Veteran WWE Referee Mike Chioda: Wrestling Life Hall of Fame 2025 Induction

MIKE CHIODA is a legendary WWE referee who served as the third man in the ring for some of the most iconic matches in sports entertainment history. A true unsung hero of the industry, Chioda was trusted with countless WrestleMania main events and worked with a who’s who of Hall of Famers across four decades.

Without referees, there is no professional wrestling and few have ever done it better than Mike Chioda. The referee of a generation, Chioda was a constant presence on our screens throughout the '90s, 2000s, and beyond. With a WWE career spanning 31 years, his contributions to the business have now been officially recognised as he joins the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame.

On Wrestling Life Episode 47, recorded live in London, Mike joined Ben Veal to reflect on his incredible journey as the referee of our childhood – from breaking in under Gorilla Monsoon to sharing the ring with legends like The Rock, John Cena, and Hulk Hogan.

In this must-see conversation, Chioda opens up about:

• His role as a WWE official and what his responsibilities were during a match

• Why a referee is so important when you're live on television

• The advice he received from the late Gorilla Monsoon early in his career

• His relationship with Cody Rhodes and how Cody gave him a second chance in wrestling

• What went wrong at the end of the WrestleMania XIX main event between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle

• His long-standing friendship with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

• What it was like being the third man in the ring for the ‘Icon vs. Icon’ clash between Hulk Hogan and The Rock at WrestleMania X8

• What really happened when he was released by WWE in 2020

Mike Chioda on What a WWE Referee Actually Does

Wrestling Life Hall of Famer and veteran WWE referee Mike Chioda breaks down the pressure-packed role of a wrestling official. From calling spots in the ring, to managing commercial breaks live on the air.

“It’s pretty much the same way today, even in 2025. You need to call spots, you need to make sure the wrestlers are okay in concussion protocol situations. In my years of doing television and being on USA [Network] for all the years – Monday Night Raws, SmackDowns – we had to be off the air at 11:00–11:05, or 10:00–10:05. When you breach that time after 10:05, it costs the company a ton of money. The stress was going into commercial breaks, coming back out of commercial breaks… you’d have to cue the wrestlers on times for the match, time to go home, time to get their heat.”

Mike Chioda on Being Released by WWE in 2020

After more than three decades with the company, Mike Chioda’s time in WWE came to an unexpected end during the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on the sudden release and how he felt about his departure.

“That was the first time ever I was fired from a job. It was hard, you know. But the company – the McMahon family – gave me work for 35 years, they paid my bills for 35 years, and I appreciate that very much. I was upset, of course. No notice, no nothing like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna go out this way…’”

Mike Chioda on the Scariest Match He Ever Refereed

At King of the Ring 2001, Kurt Angle and Shane McMahon put their bodies on the line in a match that quickly went off-script. For Mike Chioda, it was one of the most intense and nerve-wracking experiences of his career.

“I didn’t know if I was gonna have a job on the way back, you know. ’Cause Vince is screaming in the background, Brisco’s screaming, everybody’s screaming, ‘Don’t do it! Don’t let him throw him through the glass!’”

Mike Chioda on John Cena’s Retirement

Mike Chioda officiated countless John Cena matches over the years. He reflects on Cena’s work ethic, their chemistry in the ring, and what made every match with him special.

“John Cena is a hard worker. He is a hard worker. Doing his matches… I just remember I had so much fun. I don’t think I ever really screwed up any of his matches either, you know! He was always great to work with – he’s fantastic.”

Mike Chioda Reveals His Biggest Mistake as a WWE Referee

Even the most seasoned officials make mistakes. Mike Chioda recalls an early moment in his career that drew a stern warning from Chief Jay Strongbow.

“I remember Chief Jay Strongbow when I was doing something in the ring. I came back to the ring, I did some other stuff, and I’m high-fiving. It was a heel match, the heel won over with [by grabbing] his tights. And I’m in the ring letting the babyface put the heat on me, instead of just getting outta the ring with the heel and raising his hand. I come back, and Chief Jay Strongbow goes, ‘What are you doing, Chioda? Are you going into business for yourself?’”

You might not have popped for his entrance theme or bought his T-shirt. But Mike Chioda was always there, the steady hand guiding the chaos, making the magic work from inside the ropes. For over three decades, he helped bring some of wrestling’s most unforgettable moments to life. While others played heroes and villains, Chioda played it straight – and played it brilliantly. As the third man in the ring for a generation, his induction into the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame is more than deserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of the forthcoming book Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling.

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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