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Josh Barnett reveals Goldberg was once planned for Bloodsport Bushido

Posted: Jul 31st 2025 By: Ian Carey

Josh Barnett says last year’s Bloodsport Bushido was originally supposed to be headlined by him vs. Goldberg.

Barnett was a guest on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday to promote this Saturday’s Bloodsport event in New Jersey. He spoke about being part of Goldberg’s walk-out entourage at Saturday Night’s Main Event recently and revealed that they had hoped to work with each other at Sumo Hall in June 2024.

Barnett said:

“The original main event was actually going to be me vs. Bill Goldberg. Me and Bill had come to an agreement about it and everything and we were trying to make it happen but at the end of the day it wasn’t something we could put together. But we’d agreed on pretty much all the necessary items but he’s a very, very important man with a lot of obligations and contracts and all sorts of stuff.”

When asked if he’s still interested in promoting him vs. Goldberg, Barnett replied, “Anytime Bill decides that’s something he wants to do then I’m there but he’s had an incredible career.”

Barnett was defeated by Jon Moxley in the main event of Bloodsport Bushido.

Natalya will return to Bloodsport this weekend after defeating Miyu Yamashita in her debut in April. She will wrestle Masha Slamovich on the show. Barnett responded that working with Natalya has been “easy as always” and commented on her motivation for being part of Bloodsport.

“I think the big thing about what Nattie’s doing right now is that she doesn’t have to do any of this. She’s made money hand over fist. She’s a very popular person. She’s accomplished a ton of things in the industry and she’s already cemented her name as somebody of legacy. But that desire to go out and wrestle is still very strong inside her.

Barnett was also asked for his opinion on the WWE Unreal docuseries on Netflix, and did not hold back in his response.

“I absolutely hate it. I think it has no place in the business,” Barnett responded.

“I am 100 percent Team Kayfabe. I view it like nobody wants to go to an illusionist show to be told how the trick goes. They just want to see the trick.”

The lineup for Saturday’s Bloodsport show is below:
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV lineup | Saturday, August 2 | Rutherford, New Jersey

Natalya vs. Masha Slamovich
Pete Dunne vs. Jonathan Gresham
Janai Kai vs. Jordan Blade
Charlie Dempsey in action
Erik in action
Ivar in action
Timothy Thatcher in action
Slade in action
Nick Comoroto in action
Simon Gotch in action
Matt Mako in action
Dominic Garrini in action