10 Things WWE Are Seriously Neglecting In 2017

While it's often said that the best referees are those who aren't noticed at all, the inclusion of an experienced official can also add to the status of a match and give it another level of legitimacy and importance.

In one of their more bizarre moves, WWE have made a conscious effort to downplay the existence of referees in recent years. Instead, commentators have been instructed to blandly refer to them simply as "referees" or "officials" and rarely refer to them by their real names, if ever.

Conversely, during the Attitude Era, names like Jimmy Korderas, Jack Doan, Tim White, and Mike Chioda were well-known by regular viewers. Meanwhile, Earl Hebner became such a noteworthy personality in his own right that TNA inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2015.

Charles Robinson even earned the nickname 'Little Naitch' in WCW and became involved in a number of storylines, as did notorious nWo referee, Nick Patrick. Meanwhile, NWA referee, Tommy Young, was widely considered one of, if not the greatest referee of all time and his mere presence instantly meant that the match in question was a big deal.

In limiting the importance of officials, WWE is under-utilising a huge ingredient in the makeup of a match, while also diminishing the referee's status as the law within the ring.