After Goldberg’s retirement match against Gunther, the following photo from the match went viral:
Goldberg addressed this photo during his interview with Ariel Helwani: “I thought it was going to hurt more. It just startled me. And I really apologized because I didn’t mean to. That’s not a rib. I’m not trying to downplay his move, but it just caught me off guard, and I completely broke character.”
Gage Goldberg Gives His Take On His Father’s Retirement Speech Controversy
Gage Goldberg, son of WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg, has opened up about the controversial moment when NBC abruptly cut off his father’s retirement speech during Saturday Night’s Main Event. In an interview with Bill Apter on WrestleBinge, Gage offered both personal insight and a level-headed defense of the situation. Reflecting on his father’s final bout against Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, Gage was full of praise for the match itself and Goldberg’s preparation. “My dad’s a very spontaneous guy,” he said. “All I do know is he really liked that match… I thought he was in great conditioning and everything.” Gage credited his father’s intense dedication, noting Goldberg had been working hard on diet, training, and cardio to prepare for the showdown. “He was working like for… he was working for that for a while.”
As for the match itself, Gage believed Gunther was the ideal opponent. “They call him The Ring General for a reason,” he said. “He’s pretty dang big… and he’s a good wrestler too. I mean, they had a really good fight.”
However, the conversation quickly shifted to the moment that left many fans furious. Goldberg’s post-match retirement speech was cut just 28 seconds in, as NBC transitioned to local news. The move sparked backlash, with many questioning if WWE or NBC had disrespected the WCW Legend.
Gage, however, offered a calm and rational take on the situation. “I don’t see it as a WWE standpoint. I see it as an NBC stand,” he explained. “NBC has to… they have a specific time that they can show WWE and a specific time that they’re going to show the news.” He emphasized there were no hard feelings: “They’re not going to screw up the news for WWE because they have to keep their contracts going.”
When reminded of Goldberg’s comments in a previous interview with Ariel Helwani, where the former champion said this wouldn’t have happened to a John Cena or an Undertaker, Gage still defended the broadcast decision. “I know WWE wouldn’t want to cut him off like that,” he said. “That’s just a business standpoint from NBC’s side.”
Gage also made it clear that his father’s message still landed where it mattered most. “He still got the message out to everyone in Atlanta,” he said, pointing out Goldberg’s deep ties to the city through football and WCW. “That’s who he was really talking to.”
As for the speech itself, Gage called it “amazing,” even acknowledging that it may have run a bit long. “He got the right things out to say,” he said. “I feel like overall it was a great speech… he got out everything he wanted to say.”
The most powerful moment for Gage came when Goldberg reiterated a lesson he often repeats to his son: “Always treat people how you want to be treated.” According to Gage, “That’s just his biggest slogan… that is the one thing that we need to get out to the world.”
Also Read: WWE Personality Rips Goldberg For Complaining About Retirement Speech
