Goldberg Says It’s An Honor To Get In The Ring With GUNTHER, Reacts To Bully Ray’s Criticism Of His WWE Raw Return

Goldberg dives into his return to WWE television to set up the World Heavyweight Championship match against GUNTHER.

Goldberg is back and will be challenging for the World Title.

The June 16th edition of Monday Night Raw on Netflix featured an appearance from newly crowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.

As GUNTHER was addressing who would be first to step up to him as a challenger, Goldberg made his return. A World Heavyweight Title match between them was made official for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12th in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fresh off his return, Goldberg guest appeared on The National Football Show with Dan Sileo. He spoke about the upcoming bout with GUNTHER and said it’s an honor to be in the ring with him and vying for the World Title. 

“Who I am to him (GUNTHER) is an old man — is a 58-year-old guy who is hobbled and not like he used to be and he believes that even at my peak, he could have taken me which is absolutely laughable. But, I mean… he’s a formidable opponent. He’s the World Heavyweight Champion. I remember meeting him years ago right when he broke in and the guy had a shooting star up his ass at that point and I knew he was gonna be destined for big things and hey, it’s an honor for me to get in the ring with him, it’s an honor to step into a position to be vying for the World Heavyweight Championship at 58 years old. I don’t know of any other ones who’ve retired with a match like that.”

The WWE Hall of Famer said he’s not going out like he did in his last match at Elimination Chamber 2022. He stated that if he goes into the bout against GUNTHER hobbling and 30 pounds lighter, so be it.

Goldberg feels he’s risking his legacy by stepping back into the ring, but feels it’s a risk versus reward type of situation. He spoke about how important it is for his son, Gage, to see him in that spotlight again. Goldberg added that if he has to be dragged or carried out of the match with GUNTHER, he’s fine with that.

“Because of what I just told you (is why I’m getting back in the ring). Because I ain’t freaking going out the way I went out. Period, end of story so at 58 years old, if I have to go in there hobbled, if I have to go in there 30 pounds lighter, I don’t give a sh*t. Because I have a point to make and at 58 years old, can I still make that point? I don’t know, but, I’m gonna do my best… 50 percent of me is better than 99 percent of the pricks on the planet, I believe, and so if I still give that effort and have the work ethic, though I’m not who I used to be but here I am. I mean, we don’t lose that. It’s a risk, it’s a huge risk. Am I risking the legacy of Goldberg in the ring? Yeah… Every time you step in there, you risk that. But, it’s risk versus reward and it’s another opportunity to give Gage a platform to see his dad go out and do his thing. I mean, he’s the reason why I came out of retirement in the beginning. 15 years ago or whatever it was for the first time. I’m not doing it for me — I mean, I am partly but, I’m mainly doing it for him.

If they have to drag me out of there or carry me out of there, then that’s fine because I chose to do it and I chose to spend the last six months training and preparing for this.”

As the conversation went on, Bully Ray’s comments on Busted Open about Goldberg’s return were brought up. Bully expressed his opinion that there was no logic behind Goldberg’s comeback and immediately getting a title match.

He felt a storyline like that is insulting. Goldberg responded by bringing up his undefeated streak and said he does not have to wait in line. Goldberg said Bully can bite him, but also understands he does a podcast about wrestling and is going to give his opinion. He added that he loves Bully and respects his opinion, but everyone has one.

“I was 176-0. I don’t have to stand in freakin’ line… So Bully Ray can bite me. But everybody’s got an opinion, and Bully Ray has a podcast that’s about wrestling, and so you’re obviously gonna chime in and give your two cents and I love him to death and I respect his opinion. But his opinion is like an asshole and everybody’s got one. So I mean, that’s fine. Everybody, ‘Oh, Goldberg’s limping to the ring, Goldberg’s small, Goldberg’s old.’ I am freakin’ old. What do you want me to do? … Turn the clock back? But, show me another 58-year-old dude that’s willing to go out and do this? I mean, there’s a couple. But I’m gonna hopefully surpass their performance and at the end of the day, I gotta surpass my performance in the past.”

As of this writing, Goldberg and GUNTHER’s World Heavyweight Title bout is the only announced match for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

That special is taking place on a weekend when WWE is presenting NXT Great American Bash and Evolution.

If the quotes in this article are used, please credit The National Football Show with Dan Sileo with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.