Former WWE Referee Jimmy Korderas Looks Back On Iconic Squared Circle Moments

In professional wrestling, referees rarely receive the same level of recognition that is awarded to wrestlers, managers or promoters. Fans remember the champions, the rivalries and the unforgettable in-ring moments, but rarely the officials who helped those moments happen.

Yet without referees, professional wrestling simply would not function.

For more than two decades, JIMMY KORDERAS was one of WWE’s most dependable and respected officials. From WrestleMania main events to chaotic live television, he stood at the centre of some of the company’s most defining moments. His career reveals the unseen side of wrestling:the discipline, responsibility and subtle storytelling that exist beyond the bright lights of the spotlight.

Now the co-host of the popular Refin' It Up podcast series, Jimmy Korderas joined Ben Veal on episode 092 of Wrestling Life to reflect back on:

• Being chosen by Adam 'Edge' Copeland to officiate the WrestleMania 24 main event with The Undertaker

• The infamous Royal Rumble 2005 finish between Batista and John Cena and what went wrong

• His working relationship with Vince McMahon

• Counting the three for John Cena's first United States championship win and why fans turned on Cena

• The challenges of being a part of the wild Punjabi Prison match between The Great Khali and Batista

• Shane McMahon's death-defying leap at Summerslam 2000

• Taz's incredible Madison Square Garden debut against Kurt Angle at Royal Rumble 2000

• John Cena's final match against Gunther and the smile that went quickly went viral.

The Making of a Wrestling Referee

Jimmy Korderas’ journey into professional wrestling did not begin with dreams of championship gold or main-event glory. Instead, it began with a fascination for the mechanics of the industry itself.

Growing up in Canada, Korderas developed a deep appreciation for wrestling not just as entertainment, but as a structured performance built on timing, psychology and trust. While many aspiring performers focused on becoming wrestlers, he was drawn to the role of the referee: the person who connects the audience, the performers and the story.

Breaking into the industry required patience and persistence. Referees rarely receive public attention, but they must earn respect backstage before they ever earn credibility in front of a crowd. By the time Korderas arrived in WWE, he had already developed the composure and professionalism needed to operate at the highest level.

The Changing Role of the WWE Referee

When Jimmy Korderas joined WWE, the role of the referee was evolving rapidly.

During earlier eras, referees were expected to remain almost invisible. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, however, matches had become faster, riskier and more complex. Referees were now responsible for far more than counting pinfalls.

Wrestling referees had to communicate with wrestlers during matches, relay information to producers, monitor injuries and help manage unpredictable live situations. At the same time, they had to avoid overshadowing the performers or breaking the illusion of competition.

Korderas excelled in this environment because he understood that refereeing was about balance: authority had to be firm but subtle and reactions had to feel real but controlled. Above all, the referee had to serve the story rather than compete with it.

That understanding made him one of WWE’s most reliable officials for two decades.

WrestleMania 24: Undertaker vs Edge on the Biggest Stage

One of the defining moments of Jimmy Korderas’ career came at WrestleMania 24, when he officiated the World Heavyweight Championship match between The Undertaker and Edge.

The stakes were enormous. Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak had become a central part of WWE mythology, while Edge was stepping into the role of a true main-event star. Every movement, every near fall, and every dramatic pause mattered. And for the veteran referee, the moment was particularly special as Adam Copeland had specifically requested that Korderas officiate the biggest match of Edge's wrestling career.

Korderas’ task was to maintain control without becoming part of the spectacle. He managed the pacing of the match, reacted to key moments and ensured that the focus remained where it belonged: on the wrestlers.

Royal Rumble 2005: When Wrestling Went Off Script

The finish of the 2005 Royal Rumble is now one of the most famous moments in wrestling history.

When Batista and John Cena accidentally hit the floor at the same time, the planned ending collapsed in real time. Referees argued in the ring. Producers scrambled backstage. Vince McMahon stormed to the ring in fury, only to suffer a legitimate injury in the process.

For Jimmy Korderas and his fellow officials, the incident was a reminder that professional wrestling is live theatre. No matter how carefully planned a show may be, unexpected moments can happen at any time.

In those moments, referees become anchors of stability. Their job is not only to enforce rules, but to preserve logic, credibility and continuity.

The Royal Rumble 2005 incident revealed just how important referees are when wrestling’s carefully constructed narratives begin to unravel in real time. Nobody will ever forget that defining Ruthless Agression moment that kickstarted the main event runs of both John Cena and Batista.

Royal Rumble 2000: Taz, Kurt Angle, and Instant Impact

At the Royal Rumble 2000, Jimmy Korderas officiated the match between Kurt Angle and the debuting Taz.

The match was short by design, but its impact was enormous. Taz, coming in hot from his run as ECW champion, needed to be established as a serious threat and a major name from day one, while Angle needed to remain credible as a rising star. Every second of the match had to count.

When Angle took a risky bump, Korderas had to make split-second decisions to balance safety and storytelling. The success of the match demonstrated how referees can help to shape not just outcomes but also perceptions.

