How do you become a referee for WWE?
David Ramirez
Updated on August 17, 2026
Becoming a wrestling referee generally involves enrolling with your local state board, passing a written rules exam and passing a test of mechanics by demonstrating proper signals and positioning. One great way to improve is by watching experienced officials to learn how they handle calls, situations and coaches.Becoming a wrestling referee In professional wrestling, a referee 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. › Referee_(professional_wrestling)
How much does a WWE referee make?
How much does a WWE referee earn? Just like any other profession, the salary of a referee varies from person to person based on their experience and expertise. Most experienced WWE referees get up to $250,000 as fixed annual salaries. The new referees get a contract of about $50000-$80000 in fixed annual salaries.
Do WWE refs do anything?
The kayfabe purpose of a professional wrestling referee is to render decisions (pinfalls, submissions, disqualifications, countouts) during a match but the legit 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 ...
Are WWE referees trained wrestlers?
Chioda continued and discussed how WWE referees are trained. “Yeah [they] train, but a lot of wrestlers are training wrestlers there too,” Chioda noted. “They're training them on their entrances, on their workmanship, on their selling [and] on taking bumps.
Who is the best referee in WWE?
Mike Chioda
All of that aside, Chioda is currently the most senior WWE referee, with close to 20 years under his belt. In 2005, Chioda was appointed Head Referee after Earl Hebner's dismissal.
35 related questions foundWho is the female referee in WWE?
Jessika Carr, who is the first full-time referee in WWE, became the first female referee to be part of the WWE matches at Crown Jewel 2021.
Do WWE referees know the script?
If the script is changed in the middle of the match, they are notified. They are as important to the success and failure of the segment as those in the ring. They also notify the medical staff in the back if an injury happens in the ring.
Do WWE refs know who wins?
Referees are supposed to know the outcome of the match before is stars. However, this is not compulsory. There have been instances where the referees were not informed about the actual outcome beforehand.
Do wrestlers talk to each other?
Most Wrestlers have to improvise throughout a match
It's not like a fight scene in a movie, where the performers may spend weeks working out the choreography, yet every move needs both wrestlers cooperating perfectly or somebody's neck will get broken. That means the performers need to talk to one another.
What is ringside enforcer in WWE?
The term Ringside Enforcer or Special Enforcer in wrestling is a reference to a wrestler or celebrity who acts as special outside referee during a match.
Do wrestling bumps hurt?
The next, and probably most important step for any inspiring wrestler, is learning how to take a "bump." A bump in when a wrestler lands solidly on their back with high impact, spread over as much surface as possible. Bumps in wrestling are a painful learning experience.
How tall are WWE referees?
Many of WWE's current referees aren't over 6ft in height, so they could be looking to do the same when recruiting their next referees, or possibly go for shorter referees.
What is Chris Jericho salary?
Chris Jericho earns an annual salary of $3 million and is another in the list of one of the highest-paid wrestlers in AEW. He too previously signed up with the WWE. He has also worked with promotions such as ECW, WCW, and NJPW.
Who is the richest WWE?
1. Vince McMahon – US$2.3 billion. As the owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment company, which rakes in US$1 billion in revenue and was formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation, Vince McMahon is the richest star.
Who is the most paid wrestler?
Here, we look at the 10 highest paid WWE wrestlers in 2021.
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Highest Earning WWE Wrestlers In 2022:
- Brock Lesnar - $15 million.
- John Cena - $13 million.
- Roman Reigns - $10 million.
- Braun Strowman - $8.5 million.
- Seth Rollins - $7.5 million.
- Randy Orton - $7 million.
- Drew McIntyre - $6 million.
- Bobby Lashley - $4.5 million.
How do WWE decide who wins?
Well, they decide the winner based on the development of a story and its characters. For example, WWE may want a big wrestler like Big Show to fight a fan-favorite wrestler. They may let Big Show show dominance by winning multiple times and 'destroy' all other strong wrestlers.
Who writes scripts for WWE?
WWE's practice of heavily scripting all their wrestlers and segments has been much maligned by fans and former WWE superstars alike, but Bryan Danielson has revealed he enjoyed his time with the writing staff.
How is wrestling fake?
Wrestling is not necessarily fake, but scripted. The lines are rehearsed. The matches are predetermined. The wrestlers are not really trying to hurt each other, but rather entertain the fans who sell out arena after arena worldwide.
How is wrestling acted?
Like stunt performers, wrestlers execute feats of athleticism, fly, collide with each other and the floor — all while staying in character. Unlike stunt performers, wrestlers perform these staged contests in one take, before a live audience.
Why do wrestlers wipe their feet before entering the ring?
#5 Everyone wipes their feet before entering the ring
According to him, the reason is to show respect. Respect towards the ring where you are about to wrestle, and where many more athletes will wrestle in the future.
What do pro wrestling referees do?
They will relay instructions such as match length, what moves to do, and when to wrap the bout up. The ref will then signal to the wrestlers to hurry the match up, usually ending with one of their signature finishing moves.
Is Ric Flairs son a referee?
Charles Shane Robinson (born July 2, 1964) is an American professional wrestling senior referee and former professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE on the SmackDown brand.
How many trucks WWE have?
STATS: 33,000 Ft. of cable (roughly 6 miles) 16 Trucks.
Who is the greatest wrestler in history?
1. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Career: Stone Cold Steve Austin is arguably the most popular wrestler ever to lace up a pair of boots and his status as a first-ballot Hall of Famer is justified by his many World title reigns and his role in the eventual victory of the WWF in the Monday Night Wars.
