The WWE HOF is probably one of the most controversial HOF's ever created. Depending on who you ask, the HOF is full of undeserving talent, undeserving c-list celebrities and non-athletes. People cite Ko Ko B. Ware, Drew Carey among others as to why the HOF is a "Work", "Bull$#!t!, and why "It can't be taken seriously."
I see it a little different. I think everyone in the HOF deserved their spot. The HOF isn't about who drew the most money. It isn't about who drew the most crowds and sold out arenas. The HOF isn't about who won the most titles, kissed the most ass, who got Vince's coffee in the morning,No!
The HOF is about memories and the people who created them. For better or worse, everyone in the HOF created some worthwhile memories.
That brings me to this... Do you guys think that referees should be enshrined in the HOF. There have been lots of famous and infamous moments in wrestling regarding referees. They have been part of some of, if not, ALL of the most important matches in the history of wrestling. Whether it involved a wrestler living out his "boyhood dream", "The slam heard 'round the world" or a wrestler just getting a plain ol' "screw job". It's always been a ref to count a wrestlers shoulders to the mat and create another moment in history...
If I had my say-so, these famous/infamous refs would go into the HOF...
1. Tim White: Tim started as a ref in the 80's for WWE and remained loyal to the company until he retired in 2005. He was involved in a lot of high profile matches, one in particular is the Hell in the Cell in 2002 which he said ruined his career. He tried to commit suicide a few times and failed miserably each time (storyline).
2. Mike Chioda: I've heard a fan at an MSG house show refer to Chioda as "The Heart and Soul of the ring". Famous for his unconventional "TWO" count, where he hold up his index finger and pinky finger the signify that there was only a "two" count. After Earl Hebner became ill, Chioda stepped up as the go-to ref for main events in WWE. He main evented WM14, the match between HBK and Austin. That puts him in the middle of the Attitude Era. He also refereed another high profile match, WM18, Rock vs. Hogan.
Chioda also had the bad fortune of being in the ring when it collapsed under Brock Lesnar and Big Shows weight!
3. Earl and Dave Hebner: These twin brothers found acclaim in the 1988 "screwjob" involving Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase and Andre The Giant, when DiBiase paid off Dave Hebner to screw Hogan out of the title. When Earl finally arrived to the ring it caused a storm of controversy and left Hogan confused. Dave also refereed the IC match between Steamboat and Savage.
Earl, of course is now notable for pulling the trigger in the now famous "Montreal Screw Job". He still remains one of the most recognized referees in the history of wrestling.
4. Joey Marella: Although not that well known, he refereed some key matches including: Hogan vs. Andre at WMIII and Bret vs. Davey Boy at Summerslam 92'. Joey died in a car accident at the very young age of 30 in 1994. He was the son of HOF'er Gorilla Monsoon.
5. Jim Korderas: Jim had the unfortunate luck of being in the ring when Owen Hart died. Korderas was also the only referee to continue working matches after the referees went on strike for taking too much abuse in the ring. He was assaulted by his fellow colleagues for his actions. IMO one of the most underrated story lines of the Attitude Era!
6.Danny Davis: Before there was a Nick Patrick, there was a Danny Davis. Davis was blatantly biased towards heel wrestlers. He would usually turn a blind eye to heelish tactics and fustrate Babyface wrestlers. He was fired by WWF president Jack Tunney and emerged as a wrestler to a less than stellar run. He received another chance at being a ref, but under a probation.
7. Nick Patrick: Nick would do as Danny Davis, disregard the fact that heel wrestlers were cheating to win. Suspected of being in the NWO and even wrestling under a ski mask during NWO matches on WCW Saturday Night. Nick Patrick was controversial in every sense of the word.
There are more attributes that can be attached to the above said referees, but I used just a few to state my previous claim: That referees should go into the HOF. They are apart of history making moments.
What do you guys think about this?
I see it a little different. I think everyone in the HOF deserved their spot. The HOF isn't about who drew the most money. It isn't about who drew the most crowds and sold out arenas. The HOF isn't about who won the most titles, kissed the most ass, who got Vince's coffee in the morning,No!
The HOF is about memories and the people who created them. For better or worse, everyone in the HOF created some worthwhile memories.
That brings me to this... Do you guys think that referees should be enshrined in the HOF. There have been lots of famous and infamous moments in wrestling regarding referees. They have been part of some of, if not, ALL of the most important matches in the history of wrestling. Whether it involved a wrestler living out his "boyhood dream", "The slam heard 'round the world" or a wrestler just getting a plain ol' "screw job". It's always been a ref to count a wrestlers shoulders to the mat and create another moment in history...
If I had my say-so, these famous/infamous refs would go into the HOF...
1. Tim White: Tim started as a ref in the 80's for WWE and remained loyal to the company until he retired in 2005. He was involved in a lot of high profile matches, one in particular is the Hell in the Cell in 2002 which he said ruined his career. He tried to commit suicide a few times and failed miserably each time (storyline).
2. Mike Chioda: I've heard a fan at an MSG house show refer to Chioda as "The Heart and Soul of the ring". Famous for his unconventional "TWO" count, where he hold up his index finger and pinky finger the signify that there was only a "two" count. After Earl Hebner became ill, Chioda stepped up as the go-to ref for main events in WWE. He main evented WM14, the match between HBK and Austin. That puts him in the middle of the Attitude Era. He also refereed another high profile match, WM18, Rock vs. Hogan.
Chioda also had the bad fortune of being in the ring when it collapsed under Brock Lesnar and Big Shows weight!
3. Earl and Dave Hebner: These twin brothers found acclaim in the 1988 "screwjob" involving Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase and Andre The Giant, when DiBiase paid off Dave Hebner to screw Hogan out of the title. When Earl finally arrived to the ring it caused a storm of controversy and left Hogan confused. Dave also refereed the IC match between Steamboat and Savage.
Earl, of course is now notable for pulling the trigger in the now famous "Montreal Screw Job". He still remains one of the most recognized referees in the history of wrestling.
4. Joey Marella: Although not that well known, he refereed some key matches including: Hogan vs. Andre at WMIII and Bret vs. Davey Boy at Summerslam 92'. Joey died in a car accident at the very young age of 30 in 1994. He was the son of HOF'er Gorilla Monsoon.
5. Jim Korderas: Jim had the unfortunate luck of being in the ring when Owen Hart died. Korderas was also the only referee to continue working matches after the referees went on strike for taking too much abuse in the ring. He was assaulted by his fellow colleagues for his actions. IMO one of the most underrated story lines of the Attitude Era!
6.Danny Davis: Before there was a Nick Patrick, there was a Danny Davis. Davis was blatantly biased towards heel wrestlers. He would usually turn a blind eye to heelish tactics and fustrate Babyface wrestlers. He was fired by WWF president Jack Tunney and emerged as a wrestler to a less than stellar run. He received another chance at being a ref, but under a probation.
7. Nick Patrick: Nick would do as Danny Davis, disregard the fact that heel wrestlers were cheating to win. Suspected of being in the NWO and even wrestling under a ski mask during NWO matches on WCW Saturday Night. Nick Patrick was controversial in every sense of the word.
There are more attributes that can be attached to the above said referees, but I used just a few to state my previous claim: That referees should go into the HOF. They are apart of history making moments.
What do you guys think about this?
Everyone knew the Fink. Come on now.