How Referees Make Matches Great
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- A pro-wrestling referee can make a match great, or totally detract from it. Today, let's go over some tips and tricks that refs need to know, so they can augment the matches they officiate, and help make them great!
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1.Thanks for the Patron shout-out. 2. Another tip that I've learned during my training, while listening to the wrestlers, if you spot multiple people with similar finishes or high spots, let the promoter know. If you have too many say ref bumps, it will diminish the product.
That’s a great one, thanks Shawn!
The senior ref at the promotion near me, Spartan Pro Wrestling, is named Kelly Keegan. His facial reactions had quickly made him a fan favorite. He is very knowledgeable in the rules and most of the wrestlers in our area want him to officiate their match. Give the promotion a watch!
I will, thanks!
@@TilWeMakeIt I concur, Kelly is one of the best indy refs around
@@weezel365 I appreciate the recommendation - thanks!
AEW’s Bryce Remsburg, NJPW’s Red Shoes, WWE’s Charles Robinson makes matches better
I agree with those choices wholeheartedly!
For a follow up episode, talk about wrestlers that turned referees, like one of the Armstrongs, Mickey Jay and Danny Davis
I've followed Gearl Hebner, aka Ref Aubrey, in my backyard since 2018. I can confirm 2 things: everyone loves working with her, she takes her craft seriously, and this elusive zebra can count to 3. ... wait.
The best referee in Ireland is the legend Niall "FOXY" Fox.
Referee Youngblood! I call it down the middle, heel or face.
Never bury the ref . I see it way too often these days . Sometimes the ref buries themselves even !
Can think of a particular ref this week who could have benefited from seeing this video lol. Great & applicable advice as always, thanks for doing what you do!
You bet!
RJ Wilkins. Pays attentions to time keeper, communication, loud in count, powerful mat slaps for count. Trained and graduated from The Academy: School of Professional Wrestling with Mr. Anderson as head coach. And he can wrestle, but chooses to referee instead.
Intriguing! I taught out at Mr. Anderson's place a few years back, I wonder if I met him back in the day...
Shout outs to all the refs out there!
Thats why we dedicated a whole playlist of some of the best SoCal Referees and started including them in our video uploads
Refs needs to be appreciated for being the 3rd person in the ring!
Nice! Link me to it, please!
@@TilWeMakeIt This includes only a small collection of SoCal refs that have been reffing for quite some time
ua-cam.com/play/PL0im5D54F5_Vi5RbcTVHLJafuM5XWEGjm.html&si=xhHV-_64dH_qDj0k
Also the first ref I think of is Charles Robinson, he ads so much to a match and hes so good
I agree!
Former NWA ref Robert King was the best ref I've seen in years!
When was he active?
At least in the NWA, 2017 to 2021. He was on their flagship program NWA Powerrr
@@delmerjunior Oh, I must have seen him then, I watched a lot of those early Powerrr episodes.
I know I mentioned it yesterday but Invisible man vs Invisible Stan is a perfect example of how a referee can sell an entire match.
Yes, exactly!
👋 Thanks for the shoutout 😁
Thank YOU, Aaron!
I had my first tag match in front of a real crowd this week, and while taking the heat, the heels weren't really giving me some time and space to really sell, and the ref noticed this and told them to slow down a little, allowing me to get more time to sell out to the crowd or try to go towards my partner to attempt a tag. I don't know if that's a case of a ref overstepping their bounds or doing what they should in that situation, but I appreciated it, at least.
It's different everywhere you go. Some workers really appreciate a ref that minds those things, and tries to help. Other places, I've heard complaining about refs who do the same. I think the ref often has a unique perspective on the match, and that input is always worth considering - but not always worth taking.
@@TilWeMakeIt That makes sense. I appreciated it, since I'm a rookie and I didn't feel it would have been my place to tell them to slow down, and may not have even fully realized it, but I can imagine a more veteran wrestler even taking offense at a ref stepping in like that.
@@JackgarPrime You're right. It's a precarious line to walk.
Great video. My personal favorite referee is DM Stevens. He was the guy I went to when I needed to learn how to ref.
Great advice as usual Mike! Definitely a video I will share with my referee trainees.
You mentioned the counts... and this question goes to the general evolution of rules as time passes... I see the WWE has not counted top rope spots for a few years and recently I've noticed they no longer count double downs. Additonally, I'm nostalgic so when I ref a title match I show the title to all 4 sides (that change from wwe is probably due to TV, I understand that).
My question is at what point, especially on the independent scene, do we adjust to the new way WWE does it?
WWE is the clear market leader so naturally we are going to follow their lead over time, but they have the advantage of TV equity to get heat, whereas ignoring a 5 count, or a dramatic double down, or abusing the refs 5 count on a tag, are essential ways of getting heat in front of a live crowd and helps engage that illusion of conflict. Take those tools and boundaries away, opportunities where the ref can help a cold heat get hot go away too.
How/when do we adjust? Or do we?
Fantastic question. It makes me think of two things: first, is a unique system of rules part of the company's culture or identity? Does it help create the feeling that the product is unique? If so, conforming to what is the current norm might not be the right choice.
Second, as you astutely point out, the WWE is the industry leader, and to a degree, they dictate expectations that most consumers will have for ALL wrestling they watch. To go against that trend might be a barrier to entry for fans giving an independent option a try.
And I think it's worth saying here - I don't know what the right choice is, broadly speaking. I think it's worth considering on a promotion-by-promotion basis. Thanks for asking!
Here in Scotland we have a good few referee's.
At Alba Wrestling we have Dan Carolan who is a new referee but he's listening and learning and doing a great job.
I sent him this video to hear your view on referring and he's very thankful for you putting this out there Mike.
Hope you are well sir. 🙏
Thanks for sharing it, Jam! I certainly appreciate it, sir!
Im too young to learn to wrestle. So what ive been doing is trying to be in the best shape i can be and I'm going to start helping out at the local shows near me with the ring and stuff like that. I cant wait.
These videos have been so much help learning about the buisness and for that I say thankyou.
You’re welcome, Xavier!
Scott Johnson out in the Southwest part of the country is outstanding. He definitely adds to every card he is on, and has worked his way on to a bunch of shows in the last 8 years. Love to him.
This is a new name to me! Where can I watch him?
I have been in the business as a referee for 13 months have only worked at Intense Wrestling Alliance in Nutley NJ as Ref Butts (legit last name) and have been dying for a video like this so thank you Mike this helps alot and is driving me to go back to watch my matches and critique myself thanks again!
I’m glad this one is helpful! Who runs IWA up in Nutley?
@@TilWeMakeIt a man named Frank Delect
Always wanted more ref videos, its a role I want to be more familiar with for sure👍
I'm glad there's an audience for these - it is SUCH an under-valued role in wrestling!
That 3 count rule is great. For my school, we had a show and the ref messed up the 3 count during the planned finish and during the main event and it was bad. Luckily my match was an elimination match and it was during the first elimination but he was asking the guy who got pinned I he should count to 3
Hoo boy! How did the audience react when the count was messed up?
@TilWeMakeIt I couldn't tell during my match because I was focused on my spot which happened right when the guy got eliminated but the main event everyone was confused because it was supposed to be the finish
@@bradyrobinson7873 I don't doubt it - if the crowd detects it, it feels a little like the train coming off the tracks.
as a rookie referee ( started in April) this is all solid learning material .definitely the more you can learn pre match helps a ton. Thanks mike
You’re welcome Chris! Where are you training?
@@TilWeMakeIt net pro studios kingsport Tennessee trainers crazy steve and ovw referee shane chess