Former WWE Universal Champion Goldberg made a spectacular return on the June 16 episode of WWE RAW. He immediately challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, with the title match now set for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. This encounter is officially being promoted as Goldberg’s final match in WWE.
The confrontation on RAW followed an initial altercation at the WWE Bad Blood event in October 2024. During that prior event, Gunther insulted Goldberg, who was seated ringside with his son. Goldberg reacted by attempting to jump the barricade before Triple H and security intervened to control the situation.
Backstage reports from the June 16 segment indicated that the in-ring exchange between Goldberg and Gunther felt abrupt and shorter than initially planned. Some observers noted that Goldberg did not appear to be moving well during the segment. WWE officially confirmed the championship match via social media and a press release on June 20, which also billed it as Goldberg’s retirement bout.
Related content
Gunther’s upcoming defense against Goldberg follows a turbulent period in his career. His reign as World Heavyweight Champion concluded at WrestleMania 41, where Jey Uso defeated him. Following this loss, Gunther took a short, self-requested break before returning at WWE Backlash on May 10, 2025. He secured a victory over Pat McAfee in a highly praised match, making the commentator pass out in a sleeper hold.
Gunther then regained the World Heavyweight Championship on the June 9 episode of RAW, defeating Jey Uso in a rematch to become a two-time champion. According to reports from June 20, WWE’s long-term plan always involved Gunther quickly reclaiming the title from Uso to set up the program with Goldberg.
Speculation has emerged regarding the outcome of the impending championship match. Some analysts believe WWE may have subtly spoiled the result, suggesting Goldberg is unlikely to win the championship in his retirement match. Wrestling veteran Jonathan Coachman stated on June 21, 2025, that a victory for the 58-year-old Goldberg would “absolutely destroy” Gunther’s character and momentum. However, Vince Russo countered that Goldberg might be unwilling to lose his final match to a superstar previously defeated by wrestlers like Sami Zayn and Jey Uso.
READ MORE: Goldberg Blasts WWE Hall Of Famer For Criticizing His World Title Opportunity
