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Goldberg on WWE sendoff: ‘I’m pissed off at the way I went out’

Posted: Jul 16th 2025 By: Ian Carey

Goldberg has some complaints regarding his send-off at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

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.”