The 8 Greatest Pro Wrestling Referees Ever

The referee in the world of Professional Wrestling/Sports Entertainment (or whatever you like to call it) is much more than the guy to count the 1,2,3.  In fact he/she is as important, if not more important, than the actual competitors.  What many people don't realise is that the official passes messages throughout the match to each superstar, calls spots & even tells the competitors when it's "time to go home".  

As of late, especially in key matches on WWE PPV's, referee's have made some huge errors, blowing the finish to huge matches (Wrestlemania 35's Main Event springs to mind as one of the biggest).  Yes, I know anyone can make a mistake, but there is a fine art to being a good pro wrestling referee & an even finer art to being a great one.  Thus with that in mind, lets take a look at who we believe are the 8 Greatest Professional Wrestling Referees of All Time.

Honourable Mentions: Danny Davis, Jack Doan, Teddy Long & Red Shoes Unno

#8 Randy Anderson

Randy "Pee-Wee" Anderson was a professional wrestling referee from 1978 until 1999 (when he was forced to retire due to illness).  Anderson started out in Mid-South Wrestling, later moving to Florida Championship Wrestling before joining NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions (WCW) where he would remain for the rest of his career.

Randy was a very familiar face on WCW programming over the years, in fact for almost all of it's duration.  He officiated many key matches in his career, but was most notably in charge of the now infamous Bash at The Beach 96, Main Event - Six Man Tag, which saw the legendary heel turn from Hulk Hogan & subsequent creation of the nWo.

Anderson tragically died in 2002 of Cancer.

#7 Tim White

Tim White began his career in the ring on a part-time basis in 1985 as he was actually also Andre The Giant's agent (and best friend).  He actually didn't become a full-time ref until after Andre's passing in 1993 up until his retirement in 2004.  White later went on to feature in a comical suicide storyline in 2005-2006, but the less we say about that the better!!!

White officiated many huge bouts during his tenure but the most remembered is the now infamous Hell in a Cell match between Undertaker & Mankind where Mankind was thrown from the top of the Cell twice in what has become renowned as one of WWE's most brutal matches ever.

Tm White was released by WWE in 2009 after a 24 year run with the company.  White recently resurfaced to the spotlight in 2018 for HBO's Andre The Giant documentary.

#6 Joey Marella

Real life adopted son of WWE legend Gorilla Monsoon, Marella was one of the finest referees wrestling has ever seen.  His career spanned from 1983 to 1994 in WWE where he spent his entire wrestling career.

To say Marella had a key role in wrestling history would be an understatement as he actually officiated arguably the most iconic match of all time; Hulk Hogan V Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III.  In fact, Marella also took charge of their rematch at WrestleMania IV.  His final crowning glory was arguably when he refereed the main event of SummerSlam 92 at Wembley Stadium, Where The British Bulldog defeated Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Title.

Tragically Joey Marella died in a fatal car accident in 1994 after a WWE live event.

#5 Charles Robinson

Charles "Little Naitch" Robinson began his career in 1995 in the Pro Wrestling Federation before joining WCW in 1997 where he stayed until moving to WWE in the Invasion angle in 2001.

Robinson has had an illustrious career both in WCW & WWE and was dubbed "Little Naitch" due to his alliance with Ric Flair.  Arguable his greatest achievements in wrestling was officiating both Flair's final match at WrestleMania XXIV & Shawn Michaels' (until recently) final match at WrestleMania XXVI.

Robinson still works for WWE.

#4 Dave Hebner

Dave Hebner, began refereeing in the 1970's in the Richmond, Virginia area before joining WWE in the early 1980's where he officiated until injury forced him into a behind the scenes role.

As a referee Dave was one of the greats, he overseen the absolute classic between Randy Savage & Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III, which many tout as the greatest match of all time (remember what I said about the Referee being as important as the Superstar earlier?)  He also officiated Hogan V Savage at WrestleMania V, but Dave Hebner is perhaps most recognised for his role in the "Evil Twin" angle on the 5th February 1988 edition of The Main Event where Andre The Giant defeated Hogan for the WWE Title, then gave the belt to the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase.  Dave Hebner was actually locked in a closet by Dibiase & his identical twin Earl Hebner (We'll get to him later!) who was bribed by Dibiase, counted the controversial pinfall.  The whole fiasco resulted in the now famous WrestleMania IV Championship Tournament.

Dave Hebner worked for WWE until 2005 when he was released.  He later went on to work for TNA & MMWA

#3 Nick Patrick

Nick Patrick started his career in 1980 in the NWA with Georgia Championship Wrestling, he went to Jim Crockett Promotions from there, where he remained after the WCW re-branding.

Patrick was WCW's senior referee for many years, where he officiated many high profile main events involving the likes of Ric Flair, Sting, Hulk Hogan & co.  After the company was purchased by WWE in 2001 he came in as part of the Invasion angle & even squared off against WWE senior referee Earl Hebner at the Invasion PPV.  Patrick remained with WWE on the SmackDown brand until 2008.

However what Nick Patrick will most likely be best remembered for was being the cheating heel referee who worked for the nWo.  In this role Patrick would regularly turn a blind eye to the New World Order's dastardly tactics, and assist them to win many a WCW title. 

#2 Earl Hebner

Starting out in Jim Crockett Promotions (WCW) Earl Hebner cut his teeth in the business from 1985-1988 before joining his twin brother Dave in WWE in the Evil Twin angle we mentioned earlier, which is still deemed as one of the best ever storylines in wrestling history.  Pretty damn impressive debut!

After the twin angle petered out, Hebner went on to establish himself as one of the all-time greats.  He will always be remembered for perfecting the now infamous (& probably overused) "ref bump" which he most notably pulled off in the Main Event of WrestleMania VI between Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior.  However Hebner will mainly be remembered as the referee in the most notorious match in wrestling history, Shawn Michaels V Bret Hart at Survivor Series 97, AKA The Montreal Screw Job.  We all know the whole story, but to cut it short, it was Hebner who called for the bell when Michaels locked in the Sharpshooter to screw Bret out of the title.

Hebner was WWE's senior referee for many years but unfortunately he was fired from the company in 2005 for selling merchandise without permission.  Something tells me if this hadn't happened & he had stayed with the company, we would possibly be listing him as number 1 on this list.

Since leaving WWE Hebner has been with TNA/Impact & has recently joined AEW.

#1 Mike Chioda

Opinions may differ, but it is our opinion at BCW that Mike Chioda, WWE's senior referee and in fact their longest ever serving Ref, is the Greatest Professional Wrestling Referee of All Time!!!  

Chioda joined WWE in 1989 where he remains employed to this day.  It could be argued that no other referee has officiated as many huge/important matches as Mike Chioda, here are just a few example below:

* 123 Kid V Razor Ramon (Raw, May 17th 1993)
* Shawn Michaels V Steve Austin (WrestleMania XIV)
* The Rock V Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)
* John Cena V Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 23)
* John Cena V The Rock (WrestleMania XXVIII)
* Brock Lesnar V Roman Reigns V *Seth Rollins who "Cashed In" (WrestleMania 31)

Also, another fun fact about Mike Chioda is that he has been involved in almost every Money in the Bank "Cash In".

If you ask us, that pretty much tells you everything you need to know.  We just hope Mike Chioda sticks around for another few years to oversee even more all-time greats!!!

***DID I LEAVE ANYTHING OUT? IF SO, FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!***

Credit: WWE.com (All photos/footage unless specified)