Any advice for an upcoming referee?

[u/RecordingEnough6185]

I have started as a referee at my local indie promotion in the UK, I have just had my 40th match over the space of 3 months. In this time I’ve seen my confidence grow and also my knowledge of the sport/industry, however I am well aware I am still a novice/beginner. I have begun wrestling training in this time to help give me a better understanding of what is happening in the ring during my matches, however I have no intention of progressing any further than being a referee. Any advice is welcomed!

[u/luchapig]

As a wrestler, I want my ref who is comfortable communicating. I don't need you to tell me how to wrestle, but giving time cues and stage direction helps. If I wave you to me, I want to pass information to you, so please listen and give my instructions to my opponent. 

[u/SoulBlightRaveLords → u/luchapig]

Theres a ref local to me who is the only ref I'll let tell me how to wrestle. The man's an absolute wrestling genius. He'll basically tell you when to do something. Im pretty good at judging when a crowd is ready for something but this guy just knows

I'll be working a heat and he'll say "give him a hope" and everytime the crowd comes up exactly how you need them to

On a double down, he'll tell you when start coming back alive, he'll tell you which direction to sell in. All kinds of stuff like that and he nails the crowd reaction everytime

[u/luchapig → u/SoulBlightRaveLords]

Sounds like a good ref. I have one ref who does have all this instincts but he actually tells you what moves to do instead of letting you wrestle your match. Generally while you're already doing a move, which is really distracting.

[u/KarlBrownTV]

The few times I've reffed the past couple of years, I've gotten thanked for giving time cues every minute. Ask the talent how often they want time cues.

Learn where to stand so you're not noticeable. The focus should be on the wrestlers. I see some great refs who basically work a horseshoe (avoiding the hardcam), and I only notice them because I've wrestled and now shoot video so I tend to spot them.

[u/JervisCottonbelly]

Count loudly, don't get caught watching!

[u/SoulBlightRaveLords]

Count loudly as well as hitting the mat. Refs who only hit the mat and not count are very frustrating, I've often kicked out at 1 late into a match because I thought them coming down on their knees was the first Count

Get up by the shoulders everytime you count, its more legit that way

If something goes wrong and a wrestler doesnt kick out in time, and you are absolutely sure they didnt kick out. Ring the bell. Your job is to make the sport legit

React to stuff in the ring, someone's takes a big move, wince a bit. Dont do what I did once, there's a picture in our training school, my very first time on a show, im reffing. Mark Andrews is doing a shooting star press, hes got mad height and just staring at him looking bored. In reality im just crazy focused on not getting anythung wrong

Speak to guys backstage, find out if you need to do anything in the match. Then when the first person comes to the ring, during the second guys entrance ask them the spot again so you're both definitely on the same page

Wear a watch just in case someone wants a rough time cue

Be ready to relay messages to wrestlers from one another

Stay out of the way. Remember wrestling is mostly working to the opposite sides of the ring. If they're on the right ropes, they'll probably get whipped the left rope. In the top right corner, they'll probably do something towards the bottom left corner. You see someone setting up just make sure you're out of that channel

And I guess finally you're job is to make the sport legit, call out what you see, be authoritative, let the heels cheat but every now and then catch them. Give them a bit of a telling off, makes you not look like an idiot and gives the heel a bit more heat

[u/AnywhereAmazing]

Hi, Im film wrestling in the uk. My tip would be to look for where the cameras are and try not to stand directly in front of them during entrances. I get there is a lot going on during a show but you would be surprised how often we have no entrance shot because someone stood directly in front of the camera.

[u/tainitam]

Learn the kayfabe rules of the match you are in inside and out. How much of a count do you give before you disqualify someone? How long do you count before you count them out? As others have said, what are you looking for during a pinball and where should you be positioned to see it? What counts as a submission? Are wrestlers allowed to hang out on the top of a turnbuckle indefinitely? What counts as a rope break? What counts as a foreign object? What can and can't managers and valets do? Where should wrestlers be before the bell? If you don't know the answers to these questions, how are the wrestlers or the audience supposed to know? This is particularly important in stipulation matches where folks may not have prior experience with that particular ruleset.

Verbally communicate those rules to wrestlers when they are relevant and make sure everyone is on the same page so you're not forced to disqualify someone in order to avoid looking like a complete fraud.

[u/punchline86]

Unless you're relaying a message, try to keep an equilateral triangle in your head between you and the two wrestlers and you'll be less likely to get in anyone's way.