Goldberg, the legendary WWE Hall of Famer and former World Champion, recently opened up about his desire to retire from the tournament with Sting, and regrets the missed opportunity after Sting’s last fight and regretted giving up active competition in AEW.
Despite not wrestling until he faces Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia in January 2022, Goldberg believes he has not yet officially retired from boxing and is open to the idea of a knockout to In a candid moment on Busted Open Radio, Goldberg announced his retirement. Previous hopes of facing Sting in the fight have been expressed, acknowledging Sting’s iconic status and respect for the wrestling legend.
“Man, I’ll be honest with you. I have no idea. I haven’t even thought about it for two seconds, and that’s a fully 100% transparent answer. I have no idea. I was trying to shuffle it to where it was Sting,” Goldberg admitted. “Over the past couple of years with his retirement, but I didn’t want to take away from Sting and his whole deal. I have no business being anywhere near that because I don’t deserve to be. It’s all about him, and therefore he wasn’t an option because of that.”
Sting, whose career was thought to be over before he signed with AEW in December 2020, experienced a renaissance in the latter stages of his wrestling journey. Teaming with Darby Allin, the unlikely duo captured the hearts of fans and even secured the AEW World Tag Team Championships in February 2024. His final match, a thrilling victory over The Young Bucks at Revolution, marked the end of an era in wrestling, as Sting retired while still holding championship gold.
The Sting-Goldberg Dream Match That Never Was
Goldberg’s expressed desire for a retirement match against Sting highlights the deep mutual respect and admiration between these two icons of professional wrestling. Despite Sting’s retirement and subsequent success in AEW, the anticipated dream match between these legends never came to fruition, leaving fans to reflect on what could have been a monumental clash between two titans of the sport.
Throughout their respective careers, Goldberg and Sting have garnered immense fan support and admiration for their contributions to wrestling. Both have left lasting legacies through their in-ring prowess, charismatic personas, and memorable moments that have shaped the industry.
Goldberg’s longing for a retirement bout with Sting speaks to the unfinished business and unfulfilled potential of their rivalry in the squared circle. Their matchup would have undoubtedly drawn considerable attention and excitement from fans, offering a nostalgic throwback to the golden era of wrestling when both competitors were at the peak of their popularity.
While the dream match remains a topic of speculation and discussion among wrestling enthusiasts, it also underscores the unpredictability of career trajectories and the opportunities that may arise or fade in professional wrestling. Despite the match never materializing, the respect and admiration between Goldberg and Sting continue to resonate within the wrestling community, cementing their status as enduring icons of the sport.
As both legends continue to leave their mark on wrestling history in different ways, fans fondly remember the potential clash that never came to be, reflecting on the rich tapestry of rivalries and moments that define the sport’s storied past and present.