Ex-WWE Referee Mike Chioda Reveals How Much He Was Paid for Taking Steve Austin’s Chairshot

The in-ring showdowns in professional wrestling companies are smoothly conducted with the help of referees who manage the action inside the ring while also being in loop with the backstage management for the match to take place as per the pre-determined result.

However, it has often been seen that officials in WWE have been on the receiving end of beatings that they were not meant to take. One such incident took place with long-time WWE referee, Mike Choida, but in the end, it proved to be a financial boost for him that night.

During a recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Mike Choida reflected on referring to the historic WrestleMania XXV match between The Rock and Stone Cold. During one spot of the match, Choida took a chair shot to his head by Austin and was willing to take it, citing the physical nature of the sport and being unafraid to get hurt.

“As a referee, you always looked at it like all the boys do all this crazy stuff, chairshots and everything, so I was like man you know, if it gashes me, splits me open, it does. That’s what the guys do.”

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Despite the chair shot, Mike Choida completed his duties as a WWE referee. As he came to the backstage area, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross informed him that Choida would be paid a bonus of $2500 for that spot, much to his excitement, who even offered to take another chair shot if required.

“That chair shot rang my bell for 3 days JR came back and he goes ‘You are getting a bonus for $2500. I was like Holy Sh*t, I can take another chair shot if need me.”

While Mike Choida has Steve Austin to thank for the bonus he got paid, Austin wrestled one of the best matches of his career that night. Moreover, he has also addressed the possibility of returning to action at WrestleMania 41.

As for Mike Choida, being a tenured referee in professional wrestling, it remains to be seen if he would come back for another stint in a major wrestling company to perhaps earn some more bonus money like he did back in the day.

What are your thoughts on Mike Choida being paid a bonus of $2500 for taking a chair shot from Steve Austin? Sound off in the comments!