Goldberg discusses training/creative for retirement match

[Chris]

https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/wwe-bill-goldberg-return-retirement-match-20337097.php

Bill Goldberg is crouched quietly against the wall inside Black Diamond Martial Arts, a quiet dojo in Boerne.

The wrestling legend is stretching before a Saturday training session, chatting with film crew capturing his preparations for his WWE retirement match.

It's quiet in the center of the studio's matt-surfaced floor, but his presence is unmistakably loud, friendly and focused.

He’s been training at the studio approximately once a month, with his coach, Casey Johnson, a Muay Thai fighter. Together, they're trying to find edge and some peace ahead of the highly anticipated match.

"I take pride in what I do. Whether it's fictitious, dancing around with 200- to 300-pound men, or lining up against an all-pro football player and trying to kill the running back in the backfield," the wrestling legend said in an interview with MySA.

Goldberg's last match was in February 2022, but he's ready to return to the ring for a retirement match, likely his final one.

The former WWE champion and Hall of Famer says he's spent the last four months preparing for the end of his career, and it hasn't been easy.

The 58-year-old still won’t say when the match will take place but said he’s been approved for some creative control of the rollout plans for the date’s announcement and even dropped a major hint about where the final fight will take place.
Goldberg is set to return to the WWE and he is training at Black Diamond Martial Arts in Boerne, Texas.

“It’s going to be in the South,” he said, with a knowing look. "This gives me the opportunity to put a stamp on my career in front of the people I care the most about."

The only hint about the date is that it will be before the end of 2025.

But before he gets to the ring, he'll have to go head-to-head with his inner critic and overcome doubts about his age.

"I'm an extremely violent person," he said. "And if I get in [the ring] and let my body do the things I used to be able to do, I'm going to rip my shoulder out."

The Muay Thai training isn't just a part of his physical preparation; it's necessary for his mental health, which he admits he's struggling with as he gets closer to the match.

"It's good in that it always ups your game, but it's bad in that you never enjoy yourself," Goldberg said. "Maybe I will enjoy myself in the ring, I don't know, maybe we'll see."

"I don't know what's going on," he continued. "How do you prepare for the end? It's morbid to me."

Goldberg is a Boerne resident, and his son Gage Goldberg played for Boerne Champion High School before signing with Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes.

 

[Dale]

I think all the PLE locations have been announced for 2025 so I wonder if it's going to be on the SNME after this one coming up?

 

[R-Troop]

Fightful Select said that there was a plan for Atlanta to have SNME on July 12.

That's the likely answer.

 

[Deadd2009]

So I wonder if he wrestles Gunther at this show.

 

[R-Troop]

So I wonder if he wrestles Gunther at this show.

Probably. It's a good way to keep Gunther hot while having him not bury the rest of the roster.

 

[Chris]

“You guys know that I’ll do anything for my faith. Truth be told, my dream was to have my retirement match in Israel, but quite obviously because of the surroundings right now, over the past five years, it just hasn’t been the right place to do it. I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that I was sorely disappointed that I couldn’t do something in Israel. But hey man, retired doesn’t mean dead by any stretch.”

“I would be honored to go out there, I really would. You never say never but like I said, we’ve been trying to do it for the past number of years and it just didn’t work out.”

“There is one thing that I can say about my match, is that I will be proudly led out by my son."