referee

Guest column: My documentary opens the eyes to referees

Posted by Colin Hunter | Nov 8, 2023 | Hollywood Headlock, Hollywood Headlock Interviews, Interviews, Opinion

The professional wrestling referee is among the great unsung heroes of showbiz. The noble zebra...

Ali Bey: The mustached, garlic-eating, roly-poly headliner

Posted by Greg Oliver | Oct 16, 2023 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Ali Bey wasn’t as bad as his “Terrible Turk” nickname. Discover the tale of Georgios Stefanides, a Greek-Canadian with a great story to tell

Journeyman Bill Howard dead at 78

Posted by Greg Oliver | Oct 13, 2023 | Interviews, News, Obituaries

Howard Newell, who lost plenty of matches under the ring name Bill Howard, had the in-ring...

Guest column: Brian Gorie’s XICW Hall of Fame induction speech

Posted by Guest Column | Jun 19, 2023 | Opinion

EDITOR’S NOTE: Brian Gorie is a long-time referee based out of the Detroit area. Besides a...

Billy Silverman’s five decades in stripes

Posted by Bradley Craig | Aug 5, 2022 | CAC, Interviews

A tradition of the Cauliflower Alley Club is to honor contributors from every level of the...

WWE referee Tim White dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 19, 2022 | News, Obituaries

Just days after retired WWE referee Dave Hebner died, WWE announced that another referee, Tim...

Famed referee Dave Hebner dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 17, 2022 | Interviews, Obituaries

Famed referee Dave Hebner, who was a part of one of the most-watched wrestling angles in history,...

Charlie Smith, unforgettable referee, dead at 92

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 2, 2022 | CAC, News, Obituaries

There’s a reason that the Cauliflower Alley Club named its referee award after Charlie Smith...

British wrestler Joe D’Orazio dies at 99

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 9, 2022 | Interviews, Obituaries

Joe D’Orazio has died at the age 99. He was a key figure in British wrestling for many...

Former WWE & WCW referee Mickie Jay Henson dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 14, 2022 | Interviews, Obituaries

Steve Keirn shared the news today, February 14, that long-time WWE and WCW referee Mickie Henson...

Hamilton’s Roger Francoeur dead at 80

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 14, 2021 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Obituaries

Roger Francoeur, one of dozens of graduates of Jack Wentworth’s wrestling gym in Hamilton,...

Mac McMurray was a beloved Southern referee

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 1, 2021 | News, Obituaries

As a pro wrestling referee, you’re someone special when fans and the wrestlers want a photo...

B.C. referee Gary Allen was ‘The King’ and one of the boys

Posted by "Dirty" Dan Denton | Oct 24, 2020 | 'Dirty' Dan Denton, Canadian Hall of Fame, Obituaries, Opinion

“Jesus Christ, Denton, this kid’s a real mark!” Gary Allen said this to me in the middle of the...

A referee’s story: If my father could only see me now

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Jun 21, 2020 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Opinion

By EMILY PARKER – For SlamWrestling.net For most kids, summer vacations meant sleeping in,...

Veteran NY state referee Billy Caputo loses cancer battle

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 21, 2020 | Interviews, Obituaries

There are Iron Man matches in wrestling, but wrestling referee Billy Caputo, who died today after...

Ageless Ontario ref is decidedly Old School

Posted by Bob Kapur | Dec 30, 2019 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

What’s black and white and grey all over? If you’ve been to an independent show in...

Mickie Henson’s career — and life — hardly a quick 1-2-3

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 16, 2018 | CAC, Interviews

When he was 14 years old, Mickie Henson was the president of the Bobby Heenan Fan Club. Little did...

Indy ref hopes to ‘Make-A-Wish’ come true

Posted by Kari Williams | Dec 29, 2017 | Interviews

Make-A-Wish has been a constant in Andre Giannico’s life — from granting his initial...

Guest column: My day hanging out with the Nature Boy

Posted by Guest Column | Aug 15, 2017 | Opinion

By SAM CINO – For SLAM! Wrestling “Kids, man … they change you. You’ll...

Longtime Pittsburgh referee Bucky Palermo passes away

Posted by Trapper Tom Leturgey | Jun 8, 2017 | Interviews, Obituaries

Along the Memorial Day Parade route in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, May 29, Bucky...

‘How blessed am I?’ Bobby Simmons’ journey from referee to pastor

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 16, 2017 | CAC, Interviews

At the upcoming Cauliflower Alley Club reunion, Bobby Simmons is set to receive the Charlie Smith...

Mat Matters: Memories of Frank Parker, Maritimes referee extraordinaire

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 28, 2014 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries, Opinion

With the passing of Frank Parker on Saturday, after a long battle with cancer, it’s worth...

Mad Dog Vachon: A filmmaker’s memories – PAGE 4

Posted by JOHN DOLIN - For SLAM! Wrestling | Nov 21, 2014 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Hollywood Headlock Interviews, Obituaries, Opinion

After six months of searching, I’d assembled a very colourful roster of wrestlers willing to...

Ken Ramey was a great referee, manager and booker

Posted by Steven Johnson | Oct 17, 2014 | Interviews, Obituaries

By now, it’s been done to death in pro wrestling, but you can look it up. Ken Ramey was the...

