Goldberg unhappy with retirement match

[Chris]

The 58-year-old now-retired wrestler was a guest on The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday and mentioned that he will have more to say on his retirement match in two weeks. When Helwani asked if he signed an NDA that expires in two weeks, Goldberg responded, “Yeah, let’s just say that.”

While he expressed that he’s happy with how the match went and enjoyed wrestling Gunther, Goldberg says he’s “pissed off” with many aspects of his final run in WWE. He mentioned not being happy that his final match was on live television rather than a PLE, where they would have more control over time.

Goldberg said:

“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. But to be given that opportunity on such a special show with the lineage of the show, to be able to go against the World Heavyweight Champion, to be able to go against Gunther, again, it was an honor and a privilege to be given that opportunity, and I had to make the most of it.”

When asked if he would have preferred the match to have been on a PLE, Goldberg responded:

“Yeah, absolutely. They cut me off (after) freaking 20 seconds with the microphone in my hand, for God’s sake.”

“I have two weeks before I can really spill the beans and make my feelings known about the entire rundown. From the inception of the idea to its delivery, it was a little less than to be desired, but again, I’m not gonna complain because not many people get that opportunity.”

He also mentioned that he enjoyed working with Gunther.

“Gunther was an unbelievable guy to work with. It was awesome. I had a good time and I was laughing. I actually had fun.”

“There were moments in that match where I actually enjoyed myself, and I can’t say that I’ve done that very many times.”

Goldberg said that the match not being announced until three weeks out, even though it had been decided on in January, made it difficult for him to contact people to be part of his walk-out entourage. He also would have preferred there to be a larger build-up to the match.

“I would have loved for them to announce it in January and have a build up to it and do something I thought was maybe worthy of my career. But let’s just say that they chose to do it with three weeks notice. It is what it is. It’s part of the package.”

“It’s part of the meal that you get dealt. I would be remiss in thinking that I thought the meal would be different but it was shame on me for thinking that it would’ve been different. Don’t you love the way that I’ve been able to navigate my words?”

When asked about his son Gage possibly having a future in WWE, Goldberg revealed that they offered him an NIL deal.

“They tried to give him an NIL (deal) but when I found out how much they were going to give him, I put the brakes on that one. But they would be ignorant if they didn’t have an idea that it could be in his future.”

Helwani asked Goldberg about his apparent mixed emotions regarding his retirement match. Goldberg responded:

“Let’s just say I’m pissed off at the way I went out. Because I put so much into it and I don’t feel as though the effort was reciprocated to put a stamp on what I’ve accomplished. Again, I’m not going to say that I’m not ecstatic with the opportunity that I got.”

“I think it could have been done a little bit differently. That’s all. I’m happy with my performance. I’m happy with the setting, but could it have been better? Absolutely, it can always be better.”

When asked what specifically could have been different, Goldberg responded:

“Well, there’s about a hundred things. I did three interviews beforehand, Ariel. I did three in six months. They cut me off 30 seconds into my speech, bro. You don’t do that, but it’s all good.“

When asked if he felt the speech getting cut off was WWE or the network’s call, Goldberg responded:

“I think it doesn’t matter cause it’s live television and you can plan for it. That’s all.“

“I know it is what it is and the match might have gone long and this or that and whatever it is. But I just think that it could have been a little classier prepared than it was. And I’ll just say, that’s a mild understatement.”

“It is what it is. I got the opportunity to speak for 28 seconds.”

He also referred to his send-off as “the ultimate rib.”

“I got an opportunity to have it for 28 seconds. Not many people get that, but it’s just everything throughout the years have built up to something like the ultimate rib. I guess that was the ultimate rib.”

When asked if he felt his speech getting cut off was intentional, Goldberg answered:

“I’m not saying it was done on purpose by any stretch of the imagination. I’m saying that it wasn’t prepared for on purpose. That’s all. I mean, they wouldn’t do that to Taker, right? I don’t think they would. They’re not going to do that to Cena. Cena’s going around the world doing his retirement thing.”

 

[3:10 to Booty]

Dude needs to get over himself he’s lucky he got that. He’s angling for AEW to give him a run I bet

 

[Dale]

The speech thing was fucked up but clearly not intentional due to the obvious hard out they would have had. They should have given him the mic on Raw at least though.

 

[Barry Poppins]

Brother shut the fuck up and worry more about your kid you fuckin dweeb.

 

[Chris]

Brother shut the fuck up and worry more about your kid you fuckin dweeb.

Busy telling his kid to deny free money judging by that NIL comment lol

I get if it was really undervalued, but unless the kid already has a better NIL deal, it seems like a WWE one for Goldberg's kid would just be extra money for him to do what he's currently doing in college so even if it's not much, it's still something

 

[Deadd2009]

I was one of the few who probably thought he was actually gonna get the match on a PLE, I thought they were either gonna do Saudi or Summerslam seeing as Summerslam is 2 nights this year. But seems like he's ready to burn that bridge yet again in 2 weeks because things didnt go the way he had hoped.

Like my guy they literally killed a world title run for you just so they could have you go for it in your final match. If NBC was the reason you got cut off, go yell at the Network then. Youll be yelling at clouds but go yell at them anyway.

At the end of the day what are you exactly mad at? You said you were happy with the match, the setting, you were happy with Gunther, and felt like nothing that happened was intentional. So which is it?

 

[R-Troop]

Busy telling his kid to deny free money judging by that NIL comment lol

I get if it was really undervalued, but unless the kid already has a better NIL deal, it seems like a WWE one for Goldberg's kid would just be extra money for him to do what he's currently doing in college so even if it's not much, it's still something

I do not know the details of the NIL deals WWE does.

