Thank you, Justin! Referees are such an overlooked part of professional wrestling, without great officials like Earl & Dave Hebner, Tommy Young, Tim White, Nick Patrick and many others, it would be a less entertaining sport. I remember Nick Patrick and Earl Hebner pushing wrestlers back when they got shoved, and it ALWAYS got a HUGE pop, REAL fans love and respect the referees just as much as the boys.
Just had my first training session today to be a ref here in Lethbridge Alberta. It was insanely fun & I learned so much I had no idea about. Got to ref three matches & was told I did well. Been a wrestling fan for years & always wanted to be a wrestler but back issues from snowboarding have made that impossible. So stoked I get to have a chance to be involved in wrestling in a great capacity now. Thanks for the video Justin, helps me realize just how important refs are!
Fantastic video! I think every wrestler should be watching these. As a referee for the last 14 years I hate it when some of the guys treat you as you don't matter. Of course my position should matter, I decide who fucking wins! Or when your not clued in on the finish and you ask what the finish is and they won't tell you and then you fucking count three and they get mad because that wasn't the finish... well I'm sorry I know how to do my job, learn how to do yours. Being able to bump and do a couple moves isn't wrestling, there is an acting aspect and a psychological aspect. That's what makes it more than just play-fighting. When I ref, I ref like its a shoot and if you don't kick out or get back in before the ten count, I will call for the bell. I've disqualified people for not getting out of the corner after the five count! Sorry, but when you make my position look meaningless you make the whole match look meaningless. Also good call on the Tommy Young, gives me some good ideas!
Tommy Young was great! He would always help sell the violence. If a wrestler was cut badly he would do very convincing looking nauseous face. If someone took a big bump he acted like he could almost feel it. Another thing was if he knew shenanigans were going on behind his back, he would count like he didn't want to but had to. In the old days I liked Dick Worlhe he projected authority and the wrestlers respected him.
for someone who grew up watching wrestling with gordon solie every weekend and loving it to watch this you tube videos is so helpfull as to what it is like to be in the ring with the wrestlers themselves from their own vision thk u very much for sharing this with the fans please keep them coming
Yeah, it takes skill, understanding of storytelling and right timing to cope in the ring. Ref is the "third guy". It's so much more than counting and looking official. People who are going to be refs should really go through training period to get real hang of whats what. We actually talk about it on episode of BEING A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING REFEREE ua-cam.com/video/PG1grQWeEC4/v-deo.html
Cool, I agree that the ref at wreastlemania 30 did not know the ending the the undertaker match. I know a ref at a indy promotion and he is good. I think the ref is the most important part of the match. Thanks Justin!
Thank you, PJ! Been waiting for this one. Always looking to learn and I've gotten a lot out of this series. Watching this episode lets me know I'm doing the right things.
I never seen or watched this dude out of ring, and this is a stand up guy. he honestly sunk so far deep in my head as a heel, that i think I hated him! but coming across this youtube channel, this dude is top shelf. good f'n dude. cheers!
Not enough the finish is very hard as a ref. Filled in at an Indy show as a ref and didn't know the finish so i accidentally counted 3 on a spot that wasn't supposed to be the finish at all. felt horrible.
Xavier Smith you did the right thing. It's the wrestlers job to kick out, if you knew what the finish to the match was and they didn't kick out you would have hesitated to make the 3 count and you would have made the entire match look like crap
Ok... let me stress this once more. These videos are vastly important for anyone who wants to be in the business or simply loves the business. I want Justin to do a more definitive video taping that covers this more in-depth... because I think this can go even further. I almost hate watching these because they are so good. I tried contacting Justin, but he didn't return my call. I'm a writer, author and television and I really want to talk to him... just to give him an idea. Ergo, when a mere youtube video about wrestling etiquette gives you vision... there is something special going on. Keep up the good work Justin... and people pass the word around. These things need more viewers.
Brandon McCalla I too would like a more in depth look at some of the topics he covers.. sticking to this one... ref bumps, timing, ref botches etc... some behind the scenes type stuff would be really cool.
Thank you, Justin! Referees are such an overlooked part of professional wrestling, without great officials like Earl & Dave Hebner, Tommy Young, Tim White, Nick Patrick and many others, it would be a less entertaining sport. I remember Nick Patrick and Earl Hebner pushing wrestlers back when they got shoved, and it ALWAYS got a HUGE pop, REAL fans love and respect the referees just as much as the boys.
Yes, exactly. They needed to push back. They had to maintain their authority and respect in the ring. Refs shouldn't ever been sold short.
Just had my first training session today to be a ref here in Lethbridge Alberta. It was insanely fun & I learned so much I had no idea about. Got to ref three matches & was told I did well. Been a wrestling fan for years & always wanted to be a wrestler but back issues from snowboarding have made that impossible. So stoked I get to have a chance to be involved in wrestling in a great capacity now. Thanks for the video Justin, helps me realize just how important refs are!
