While Goldberg officially concluded his storied career against Gunther on July 12, new information suggests his sendoff was shaped by competition as much as celebration. According to reports, AEW made a significant offer for a retirement run to the former champion months before his final WWE match was scheduled.
The WWE Hall of Famer’s farewell took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta, where he unsuccessfully challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite a heroic effort in front of a supportive hometown crowd, Goldberg’s career ended in a loss. However, the timing of the event, positioned against a major AEW show, has drawn scrutiny.
According to a report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, the scheduling was a deliberate competitive tactic by WWE.
“What they did care about was scheduling it on the same weekend as AEW’s biggest show. That was the focus—putting it head-to-head with AEW’s biggest show. And for what it’s worth, AEW had actually offered Goldberg a legitimate retirement run.”
Goldberg himself previously confirmed that he had engaged in conversations with AEW President Tony Khan. Ultimately, he chose not to sign, reportedly feeling the company’s product was “too cheesy” for his character and legacy.
This behind-the-scenes dynamic adds context to Goldberg’s expressed frustrations with his sendoff. The wrestling legend was openly unhappy with the limited television build for the match and the abrupt ending to his post-match retirement speech, which was cut short on the live broadcast.
“They cut me off freaking 20 seconds with a microphone in my hand, for God’s sake.”
With his WWE chapter closed, speculation persists that the nature of his retirement could be a strategic misdirection, potentially setting the stage for a surprise appearance in AEW down the line.