ATLANTA: Iconic WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg has officially retired from professional wrestling after a career spanning nearly three decades. His final match took place on July 12, where he faced current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther in a highly anticipated main event held in Goldberg's hometown of Atlanta.
Goldberg entered the ring for his swansong bout accompanied by close friends, with more supporters cheering him on from the stands. The World Heavyweight Championship contest ultimately saw Gunther emerge victorious, defeating the 58-year-old legend. Despite utilizing his signature moves, the Spear and Jackhammer, Goldberg was unable to overcome the reigning champion.
Gunther secured the win after a 14-minute long match by forcing Goldberg to submit with a Sleeper submission hold. Following the intense battle, Goldberg's family and friends joined him in the ring for an emotional farewell address. Although the WWE did not broadcast the speech live, a video of his address was later shared on X (formerly twitter).
Thank you Goldberg. 👏👏👏@nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/QTxec1YzMM
— WWE (@WWE) July 13, 2025
While no direct quotes from Goldberg or other WWE officials were provided in the source material, the narrative confirms his emotional retirement speech delivered to fans and loved ones in the ring.
Goldberg's illustrious wrestling career began on September 22, 1997, in WCW, where he achieved an astonishing 173-match undefeated streak, winning the WCW Championship during this period. His first loss came on December 27, 1998, at the hands of Kevin Nash.
After WCW, he had a brief stint with All Japan Pro Wrestling before joining WWE in 2003, where he was active for about a year and secured a World Heavyweight Championship.
He then took a hiatus from wrestling after 2004, making a return in June 2015 via "The Legends of Wrestling" show. In 2016, Goldberg made a high-profile return to WWE, notably defeating Brock Lesnar in just 1 minute and 26 seconds.
He later became WWE Universal Champion at the 2017 Fastlane event, though he lost the title to Brock Lesnar a month later. Goldberg continued to make intermittent returns to WWE after this, even winning the WWE Universal Championship one more time before his recent retirement.
Bill Goldberg's retirement marks the end of an era for one of wrestling's most dominant and iconic figures. His powerful presence and unmatched undefeated streak in WCW, coupled with his impactful returns to WWE, have left an indelible mark on the sport.
As he steps away from the ring, his legacy as a legendary competitor and a true spectacle will undoubtedly endure in the annals of professional wrestling
