Goldberg Reveals Disappointment with Retirement Send-Off

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Tuesday, while grateful for the opportunity he got and the setting of Saturday Night’s Main Eventbeing the send-off,Goldberg said he was "pi--ed off" with the way things went down. Speaking candidly, the Hall of Famer admitted he feels let down by how his farewell was handled, especially considering his legacy in the business.

“Let’s just say I’m pissed off at the way I went out. I put so much into it, and I don’t feel as though the effort was reciprocated to put a stamp on what I’ve accomplished.”

While Goldberg acknowledged that he was happy with his in-ring performance and the opportunity to perform one last time, he made it clear that the overall presentation lacked the respect and preparation his career deserved. “It could have been done a little bit differently, that’s all,” he said. “Could have been better? Absolutely. You can always be better.”

What Did Goldberg Like The Least?

Saying there were 100 ways it could have been done better, one of the biggest sore spots for Goldberg was the way his post-match retirement speech being cut off on television. His heartfelt goodbye was abruptly cut off by NBC’s broadcast — something he believes would never have happened to WWE icons like The Undertaker or John Cena. He knows that stuff happens and the match might have run long, but it was live television and could have been planned for.

“I’m not saying it was done on purpose… I’m saying that it wasn’t prepared for on purpose. That’s all,” Goldberg explained. “They wouldn’t do that to Taker, right? They’re not gonna do that to Cena. Cena’s gone around the world doing his retirement thing.” He even hinted that it's because he was a WCW guy.

“To be honest, I’m gonna catch hell for this… I don’t care,” he said. “I’ve had World Heavyweight matches all the time, that doesn’t do anything for me. It just felt a little ‘eh’ to me.”

He says, technically, he's retired. It's clear, however, there is an appetite to make good on something he felt could have been done better.