20 incredible facts about WWE referees you never knew! (With Pics)

12. The Wellness Policy Also Applies to Referees

Via imgarcade.com

As already mentioned, Mike Chioda was the first and only official to be suspended for violating the WWE’s Wellness Policy. This policy requires WWE talent to have regular physicals and testing performed to clear them for the ring, and most notably, prohibits the abuse of drugs and other substances and grants the WWE permission to perform random drug testing. This is very important for the organization, as steroid use was rampant in earlier years. This policy allows the wrestlers to stay healthy, clean from drugs and substances, and it doesn’t just apply to the ones wrestling. All referees are subject to this policy as well, and face suspension or other consequences when not in compliance, as evidenced by what happened to Mike Chioda.

11. A Fake Ref Injury Can Change the Entire Match – and Upset the Crowd

Via bleacherreport.com

Referees should be tough, right? They’re crawling into a ring with many wrestlers who are ready to tear each other apart – and are willing to go through the referee to do so. The ref makes sure that every shot is fair and that everyone plays by the rules. If this happened in every match, though, it just wouldn’t be the fun WWE that we all know and love. This is why a fake injury that takes the ref out of commission is a way to change the dynamics of the match and rile up fans. Sometimes, it doesn’t even take much to knock a ref out cold, giving a wrestler just enough time to completely destroy his opponent, right as the ref recovers and counts out the cheated wrestler. This is a move commonly used to allow heels to win dirty over a fan favorite. Bringing in multiple wrestlers, using illegal objects in the ring, and other chaos reigns when the ref is suffering from his injury. While this makes for an interesting storyline, it also puts the ref in a position to be booed by the fans, making this job both physically and mentally demanding. Don’t be fooled, though. Just like wrestlers, refs take their fair share of real injuries in the ring as well.