Mike Chioda reflects on his career and answers whether he thinks he belongs on the Mount Rushmore of referees.
Chioda is the longest-tenured referee in WWE history. He refereed Steve Austin’s crowning moment at WrestleMania XIV, Hulk Hogan’s match against The Rock at WrestleMania X8, and John Cena’s battle with The Rock at WrestleMania 28. Chioda also officiated Roman Reigns’s clash with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31, Ric Flair’s last match, and many other significant bouts.
In an interview with PWMania.com‘s T.J. Stephens, Chioda was asked whether he puts himself on the Mount Rushmore of referees. He responded by noting that he hoped he could be the fourth one on there, s he named Tim White, Earl Hebner, Charles Robinson, and other legendary referees.
“I appreciate that. I hope I could be that fourth one on there, Chioda said. “You know, to me, it’s like, you know, I mean, I’m so glad Tim White, WWE, and Vince and Hunter, they put Tim White in the HOF, cause he’s done everything for the company to take care of Andre to doing this to referee and working as an agent. God bless him, I love Timmy White. He was definitely a legend, an icon to me, and a good friend, really good friend, dear friend. Joey (Marella), I would love for them to put in Joey Marella. He’s on my Mount Rushmore because I believe, you know, with the Hogan and Andre match that he had done and so many other matches that he has done in his career before he passed. It was Joey in the beginning.
“Earl should be up in there too. I hope I get a fourth spot in there, but there’s so many other good referees to in there and everything. You can’t take anything away from Charles Robinson. You can take Tommy Young back then and all that other stuff. Nick Patrick as well. It’s just a lot of refs, you know. I just wish they can make that Mount Rushmore out of six people.”
Chioda went on to note that he didn’t get his refereeing career started until 1987, whereas the others began earlier. He stated that he always tried to give it his best before he expressed his satisfaction with a phenomenal career.
“Plus, these guys started way before I did,” Chioda said. “He may not have had the longest career that I had with the company with WWF/ WWE. But I mean, these guys go way back to the 70s into the 80s. I started in ’87, I didn’t make my TV debut until ’89. I always tried to give it my best out there. I was either pinpointed by the wrestlers, the agents, or Vince and they had these productions meetings.
“If Earl had this match, I’d have another important match. It was great. Traveled around the world and all over the country. Had a great career. As a referee, who’d think you’d have that career and travel around the world. No sport would give you that, not football, not baseball. It’s been a phenomenal career.”
The full interview is available here:
Chioda previously recalled smoking week with Snoop Dogg. Check out his comments here.
