'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When one talks about the sport of pro-wrestling, the discussion is usually around the wrestlers, the superstars, the bookers, and even the managers. But one very important category that we often overlook is - the referees.
Referees are like the unsung heroes of this business. They work as hard as the wrestlers, but in return don't really get the fame like them. While watching a match, we focus on the wrestlers, their amazing moves, and the emotions and stories that they tell inside the ring. But we don't really care to know which referee is officiating the match.
Take a moment and think for yourself, how many WWE referees can you name? Not many, right. Do you know that along with the wrestlers, the referees also rehearse the whole match and have to remember not only their own but the wrestler's spots as well to help them during the actual match.
We've often seen referees take bumps in a match, get knocked down, and sometimes also get involved in some storylines, but there's a lot more we fans don't know about these gentlemen and ladies.
In this article, let's take a look at the 5 Interesting facts about WWE referees that you probably did not know. Feel free to share your thoughts and views on how important these officials are for any wrestling promotion.
#5 Referees are subject to WWE's Wellness Policies
In the last few years, there have been some very famous instances of superstars and wrestlers getting suspended for violating WWE's wellness policy, one of the biggest being the suspension of the Big Dog, Roman Reigns in 2016.
But the interesting fact that many of us don't know is that WWE's wellness policies are not just meant for wrestlers, but also for the referees. Just like the wrestlers, referees also undergo regular wellness tests and are only allowed to step into the ring if they clear them.
Mike Chioda is the first and only referee who has faced a 30-day suspension for violating the wellness policy of the company.
#4 The Timekeeper can ring the bell without the Referee's command
Yes, you read that right. This is a rule that fans recently got to know about a few years ago. During what was built as "The match too big for WrestleMania", Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker squared off at SummerSlam 2015, one year after The Beast broke the undefeated streak of The Dead Man at WrestleMania XXX.
The ending of the match saw a bizarre new rule being introduced as the referee failed to notice The Undertaker tapping out to Lesnar but the Timekeeper spotted it and rang the bell without the referee's commands. After a lot of confusion, the match was restarted and Taker made Brock pass out to his Hell's Gate Submission lock.
While the match was memorable, the incident between the referee and the timekeeper was something fans had never seen before. It would be interesting to see whether WWE uses this finish again in any of their matches or not.
#3 Referees are connected to backstage officials through their earpiece
We've heard many times that Vince McMahon is constantly in the ears of the commentators and keeps telling them what to do and say from backstage. But another interesting fact is that the referees are also connected to the backstage officials through their earpieces.
In one of WWE Network's series, Breaking Ground, WWE officials are shown wearing earpieces to stay in touch with the Chairman and COO (Triple H) of the company who can pass on important information to them during the match.
For example, if there's a change in the ending of the match due to any reason after the match has begun, it's the referees through which the information is passed on to the wrestlers in the ring.
We often see referees talking to the wrestlers in the ring and it is portrayed as if they are warning them to follow certain rules, but next time onwards try to listen carefully as to what the official says to the superstar. Maybe you'll get to hear something interesting.
#2 The longest-tenured Referee in WWE history
If we think about the longest tenured employee in WWE, the first name that'll come in the mind of most of us would be that of The Phenom, The Undertaker. He made his debut almost three decades ago at the Survivor Series PPV in 1990.
But do you know that there is a referee in WWE who has been a part of the company longer than The Dead Man? Yes, the person we are talking about is WWE Senior Official, Mike Chioda. He is the longest tenured WWE referee, having been with the company since the late 1980s.
Mike Chioda has been the referee in many memorable matches throughout WWE's history, like the WrestleMania 31 Main Event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns where Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the referee the night all three Shield members became WWE Champion's within a span of 5 Minutes, at BattleGround 2016.
#1 Referees don't always know the result of the match
We are in an era where we openly acknowledge the fact that pro wrestling is not real and is all scripted. The results of the matches, the storylines everything is predetermined.
One major conception that we all have is that the referees always know the ending of the match and which superstar will be the winner. But this is interestingly not always the truth as even the referees sometimes are not aware of the outcome of the match.
One of the most famous examples of this is the match between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX which was officiated by the WWE Referee, Chad Patton. This was the match that saw one of the most shocking moments in WWE History as The Beast broke the undefeated streak of the Phenom, much to the disbelief of everyone in the arena.
Even more interesting is the fact that the referee of the match also was not aware of the result. He was just told to count whenever someone goes for the pin. Imagine how shocking it would have been for Chad to not see Taker kick-out on that third count.
Do let me know what your favourite referee moment is in WWE in the comments section below. Let's all take a moment and thank these unsung heroes for their efforts and dedication.