Guest column: How an unprofessional referee can ruin a great match

Posted by Guest Column | Mar 12, 2014 | Opinion

By STEVE HOOPER – For SLAM! Wrestling The other night I had the opportunity to watch a...

Ex-WWE ref Korderas makes his wrestling debut

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 16, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

To adapt the famous catch-phrase of Maple Leaf Wrestling announcer Billy Red Lyons, “Fans,...

One, two, three! WWE ref Korderas’ book hits shelves

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Mar 29, 2013 | Gary Howard Memorial Library, Interviews

TORONTO – After dedicating over 22 years of his life to the WWE, former referee Jimmy...

Mat Matters: An appreciation for Bob Clark, R.I.P.

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 20, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Obituaries, Opinion

The passing of Bob Clark of Hamilton didn’t get much mention, if any, for which I deserve...

Guest column: Time for the oldtimers to give back

Posted by JAMES BEARD | Mar 17, 2013 | Opinion

I kept a bit of a distance from dealing with wrestling and wrestlers directly for a good long...

Veteran northeast referee Dick Woehrle dies at 81

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 12, 2012 | Interviews, Obituaries

Dick Woehrle, who died Monday afternoon of colon cancer at 81, was easily one of the most...

Malcolm Cormier, wrestler/referee, passes

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 11, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Malcolm Cormier was the forgotten Cormier brother, his fame never coming close to his brothers,...

Wrestler/ref Terry Yorkston dead at 78

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 10, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Terry Yorkston, who died Sunday at 78, was one of the countless men who came out of The Factory...

Kevin Jefferies still passionate about wrestling 30 years later

Posted by Matthew Byer | Jul 13, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

“It’s all about the performance; it’s not about winning or losing.” Those...

Fred Atkins was a tough man, tougher trainer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 15, 2011 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, The Sporting Connection

In Crystal Beach, Ontario, along the shores of Lake Erie, Fred Atkins’ finishing school...

WrestleMania special for ring crew, referees too: Posey

Posted by Darren Wood | Mar 31, 2011 | Interviews, WrestleMania

With WrestleMania upon us, former WWE referee Mike Posey talks exclusively to SLAM! Wrestling...

This Wrestling Life documentary collects misfits

Posted by Fred Johns | Jan 10, 2011 | Hollywood Headlock Interviews

“Wrestling is made to weed out the weak and the people that don’t belong.”...

The interesting road of George ‘Scrap Iron’ Gadaski

Posted by DEREK KOSTI - For SLAM! Wrestling | Jun 9, 2010 | CAC, Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

George Kosti travelled an interesting road to the professional wrestling world. Born in the small...

A lunchtime full of tales from ex-referee Fooshee

Posted by Bob Kapur | May 25, 2010 | Interviews

Like many of the SLAM! Wrestling writers, some of the things I hear a lot from readers are...

Korderas offers advice on reffing, Mania

Posted by Bob Kapur | Mar 26, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas knows how exciting WrestleMania weekend can be. Having been with...

Ryan Wood goes from ‘Red Hot’ to ice cold

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Jan 13, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Many pro wrestlers got their start reffing matches, but you don’t need many fingers to count...

‘Dangerous’ Danny Davis: A profile in black and white

Posted by Bob Kapur | Nov 19, 2009 | Interviews

Long before Earl Hebner heard his first “You screwed Bret” chant, another...

Nothing but the truth from Dave Hebner

Posted by Kenai Andrews | May 5, 2009 | Interviews

Dave Hebner refereed many of the WWE’s biggest matches, as the flagship referee of the WWE...

Earl Hebner has earned his stripes

Posted by Bob Kapur | Sep 13, 2008 | Interviews

In wrestling, where characters are defined as either babyfaces or heels, the referees are...

The life of Bronko Lubich: Wrestler, referee and trainer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 12, 2007 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Not too many Hungarian- Canadians become icons in Texas wrestling history, but Bronko Lubich, who...

Stampede ref Herrmann reflects on career

Posted by Andy McNamara | Oct 12, 2006 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Referee, wrestler, police officer, and entrepreneur. Hans-Jochen Herrmann has led quite a life...

Mat Matters: Remembering my friend Ric Carter

Posted by Mike Lano | Sep 7, 2006 | Obituaries, Opinion

Ric Carter, a longtime referee, wrestling radio show host and historian since the ’60s, died...

Ramey set a standard for referees and managers

Posted by Steven Johnson | May 17, 2006 | Interviews

There was no reason for Ken Ramey to be in Amarillo, Texas in 1967, other than the fact that it...

Guest column: Refereeing 101, a refresher course

Posted by JAMES BEARD | Feb 1, 2006 | Opinion

The Internet is full of wrestling fans who think they know it all, or desire to know it all. Yet...

Neil Drummond earned his stripes

Posted by STEVE RENNIE- SLAM! Wrestling | Apr 27, 2005 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Fans of All Star Wrestling may best remember Neil Drummond as the loudmouth heel manager who...

Tommy Young shoot interview counted out

Posted by Alex Ristic | Apr 7, 2004 | Shoot Interviews

Skipping a snappy intro with patty banter, and getting down to the nitty gritty, Highspots Tommy...

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