Goldberg discusses Cena's heel turn, reveals potential retirement matchdate

Goldberg says Cena’s heel turn reminds him of Hulk Hogan’s in WCW—and reveals why he rejected a similar pitch.

Goldberg believes John Cena’s heel turn in WWE echoes Hulk Hogan’s dramatic WCW shift—and he says he was once pitched a similar idea but turned it down.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Goldberg weighed in on John Cena’s recent heel turn and compared it to two of wrestling's most iconic face-to-heel transitions: Hogan in WCW and what could have been his own.

The WWE Hall of Famer revealed that WCW had once approached him about turning heel during a storyline involving Hacksaw Jim Duggan, but he rejected the pitch.

“The fact is that I think Cena's turn is most comparable to Hogan turning,” Goldberg said. “I could have done the same thing, but I refused to. That was when I didn’t know the business. But to me, it meant more for the Make-A-Wish kid in my dressing room the night I’m wrestling Hacksaw Jim Duggan.”

Goldberg cited the emotional weight of his babyface character, especially with fans facing personal battles, as the reason he couldn’t go through with the storyline at the time.

“For the business, it would’ve been freaking unparalleled, like what they’re doing with Cena, I believe,” he added.

Reflecting on his role in WCW, Goldberg said he saw himself as the original Make-A-Wish figure in wrestling, long before Cena made it a signature part of his legacy.

“I was the Make-A-Wish dude before Cena was doing his thing at WWE,” Goldberg said. “I’ll rip your face off in the ring, but then I’ll hold your baby and smile outside it. That was kind of me.”

Goldberg praised Cena’s recent character shift, calling it “freaking fabulous,” and applauded Cena’s understanding of its importance. He noted that he was never approached again about a heel turn during his WCW run, but said he might have been more open to the idea later in his career.

“Bravo to all of them,” Goldberg concluded. “And bravo to John—he’s smart enough to understand how monumental it would be.”

Goldberg also said he 'guaranteed' to have his retirement match in 2025.