10 Best Wrestling Referees Ever
1. Earl Hebner
When I started writing this list, every fibre of my being was rallying against this predictable number one entry.
'There must be others!' my brain crowed. Surely you can think of something of a little more creative than going with this, the blindingly obvious, a man who was there for all the biggest moments of my childhood yet seemingly forgot the job of a referee as he got older and older?
Well, no, no I can't. When I close my eyes and think of a professional wrestling referee (a rare occurrence, to say the least), it is Earl Hebner that I think of.
He is arguably the most famous referee in professional wrestling history. Trained by Tommy Young, Hebner was the senior official in WWF during my formative years as a fan and also throughout the Attitude Era.
Hebner was the official for the Montreal Screwjob in 1997, countless WrestleMania main events and was also the best at the classic 'I'm the official, don't put your hands on me' trope to an overly touchy heel.
Hebner was released from WWE in 2005 for selling merchandise without permission, but quickly made his way over the TNA less than a year later.
Earl has been with TNA for a decade now, where his son Brian Hebner also officiates. He may not have the facial mannerisms of Charles Robinson, the sliding ability of Jack Doan, the selling prowess of Nick Patrick or the shoot fighting skill of Mark Curtis, but he's Earl Hebner dammit, and he screwed Bret.