Cliff Notes – WWE icon defends Goldberg retirement match despite fans’ concerns
- Goldberg, at 58, is set to face GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship in his final match, a moment celebrated by fellow Hall of Famer Booker T.
- Despite concerns over Goldberg’s physical condition, he views this match as a privilege to conclude his career on his own terms, emphasising the importance of show business in wrestling.
WWE icon defends Goldberg retirement match despite fans’ concerns
Goldberg is set to retire at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, with his last ever match getting underway in a matter of hours.
The 58-year-old legend is challenging GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship later tonight, and fellow WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is ‘loving’ that Goldberg is getting one final moment in the ring.
Speaking exclusively to Metro, Booker said: ”I’m not surprised one bit, and I’m loving it because Bill Goldberg has been talking about having his last match.
‘And one thing about us professional wrestlers, we always talk about it, man, “I got one more run, and I got one last run”. And for Goldberg to be able to come back and finish it like this, with GUNTHER, it’s not going to get any bigger than that.’
Booker – who is a coach on WWE LFG (Legends and Future Greats) on US network A&E – acknowledged that not everyone is happy with him getting a title match just 17 months before his 60th birthday.
The current NXT commentator argued: ‘I know you got your your critics and your pundits out there, your armchair quarterbacks, talking about Goldberg. “Why Goldberg, when you got all these other guys in line it could have been?”
Goldberg is stepping in the ring one more time at Saturday Night’s Main Event
Booker T has defended tonight’s World Heavyweight Championship match.
‘Well, those [younger] guys are going to be there, they’re going to be there for a shot later on down the line after Goldberg come back – because this is show business.’
He insisted that anyone thinking otherwise is ‘missing the boat’ on the point of the wrestling game.
‘You’re missing the boat on what we’re doing in this business. If I got a chance as a promoter to use Goldberg on my show just one last time, it’s his final run, I’m gonna do it,’ he added.
Goldberg has sparked concern with his bad knee
Some fans have also been concerned about Goldberg’s physical state, as he appears to have been struggling with his movement in recent weeks, and has been open about the injuries he’s suffered in recent months.
In a new interview with CBS Sports, Goldberg confessed his ‘old body’ isn’t in the best shape, as he’s having issues with his knee.
However, he added: ‘I’m not going to miss the opportunity to put a stamp on my career, on my terms. It’s a privilege, it truly is.’
The Hall of Famer has described his retirement match as a ‘privilege’
He’ll be facing GUNTHER in the main eventB
With Goldberg clearly willing and ready to go one more time, Booker insisted anyone in charge would ‘do the same damn thing’ as Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, given the chance to put on this match.
‘If I got a chance to use The Rock, I’m gonna do it. If I got a chance to use Kurt Angle, you know I’m going to do it. That’s the promoter’s mentality,’ he told us.
‘And when I hear this armchair quarterbacks talking about “why Goldberg?” They would do the same damn thing if they were in that position. Trust me. Trust me on that.’
Booker T is a coach on WWE LFG. He pointed out how ever star needs something special to stand out.
For all his critics, Goldberg has always had a special something for fans to latch onto, whether it’s his intensity or his signature moves.
Stars like Stephanie Vaquer – who is appearing at WWE Evolution this weekend – and LA Knight are doing that in their own way, and Booker T thinks the rookies on WWE LFG need to find what makes them stand out, while it’s his role as a commentator to give them that boost.
‘Sometimes they need a little bit of something extra. Back in the day, when I was a young guy coming up, doing the Spinneroonie and Mark Madden goes, “Spinneroonie! Spinneroonie!” It becomes famous, it becomes a household deal, you know? I think you need that. And I’m just happy to be a part of the business still today.’
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event airs live on YouTube tomorrow (July 12) at 1am. US fans can watch WWE LFG on A&E.