During the final segment of the July 7 episode of WWE RAW, the broadcast featured conspicuously piped-in “Goldberg” chants as the Hall of Famer confronted the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther. The moment occurred in the lead-up to their highly anticipated match this weekend.
The scene unfolded at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, during the go-home show for Saturday Night’s Main Event. After arriving backstage in a car, Goldberg interrupted a promo from Gunther. As the two stood face-to-face, chants for Goldberg were heard on the broadcast, though fans shown on camera did not appear to be chanting, an indication that WWE utilized artificial crowd noise—a production technique the company has employed in the past. The confrontation ended with Goldberg flooring Gunther with a single punch.
This segment was the final build for what is being billed as Goldberg’s retirement match. The two are set to clash at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. This event marks the culmination of a rivalry that began at Bad Blood in 2024 and represents the final chapter in Goldberg’s in-ring career.
The road to this final match has been layered with personal challenges for the 58-year-old competitor. Goldberg recently spoke on his CarCast podcast about the immense physical and mental difficulty of preparing for one last bout at his age. Adding to the weight of the moment, his wife, Wanda Ferraton, announced the recent passing of her father, meaning Goldberg is preparing for his farewell amid a family tragedy.
With this being Goldberg’s “Last Ride,” the use of artificial crowd noise suggests WWE is taking measures to ensure the presentation of his final appearances meets a certain standard. It is likely the production team will have similar audio available for the event in Atlanta should the live crowd’s reaction require enhancement.