Fantastic video! I think every wrestler should be watching these. As a referee for the last 14 years I hate it when some of the guys treat you as you don't matter. Of course my position should matter, I decide who fucking wins! Or when your not clued in on the finish and you ask what the finish is and they won't tell you and then you fucking count three and they get mad because that wasn't the finish... well I'm sorry I know how to do my job, learn how to do yours. Being able to bump and do a couple moves isn't wrestling, there is an acting aspect and a psychological aspect. That's what makes it more than just play-fighting. When I ref, I ref like its a shoot and if you don't kick out or get back in before the ten count, I will call for the bell. I've disqualified people for not getting out of the corner after the five count! Sorry, but when you make my position look meaningless you make the whole match look meaningless. Also good call on the Tommy Young, gives me some good ideas!
Tommy Young was great! He would always help sell the violence. If a wrestler was cut badly he would do very convincing looking nauseous face. If someone took a big bump he acted like he could almost feel it. Another thing was if he knew shenanigans were going on behind his back, he would count like he didn't want to but had to. In the old days I liked Dick Worlhe he projected authority and the wrestlers respected him.
for someone who grew up watching wrestling with gordon solie every weekend and loving it to watch this you tube videos is so helpfull as to what it is like to be in the ring with the wrestlers themselves from their own vision thk u very much for sharing this with the fans please keep them coming
One of my favourite topics so far , as if I could have been in the business a ref would be my job of choice .
This was another great vid man, we got 3 reffs over where I wrestle and I can see their making alot of improvements along the way.
Yeah, it takes skill, understanding of storytelling and right timing to cope in the ring. Ref is the "third guy". It's so much more than counting and looking official. People who are going to be refs should really go through training period to get real hang of whats what. We actually talk about it on episode of BEING A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING REFEREE ua-cam.com/video/PG1grQWeEC4/v-deo.html
We didn't appreciate how much a referee added to a match until we no longer had refs like Tommy Young. He was fantastic.
Thanks a lot Justin for these videos. I learn so much hear and it helps me with my pro wrestling career. Keep on doing this great videos.
What I've always wondered about is rehearsing. And if risky spots are actually rehearsed, or maybe partially.
Cool, I agree that the ref at wreastlemania 30 did not know the ending the the undertaker match. I know a ref at a indy promotion and he is good. I think the ref is the most important part of the match. Thanks Justin!
Thanks for your support.
Thank you, PJ! Been waiting for this one. Always looking to learn and I've gotten a lot out of this series. Watching this episode lets me know I'm doing the right things.
when are you coming out with new stuff
Thank you very much JC! Very good video! You look well, keep it up!
I never seen or watched this dude out of ring, and this is a stand up guy. he honestly sunk so far deep in my head as a heel, that i think I hated him! but coming across this youtube channel, this dude is top shelf. good f'n dude. cheers!
Tell refs to stop getting easily distracted. It always leads to outside interferences.
Tommy Young was the greatest ref ever.
Going right in my Tape Study,thanks Justin!
great vids keep up the informative work. love your insight!
Hey Justin can u do one on signature moves cause I'm having a hard time picking a move to lead into my finisher
It still blows my mind the ref did not know the finish of Brock vs Taker at WM30. I mean at least clue him in right before the match starts
Brian Hildebrand was my favorite!
Justin are you done making videos???
Justin Credible: What is your opinion of having a female as referee?
Not enough the finish is very hard as a ref. Filled in at an Indy show as a ref and didn't know the finish so i accidentally counted 3 on a spot that wasn't supposed to be the finish at all. felt horrible.
Xavier Smith you did the right thing. It's the wrestlers job to kick out, if you knew what the finish to the match was and they didn't kick out you would have hesitated to make the 3 count and you would have made the entire match look like crap
wow this vid was just incredible
Are refs remunerated fairly?
Love your videos
In my opinion the best referee in pro wrestling is Charles Robinson..
looks a bit like you're bulking up again.
Check out this video on UA-cam:
Young was named Referee of the Year in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986.
Thank you.
Check out this video on UA-cam:
Ok... let me stress this once more. These videos are vastly important for anyone who wants to be in the business or simply loves the business. I want Justin to do a more definitive video taping that covers this more in-depth... because I think this can go even further. I almost hate watching these because they are so good. I tried contacting Justin, but he didn't return my call. I'm a writer, author and television and I really want to talk to him... just to give him an idea. Ergo, when a mere youtube video about wrestling etiquette gives you vision... there is something special going on. Keep up the good work Justin... and people pass the word around. These things need more viewers.
Brandon McCalla
I too would like a more in depth look at some of the topics he covers.. sticking to this one... ref bumps, timing, ref botches etc... some behind the scenes type stuff would be really cool.
Check out this video on UA-cam:
Check out this video on UA-cam:
Check out this video on UA-cam: