The career of Goldberg came to a definitive end at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship in his retirement match. In front of a hometown Atlanta crowd, the Hall of Famer passed out in a sleeper hold, allowing Gunther to retain his title and close the book on a storied 28-year run.
The contest, which lasted approximately fifteen minutes, reached a chaotic peak in its final moments. Goldberg inadvertently speared referee Charles Robinson, creating an opening for high drama. Gunther used the opportunity to confront Goldberg’s son, Gage, at ringside before returning to the ring to receive a spear and a Jackhammer from the challenger.
A second official, Shawn Bennett, rushed to the ring to make the count, but the champion managed to kick out of Goldberg’s signature finisher. Shortly after, Gunther locked in a sleeper hold, and Goldberg faded, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
Following the match, Goldberg addressed the crowd in the State Farm Arena as the broadcast came to a close.
“First off, I don’t think I’ve ever lost here in Atlanta, so I do apologize for going out a little sub-par. I’ve got over 100 friends and family that came in from all over the world, and I’ve just gotta say, I cannot thank y’all enough. The fans in Atlanta have been absolutely wonderful. I love you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
This final encounter was the culmination of a rivalry that reignited on the June 16 edition of WWE RAW. On that night, Goldberg returned to confront Gunther and issue the challenge for his last match. The animosity between the two stemmed from an incident at the Bad Blood event in October 2024, where Gunther disrespected Goldberg in front of his family, setting the stage for the personal and high-stakes farewell bout.