381:
352:, or someone else in his corner. It can also take the form of the referee taking an inordinate amount of time to talk to the heroic wrestler for violating the rules. Incapacitating the referee is usually done by a purportedly accidental collision with a wrestler, or a wrestler missing an attack on an opponent and hitting the referee instead, though sometimes a referee may be incapacitated by a deliberate attack by the villain or his manager.
27:
607:
131:
600:
414:). The special referee would often be biased towards or against one of the competitors or could be assigned as the special referee to ensure the match is called down the line. In the WWF in September 1999, after all the referees got sick of continuously being attacked by wrestlers, they kayfabe went on strike, leading to other WWF workers (most notably
172:
wrestlers, a participant in executing a match in accordance with its script including its predetermined outcome, and is responsible for controlling the flow of the match and for relaying information or instructions from backstage officials to the wrestlers. Like wrestlers, referees are also responsible for maintaining
212:
Presently, referees wear wireless earpieces, to allow backstage officials to communicate with them during matches. Referees are also selected by their employers subject to their height and weight, and normally referees would be no more than six feet (183 cm) tall, weigh no more than 180 lb (81.5
705:
storyline in WWE (known at the time as WWF), the WCW referees wore white polo shirts, switching near the end of the storyline to baseball-jersey style grey shirts with a small black WCW logo on the left breast and one on the right sleeve. In ECW, referees first wore striped shirts (as they split off
307:
where a match was stopped in the middle for medical checkup, referees now have two-way radio communication so they can observe incidents during matches that may require medical attention by communicating with medical officials if necessary on the spot. Instead of the "X" sign, referees are now able
743:
Special referees wear themed versions of these; for example, if a regular female wrestler or celebrity is cast, she would typically wear a skimpier version of a normal referee's shirt. This practice was phased out the WWE throughout the 2010s, as a reflection on the general trend of treating female
526:
for the villain wrestlers is to have a personal referee, who is on the permanent payroll of the villain. The referee can be simply a lackey, or a loyal ally with a senior position. This is a broader extension of the "corrupt referee" gimmick, in that the referee's allegiance is openly made public,
204:
purpose they serve is to transmit messages to wrestlers about the progress of matches, communicate with them about the amount of time left (plus the beginning and end of commercial breaks on live broadcasts) and, if necessary, help them gauge the crowd reaction as well as reminding them of match
171:
is an authority figure present in or near the ring during matches. The referee's purpose is similar to that of referees in combat sports such as boxing or mixed martial arts, that is, as an arbiter of the rules and the person charged with rendering decisions. In reality, the referee is, like the
328:
have a kayfabe rule that referees do not make decisions based on anything they do not personally witness. Because of this, distracting or incapacitating the referee is often an element of a match, especially in standard matches where a wrestler is liable to lose a match by disqualification for
355:
When any of these happen, the referee usually appears to be knocked unconscious for a period of time by a move that is not considered particularly devastating when applied to a wrestler. This has garnered criticism over the years, as many referee bumps are supposed to depict the wrestlers are
513:
Special enforcers can become regular referees if the original inside referee becomes (kayfabe) permanently incapacitated. Otherwise though, the enforcer generally has no decision-making power, and is really put in the match to physically force wrestlers to obey the rules or physically remove
437:
Though rare, it is not unheard of for normal referees to engage in storylines where they become biased against or in favor of particular wrestlers in a manner usually reserved for special referees, Danny Davis being an example. Also, one of the more famous examples of this is the case of
225:. Wrestlers who either began as referees, or retired from the ring and continued as referees, often were under six feet. The purpose of this size discrepancy is purely to emphasize the height, weight and musculature of some of the larger wrestlers and to compensate for smaller stars.
744:
wrestlers less as models and more like genuine athletes; WWE, AEW, and Impact all now regularly feature female referees on their programming wearing the same uniform as their male counterparts. Others may just add a referee-style shirt to their normal costume such as the case of
473:
Also known as special enforcer or special guest enforcer is same as the special referee, but the guest referee stays on the outside of the ring enforcing what the normal referee does not see. These guests are sometimes known as "enforcers", the most famous of which was
636:
WWE referees have had a series of different uniforms throughout the years. From the 1970s until 1983, still operating under the World Wide
Wrestling Federation banner, referees wore black and white striped shirts, comparable to referees in other sports, such as
677:
was revived in 2006, their referees were given black shirts. As of 2007, they had grey and black polo shirts. As of
November 2008, however, all referees wore black and white striped shirts and were no longer brand exclusive. On the November 15, 2010 episode of
299:
After the X sign is given, the officials backstage would communicate to the referee, if necessary, revised plans to end the match quickly. There is also a "blow off" sign, raising both arms straight up, if a wrestler seemed injured but feels he can continue.
