REF WEEK: Mind Blown By Ref Rach
Images: Wrestling Allegiance Rockhampton, OPW
Just over one year in the professional wrestling referee world and standing between Aussie
Powerhouse Delta and the juggernaut, TNA Knockouts Champion, Jordynne Grace… with Mickie
James in my ear. Mind blown.
Those whom haven’t met me yet, I’m Ref Rach. Newcastle, New South Wales Australia based; but
refereeing has taken me to Queensland, Victoria and even Orlando in the United States of
America.
Starting refereeing in Queensland at Wrestling Allegiance Rockhampton (WAR), I was keen to
perfect the skills of being a “seen when needed” referee. In my experience, training for a referee
normally extends anywhere to: “I have a stripped shirt!” or a currently training future wrestling
talent who usually working towards a debut.
As my experience grew so did my passion to be better, this led me to spend hours studying tapes
and attending as many live shows as I could. I was fortunate enough to watch and learn from
these notable refs: The Ref (Chris-Queensland Wrestling Alliance), Ref Richo (Venom, Nightfall,
Wide Bay Pro Wrestling, Atomic Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling League) and my now partner in
stripes: Referee Hannah (Newcastle Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Australia and Oceanic Pro
Wrestling). In fact, I have likely said hello or even sat next to you at many a local wrestling show
(especially in Queensland), before ever donning the stripes.
Why though? I wanted to referee, to be part of sharing the ring with great wrestling talent, really
TELLING and SHOWING their unique stories. So much psychology can go into a match down to a
wrestlers movements and idiosyncrasies, verbal interaction, body language and facial
expressions. Wrestling to me is the suspension of disbelief – giant vs giant, phenom vs phenom. A
referee can enhance these stories when knowing our role!
Think of your all time favourite match-(Mine is Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair-Wrestlemania 39)…
Now tell me who the referee was. I bet you can’t. That – in my opinion is a fantastic example of
what a referee is (it was Jessika Carr for my fav match, btw). So now I challenge you to go back
and watch your favourite match again, but keep your eyes on the referee. What did they do? How
did they help the story? Was it the insanely close 2 counts that should have been a 3!!?!?!? Was it
the concern that your favourite baby face (good guy/girl) was injured and how could they let the
heel (bad guy/girl) do that?!?!! Oh my god, if they got there a bit quicker, that would have been a
3!?!. All part of building an amazing match.
For the juicy part that got you reading, officiating phenomenal stars such as Delta and Jordynne
was such a HUGE privilege I want to thank Referee Hannah, Cam Vale, OPW, Mickie James and of
course the ladies themselves for. I am incredibly thankful for that opportunity and it was a
fantastic weekend in Ballarat showcasing female professional wrestling. If you haven’t watched
the HER show from OPW, please go and do it!
I’ve noticed that New South Wales wrestling is doing something DAMN well, and that is the
involvement of female talent and crew across their locker rooms. From being essentially the only
female on shows at some points, it’s awesome to have the vibes from women I am around
currently for support. Although wrestling is wrestling and shouldn’t be divided by gender, it
would be inaccurate to not acknowledge the clear deficit there is in female involvement. Thank
you to those training and pushing for us to be part of the wrestling world.
While I am only early in and want to keep learning, reflecting on my last year another huge
highlight was getting to train with the House of Champions under Kekoa Mana. Renee Stuible and
Jamie Stanley are the owners of the House Of Champions (HOC) in Orlando USA, and let me tell
you, as an Aussie if you aren’t checking this place out while in the USA, you are doing travelling
for wrestling wrong!
Kekoa was so welcoming and I literally spent hours asking questions and doing drills, meeting the
one and only SmackDown referee: Jason Ayers. Jason also helped me out a heap and even gave
me an inside peek at NXT workings and TV world of WWE. (We also drank beer together
afterwards – no Biggy, but he’s awesome). To end out my time in Orlando, I completed a two day
seminar with the Third Man In The Ring himself: Mike Chioda, which was an absolute blast.
All of this would not be possible without the confidence boost I have gotten from being part of
Jessika Carr’s (SmackDown Ref Jess) nutrition, training and tutorage program (BrinkLife)! Thank
you Jess for helping me truly kick goals I never thought possible. Not only am I getting
physically stronger, but my mental strength since beginning my journey in professional wrestling
has improved tenfold!
If you’ve read this far, thank you so much. Please head out to your local pro wrestling shows! If
you see me, please come say hey, I promise I only chastise the wrestlers. I’d love to know more
about what brought you out to the show and your involvement with wrestling! For now, I’ll keep
counting the best I can ~ much appreciation, Ref Rach.
