10 Most Controversial Wrestling Referees Ever

It's been said that the best referees in the world of professional wrestling are those who largely remain almost invisible - some of the most well-regarded men and women in stripes are lauded by the wrestlers themselves, who can go about their match without fear of the referee getting in the way, for example. On the surface, a wrestling referee is there to do little other than count the fall at the end of the match, but as most grappling fans now know, each official is there to do a hell of a lot more than that. Acting as a conduit between management in the back and the performers inside the ring, the ref can keep each wrestler up-to-date with changing plans, or how much time they have left. Equipped with ear pieces in most companies, there are still referees on the independent circuit who simply call it out there in the ring. A good ref is often over-looked, whereas a bad official is instantly noticeable! In this list, 10 different examples of the most controversial referees are explored, all for varying reasons. Even special guest referees go under the microscope, listing 10 of the most recognisable and polarising officials of all time.