WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER has reflected on his recent retirement match against the legendary Goldberg. In a new interview, “The Ring General” stated that he believes they “exceeded expectations” and that he was proud of the story they were able to tell in the ring.
The two titans clashed at the Saturday Night’s Main Event premium live event on July 12th in Atlanta, Georgia. The match, which saw GUNTHER successfully defend his championship, was billed as the final bout of Goldberg’s iconic career.
Exceeding Expectations
Speaking with Radio Times, GUNTHER expressed his satisfaction with how the high-profile match turned out. He made it clear that his goal was to have more than a typical, short Goldberg match.
“I was very happy with how everything went and I feel like we exceeded expectations for the match,” GUNTHER said. “For me, it was important to not go out there and have the typical three or four minutes of action and that’s it.”
He continued, “I wanted time to tell a story and take the audience on a ride and make them feel bad for him a little bit before it all ends. I think we succeeded with that.”
A Clash of Wrestling Philosophies
The comments from GUNTHER highlight the fascinating clash of styles the match represented. Goldberg’s legendary career was built on short, explosive, and dominant victories that often lasted less than two minutes. In contrast, GUNTHER’s reputation as “The Ring General” was forged in long, grueling, and technically proficient classics, most notably during his record-breaking 666-day reign as Intercontinental Champion.
GUNTHER’s desire to “tell a story” was a successful effort to have the match on his terms. He wanted to give the Hall of Famer a different kind of final bout, one that focused on drama and psychology.
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A Different Perspective
GUNTHER’s positive reflection on the in-ring action stands in stark contrast to Goldberg’s own public comments following the event. In the weeks since the match, Goldberg has repeatedly expressed his disappointment with how his retirement was handled by WWE. He has been critical of the choice of a smaller premium live event for his finale and was deeply frustrated that his post-match speech to his hometown crowd was cut from the broadcast.
While Goldberg’s issues were with the production, GUNTHER’s focus remains on the honor of the match itself. “He can be very happy with the match and the connection that he had with the audience because that felt very special,” GUNTHER concluded.
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