Jimmy Korderas On Wrestling Life Hall Of Fame Induction, Edge, The Undertaker, Eddie Guerrero And Life After WWE
For more than two decades, Jimmy Korderas helped some of WWE’s biggest names to tell their stories inside the squared circle. From the excitement of the Attitude Era to the main event of WrestleMania 24, his work placed him at the centre of moments that wrestling fans still revisit today.
Now, the respected referee takes his place in the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame. Returning to Wrestling Life with Ben Veal for his induction conversation, Jimmy reflected on an unexpected career, the friendships that shaped him and why his greatest source of support has always been waiting at home.
Jimmy Korderas Enters The Wrestling Life Hall Of Fame
Recognition takes some getting used to when your working life has been spent trying to stay out of the spotlight.
Alongside his Wrestling Life Hall of Fame induction, Jimmy Korderas recently received the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Charlie Smith Referee Award. Being celebrated by people he had worked alongside, and others he had long admired, meant a great deal.
“It’s humbling and it’s a tremendous honour,” he shared.
Making an acceptance speech was a different challenge altogether. Following Rip Rogers, who had the room laughing, only added to his nerves. Jimmy joked that there was a reason referees weren’t normally handed a microphone on television. For someone accustomed to helping others shine, being asked to step forward was an unfamiliar but deeply appreciated experience.
The Art Of Being Wrestling’s Third Man In The Ring
Jimmy Korderas' approach to refereeing has always been rooted in a simple responsibility: help the wrestlers tell their story.
That means looking engaged without becoming a distraction, understanding positioning and recognising when to step closer or give the action space. Getting it wrong can affect more than the presentation of a match. A referee standing in the wrong place can put themselves or the performers at risk.
“The number one priority is making sure everybody goes back to the locker room safely,” he explained.
His occasional criticism of modern officiating comes from that same desire to see the craft understood and performed well. It is a job that demands awareness, judgement and a willingness to keep learning.
As Jimmy put it: “No one ever paid a ticket to see a referee count to three.”
How A Toronto Wrestling Fan Became A WWE Referee
Jimmy wasn’t actively pursuing a wrestling career when his opportunity arrived. He was a fan attending shows at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, taking photographs from his second-row seat beside the entrance ramp.
He would have extra prints developed and sell them to fans at the next event. That caught the attention of a photographer working for Jack Tunney. A conversation about where he could sell his pictures became a friendship, then an introduction.
Tunney didn’t need another photographer, but found Jimmy work running errands and collecting wrestlers from the airport. Eventually, Pat Patterson suggested giving the enthusiastic young assistant another role: referee.
His first assignment, an SD Jones match against José Luis Rivera in Newmarket, Ontario, arrived before he understood the finer points of the job.
Jimmy admitted to Jones that he had no idea what he was doing. The veteran guided him through the match, then encouraged him to ask questions and seek feedback from experienced performers.
“You’re never going to stop learning when you’re doing this,” Jones told him. That advice Jimmy carried with him all the way to the main event of WrestleMania.
The Honeymoon Joke That Became A WWE Storyline
One of Jimmy’s most memorable television roles began with a casual backstage conversation.
After marrying in September 1999, he took two weeks off for a honeymoon in Spain. He watched no wrestling while away and returned to discover that WWE’s referees were involved in a strike storyline.
Triple H welcomed him back with a joke about being out of a job. Jimmy’s response was equally light-hearted:
“I can’t afford to go on strike because I just got married.”
Triple H immediately saw a storyline opportunity and took him to Jim Ross. Soon, Jimmy became the regular referee willing to cross the picket line. An offhand remark had given him an unexpected part in the action, and a lasting example of Triple H’s creative instincts.
Eddie Guerrero Helped Jimmy To Find His Voice
Knowing his place in the locker room mattered to Jimmy Korderas. Sometimes, though, that respect made him reluctant to offer ideas, even when he thought he could contribute. Eddie Guerrero helped change that.
During discussions about a match, Eddie could recognise when Jimmy had something on his mind. He encouraged him to speak up, explaining that an idea could be tried if it worked or politely set aside if it didn’t.
Their friendship gave Jimmy confidence to contribute more openly. Memories of travelling together, including WWE’s Tribute to the Troops visit to Iraq, remain particularly meaningful.
“He was a special human being,” Jimmy said. Behind the celebrated performer was a friend who made him feel that his voice mattered.
Remembering The Late, Great Owen Hart
Jimmy Korderas was in the ring at WWF Over The Edge 1999 when Owen Hart tragically died in a wrestling stunt that went horribly wrong. Reflecting on Owen Hart’s passing, Jimmy Korderas spoke about grief, friendship and the people who helped him through one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
He remembered Owen as someone whose presence could change the atmosphere of a room. Seeing him walk in was enough to make people smile.
“If I could be half the human being that Owen was, then I’ve accomplished something in life,” he shared.
Jim Ross offered to send Jimmy home afterwards, with as much time off as he needed. Jimmy chose to remain with his colleagues because they were grieving together, and he felt he needed to be with them.
At home, his then-fiancée provided comfort and care. On the road, the wrestling family held one another up.
Edge And The Undertaker's Request For WrestleMania 24
Being trusted by the wrestlers meant more to Jimmy than any particular assignment. That made Edge and The Undertaker’s request ahead of WrestleMania 24 especially significant.
Edge told him that they wanted him to referee their main event. Jimmy wasn’t originally assigned to the match, but Edge assured him that could be changed. The request brought pride and extra nerves. He wanted to do everything possible to help them deliver the match they had envisioned.
“We’re there as referees to help them tell their story,” Jimmy explained.
It became his final WrestleMania, and a memory he still regards as a fitting culmination of everything he had learned. “It’s almost like the perfect swan song to me.”
Leaving WWE And Putting Family First
Jimmy also clarified the circumstances surrounding his WWE departure in 2009.
“Contrary to popular opinion, I wasn’t fired,” he said.
He had requested time away because his father was ill. With no clear date for returning, he agreed to a 90-day hiatus and a conversation afterwards. His father died the day after that initial discussion. The loss made Jimmy reflect on the birthdays, anniversaries and weddings he had missed while travelling. He wanted to support his mother and give more time to the wife who had supported his career.
When the 90 days ended, he didn’t call back. Leaving brought both relief and a sense of missing the life he had known. But his priorities were clear. “Your home family always comes first.”
A Hall Of Fame Legacy Built On Gratitude
Professional weestling remains a big part of Jimmy Korderas' life through broadcasting, podcasting and his enduring interest in the business. He credits Arda Ocal with encouraging his move into broadcasting, opening another chapter after years as a largely quiet presence in the ring.
Today, he also enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time at home. He is happy with where life has taken him, and comfortable having interests beyond wrestling.
Accepting his Wrestling Life Hall of Fame induction, Jimmy thanked the people who gave him opportunities, particularly Pat Patterson, who saw potential he hadn’t recognised himself.
His greatest thanks went to his wife for standing beside him throughout the journey.
After a career spent helping others tell their stories, Jimmy Korderas has a remarkable wrestling life of his own to celebrate. “Everything I do is honest and from the heart,” he said. “And I’ve always been that way.”
About Wrestling Life Online
Wrestling Life Online is a digital platform dedicated to celebrating the personalities, history and human stories behind professional wrestling. Through in-depth interviews, editorial features and the annual Wrestling Life Hall of Fame, it honours performers whose impact extends far beyond championship reigns.
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. The show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names and is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's bestselling autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman and author of Good Journeys: 25 Inspiring People & 75 Lessons Learned.
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