Goldberg will not "step up to the plate," former WWE US Champion says
WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg has made it official: his in-ring career will end in 2025. We know so far that the global juggernaut will book the former World Heavyweight Champion's final match. However, it is not clear who will retire him.
Former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle was recently asked about Goldberg's announcement on the set of SEC Nation. WWE released The Original Bro in September 2023, but his fanfare remains strong. The two men have traded barbs before, with Riddle expressing a desire to face Da Man in a retirement match. Unfortunately, the bout is less likely to happen.
Speaking on Barstool Rasslin', Riddle opened up about their past issues and how, despite there being no bad blood between them today, circumstances will not allow it. Furthermore, the former United States Champion believes Goldberg is not particularly interested either:
"Well, maybe," Matt Riddle responded to whether he would like to face Goldberg in his retirement match. "I don’t think he wants to step up to the plate, if we’re keeping it real."
He then recounted when they buried the hatchet by drinking cocktails and conversing on their flight from Saudi Arabia back to the United States. They were both part of a WWE Crown Jewel event.
"I don’t think there’s any bad blood. I think he has more of an understanding of where I was coming from. I definitely have an understanding of where he’s coming from and why he finds what I say disrespectful and things like that. I completely understand. I don’t mean it that way. We’re professional wrestlers," he said. [From 21:49 onwards]
Since parting ways with WWE, The Original Bro has worked in Major League Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.
Matt Riddle reveals besides Goldberg, others in WWE also found his comments disrespectful
Matt Riddle said some things about Goldberg's in-ring work, which were intended as trash talk before a match. However, the bout never happened.
Speaking on the same episode of Barstool Rasslin', Riddle revealed that others in WWE found those comments disrespectful, too, even though he and Goldberg have put it behind them. The former United States Champion concluded by reminding about his past in UFC.
Aside from Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley, according to Riddle, he can throw down better than anybody in WWE because of his background in mixed martial arts:
"I think a lot of people, other people in WWE, took that as disrespect. But it’s like, if you fought in the UFC, and then you’re now in the WWE, what, am I supposed to just forget my whole career? Nah, dude. I can stretch like 98% of—because Brock [Lesnar] is pretty big, and Bobby Lashley’s pretty big. Neither are shabby at mixed martial arts either. But I would say pretty handy with the [You know how to take care of myself] I sure do," Riddle said. [From 22:35 onwards]
It bears watching who steps up to retire the WWE Hall of Famer. Given the confrontation at Bad Blood, which evoked a good reaction from fans, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Triple H & Co. books World Heavyweight Champion Gunther as Goldberg's final match.
If you use any of the quotes, please credit Barstool Rasslin' and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.