Referee (professional wrestling)
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A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring. Although depending it has been known for current owner/General Managers/Commissioners to(eg. Vince McMahon ) to reverse the referee's decision.
Purpose
The purpose of a Pro Wrestling Referee is not only to count the 1,2,3, but also to make sure no real injury is sustained during a wrestling match. However, professional wrestling is dangerous and real injuries can be sustained. If ever a real injury comes across, the referee needs to raise his/her hands above the head into an "X" shape. After this, the officials backstage will try to end the match quickly (only if injury is bad) and prepare paramedics. If a wrestler seems injured but turns out to be okay the referee will raise his right arm in the air to tell the officials that the wrestler isn't injured.Knocks
Sometimes during matches, referees will get knocked down "accidentally" by the wrestlers. The referees get knocked out most of the time by a small tap. In the game WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 , Smackdown turned ECW (WWE) colour commentator Tazz exclaims when a referee gets knocked out: "They really need to find sturdier refs! This kind of thing seems to happen all the time!" However, referees get some sort of cue telling them when to get up. This can sometimes be straight away or after several minutes. This cue can be a a certain move that a wrestler executes, or a cue in the referee's earpiece.\"Special referees\"
As a result of the above, some wrestlers are hired (in kayfabe) to serve as special referees for specific matches. The illusion is that the special referee is sturdy enough not to get knocked down easily; it's often done as part of an angle to determine if the special referee favors one wrestler over the other. Active wrestlers who have served as special referees include Gene Kiniski, Nikita Koloff, Guardian Angel, Curt Hennig, Roddy Piper and Bret Hart.Injuries
-->Referees can sometimes sustain injuries themselves. An example of this is former referee Tim White hurting himself in a Hell in a Cell match between Chris Jericho and Triple H at WWE Judgment Day 2002. Tim White was sent crashing into the cell wall, and after extensive surgery, was told he would be no longer able to officiate in pro wrestling.
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