RIP Dave Hebner

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

Just breaking now and confirmed via Slam Wrestling.

slamwrestling.net/index.php/2022/06/17/famed-referee-dave-hebner-dies/

Famed referee Dave Hebner, who was a part of one of the most-watched wrestling angles in history, has died from an undisclosed illness. He was 73.

His illness was revealed on May 28 by former race car driver Hermie Sadler, who has had numerous moments involved in pro wrestling. In past, it had been revealed that Hebner had Parkinson’s disease.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

RIP, you can't think about wrestling referees without thinking about Dave and Earl imo.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

RIP.

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

RIP

[Mayonnaise]

I it's strange to say but after seeing that last photo I hope he has the peace he had robbed from him, that his family can find comfort in this.

[James Fabiano]

This week has sucked for wrestling. That is all for now.

[Mozenrath]

I knew Dave had various health problems for years, but had not heard he'd had Parkinson's.

I know Earl's often a dude people have a lot of criticisms for, but I have a lot of sympathy for him in this time. I have four brothers, and I would be devastated to lose any of them.

[James Fabiano]

Sobering Detail:

As I think Dave reffed it, this means there are no living participants of the Warrior/Savage WM7 match. Announcers/commentators included.

[jason1980s]

I thought it was Earl who did the Warrior/Macho match. I know someone on Hermie's twitter confused Earl for Dave from the Warrior/Hogan match. I thought once the Dibiase lookalike angle happened, Earl came in as a ref while Dave became a backstage guy. Checking wikipedia, it looks like Earl was already into reffing at Wrestlemania IV.

I got to meet Dave in 2016 and he was in poor health even then.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Jun 18, 2022 9:25:14 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

I thought it was Earl who did the Warrior/Macho match. I know someone on Hermie's twitter confused Earl for Dave from the Warrior/Hogan match. I thought once the Dibiase lookalike angle happened, Earl came in as a ref while Dave became a backstage guy. Checking wikipedia, it looks like Earl was already into reffing at Wrestlemania IV.

I got to meet Dave in 2016 and he was in poor health even then.

Yeah, Earl did the main event. When questioned why the ref who sent the whole angle in motion would be in the main event, Vince said no one cares.

[moonpies88]

R.I.P.

[James Fabiano]

Jun 18, 2022 13:25:11 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Jun 18, 2022 9:25:14 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

I thought it was Earl who did the Warrior/Macho match. I know someone on Hermie's twitter confused Earl for Dave from the Warrior/Hogan match. I thought once the Dibiase lookalike angle happened, Earl came in as a ref while Dave became a backstage guy. Checking wikipedia, it looks like Earl was already into reffing at Wrestlemania IV.

I got to meet Dave in 2016 and he was in poor health even then.

Yeah, Earl did the main event. When questioned why the ref who sent the whole angle in motion would be in the main event, Vince said no one cares.

TBF, they claimed that the real Dave got fingerprinted and would be allowed to ref. I guess they counted on fans not telling the difference.

[jason1980s]

I was reading a Slam article from 2009 that Dave did and he told a funny story, it's probably multiple stories all together. He said Dino and Valentine had the tag titles and in a match with the Rougeau Brothers, Greg kept keeping his shoulders down close to a three count, as a rib. Finally, Dave told him he will count him down and they will lose the titles. Greg kept the shoulder down, Dave counted three and the Rougeaus won the title. But since it wasn't planned WWF acted like it never occurred.


With Dave's passing I could use a funny story like this, obviously it's more about him misremembering. IIRC the Rougeaus did win the title from the Harts in early 1987 but it was not recognized. Dave is probably thinking of the original Dream Team having the belts the previous years and a house show match with the New Dream Team and Rougeaus winning belts but not being recognized. It's like three stories all in one.