MIKE CHIODA was the third man in the ring for so many of WWE's biggest moments in history. Chioda spent more than three decades working as a World Wrestling Entertainment official, enforcing the rules in numerous WrestleMania main events and working inside the squared circle with countless Hall of Fame stars.
Returning to Wrestling Life with Ben Veal for a second time for episode 036 of the award-winning show, Mike relives some of those incredible matches, including Stone Cold Steve Austin's first WWF title win, Mick Foley's terrifying plunge from Hell In A Cell in 1998, John Cena and Umaga's brutal clash at Royal Rumble 2007, what happened between The Undertake and Goldberg in Saudi Arabia, and Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 31.
MIKE CHIODA ON THE 1-2-3 KID'S SHOCK WIN OVER RAZOR RAMON
One of the most memorable moments in WWE Monday Night Raw's long tenure occured in May 1993 in New York's iconic Manhattan Center, when largely unknown enhancement talent Sean Waltman would score a shock upset over Scott 'Razor Ramon' Hall. Elevated enormously by the surprising win, Waltman would begin his very successful run as a WWF superstar. Mike Chioda was there right in the middle of the action, counting the three-count that kickstarted Waltman's rise in the wrestling business. "Razor was always a good bubby of mine and he was always really good to me," reflects Chioda. "They had that 'Kliq' going on even back then with Nash, Razor and Shawn. The 1-2-3 Kid was getting in there and they were [all] thinking, how are we going to get this kid over? When Razor found out, he was like: I've gotta put the **** kid over? You've got to be **** kidding me! He had that booboo face on, but Razor did business.
MIKE CHIODA ON SETH ROLLINS CASHING IN AT WRESTLEMANIA 31
2015's WrestleMania main event between world champion Brock Lesnar and challenger Roman Reigns would mark the first time that the WWE's Money in the Bank briefcase would ever be cashed in at the show of shows. Mike Chioda found himself right at the heart of the action as Seth Rollins stunned the world to win the WWE's top title for the very first time. "When Seth Rollins' music hit, it was such a big stadium that you didn't hear that initial pop straight away. Not everybody could see him coming out. It was almost like a delayed pop. But when it popped, it popped huge. I was telling the guys [in the ring]: he's on the way, he's on the way. It was a long way down that ramp ... I've got a couple of good shots of him giving me the briefcase [and] me holding his arm up. It was just a pleasure to be a part of that match."
GOLDBERG VS THE UNDERTAKER: WHAT WENT WRONG?
WWE's Super Showdown 2019 would prove to be a very long night on the job for all of the talent involved in the megashow's production, and in the event's much-anticipated main event, that exhaustion would catch up with WWE hall of famers Bill Goldberg and The Undertaker. "Everybody [in the back] was exhausted. I was so tired; I'd had two or three Red Bulls that night to stay up. Everything was fine: Goldberg came out and he actually ran through the match with me when he'd come out and Taker's making his long entrance. Everything was cool; I don't believe he was concussed at that time. But when he hit the turnbuckle in the beginning of the match and hit the post head on ... he crashed and burned and he came back out with a big gash on his head. It got worse and worse as the minutes went by. I had no control that night to stop that match. There was a lot of money on the line; we all had to make sure it went through somehow. They both could've got seriously injured."
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. The show is widely available and 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, Marc Mero, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more.
Subscribe : Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music
About the author: Ben Veal is a writer, content creator, journalist, and host of Wrestling Life and the founder of Second Mountain Comms, a purpose-driven award-winning PR and marketing business that helps good people do good. A Chartered PR professional and passionate fan of the artform of professional wrestling for more than three decades, Ben is committed to sharing the real stories behind wrestling's talented performers.