Jimmy Korderas, former WWE referee of 20 years, wrote a new blog on CSRWrestling.com talking about his greatest honor being at WrestleMania in Orlando. Here’s an excerpt:
It is now official; WrestleMania 33 will take place in Orlando, Florida. My long time close personal friend Justin LaBar broke this news last week but it is now set in stone. Orlando holds a special place in heart and mind because whenever I am asked what my favorite WrestleMania memory is or what match was the most significant in my career, the answer to both is the same, WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando, Florida where I refereed the main event World Heavyweight Title match. The champion Edge faced The Phenom, The Undertaker. This moment may never have happened for me if it were not for Adam Copeland.
Originally, I was penciled in to referee the Money in the Bank Ladder match for the third WrestleMania in a row. I was told by management that because I had been in so many matches of that type, my experience was needed in that match. I was flattered but in my mind, I wanted a bigger challenge. WrestleMania is the WWE’s biggest event of the year. It is the culmination of many months’ worth of storytelling and the resolution to most rivalries. Every wrestler’s goal is to appear and one day headline the showcase of the immortals. This is also the goal of all the WWE referees. I would be shock if it wasn’t but I’m almost certain it is. I know it was my desire to be in the ring officiating the final match at a WrestleMania. Don’t get me wrong here, just being on the WrestleMania card is a huge honor but it doesn’t get any better than working the main event.
The week before WrestleMania XXIV at the final TV tapings before the big event, I was sitting in the locker room preparing to get changed into my ref gear. Seemingly out of nowhere, Edge tapped my on the shoulder. He quietly said that he was going to request for me to be the referee for his match with The Undertaker at Mania and the Deadman was on board. I couldn’t believe it. He said it wasn’t a slight against any of the other refs. I had been the ref for many of his biggest matches and he felt I should be in there for this one as well. WOW! What an honor! I was stunned, shocked, and numb. You name it, that’s what I was. At the same time I felt some pressure as well.
I thanked Edge and he left the room. Still a little shocked, I went to get a coffee and ran into The Undertaker in the hall.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the story including what Jimmy was most nervous about.
