One of the most dominant names of the Attitude Era is ready to hang his boots up, and the Triple H Era is finally allowing for him to have a proper sendoff. With a vicious spear and a generational undefeated streak of 173-0, Bill Goldberg was as menacing and fierce as any competitor in WCW, and after runs in both WCW and WWE, he's ready to ride off into the sunset after an almost 30 year career.

When the announcement was made by Goldberg that this would be his final year as an in-ring competitor, many names topped the list as to who should be his final opponent, and perhaps the last person to pin "The Man They Call Goldberg." Although Gunther would be a wise and dominant choice, Bron Breakker is the correct choice for Goldberg's last hurrah.

Goldberg's Last Match Timeline, Explained

Here's The Scoop on How It Came To Be

Bill Goldberg first signed with WWE in 2003 after WCW went under and his guaranteed contract with AOL Time Warner came to an end in May 2002, and although he won the first incarnation of WWE's World Heavyweight Championship, his first run was marked by both triumph and frustration. Goldberg returned in 2016, winning the WWE Universal Championship twice, and facing a who's who of current WWE Superstars helping to shape the future of the company.

Goldberg's last WWE match was against Roman Reigns at 2022's Elimination Chamber in a losing effort to regain the Universal Championship, but Goldberg didn't expect this to be his last match, and his contract status remained a popular topic of conversation amongst wrestling fans. He was vocal about his desire for a proper retirement match, as evidenced by his comments on Steve & Captain Evil: The Podcast in 2023.

"I owe [Vince McMahon] everything, until we went to Saudi Arabia and he asked me to put Roman Reigns over, and I had COVID. I calling him from my house and said, 'Listen, here is the deal. I'll do it if you give me a retirement match.' I did what he asked. As a performer, I was 56 years old. As a human being, you're conscientious about how you look in a bathing suit, especially two months prior to being in that bathing suit, you couldn't work out because you had COVID. I put myself in a horribly s****y situation to get what I wanted to, but to satiate him and give him what he wanted."

However, as the Triple H Era has brought home multiple Legends that have previously had issues under the McMahon regime, WWE Chief Content Creator Paul "Triple H" Levesque spoke with Goldberg after 2024's Bad Blood and worked out a new deal for him to have a proper retirement match, one worthy of showcasing the monster and the man.

Spear Vs. Spear - Why Bron Breakker Makes Sense to Retire Goldberg

Vicious In-Ring Madness

As monstrous and strong as Goldberg was throughout his career, Bron Breakker has been the closest comparison in of strength and destruction in a WWE ring. The current Intercontinental Champion heading into WrestleMania 41, Breakker represents the true modern-day Goldberg persona, one accented by fierce intensity and unmatched power.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show earlier this week, Goldberg commented on Bron Breakker and the comparisons of the two:

"We have a relationship that goes back 20 years, almost. Riding with his dad and uncle, I learned a lot in the business. That kid was growing up just like Gage did when I retired a couple of times ago. We knew he was always going to be a dude, just like us, following in our footsteps in a certain way, whether it was in the business or another endeavor. He and I spoke a lot when he was in college playing football. We spoke in high school when he was playing football. We spoke when he was attempting to play in the NFL and we’ve spoken a number of times since he’s turned into who he has at WWE. I’d say we’re really close. We don’t wear it on our sleeves, but people don’t ask. We’re extremely close, and I see a lot of myself in him. If it wasn’t for his respect for me and my respect for him, people have tried to get him to do more things that I kind of did. Whether it’s a phone call to me or a ‘no,’ he’s a great and wonderful kid. His only limitation is his height. That’s it. There ain’t nothing in the world that can stop him. Unless he can grow eight inches taller, that’s the only thing in the world that can stop that kid. That’s a formidable resume right there. That kid deserves everything. The sky is the limit for him. To be compared to his 4.3 40-yard dash and delivering his spear, I’ll take that."

Breakker certainly appears to be the correct choice for the Goldberg retirement match, as the display of strength, speed, and intensity will be both a callback to the long-missed WCW days and a showcase of the future. Breakker vs. Goldberg would be an excellent addition to the first two-night SummerSlam and provide a perfect capstone to a legendary career.

Why Not Gunther For This Moment?

Gunther's Busy in Multiple Directions

After 2024's Bad Blood in Atlanta, the obvious choice seemed to be Gunther, the current World Heavyweight Champion, and the perfect disrespectful foil to Goldberg. Gunther, a dominant champion with a vicious promo ability, insulted Goldberg during the event, causing him to jump over the barricade in an attempt to get his hands on him. Although this interaction was recalled on WWE programming, it didn't seem to materialize much after that.

Gunther seems like another perfect option for a Goldberg retirement match, but he's currently got his hands fullCody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the WWE Undisputed Championship, Gunther is better suited as a competitor for Rhodes (or Cena) for the biggest prize in the industry.

Our Take on Goldberg's Retirement Match

Breakker vs. Goldberg Is Going to SLAP

Bill Goldberg is one of the most impressive and dominant competitors in professional wrestling history, and allowing him to have a proper retirement match is the right thing to do. Giving a decorated champion a final sendoff on a major day during a groundbreaking event like the first two-night SummerSlam allows Goldberg to go out on top as well as giving fans a special attraction to see a veteran in the ring.

With a vicious presence and intensity, Bron Breakker is the obvious and correct choice for this moment, paying off a somewhat unacknowledged but fully visible influence, and their program can be built on that foundation of the veteran taking umbrage with the new blood's swagger jacking. Breakker vs. Goldberg is sure to be both violent and chaotic, and we're fully here for it as Goldberg's final hurrah with WWE and professional wrestling.