Bill Goldberg, the 58-year-old WWE Hall of Famer, did not hold back following his retirement match against Gunther on Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta. While WWE celebrated his lengthy career with a championship bout and fanfare, Goldberg expressed frustration, arguing the final build-up and production didn’t reflect his legacy.
A Glittering Finale or Could It Have Been Brighter?
Goldberg said the match itself—his longest singles outing in over 20 years—went well, and the hometown atmosphere was electric . Yet, he asked, “Could it have been better? Absolutely,” pointing to what he perceived as lukewarm promotion and a truncated send-off. He added he plans to “make his feelings known” once free from contractual constraints in a couple of weeks.
The Backlash: Ungrateful, Tone-Deaf, or Just Honest?
Many voices in the wrestling world took issue with Goldberg’s critique. Radio host Dave LaGreca called him “ungrateful” after his harsh words, while Peter Rosenberg blasted, “WTF was he thinking?”, pointing out that Goldberg got a prime-time title match in his own backyard. AEW’s Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler) argued Goldberg should have thanked WWE and Gunther instead of airing grievances.
From SquaredCircle on Reddit, one fan wrote:
“He got a WORLD TITLE MATCH IN HIS HOMETOWN!!! How many MORE DESERVING wrestlers got that kind of send off?”
Where Does Goldberg Stand? Clarifying His Position
Goldberg clarified he’s not downplaying WWE’s efforts. He admitted he was “pissed off at the way I went out,” craving something more polished and grandiose. Yet he praised Gunther warmly: “That kid’s extremely talented…and it was an honor to work with him”.
Goldberg’s Complaints vs. WWE Praise
| Topic | Goldberg’s View | Critics’ Counterpoints |
|---|---|---|
| Match promotion | “Could’ve been better; build was too thin” | “He got a big title match on TV in Atlanta” |
| Sent-off speech cut short | Microphone cut after ~30 seconds | NBC timing rules forced the cutoff—not WWE fault |
| Tone of criticism | “I’m pissed… could’ve been done differently” | “Ungrateful; ruined my birthday” —LaGreca |
Conclusion
Goldberg’s candid reflections on his final WWE appearance have split the wrestling world. On one hand, he highlights the need for legacy-level recognition. On the other, critics emphasize the exceptional opportunity he was given—something many wrestlers only dream of. Was Goldberg asking too much, or did WWE fall short on delivering his final send-off? One thing’s for sure: this debate underscores how important crafting the right farewell truly is.