Does it preclude him from getting other NIL deals? If it's minimal money for more than just a few social posts and things like that? Does it hinder Gage from doing other things in the wrestling sphere if he so desires?


I hate to say it again as agreeing with anything Goldberg says makes me a piece of garbage here, but he isn't wrong about a couple of things.

1. He has every right to be unhappy his farewell speech got cut off.
   1. This is just the downside of broadcast TV. Not WWE's fault or even NBCs fault.
   2. The timing got thrown off after the Rollins injury.
   3. The cutoff and commercial breaks is probably why he wishes it was a PLE. Both of this is fair.
2. The build for the match was kinda lackluster and rushed. They could have done virtually everything the same but gradually (and more logically) and the BUILD would have been better.
   1. After Gunther lost the title at Mania have Goldberg tell Gunther He's Next without mentioning a date
   2. Announce the match as soon as SNME ATL is announced.
   3. Gunther wins the title back the same time, says non-title match with Goldberg unless career on the line.
   4. do everything else the exact same.

Now here's what I find ironic about this. He claims it was rushed... Well that is very fitting for Goldberg, as his biggest moment in his career (in ATL no less) was when they rushed the Goldberg/Hogan match where he won the Worlds Title. They rushed it to fill the Atlanta building they were running and pop a rating. WWE rushed this to fill the Atlanta building they were running and pop a rating. And Atlanta was the most logical place for them to do it as Goldberg will move tickets in Atlanta, but not New Jersey.

 

[Chris]

I don't think it would hinder Gage from anything in the wrestling business but yeah I assume the logic is bc he thinks they can (or have already for all I know) get a better NIL deal

 

[Dom's cellmate]

Dude needs to get over himself he’s lucky he got that. He’s angling for AEW to give him a run I bet

Let Megan Bayne squash him Ha!

 

[Loochblade]

I hate to say it again as agreeing with anything Goldberg says makes me a piece of garbage here, but he isn't wrong about a couple of things.

1. He has every right to be unhappy his farewell speech got cut off.
   1. This is just the downside of broadcast TV. Not WWE's fault or even NBCs fault.
   2. The timing got thrown off after the Rollins injury.
   3. The cutoff and commercial breaks is probably why he wishes it was a PLE. Both of this is fair.
2. The build for the match was kinda lackluster and rushed. They could have done virtually everything the same but gradually (and more logically) and the BUILD would have been better.
   1. After Gunther lost the title at Mania have Goldberg tell Gunther He's Next without mentioning a date
   2. Announce the match as soon as SNME ATL is announced.
   3. Gunther wins the title back the same time, says non-title match with Goldberg unless career on the line.
   4. do everything else the exact same.

Or Bill could just shut the fuck up and not list everything he hated about an opportunity a lot of Workers don't get, while constantly claiming that he "doesn't want to complain"... plus him almost threateningly throwing in that he's going to tell it all when the NDA runs out, makes this look even worse. He can be pissed about it, for sure, but it's not like he looks at it with an actual open mind, especially when it comes to his own shortcomings.

OR even better would've been if the WWE wouldn't have given an 58-year old, who hasn't been in the Ring for over three years, a big retirement match that ended up making the younger opponent he was up against look like shit due to not giving him the curtesy of tapping out, because Billy must look strong in defeat, in the first place. ...and I am sure that finish was 100% Bill's too.


For years people have hated it when the WWE brought in older talent that couldn't keep up with the younger generation, but was generally put above them. I don't know why not more people were (and still are) absolutely pissed about Goldberg getting this kind of match, when he was already gone for over three years and this was supposedly a "new" WWE. Plus he was already complaining about injuries and health problems during his training towards it, which should've been another huge red flag as well.

I don't like to constantly beat that drum, but Bill has become the absolute poster child of a garbage veteran and it's frustrating as fuck to think that nobody knows how many younger workers are still told, or think they have to listen to guys like this.

 

[Lady Redfield]

I never liked Goldberg, even in his prime, and shit like this just solidifies it even more. I get that he is angry about the speech part, it wasn’t a good send off to the viewers, but that’s not a WWE issue, they aren’t the ones who cut it off….


I am not sure what his threats are going to unravel in two weeks but the fact they gave him an opportunity at all….one that he repeatedly said good things about yet is complaining at the same time….yikes.


I have a feeling this guy is gonna get a match at SS and he will be able to retire “properly” in his own eyes.

 

[Butters]

I hope bret hart is the ref

 

[Shane]

Or Bill could just shut the fuck up and not list everything he hated about an opportunity a lot of Workers don't get, while constantly claiming that he "doesn't want to complain"... plus him almost threateningly throwing in that he's going to tell it all when the NDA runs out, makes this look even worse. He can be pissed about it, for sure, but it's not like he looks at it with an actual open mind, especially when it comes to his own shortcomings.

OR even better would've been if the WWE wouldn't have given an 58-year old, who hasn't been in the Ring for over three years, a big retirement match that ended up making the younger opponent he was up against look like shit due to not giving him the curtesy of tapping out, because Billy must look strong in defeat, in the first place. ...and I am sure that finish was 100% Bill's too.


For years people have hated it when the WWE brought in older talent that couldn't keep up with the younger generation, but was generally put above them. I don't know why not more people were (and still are) absolutely pissed about Goldberg getting this kind of match, when he was already gone for over three years and this was supposedly a "new" WWE. Plus he was already complaining about injuries and health problems during his training towards it, which should've been another huge red flag as well.

I don't like to constantly beat that drum, but Bill has become the absolute poster child of a garbage veteran and it's frustrating as fuck to think that nobody knows how many younger workers are still told, or think they have to listen to guys like this.

I mean the match was pretty good and it did not make Gunther look weak at all. This hate on older stars getting matches is so overplayed lmao.