the Elimination Chamber. It culminated at WrestleMania 41, when McIntyre defeated Priest in a brutal Sin City Street Fight. Following WrestleMania, McIntyre was involved in a fatal four-way match for the United States Championship at Backlash, where he and Priest once again clashed. Their program finally concluded in a Steel Cage match at the Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24, with Priest emerging victorious. McIntyre has not appeared on WWE television since that definitive loss, taking time away from the company after a grueling first half of the year. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
