Goldberg Returning This Monday To Begin Retirement Match Buildup

WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg is reportedly set to make his long-awaited return to Monday Night Raw this coming Monday. The comeback is expected to kickstart the build to his retirement match against the newly-crowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther.

According to a report first published by Bodyslam.net, the former WCW and WWE champion is scheduled for the upcoming episode of Raw. PWInsider has since added that Goldberg is expected to be a consistent presence on the show in the weeks leading up to a major WWE weekend in Atlanta. The culmination of this return is anticipated to be a championship showdown with Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event on Saturday, July 12th.

The path to this marquee matchup was paved on this past Monday's episode of Raw, where Gunther defeated Jey Uso to recapture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The victory sets the stage for a cross-generational clash that has been teased since a heated confrontation between Goldberg and Gunther at WWE Bad Blood in October 2024.

At 58 years old, the question of how Goldberg's body will endure the rigors of a main event program is a significant one. In a recent interview on the CarCast podcast, the legend himself provided a candid look into his intense and often painful preparation.

"I hurt myself a couple of times in the past three months," Goldberg revealed. "It's really tough to have the mentality I do but to have the body that I do now and with the mileage on it and then go into the Muay Thai gym and hit the pads and not go crazy and then blow a shoulder out and blow your biceps out and, you know, pull your hamstring from throwing a high kick."

He elaborated on the delicate balance he must strike in his training regimen. "There's a huge balance and I've been in the ring a couple of times, I'll be getting in the ring today, and it's just tough, man. It is tough."

Goldberg's return to Atlanta, the city where his legendary undefeated streak began in WCW, for his final match adds a storybook element to his farewell. His challenge against Gunther, one of WWE's most dominant modern champions, promises a collision of eras as the Hall of Famer seeks to end his iconic career on a high note.