356:
exceptionally powerful, but in many situations, referee bumps simply make the referees appear unrealistically weak and fragile. Perhaps the most infamous example of this happened at the otherwise universally-acclaimed pay-per-view event
550:
had their own personal referee in WCW, Charles
Robinson, who eventually adopted the look and mannerisms of Flair, and earned the nickname "Little Naitch", from Flair's nickname "Nature Boy". For a time in WCW, referees would not work
252:, as well as any other wrestlers that what is going on is really happening. An "X" sign across the chest is a warning, it signifies that a wrestler may be injured, but is still able to compete. In recent times,
464:
during the years of 2013 through 2016, often making fast counts when it was advantageous to members of the
Authority and often coming out during ref bumps during matches where Authority members were competing.
205:
script. They also have a key role in ensuring that the wrestlers are physically capable to continue, and to stop the match/inform the opponent if there is a risk of injury present. According to referee
732:, referees wear black and white striped shirts with the AEW logo, except for pay-per-view events, where the referee's shirt contains a patch with the event logo, on the right breast. AEW referee
406:), managers and other wrestlers can "guest" as the special referee. In some cases, a special referee is put into a match which is already a different match type or stipulation (for example:
442:
in 2000, who became biased against then-dominant heel Triple H out of spite towards Triple H constantly abusing him during their matches. This culminated on the April 26, 2000, edition of
341:
wrestler might appear to win the match by pinfall or submission if not for the referee being distracted or incapacitated. These pre-planned temporary injuries to the referee are known as "
748:, who wore a rumpled white dress shirt with black stripes painted on while arbitrating matches. In these cases, the emphasis is on the character temporarily assuming the referee's role.
686:
special episode. Since the re-establishment of the brand extension in 2016, WWE referees have given colored designations on the patches with the logo; for instance, blue for
398:
A special guest referee is a stipulation for any match in which the usual referee is replaced with a "guest" filling in as the official. Celebrities (such as
1012:
559:
as his personal referee. Johnson had black and white paint on top of his head, wore an nWo logo on his shirt and had a whistle around his neck, just like
248:, real injuries can be sustained. In such an event, the referee raises their hands above their head into an "X" shape to alert backstage officials and
649:. In the mid-1980s until 1995, a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) referee's attire consisted of a blue collared shirt with black trousers, boots, and
44:
372:
with a single stomp and a single elbow to the back. Despite the relative lack of brutality, Chioda was kayfabe unconscious for ten solid minutes.
659:, the uniform was changed back to the black and white striped shirt with a WWF logo patch on the left breast as well as the shoulders. With the
91:
316:
after "Hangman" Adam Page was legitimately injured. The match was stopped immediately and Moxley was declared winner via referee stoppage.
63:
938:
698:, WWE's former developmental turned global brand, has the NXT logo patches (formerly yellow until 2021) in place of the WWE logo patches.
987:
547:
70:
334:
927:
1077:
531:
963:
296:
and Mike Chioda, used the "X" sign. Flair re-entered the match minutes afterwards, showing that he was not legitimately injured.
527:
and is blatantly flaunted to incense the audience – the referee himself is exempt from punishment due to his official position.
77:
975:
Former WWE referee shares a story about a rib that was played on him, why he feels its a good thing he was fired by the company
461:
740:
manufacturer Smitty
Officials Apparel, which supplies a gridiron football-specific two-inch wide stripe shirt for officials.
702:
673:
with black pinstripes, differentiating themselves from the Raw referees, who continued to wear black and white shirts. When
626:
referee attires from past years, though there is no longer much difference between the attire of Raw and SmackDown referees
59:
974:
110:
701:
In WCW, referees wore collared shirts with bow ties until around 1999, when they switched to striped shirts. During
333:
wrestler either performing a normally illegal move without any consequence, or outside interference in the match (a
523:
349:
325:
950:
193:
560:
384:
273:
253:
201:
48:
342:
338:
330:
245:
84:
535:
185:
189:
714:
officials, later with a half-black, half-red shirt. The all black uniform would return for the first two
707:
556:
575:
as his personal referee during late 2005, with
Daivari starting as the referee of Angle's match against
197:
882:
810:
768:
457:
329:
performing an illegal move. Distraction or incapacitation of the referee is usually a precursor to the
222:
236:
in their pockets. This policy remains today. The gloves are put on whenever a wrestler is bleeding.
