Goldberg: One Last Spear and Jackhammer

After 28 years, Jewish professional wrestling icon, Bill Goldberg, wrestled his final bout at State Farm Arena on July 12, 2025, in his adopted hometown of Atlanta, before more than 12,000 fans and millions watching “Saturday Night’s Main Event” on NBC and Peacock.

Goldberg is proud of his Jewish heritage. In 2009, the San Diego Jewish Journal referred to Goldberg as the “Jewish Hulk” as he definitely breaks the mold on the Jewish stereotype. Goldberg told the San Diego Jewish Journal, “It’s been a blessing to be a role model for these Jewish kids who never had a Jewish sports hero to look up to. Being Jewish doesn’t mean I have to read the Torah every day, but hell, I wrestled in front of millions of people and called myself by my real name. That›s a testament to myself that I›m proud of.”

Goldberg played defensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1986-89 and played defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons from 1992-94. His football career was cut short when he sustained an abdominal injury in 1995 tearing his lower abdomen off his pelvis.

Following his NFL career, Goldberg began training at the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Power Plant facility in 1997 to begin his career in professional wrestling for WCW. He cemented his legacy at WCW, and the world of professional wrestling, with an unprecedented 173–0 winning streak, including a WCW Championship title victory over Hulk Hogan at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front of more than 40,000 fans screaming, “Goldberg,” and millions watching the show on “Monday Night Nitro.” Most of his matches were short and quick with victories resulting from a devastating spear and jackhammer slam to his opponents. After each match ended, Goldberg would proclaim “Who’s next?”

Goldberg returned to the ring in 2016 to fight a few times a year at World Wrestling Entertainments (WWE) Premium Live Events. The crowds still welcomed him with screams of “Goldberg.” At a WWE Premium Live Event, “Bad Blood,” on Oct. 5, 2024, at State Farm Arena, Goldberg attended the event with his wife, Wanda, and son, Gage. During an in-ring promo speech by the WWE champion, Gunther, the Ring General, Goldberg was taunted by the WWE champion.

Gunther called Goldberg a “one trick pony” and “hoped he was a better father than a wrestler.” This not only embarrassed Goldberg and his family before the thousands of people in attendance, and millions watching the event on the Peacock network, it also infuriated Goldberg who jumped the railing and went after Gunther only to have security hold him back. The seeds were now planted for his final retirement match on July 12, 2025. When asked now, “Who’s next,” the answer was simple, Gunther.

Goldberg spent months training for this final encounter. At 58 years of age, Goldberg said his battered body had one more fight left in him. He went on to say that younger wrestlers, like Gunther, have no respect for Goldberg’s generation of wrestlers. The stage was now set for Goldberg’s retirement match as he went for the gold one last time against Gunther. This would be Goldberg’s first match since Feb. 19, 2022. Gunther said the “Myth of Goldberg would die” after the match.

Despite a losing effort against Gunther in their 14 minute-plus match, Goldberg managed to beat some respect into the WWE champion. He was able to hit his signature Spear and Jackhammer finishing move one last time only to have Gunther kick out before the count of three. After the match, Goldberg, surrounded by friends and family, thanked the crowd for their undying support throughout his wrestling career. This was his first professional loss in Atlanta. After the show went off the air, WWE superstar, Cody Rhodes, summed it up best, telling Goldberg, “You are not just wrestling royalty, you are Georgia royalty and Atlanta royalty.” Rhodes then asked the crowd for one last chant of “Goldberg, Goldberg, Goldberg,” from the Atlanta audience.

Now the question is not “Who’s next”, but “what’s next” for Goldberg. His son, Gage, plays linebacker for the Colorado Buffaloes college football team. During recent interviews, Gage said his primary interest was in a professional football career in the NFL, but also, as a backup plan, expressed interest following in his father’s footsteps with a professional wrestling career. Perhaps, someday, the Goldberg legacy will continue through his son.