In a matter of minutes, Taz was introduced to WWE audiences as a legitimate force to be reckoned with, Kurt Angle's character was protected, and Korderas played a quiet but crucial role in making that moment work.

Inside the Attitude Era: Risk, Chaos and Responsibility

Throughout the World Wrestling Federation's Attitude Era, Jimmy Korderas found himself ringside for some of the promotion's most extreme and unexpected moments.

Matches were faster, more physical, and often unpredictable. Shane McMahon’s infamous fall after being struck by a Steve Blackman kendo stick shot at Summerslam 2000 highlighted the genuine dangers that are involved in modern wrestling.

In such moments, referees must rely on instinct as much as training. Without constant communication systems, they interpret body language, eye contact, and subtle cues to determine whether performers are safe to continue. These experiences reveal a side of wrestling rarely seen by fans: referees are not just symbolic figures, but active guardians of performer safety.

Punjabi Prison and the Challenge of Complex Stipulations

Not every match in Jimmy Korderas’ career represented wrestling at its best. 2007's Punjabi Prison match between Batista and The Great Khali illustrated the difficulties that can arise from overly elaborate stipulations.

The structure limited visibility, disrupted pacing and made communication nearly impossible. For referees, it created an environment where maintaining narrative clarity was extremely difficult.

The match has since become a symbol of how spectacle can sometimes overshadow storytelling.

The Hidden Psychology of Wrestling Refereeing

Jimmy Korderas’ career offers insight into the psychology of refereeing.

A great referee must understand timing as well as any wrestler. They must know when to count slowly, when to hesitate, and when to intervene. They must sense crowd reactions and adjust their behaviour accordingly.

Referees also serve as emotional barometers for matches. Their reactions guide the audience’s perception of danger, urgency and drama. If a referee reacts too strongly, the match feels exaggerated. If they react too little, the match feels lifeless.

Korderas mastered this subtle art, helping matches feel real without ever overshadowing the performers.

Life in WWE: Working Under Vince McMahon

Working in WWE meant working under Vince McMahon, a figure whose influence on professional wrestling and whose controversial antics outside of the squared circle is unmatched.

Behind the scenes, McMahon was known for his intense expectations and relentless work ethic. Standards were high and mistakes were rarely overlooked or forgiven. At the same time, respect was earned through consistency and professionalism.

For Korderas, navigating the world of WWE required understanding both the real Vince McMahon and the on-screen Mr. McMahon. The character was an exaggerated version of real traits, shaped for entertainment but grounded in reality.

That duality reflected the nature of WWE itself: a truly unique blend of authenticity and performance.

John Cena: Under Pressure at the Top of WWE

During Jimmy Korderas’ time in WWE, few performers defined the company more than John Cena. As the face of WWE for more than a decade, Cena carried with him an extraordinary level of responsibility: not only as a top star, but as the central pillar of the company’s storytelling.

From a referee’s perspective, working with Cena was a unique experience. Korderas was the third man in the ring for Cena's first ever championship win in WWE, when 'The Doctor of Thuganomics' defeated The Big Show in the opening match of WrestleMania XX to lift the United States championship.

Matches involving WWE’s biggest star demanded absolute precision. Timing, pacing and communication had to be flawless, because every Cena match was designed to resonate far beyond the arena, reaching millions of viewers around the world. Korderas’ experiences with Cena highlight an often-overlooked truth about top-level wrestling: the biggest stars are often the most disciplined performers in the ring.

Cena’s approach to matches reflected an intense awareness of in-ring storytelling. As a lifelong fan of the business himself, he understood how moments needed to breathe, when drama had to escalate and when the crowd needed space to react. For referees, this made him an ideal partner in the ring. His clarity of purpose allowed officials to focus on enhancing the story rather than correcting it.

At the same time, Cena’s position at the top of WWE created immense pressure. Every match carried huge expectations: commercial, creative and emotional. Referees working with him were not just officiating bouts; they were helping manage moments that shaped the direction of the company.

Cena would be a devisive figure throughout his hugely successful WWE run and all the way to the very end: his smile in defeat at the hands of Gunther in his retirement match at Saturday Night's Main Event has been applauded and critiqued in equal measure by industry commentators.

In many ways, John Cena represented the modern WWE system at its peak: disciplined, media-savvy, and built on collaboration between performers and officials. For Jimmy Korderas, working alongside Cena offered a front-row view of what it truly meant to carry the weight of an entire industry.

Beyond the Ring: Jimmy Korderas' Wrestling Life

After leaving full-time refereeing, Jimmy Korderas remained connected to wrestling in new ways.

Through podcasts, interviews and media projects, he has offered fans rare insight into the inner workings of the industry and continues to be highly passionate about a business that afforded him so much. By focusing on the perspective of referees as one-third of the Refin' It Up hosting team, he has helped broaden to the way that fans understand the many nuances that lie behind the artform of professional wrestling.

From WrestleMania main events to unpredictable live television, Jimmy Korderas played a quiet but essential role in shaping modern WWE history. His career stands as a reminder that professional wrestling is not built solely by stars, but also by the officials who ensure that the spectacle never falls apart.

REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more.

The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.

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