988:"AEW Makes Improvements To Medical Protocols Following Recent Injuries, Chris Nowinski - AEW News"
725:, referees have switched between the striped shirts and the "boxing referee" attire on occasion.
483:
37:
877:
580:
539:
499:
164:
154:
800:
687:
620:
309:
1039:
357:
209:, the purpose of a referee is to help the talent to tell the story, while being invisible.
542:, and he became the sole official of nWo matches. He officiated every single match of the
8:
897:
729:
715:
660:
623:
507:
422:, along with a non-striking Jim Korderas) becoming "scab" referees until the night after
711:
312:
used the radio to call medical officials immediately on an
October 18, 2022 episode of
653:, similar to that of a boxing official. Beginning with the March 13, 1995 episode of
646:
543:
423:
843:
722:
491:
479:
453:
415:
269:
887:
784:
695:
691:
674:
616:
380:
277:
348:
Distracting the referee is usually a deliberate tactic done by the villain, his
184:
The kayfabe purpose of a professional wrestling referee is to render decisions (
762:
733:
503:
487:
411:
407:
403:
365:
304:
176:, and must render decisions in accordance with the promotion's kayfabe rules.
1071:
903:
871:
860:
821:
665:
584:
572:
552:
449:
427:
233:
1024:
587:
was fired weeks after this, Daivari was relegated to being Angle's manager.
213:
kg) and may generally display a non-athletic physique; examples of this are
1048:
865:
849:
778:
757:
737:
564:
495:
419:
399:
392:
388:
293:
206:
908:
892:
837:
832:
826:
790:
773:
439:
369:
261:
218:
135:
854:
816:
745:
670:
642:
638:
568:
475:
430:
gave the regular referees more authority in matches (along with fining
281:
228:
In recent years, to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases such as
1013:
WWE referee John Cone makes his dollars in doughnuts and pro wrestling
805:
795:
718:
events, before giving way to the brand extension ECW referee shirts.
576:
289:
265:
249:
229:
26:
1025:"Undertaker vs Triple H - WrestleMania X-SEVEN - video Dailymotion"
431:
361:
655:
650:
443:
257:
173:
682:, the referees wore the "boxing referee" attire as part of the
308:
to stop matches on the spot with radio communication. Referee
285:
606:
130:
599:
633:
Wrestling referees wear different attire in each promotion.
260:
as well as legitimate injuries. An example of this is when
928:
Things Your Local Pro
Wrestling Referee Wants You To Know
214:
710:), and later wore an all-black uniform akin to those of
964:
WWE Men in the
Shadows: The 10 Most Notorious Referees
391:, who occasionally refereed matches in the company's
736:
noted on social media the promotion has a deal with
478:, who served as the special guest enforcer for the
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1047:
292:from the top of the ladder, and the two referees,
448:, where Hebner counted as fast as he could while
1069:
256:(TNA) and WWE have used the "X" sign to signify
232:, WWE referees began keeping a pair of latex
498:who served as special guest enforcer at the
264:was kayfabe injured after being hit with a
594:
468:
368:, when the Undertaker knocked out referee
129:
16:Authority figure in professional wrestling
319:
239:
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
613:
379:
1070:
456:on the line. A more recent example is
514:interfering wrestlers from ringside.
272:. Another example is during the 2006
60:"Referee" professional wrestling
813:(first full-time female AEW referee)
781:(first full-time female WWE referee)
517:
460:, a referee who was in cahoots with
49:adding citations to reliable sources
20:
751:
375:
244:Although professional wrestling is
13:
1031:
939:Refereeing 101: A refresher course
567:. Another example of this is when
434:for striking on that same night).
