In an emotional farewell at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta, Goldberg delivered his best performance in years before being defeated by World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
July-13, 2025: WWE icon Goldberg officially brought the curtain down on his legendary 28-year wrestling career on Saturday night in Atlanta, Georgia, with a hard-fought loss to Gunther at WWE’s final premium live event before SummerSlam 2025.
The match, billed as Goldberg’s last-ever in-ring appearance, was anything but routine. Unlike the short, high-impact “squash” matches that defined his career, this one lasted over 14 minutes—one of the longest matches of his WWE tenure since returning in 2016. Facing off against one of WWE’s most dominant current stars, Gunther, Goldberg put on a clinical performance, pushing through a nagging knee injury.
FOR ONE FINAL TIME.
— WWE (@WWE) July 13, 2025
GOLDBERG. @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/LY8DmLiYtb
🔹 Goldberg’s Last Spear and Jackhammer
The crowd roared as Goldberg executed his trademark Spear and Jackhammer, nearly winning the match. Even his son, Gauge Goldberg, became part of the emotional farewell, getting involved at ringside. However, the legend couldn’t overcome Gunther’s ring prowess. In the end, the Austrian champion made Goldberg pass out to a rear naked choke, marking only the second time in Goldberg’s career that he lost via technical submission—the first being against Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber 2022.
🔹 A Fitting End to a Storied Career
Goldberg, who debuted in WCW in 1997, is remembered as one of the most dominant forces in professional wrestling history. His legendary 173-match undefeated streak in WCW made him an instant superstar. Across his career, Goldberg:
- Won the World Championship five times
- Had two WWE Universal Championship reigns after returning in 2016
- Defeated top names like Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens, and The Fiend Bray Wyatt
- Was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017
Despite criticism for his limited in-ring move set, Goldberg remained one of wrestling’s most electrifying attractions—a symbol of raw power and intensity.
Thank you Goldberg. 👏👏👏@nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/QTxec1YzMM
— WWE (@WWE) July 13, 2025
🔹 The Passing of the Torch
Saturday night’s match wasn’t just a send-off—it was a symbolic passing of the torch. Gunther, known for his technical mastery and punishing style, emerged victorious and respectful, further solidifying his reign as World Heavyweight Champion.
As Goldberg leaves the ring one final time, he does so with his legacy cemented—as a Hall of Famer, a dominant champion, and one of the most enduring figures in sports entertainment history.
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Goldberg retirement, Goldberg vs Gunther, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE 2025, WWE legend retires, Goldberg last match, WWE Hall of Fame, Gunther World Champion, Spear Jackhammer, Goldberg career
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#Goldberg #WWE2025 #Gunther #GoldbergRetirement #WWEHallOfFame #FinalMatch #Spear #Jackhammer #WrestlingLegend #WWEHistory #SaturdayNightsMainEvent
