Goldberg to face 37-year-old star in his retirement match at WrestleMania 41 - Reports
Ever since it was confirmed that Goldberg was gearing up for a retirement match in WWE, fans have been speculating about his final opponent. As per a recent report, the Stamford-based promotion could be planning to have him face Gunther next year.
Last month, just before Crown Jewel 2024, Da Man sent fans into a frenzy when he announced that his retirement match would take place in 2025. Goldberg has not stepped inside the ring since losing to the then-Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber 2022 more than two years ago.
Though the Stamford-based promotion is yet to announce his last opponent, a new report has highlighted what could lie ahead for Da Man. According to a report from 4YouWrestling, the WWE Hall of Famer was likely to face reigning World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, whom he had an intense face-off with at Bad Blood 2024, at WrestleMania 41.
Bill Apter on potential Goldberg vs. Gunther match in WWE
A few weeks back on Sportskeeda Wrestling's The Wrestling Time Machine podcast, Bill Apter advised WWE to send Goldberg to NXT for a couple of weeks to prepare for his potential showdown with Gunther. The legendary wrestling journalist feels that the WCW legend needed to shed ring rust by training for his retirement match well in advance:
"If they want to do something with him and Gunther, then let him go to NXT. Let him stay down there two or three weeks, get the rust off of him, work with Shawn and some of those guys down there that know what they're doing. You know what I mean? And get it right."
It remains to be seen how WWE will bring Goldberg back if the plans were indeed to pit him against the 37-year-old star at WrestleMania 41. Considering Da Man has made it clear he had only one more match left, it is unlikely he would appear during the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble Match only to set up another match with Gunther.