Latest news with #retirementmatch
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XL Results As Gunther Wins, Retires Goldberg
Gunther defeated Goldberg in his retirement match. (Credit: Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images) WWE Saturday Night's Main Event was not just Gunther's first title defense of his second World Heavyweight Championship reign. It was billed as Goldberg's official retirement match. Wrestling his first match since 2022 and last bout of a nearly 30-year career, Goldberg fittingly chose his adopted hometown of Atlanta as the site of his final bout. In the weeks ahead of WWE SNME, Goldberg addressed the toll that training to wrestle at 58 years old put on his body, but inside the State Farm Arena, he finally got his chance to go out on own terms. At the 40th edition of WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Goldberg challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, hoping for one more championship win before hanging up his boots for good. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025 Results for Gunther vs. Goldberg At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Goldberg faced one of the toughest tests of his career in World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, and as it turns out, he didn't have enough gas left in the tank. After a _____ bout ________, Gunther finished off Goldberg with a _____ to retain the World Heavyweight Championship he just won back a few weeks ago. Gunther's win over Jey Uso ______ was reportedly part of WWE's long-term plan to build up to Gunther vs. Goldberg for the title in Atlanta in Gunther's swan song. A counter-programming move done to oppose AEW All In, Gunther vs. Goldberg ______ was exactly what you would expect out of a match from Goldberg at this stage of his career. Never known as an elite in-ring technician, Goldberg pulled off some quick-hitting moves, like his spear and jackhammer ______, but it wasn't enough to put away one of WWE's most protected stars. Gunther has suffered only a few losses in his main roster WWE career, and roughly a month after winning back his belt on Raw, he wasn't going to lose the title to a past-his-prime Goldberg. No, at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Gunther decimated Goldberg with _____ and pinned him for the 1-2-3, sending Goldberg into retirement. For good. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025: What's Next for Gunther and Goldberg? In a recent interview, Goldberg's son Gage, a college football standout, admitted that he believes his father will want to wrestle even after WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. But very few pro wrestling stars get to go out on their own terms, and Goldberg essentially got the perfect sendoff ___ Saturday in Atlanta. A staple of pro wrestling in the city, which has close ties to WCW where Goldberg first became a household name, Atlanta welcomed Goldberg with open arms ___ for what legitimately appeared to be the final time. At nearly 60 years old, Goldberg got the retirement he wanted, putting over Gunther on his way out ____. That's the best way to do it, and there's no need for Goldberg to lace up the boots again. This Saturday Night's Main Event match was actually as much about Gunther as it was about Goldberg. After losing to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40 and Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41, Gunther needed to rebound with a signature win ____, and that's exactly what he did on Saturday. ______Now, with Goldberg behind him for good, Gunther should have no shortage of challengers lining up to face him. In recent weeks, WWE has teased some huge feuds for Gunther, including one with Seth Rollins that seems unlikely given Rollins' other rivalries and the fact that both stars are heels. Another likely opponent for Gunther is CM Punk, who seems to be the best and most logical foe for Gunther at the first-ever two-night SummerSlam. Punk is the biggest babyface on Raw, and if he isn't involved with Rollins at SummerSlam, then Gunther's WWE Saturday Night's Main Event win should set up Gunther vs. Punk as one of SummerSlam's top matches.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XL Match Card, Start Time And Odds
Goldberg will face Gunther in his retirement match in Atlanta. (Credit: Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty ... More Images) WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025 is one of the last key stops on the road to SummerSlam, and on paper, it has one of the most stacked cards in the show's recent history. The 'XL' edition of the NBC special will emanate from Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday Night, and among the show's biggest attractions are Goldberg's first match since 2022 and the final match of his storied career. WWE's latest Saturday show is following in some tough footsteps, too. The most recent SNME special in May generated nearly two million viewers on NBC, making it the most watched episode since the show returned last September. That episode feature Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul as well as a rare John Cena match, while Saturday's show is loaded with names like Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre and LA Knight. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025 Start Time and Streaming Info The WWE Saturday Night's Main Event simulcast will air on both NBC and Peacock beginning at 8 pm EST (7 pm CST). WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025 Match Card The 40th edition of WWE Saturday Night's Main Event features four announced matches. Below is the show's full card: WWE is billing the World Heavyweight title bout as Goldberg's 'retirement match,' though it's unclear how the company would proceed if Goldberg upsets Gunther. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025 Odds, Favorites and Predictions WWE Saturday Night's Main Event features just three matches, and each bout has a clear favorite. Below are the betting odds from BetOnline (h/t Among the announced bouts for WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, the most difficult match to predict is certainly Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton. Both stars recently returned from lengthy layoffs and are firmly entrenched as main eventers and world title contenders, making this bout essentially a coin flip. The key factor here is looking at how the other WWE SNME matches will play out, and those other matches certainly appear to be leaning toward victories for the heels. WWE is unlikely to book a show completely filled with heel wins, and with Orton recently suffering two major losses at WWE Night of Champions and WWE Backlash, he really needs to get back on track with a marquee victory. McIntyre is pushed well but not quite as protected as Orton, making this match an oh-so slight lean toward 'The Viper' Likely Winner: Randy Orton Solo Sikoa just won the US title at WWE Night of Champions by defeating Jacob Fatu, making it highly unlikely that WWE is going to have Sikoa drop the title already. Although the latest version of The Bloodline really isn't clicking all that well, WWE is clearly intent on growing the group and making it stick. The good thing is, Sikoa is better suited as a midcard performer and champion, so this is a better spot on the card for him than a major main event push. With all of the recent additions to his stable, expect Sikoa to win thanks to some outside interference even if Fatu does try to help Uso and prevent that from happening. Likely Winner: Solo Sikoa LA Knight consistently seems to be on the cusp of greatness only to have the rug pulled out from underneath him, and at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, that could very well happen again. Although 'The Megastar' has plenty of momentum right now, his SNME opponent Seth Rollins is being heavily pushed as the focal point of Raw. What's more, Rollins has plenty of backup with the likes of Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, which is standard of WWE's top heels in the Triple H era. Though Knight could really use a significant singles win, it's incredibly difficult to envision a scenario in which Rollins loses when he has three other stars in his corner. Likely Winner: Rollins WWE Saturday Night's Main Event will feature the retirement match for the legendary Goldberg, or so we think. A Goldberg win seemingly could extend his retirement run, but admittedly, that appears highly unlikely. WWE reportedly had long-term plans in place for Gunther to regain the World Heavyweight title from Jey Uso, which plies that the creative team also planned on giving Gunther another lengthy run with the belt. Goldberg isn't at the stage of his career where he should be holding a world title, and his Saturday Night's Main Event match with Gunther is taking place at the right time and place to be his official swan swong. Likely Winner: Gunther
