Did Goldberg Just Disrespect Gunther? WWE Legend’s Comments Raise Eyebrows
- Ben Veal
- Jul 16
- 5 min read
Bill Goldberg’s final match in WWE was supposed to be a celebration, a high-stakes clash between generations and a send-off worthy of one of wrestling’s most iconic figures. On paper, it ticked every box: it had nostalgia, star power, physicality and symbolism.

But now, days later, the post-match conversation isn’t focused on the match itself or the legacy that Goldberg leaves behind. Rather, all attention is focused on Goldberg's comments made to Ariel Helwani about a particular spot in the Saturday Night's Main Event clash.
The moment in question ? Goldberg laughing mid-ring after receiving a chop from Gunther.
The image went viral almost immediately: Gunther, “The Ring General” and one of WWE’s most physically dominant stars, delivered one of his signature, rib-rattling chops, and Goldberg, instead of selling it, laughed.
At the time, it seemed like an intentional nod to Goldberg’s WCW persona. After all, he was the no-sell monster: a juggernaut who shrugged off offence and steamrolled his opponents. Laughing at a chop in 2025? It felt like a callback to days gone by and a final reminder of what made the Goldberg character so iconic.
But then came Goldberg’s post-match interview with Ariel Helwani.
And everything changed.
Asked about the spot in the match, Goldberg said that the laugh wasn’t planned and that it certainly was not a deliberate character beat:
“I just really apologize… I laughed when he chopped me, but I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.“You know, you feel these chops throughout your career a little bit, and they’re loud, man, it looks like they hurt… I thought it was going to hurt more, that’s all, and it just startled me. And I didn’t mean to do that, and I really apologize, because I didn’t mean that. That’s not a rib. I’m not trying to, you know, downplay his move, but it caught me off guard, and I completely broke character.”
The intention behind these words wasn't to disrespect Gunther. Elsewhere in the same interview, Goldberg spoke glowingly about Gunther's skillset in and out of the ring. But in the way that he spoke so flippantly and candidly about this spot in the match, he certainly raised plenty of eyebrows.
Goldberg’s comments carry so much weight because of who Gunther is and what he represents in modern WWE.
Gunther’s chops are not just moves. They’re a sizeable part of his brand and what makes him unique as a marquee attraction. His hard-hitting, old-school European style has won him legions of fans and critical acclaim: Gunther is rightly viewed as one of the most legitimate, physical wrestlers in the world today. Whether in NXT UK or on the main roster, his matches have been praised for their realism, intensity and sheer physicality.
So when a WWE Hall of Famer, particularly one with Goldberg’s mystique, says publicly that he expected the move to hurt more, the implication is damaging.
Who Does This Help In The Long Run?
Here’s the heart of it. Whether Goldberg intended it or not, this story has now overshadowed his retirement match and diverted attention away from what was, in all other respects, a successful final act.
Let’s be clear: nobody wins from this scenario.
Goldberg doesn't benefit. His legacy remains secure, but his final match is now being remembered for a post-match soundbite rather than the story told in the ring.
Gunther doesn’t benefit. His aura of brutality that has been meticulously built over years is now being casually questioned on a mainstream platform.
CM Punk, Gunther’s opponent for SummerSlam, doesn’t benefit either. He’s now faced with a storytelling dilemma: does he sell Gunther’s chops like death, or does he “laugh it off” too? It’s an unnecessary complication heading into one of WWE’s biggest events of the year.
Goldberg’s Praise for Gunther: Too Little, Too Late?
To be fair, Goldberg was effusive in his praise for Gunther during the same interview.
“It was freaking awesome to have my last match with him ... he’s extremely talented… I really am appreciative of him helping me out and making this old man look, you know, like he could do some stuff.”
That praise is genuine and fans should take note of it. But unfortunately, it’s the comment about the laugh and the chop that’s making the headlines. And in wrestling, perception often becomes reality.
A Fitting Farewell Despite The Drama
Let’s take a step back and focus on what actually happened in that match.
Goldberg got a hero’s reception in his hometown of Atlanta. He entered surrounded by longtime friends and former WCW legends such as Diamond Dallas Page and Ernest 'The Cat' Miller. He got his signature pyro and the full Goldberg presentation. In the ring, he held his own against one of the toughest competitors on the roster. He hit the Spear. He nailed the Jackhammer. And then, as all retiring wrestlers should, he passed the torch in the middle of the ring.
By all accounts, it was the perfect send-off. One that many legends would envy. So why tarnish it?
One possible explanation for Goldberg’s unfiltered comments is that he’s genuinely frustrated with WWE, rather than with Gunther. As he revealed in the same interview, Goldberg was livid that his farewell speech was abruptly cut from the television broadcast, although it has since been seen by well over one million viewers on YouTube.
“That wouldn’t happen to Cena or Undertaker,” he said bluntly.
And he’s right. After a 25+ year career, Goldberg's retirement speech was special and it should have been seen by everyone who had just witnessed his final match on television. The fans at home missed out and Goldberg's frustration is understandable.
Add to that the fact that the match was announced just three weeks in advance and booked on a regular Saturday Night’s Main Event rather than a WWE PLE like SummerSlam or Survivor Series, and you start to see the bigger picture.
Goldberg feels disrespected. He feels like the company treated his final act like an afterthought.
And maybe, just maybe, those feelings spilled out into his post-match comments.
What's Next For Goldberg?
It’s easy to jump on a viral quote and blow it out of proportion. Wrestling thrives on controversy, and social media doesn’t always allow for nuance. But let’s not miss the forest for the trees.
Goldberg’s retirement match was a triumph. Gunther did everything right. And WWE should be setting Gunther up for even bigger things, not forcing him to defend the legitimacy of his in-ring offence.
This wasn’t a “burial” but it was a misstep, not necessarily in the ring but certainly after the fact.
If WWE is smart, they’ll address it quickly, refocus the narrative and ensure that Gunther walks into SummerSlam booked as strongly as possible with all of the mystique, dominance and fear that made him a star in the first place.
As for Bill Goldberg? His place in wrestling history is secure. Only time will tell if, after this controversy, July 12 2025 will, in fact, go down in the history books as his final ever professional wrestling match.
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Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.
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