During an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Jake Hager launched a sharp critique of Goldberg, stating the WWE Hall of Famer “sucks” and accusing him of taking money from the industry without contributing meaningfully. Hager contrasted Goldberg with Chris Jericho, who he praised as an example of a wrestler who constantly evolves.
Hager elaborated on his criticism of Goldberg’s in-ring ability. “The only thing he could do is a fuc**ng spear and get paid $600,000 for it,” he said. Hager also took issue with Goldberg’s age, adding, “[If he is 58] Then stop pro wrestling. Stop coming in and taking our money.”
Hager’s comments tap into recent discussions surrounding the Hall of Famer, as Goldberg himself has been vocal about criticism and his final run in WWE. He has openly expressed frustration with his last match against GUNTHER, feeling his retirement was handled without class and that his farewell speech was disrespectfully cut short.
While Goldberg’s issues were with the overall presentation, his opponent in that final match, GUNTHER, expressed a different view. The former Intercontinental Champion stated he was “very pleased” with how the match transpired and felt they “surpassed expectations” by telling a compelling story beyond a typical short Goldberg encounter.
The critique of his in-ring style is something Goldberg has defended, arguing his short, dominant matches were a deliberate choice to be different. He explained that if his role was to “smash someone in 60 seconds,” he wasn’t going to push for more time just to be like every other wrestler.
Goldberg has also confronted remarks about his physical condition head-on after observers noted he appeared to be “limping” and “old.” “I am freakin’ old. What do you want me to do? … Turn the clock back?” he stated, challenging critics to find another 58-year-old performing at that level. This defense was supported by Bully Ray, who attributed Goldberg’s heavy breathing during a RAW appearance to an “adrenaline dump,” not poor conditioning.