The cameras stopped rolling after the July 12 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, but the night was not over for the Atlanta, Georgia crowd. Following the main event, Cody Rhodes made a surprise appearance, stepping into the ring to share a moment with the legendary Goldberg.
The appearance came after Goldberg wrestled his final match, an unsuccessful challenge against Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. As a defeated but revered Goldberg addressed his hometown fans, Rhodes’ entrance music hit, bringing the two Georgia natives face-to-face in a poignant post-show segment.
Taking the microphone, Rhodes delivered a heartfelt message to the former World Champion.
“Rhodes thanked Goldberg on behalf of the WWE locker room for everything he did in his career, noting that he’s not just wrestling royalty, he’s Georgia royalty.”
While Rhodes was not in action on the show, his presence carried significant weight. He is currently on his own path toward a major championship match, preparing for a high-stakes encounter at SummerSlam next month. The tribute to a past champion comes as Rhodes finds himself deeply entrenched in his own main event storyline.
At SummerSlam, scheduled for August 3, Rhodes is set to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The match is a pivotal rematch after Cena defeated him for the title at WrestleMania 41 in April. Rhodes secured this opportunity by winning the 2025 King of the Ring tournament, continuing a dominant run that has kept him at the center of WWE programming.
Cody Rhodes came out after WWE Saturday Night's Main Event went off the air with a speech for Goldbergpic.twitter.com/a3kVFnLhzn
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) July 13, 2025