Hall of Famer in WWE AJ Styles’s final fight was against the Undertaker during WrestleMania 36, and he had always been comfortable about quitting ring competition. The wrestling legend, however, recently admitted the one critical incident that made him understand it was time to finally hang up his boots.
In a candid interview on Logan Paul’s podcast “Impulsive,” The Undertaker talked about his experience wrestling with Goldberg at WWE Super Showdown Saudi Arabia, 2019. This match had been eagerly anticipated but became an absolute nightmare for the experienced wrestler.
“It really sucked,” said The Undertaker. “The match I had with Goldberg in Saudi Arabia, I don’t remember feeling like ever in my career that no matter what happened, I couldn’t figure out a way to make it all work somehow. Make it make sense, get it back on track, and still have a decent match. He got concussed early on; it was 98 degrees at midnight in the desert, and it was just like a train wreck. And the more I tried to fix it, the worse it got. It is not about pointing fingers; this is one of those things which happened where, like, I did not have anything anymore physically to make things right.”
This honest admission by The Undertaker highlights just how much physical and mental strain professional wrestling can be, even for veterans like himself who have seen and been through almost everything. That contest against Goldberg would be remembered as a turning point when he realized that his physicality imposed limitations.
Final Match Satisfaction
Despite the disappointment surrounding this bout, The Undertaker revealed contentment with his last match involving AJ Styles. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions without fans, WrestleMania 36 wasn’t an ordinary pro-wrestling encounter, thereby giving peace to ‘The Dead Man’, as he called himself during his illustrious career.
As one of the most recognizable names in WWE history, the Undertaker’s career outlook and the fight that forced him to step back indicate how wrestling hits even all-time greats.