Joshua Jones on July 12, 2022
Vince McMahon has the power to say what appears and doesn’t appear on television. Not only does that apply to wrestlers, but it also applies to referees. One former referee of the company revealed something that McMahon wouldn’t allow his referees to have.
On his latest “Monday Mailbag” podcast, Mike Chioda spoke with co-host Paul Bromwell about McMahon not allowing referees to sport tattoos during matches. Chioda said that he needed to cover his tattoos up with his sleeve.
That’s a no-no. Can’t be wearing sleeves, can’t have tats on the arms. I have one on my arm up here, but my sleeve always covered it.
Chioda also said that McMahon was weary of a referee’s weight. This isn’t surprising, considering how much value McMahon has historically put on a talent’s appearance on screen. The veteran referee revealed that today’s referees undergo a training regimen at the WWE Performance Center.
I remember him telling me, ‘drop a few pounds’ and stuff like that, and I’m like, ‘I’m working on it, sir!
I mean, they’re working out more than they’re learning how to referee down there. These kids come in good shape nowadays, man. Vince has got on me about certain things and it’s exactly how he says it: ‘Hey, pal!
Chioda was released from the company after 31 years of service during the early days of the pandemic. He recently appeared at AEW Double or Nothing to officiate the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals. Despite being out of the game, Chioda’s name still carries a lot of weight in the industry.
What do you make of Mike Chioda’s comments regarding Vince McMahon? Sound off in the comments section below.
July 12, 2022 5:41 pm
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