WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg is set to have his final match this Saturday at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and the road to this last ride has been a chaotic one. In a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports, Goldberg detailed how the match came together, the stress of preparing at 58 years old, and why he’s determined to go out on his own terms.
The Call from Triple H
Goldberg revealed that the call for this final match came from Paul “Triple H” Levesque while he was out on his tractor, and he nearly missed it. “I get a phone call from from New York, and it’s an unknown number… and I didn’t pick up,” Goldberg said. “And then I picked up the second time, and lo and behold, it was Mr. Levesque.”
He explained that this was not the retirement he originally envisioned after his last match against Roman Reigns, a bout he took while recovering from COVID. “I thought that part of the payback for that, obviously, hey, we’re going to give them a retirement match. Well, that never transpired,” Goldberg stated, citing Vince McMahon’s departure and the subsequent changes in the company. “I’m appreciative of the opportunity, and also appreciative that they gave me more than three weeks to prepare.”
“Adapting and Overcoming”
Preparing for a World Championship match at 58 is a challenge, one made more difficult by recent personal tragedies, including the passing of his father-in-law and devastating floods in his Texas community. “It’s a very overwhelming time for me,” Goldberg admitted. “I’m not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself that at 58 I’m getting no sleep and I’m running from one side of the country to the next… but damn it, I’m gonna do what I do.”
He described his hectic schedule, which included flying across the country, getting his boots re-soled, and squeezing in rehab on his “old body.” “The circumstances are not always to your liking, but you adapt and overcome,” he said.
Going Out on His Own Terms
Despite the challenges, Goldberg stressed how important it is for him to have this final match. “Everybody would like the opportunity to go out on their own and to have a hand in that, and this is my way of doing it,” he said. “Not many people get that opportunity… I’m not going to miss the opportunity to put a stamp on my career, on my own terms, and it’s a privilege, it truly is.”
The World Heavyweight Championship match between Gunther and Goldberg is scheduled to main event the Saturday Night’s Main Event premium live event this Saturday in Goldberg’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit SHAK Wrestling (Shakiel Mahjouri) with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