14:
1089:
787:(first female referee in the WWF)
326:professional wrestling promotions
268:off the stage through a table by
605:
598:
579:for the WWE Championship at the
410:with a special referee, usually
25:
1078:Professional wrestling referees
1046:. Facebook, Inc. Archived from
1037:
663:in 2002, referees appearing on
36:needs additional citations for
1017:
1006:
979:
968:
957:
943:
932:
921:
874:(using the name Shane Stevens)
452:was pinning Triple H with the
274:Money in the Bank ladder match
254:Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
1:
914:
546:event in 1997. Ric Flair and
7:
555:'s matches, so he employed
10:
1094:
530:Examples include when the
179:
985:
590:
360:, during a match between
200:) during a match but the
148:
143:
128:
484:Stone Cold Steve Austin
469:Special outside referee
395:
337:). Less commonly, the
320:Distractions and bumps
165:professional wrestling
155:Professional wrestling
801:Dangerous Danny Davis
615:A comparison of both
402:in the main event of
383:
1052:on December 26, 2021
581:2005 Survivor Series
557:Mark "Slick" Johnson
500:1994 Survivor Series
358:Wrestlemania X-Seven
45:improve this article
1027:. January 25, 2021.
730:All Elite Wrestling
716:WWE One Night Stand
669:began wearing blue
661:WWE brand extension
502:in a match between
125:
1038:Aubrey, Brittany.
712:mixed martial arts
538:'s senior referee
396:
123:
994:. Webcapacity Inc
986:Middleton, Marc.
647:American football
631:
630:
627:
548:The Four Horsemen
518:Personal referees
416:Harvey Whippleman
393:Knockout Division
194:disqualifications
161:
160:
121:
120:
113:
95:
1085:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1051:
1040:"Instagram Post"
1035:
1029:
1028:
1021:
1015:
1010:
1004:
1003:
1001:
999:
983:
977:
972:
966:
961:
955:
954:
947:
941:
936:
930:
925:
883:Charles Robinson
844:Brian Hildebrand
752:Notable referees
723:Impact Wrestling
656:Monday Night Raw
614:
609:
602:
595:
492:WrestleMania XIV
480:WWF Championship
454:WWF Championship
376:Special referees
223:Charles Robinson
150:Activity sectors
133:
126:
122:
116:
109:
105:
102:
96:
94:
53:
29:
21:
1093:
1092:
1088:
1087:
1086:
1084:
1083:
1082:
1068:
1067:
1066:
1065:
1055:
1053:
1036:
1032:
1023:
1022:
1018:
1011:
1007:
997:
995:
984:
980:
973:
969:
962:
958:
949:
948:
944:
937:
933:
926:
922:
917:
888:Billy Silverman
785:Rita Chatterton
769:Scott Armstrong
754:
593:
532:New World Order
520:
471:
458:Scott Armstrong
378:
322:
278:WrestleMania 22
242:
182:
151:
139:
117:
106:
100:
97:
54:
52:
42:
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1091:
1081:
1080:
1064:
1063:
1030:
1016:
1005:
978:
967:
956:
942:
931:
919:
918:
916:
913:
912:
911:
906:
901:
895:
890:
885:
880:
875:
869:
863:
858:
852:
850:Jimmy Korderas
847:
841:
835:
830:
824:
819:
814:
811:Aubrey Edwards
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
782:
776:
771:
766:
763:Randy Anderson
760:
753:
750:
734:Aubrey Edwards
684:Old School Raw
629:
628:
611:
610:
603:
592:
589:
544:nWo Souled Out
519:
516:
504:The Undertaker
488:Shawn Michaels
482:match between
470:
467:
412:Shawn Michaels
408:Hell in a Cell
404:WrestleMania I
377:
374:
366:The Undertaker
321:
318:
241:
238:
234:medical gloves
181:
178:
159:
158:
152:
149:
146:
145:
141:
140:
134:
119:
118:
33:
31:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1090:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1050:
1045:
1044:Instagram.com
1041:
1034:
1026:
1020:
1014:
1009:
993:
992:Wrestling Inc
989:
982:
976:
971:
965:
960:
952:
946:
940:
935:
929:
924:
920:
910:
907:
905:
902:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
876:
873:
872:Shane McMahon
870:
867:
864:
862:
861:Theodore Long
859:
856:
853:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
834:
831:
828:
825:
823:
822:Tiger Hattori
820:
818:
815:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
786:
783:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
764:
761:
759:
756:
755:
749:
747:
741:
739:
735:
731:
726:
724:
719:
717:
713:
709:
704:
699:
697:
693:
689:
685:
681:
676:
672:
668:
667:
662:
658:
657:
652:
648:
644:
640:
634:
625:
622:
618:
612:
608:
604:
601:
597:
596:
588:
586:
585:Eric Bischoff
582:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
558:
554:
553:Scott Steiner
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
528:
525:
522:An effective
515:
511:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
466:
463:
462:The Authority
459:
455:
451:
450:Chris Jericho
447:
446:
441:
435:
433:
429:
428:Vince McMahon
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
401:
394:
390:
386:
382:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
353:
351:
346:
344:
340:
336:
332:
327:
317:
315:
311:
306:
305:AEW's All Out
301:
297:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
237:
235:
231:
226:
224:
220:
216:
210:
208:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
177:
175:
170:
166:
156:
153:
147:
142:
137:
132:
127:
115:
112:
104:
93:
90:
86:
83:
79:
76:
72:
69:
65:
62: –
61:
57:
56:Find sources:
50:
46:
40:
39:
34:This article
32:
28:
23:
22:
19:
1056:November 23,
1054:. Retrieved
1049:the original
1043:
1033:
1019:
1008:
998:November 28,
996:. Retrieved
991:
981:
970:
959:
945:
934:
923:
904:Drake Wuertz
878:Nick Patrick
866:Joey Marella
779:Jessika Carr
758:Bill Alfonso
742:
738:Canton, Ohio
727:
720:
703:The Invasion
700:
690:and red for
683:
679:
664:
654:
635:
632:
565:Bill Alfonso
540:Nick Patrick
529:
521:
512:
496:Chuck Norris
472:
444:
436:
420:Tom Prichard
400:Muhammad Ali
397:
389:Traci Brooks
354:
347:
323:
313:
302:
298:
294:Jim Korderas
284:performed a
243:
240:The "X" sign
227:
211:
207:Jim Korderas
183:
168:
162:
107:
98:
88:
81:
74:
67:
55:
43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
909:Tommy Young
900:(1954–2022)
893:Kyohei Wada
868:(1963–1994)
857:(1937-2022)
846:(1962–1999)
840:(1929–2010)
838:Joe Higuchi
833:Earl Hebner
829:(1949–2022)
827:Dave Hebner
791:Mike Chioda
774:Jason Ayers
765:(1959–2002)
694:. However,
671:polo shirts
440:Earl Hebner
370:Mike Chioda
310:Paul Turner
262:A.J. Styles
219:Mike Chioda
190:submissions
136:Mike Chioda
951:"411Mania"
915:References
855:Mills Lane
817:Dan Engler
746:Mick Foley
666:SmackDown!
643:basketball
639:ice hockey
569:Kurt Angle
534:recruited
476:Mike Tyson
445:Raw is War
424:Unforgiven
387:performer
303:Following
282:Matt Hardy
250:paramedics
144:Occupation
101:March 2014
71:newspapers
898:Tim White
806:Jack Doan
796:John Cone
706:from the
688:SmackDown
621:SmackDown
577:John Cena
290:Ric Flair
270:Bully Ray
266:powerbomb
258:storyline
230:hepatitis
217:referees
198:countouts
1072:Category
583:. After
508:Yokozuna
432:Triple H
426:, where
362:Triple H
314:Dynamite
186:pinfalls
651:bow tie
573:Daivari
524:gimmick
350:manager
331:villain
180:Purpose
174:kayfabe
169:referee
157:matches
138:in 2012
124:Referee
85:scholar
645:, and
591:Attire
494:, and
339:heroic
335:run in
286:suplex
246:worked
87:
80:
73:
66:
58:
624:brand
343:bumps
324:Most
280:when
202:legit
92:JSTOR
78:books
1058:2020
1000:2020
619:and
571:had
506:and
486:and
418:and
364:and
221:and
167:, a
64:news
728:In
721:In
708:NWA
696:NXT
692:Raw
680:Raw
675:ECW
617:Raw
563:'s
561:ECW
536:WCW
490:at
385:TNA
345:".
288:on
276:at
215:WWE
163:In
47:by
1074::
1042:.
990:.
641:,
510:.
196:,
192:,
188:,
1060:.
1002:.
953:.
114:)
108:(
103:)
99:(
89:·
82:·
75:·
68:·
41:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
