GUNTHER will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12. The event will be held at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
During a recent appearance on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Bully Ray criticized WWE’s direction for the Goldberg vs. GUNTHER feud.
Goldberg responded to Ray’s criticism during an appearance on “The National Football Show,” noting that it is his honor to wrestle GUNTHER.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On wrestling GUNTHER at Saturday Night’s Main Event: “Who I am to him (GUNTHER) is an old man — is a 58-year-old guy who is hobbled and not like he used to be and he believes that even at my peak, he could have taken me which is absolutely laughable. But, I mean… he’s a formidable opponent. He’s the World Heavyweight Champion. I remember meeting him years ago right when he broke in and the guy had a shooting star up his a*s at that point and I knew he was gonna be destined for big things and hey, it’s an honor for me to get in the ring with him, it’s an honor to step into a position to be vying for the World Heavyweight Championship at 58 years old. I don’t know of any other ones who’ve retired with a match like that.”
On not going out like he did at Elimination Chamber 2022: “Because of what I just told you (is why I’m getting back in the ring). Because I ain’t freaking going out the way I went out. Period, end of story so at 58 years old, if I have to go in there hobbled, if I have to go in there 30 pounds lighter, I don’t give a sh*t. Because I have a point to make and at 58 years old, can I still make that point? I don’t know, but, I’m gonna do my best… 50 percent of me is better than 99 percent of the pricks on the planet, I believe, and so if I still give that effort and have the work ethic, though I’m not who I used to be but here I am. I mean, we don’t lose that. It’s a risk, it’s a huge risk. Am I risking the legacy of Goldberg in the ring? Yeah… Every time you step in there, you risk that. But, it’s risk versus reward and it’s another opportunity to give Gage a platform to see his dad go out and do his thing. I mean, he’s the reason why I came out of retirement in the beginning. 15 years ago or whatever it was for the first time. I’m not doing it for me — I mean, I am partly but, I’m mainly doing it for him. If they have to drag me out of there or carry me out of there, then that’s fine because I chose to do it and I chose to spend the last six months training and preparing for this.”
On Bully Ray’s criticism: “I was 176-0. I don’t have to stand in freakin’ line… So Bully Ray can bite me. But everybody’s got an opinion, and Bully Ray has a podcast that’s about wrestling, and so you’re obviously gonna chime in and give your two cents and I love him to death and I respect his opinion. But his opinion is like an as*hole and everybody’s got one. So I mean, that’s fine. Everybody, ‘Oh, Goldberg’s limping to the ring, Goldberg’s small, Goldberg’s old.’ I am freakin’ old. What do you want me to do? … Turn the clock back? But, show me another 58-year-old dude that’s willing to go out and do this? I mean, there’s a couple. But I’m gonna hopefully surpass their performance and at the end of the day, I gotta surpass my performance in the past.”
During a recent appearance on the “RAW Recap” podcast, Bayley discussed her rivalry with Becky Lynch regarding the Women’s Intercontinental Title, noting that their feud could help raise the title’s prominence to the same heights as the men’s Intercontinental Championship.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On her rivalry with Becky Lynch elevating the Women’s IC Title: “It’s really cool to think that people may think like that. I think to me, it’s not about the title right now. It’s just kind of like a cherry on top, to be honest. As much as I would love to win that title, as much as I would love to win the US Women’s title, because those are things I’ve never done before. Like you said, like I’ve done a lot, almost everything, but there’s two brand new titles that I’ve never won that I wouldn’t mind carrying and calling myself one of those champions one day.”
On how the title started out with Lyra Valkyria: “But I also think that the Intercontinental title for the women, it started off really well. I think the tournament was awesome. All the matches that Lyra had and defended, I think were freaking great. I think she was a perfect inaugural champion. I think like the whole workhorse title, really showcased in the women’s division as well. I think it got off to a good start, but I do believe for Becky and I to bring our experience to that championship and get the eyes on it, it’s only going to make everybody in the division hungrier to get that title, and that’s what it’s all about.”
On the goal of bringing more eyes on the division: “That’s really like bringing in the tag titles. Like that was always the goal was to bring more eyes on more women in the division, make the women more hungry and want something bigger and better and more for themselves. I think that’s what this is going to do. If a match between Becky and I can even level it up just a little bit, then that’s what I want to do. But I’m just here to beat the living crap out of her, and my shoulder is nice and healthy now. So I think the title would fit perfectly.”
