Referees involved in storylines.

[agent817]

We have seen angles where a manager or valet gets involved in a storyline. I mean, hell, Ricardo Rodriguez, despite being "a personal ring announcer" was nothing more than just Del Rio's manager, but in fairness, he was trained as a wrestler. Just like how if commentators get involved, most of the time they're semi-retired wrestlers like Jerry Lawler or Larry Zbyszko. Of course, an exception can be made about Jim Ross or Michael Cole (and I reminded myself of those two in storylines and matches *shudder*).

But how many times have referees been in angles? I know WCW had this when Nick Patrick became the original NWO referee. I remember there was the on-screen firing of Randy Anderson (RIP), but I know why he was written off on TV. In reality, they could have just made a passing mention of his real-life illness like they did for Mark Curtis (Also RIP), but really, I think it was just to give Bischoff and the NWO heel heat. Then there was the storyline with Charles Robinson as "Little Naitch," which was kind of fun. I wonder if before that if he was trained as a wrestler. It didn't end there as later that year he became Sid's personal cheerleader. Even then, that same year there was the angle with Saturn and Scott Dickinson.

Any other examples? Like I said, non-wrestlers involved in angles is nothing new, but I am trying to think of angles where a ref was involved.

[bob]

I think it was ref Scott Anderson who was forced by CM Punk to help him in his feud with Undertaker

[dirtyoldman]

Dave and Earl hebner during the Hogan Andre fued in the 80s

"How much did they pay for the plastic surgery, brother?!?!?"

[Rumble McSkirmish]

In 1999 the WWF did an angle where the referees went on strike due to rough treatment and were replaced with scab refs (IE: agents, trainers and talent.)

[arrogantmodel]

Brad Maddox? lol

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

Danny Davis

[Hypnosis]

Earl Hebner during the Montreal Screwjob, and other times throughout the years.

Shane Sewell in TNA, who had a feud with Abdul Bashir/Shawn Daivari after getting bullied by him.

[toodarkmark]

Teddy Long did a heel referee storyline in 1989 NWA, eventually becoming the Skyscarpers manager.

Scott LaDoux had an angle with Larry Zbyszko that led to some awful rapping by him on the Wrestlerock Rumble and a sort of ok boxing match at Wrestlerock 86.

[Laces]

Nick Patrick in WCW? He was in the NWO.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Earl Hebner f***ing sucks specially in tna.

[XIII]

Not sure that it counts but Shane going against Vince and getting relegated to ref duties setting in motion the wheels of the Deadly Game.

also: not a storyline but that one ref in LU that did a terrible dive after everyone else dived to the outside.

[Mozenrath]

Jun 6, 2020 9:53:10 GMT -5 bob said:

I think it was ref Scott Anderson who was forced by CM Punk to help him in his feud with Undertaker

Scott Armstrong, Bullet Bob Armstrong's son and one of Road Dogg's brothers, along with Brad Armstrong. He'd been a wrestler, too, at one point, but became a referee. No idea why.

Recently, Britt Baker in AEW got injured and alleged a conspiracy against her, and accused Aubrey Edwards, senior AEW referee, of being party to it, but I don't expect that's going to be much of a component of the storyline going forward. I think they just went with her because Aubrey and Britt are close friends.

[johnnyk9]

Joey Marella kinda in Hogan/Andre’s feud

[Viking Hall]

Bill Alfonso was brought into ECW as a trouble shooting referee by Shane Douglas and was a heel due to his strict enforcement of the rules. This eventually led to him being stripped of his refereeing duties and becoming the whistle blowing manager for Taz, Sabu and RVD.

[TOK Hehe'd Around & Found Out]

Jun 6, 2020 19:19:13 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Earl Hebner f***ing sucks specially in tna.

He was solid as a face who pushed back against HHH's bullying

[thegame415]

Mark Johnson was an nWo ref.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Jun 7, 2020 7:22:16 GMT -5 Viking Hall said:

Bill Alfonso was brought into ECW as a trouble shooting referee by Shane Douglas and was a heel due to his strict enforcement of the rules. This eventually led to him being stripped of his refereeing duties and becoming the whistle blowing manager for Taz, Sabu and RVD.

The heat Fonzie had in 1995 was INSANE. The best heel referee, hands down.

[Jake, The Jake, Jake]

Sylvan Grenier was Vince’s personal ref for a bit during his feud with Hogan.

I wasn’t watching but didn’t some raw end last year with a ref turning heel and cheating for Seth?

[glorious83]

Brian Hildebrand (Aka mark Curtis) had a heel run with Cornette in Smokey Mountain Wrestling as well as the USWA.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

Tim White?