5 things you didn't know about being a WWE referee

Whether it be a singles match, Triple threat, Fatal 4-Way, or even a battle royal, there's never been a shortage of WWE Superstars in the ring at the same time.

And whilst each WWE Superstar hopes to make a name for themselves with their in-ring ability and persona, one person who often gets overlooked is the humble referee.

Ever since professional wrestling became a staple of entertainment in the early 20th Century, there have been refs: those few individuals who are (supposed to) maintain order amongst the talent.

Being the biggest sports entertainment company in the world, the WWE are no different, with the company employing dozens of referees over the years.

But despite being a staple of the business, there is still an aura of mystery about those in the stripes.

Here are five things you probably didn't know about life as a certified WWE referee.

#5 Former Superstars can become referees

Nunzio returned to WWE in 2010, but as a referee, not a wrestler.

Life as a WWE Superstar is tough. Years on the road, countless hours spent in a gym, and that's before you even take painful bumps in the ring for millions of fans worldwide.

So for certain Superstars, the life of a WWE referee can seem like a pretty sweet gig, as whilst they may still take bumps in the ring, they are a lot rarer.

In some occassions, former Superstars have even been brought back, but as referees.

One major example is Nunzio, who left the WWE in 2008, but returned in 2010 as a referee due to a shortage of refs due to poor weather, with the former Cruiserweight Champion maintaining the role until leaving once again in September 2011.

#2 They're not mic'd up

Referees have earpieces, but no microphones to communicate with backstage.

If you look closely at a WWE referee, then you'll notice that they all have a little earpiece, which allows them to 'communicate' with backstage.

Communicate is a strong word there, as whilst they have an earpiece, they have no microphone, meaning they can be told what to do, but they are not able to give any feedback.

I guess this allows for the show to be more streamlined, as every second counts on-screen, and it'd be awkward to see a referee talking into a microphone clipped onto his shirt.

Whilst it was a popular belief that the referees do have a hidden microphone, this was debunked by referee Mark Yeaton during the defamation case against CM Punk by WWE physician Dr. Chris Amann, after Punk (and Colt Cabana) spoke about Amann during Cabana's podcast.

#3 Their pay varies

Senior officials, such as Charles Robinson are amongst the highest paid refs.

In an industry where the talent put their health (and even lives) on the line each night, it's fair that WWE Superstars are paid big bucks.

But according to the Wrestling Observer, most senior officials are paid approximately $2,500 a week, a fair wage considering that they are also on occasion expected to take bumps.

For newer referees, this number drops to $1,500, though aren't expected to referee for an entire week.

For the most senior members of staff, they are often reserved for the biggest shows of the year, and thus earn the big bucks.

Refereeing a pay per view main event can often earn a referee $5,000 for just an afternoon's work, and if this main event ends up being at WrestleMania, then that figure only gets higher and higher from there.

#2 Must be medically trained

All referees must be trained in first-aid before officiating.

A sad fact of life as a WWE Superstar is that an injury can happen at any time, with young stars like Tyson Kidd, Paige and Jason Jordan all being forced to walk away from the ring because of them.

To keep them safe, therefore, all referees must be trained in first-aid, and ready to administer it at any point in the match.

In the event of a significant cut, referees will often don a pair of sterile gloves, which they keep on them at all times, in order to avoid any infection.

In the event of a horrific accident, the referees even have the authority to ask for the lights to be dimmed, so that those watching at home and in the arena can't see what has happened, whilst the ref aims to control the situation.

#1 The Referee Wellness Policy

Referee Mike Chioda has been suspended in the past.

The WWE have a strict Wellness Policy, which adheres to a simple 'three strikes, you're out' rule.

If a Superstar violates the policy, they are suspended for 30 days, a second violation lands them with 60 days, and a third means their release.

But few know that the referees are also part of the wellness policy, and thus are subject to intense physicals and drug tests to make sure they haven't taken any banned substances.

It may seem strange at first, but in an era where WWE continue to push themselves as family-friendly entertainment, this rule means that no-one at all, is above the rules.

It would be funny to see how performance-enhancing drugs would affect a referee though. Stronger 3-counts? At the time of writing, only Mike Chioda has been suspended for violating the policy.