Earl Hebner's counts used to drive me crazy. The first two hits of the mat were normal counts at a regular pace, but then he did this huge windup and throw his whole body into the last count for the near-fall. I guess it was supposed to make it seem like the person was kicking out at the last second, but I thought Hebner's theatrics made it obvious that there was going to be a kick out. He would do the regular 3-count at a regular pace only when the match was supposed to end. If you want to see what I mean, look at No Way Out 2001, The Rock vs. Kurt Angle. When Rock hits the first Rock Bottom, I think the plan was for Angle to kick out, but he didn't for some reason. Hebner still did his diving-like third count and acted like Angle kicked out when he obviously didn't even move. After the second Rock Bottom, all three counts by Hebner were normal, thus giving away that the match was about to end.
Keep in mind that when Cornette is talking about Bronco Lubich being too old, he was talking about working with him in 1984. Lubich was still refereeing matches in Dallas in 1994. But he was an institution in World Class. And unlike other refs, people at least remember him.
Bronko Lubich can be as much of an institution and world-class as Bill Mercer both of them should have been put out to pasture by the time it became world class championship wrestling
@@MrVladteples maybe as a person Bronco ljubic was a great guy there's a rough he's among the worst ever joining the luxurious list of say oh I don't know Sonny Myers
Bronco would only get on both knees for the real finish, stay on one knee for any false finishes. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. Happened that way for years.
Bronco Lubich yelled at me at a spot show in the early 90’s for touching the ring apron. “That tape costs money,” he bellowed while violently wagging a disproving finger at me. I was maybe 10 years old waiting to have my picture taken in the ring with Kevin Von Erich. I’ve lost the picture, but I’ve never forgotten that rebuke. 😂
I have seen Tommy Young sit at the table more than once playing the boombox with the microphone held up against it, at the Asheville Civic Center. Tommy Young is FLAT OUT THE 🐐
Bronco was REALLY frustrating to watch! I was used to watching Mid South , who had some of the most straight shooting refs in the world so when I first saw WCCW, and saw this lethargic, elderly man get down on all fours like a dog, and "pat" the canvass, I thought, "man, can Fritz do better than this?" Perhaps he was loyal old soldier, i don't know. But between him and the "dental floss" that served as a ring barricade at the Sportatorium, just gave me the feeling that World Class was cheap!
Randy was tough son of a gun as well. One time I remember a mark hit the ring and Randy's dealt with the matter at hand before the wrestlers or security even knew anything was up. It was at a Nitro during the early days of the nWo when they had real heat.
I never saw Lubich count with his foot, but he did seem to have a very hard time reaching the mat in the 80's. He couldn't quite get down to his knees, just to a sort of semi-crouching position, where he'd reach down to the mat, and have a hard time making it. He didn't slap the mat, so much as graze it gently.
@@edwells4769been watching about 3 years of WCCW on Peacrap network and honestly didn’t notice that wtf..now I won’t be able to unsee it…I get fatigued watching him go back and forth for the count lol
There was a ref that worked spot shows for Gulas during the 70s in West Tn [Bobby Gilliland] that was more clowning than ever toward the split of the territory. He was able to get over somewhat when Jim Kent would get heat on himself by beating up the ref thus starting 6 man tag matches. Bobby usually teamed with Tommy Gilbert and Eddie Marlin
I was there the night Lawler won the AWA belt from Henning and Cornette is right, the crowd was already celebrating before Fargo finished the count because it looked like a four count.
Tommy Young had a strong three count.Plus he.would dive damn near the whole ring length to make a drama type count.He made boring matches watchable. Damn freak accident broke his neck though.
David Snyder, Oh yes!!!! 'Used to watch him on Georgia Championship Wrestling in the 80's; Thanx 4 mentioning him cause it's not a name you here anymore whenever people talk about referees. I enjoyed his matches!!!!
I remember one old fart back in 85/87 WWF who counted like 1.....................2......................3. I don't know his name but that ass hole who was always trying to interfere and tie up Ricky Steamboat during his matches with Jake Roberts in the WWF in 86 every time Steamboat would start winning. Steamboat should of dropped that guy! Look up Steamboat VS Jake on TH-cam and you might see it. The guy would grab Steamboat around the waste and pull him away or grab his hand when Steamboat was throwing those chops.
I remember Dustin Rhodes went off on a green kid who got thrown in as a referee for one of his matches in Georgia several years ago. The kid kept getting in the way of Dustin during his match and mess and spots up. Afterwards in the locker room Dustin kept telling the kid he sucked and was hot. Everyone in the locker room was quiet and felt bad for the kid but hey he had to learn somehow I guess..?!
As someone that was never really blessed with great size or athletic ability or anything else one would need to make in the wrestling business I once thought about trying to become a referee. But my gimmick was going to be the hated shady underhanded referee on the take that the heels loved and the baby faces and fans hated lol.
The absolute worst... He would slow count the entire match but then fast count the pinfall.. Plus he was always out of position for any pin cover... Im sure Gilberto was a fine man but like i said. The worst referee..
I'd say Earl Hebner was the worst referee. Because his counts were as slow as a snail on a surfboard. Even the referees at AAA Lucha Libre are bad. Charles Robinson's a good ref, Mike Chioda 's ok even though whenever he makes the count, he slaps his hand to the mat but overall, he's ok. So, Earl Hebner and the referees at AAA Lucha libre are the worst.
OLE SammyOLE didn't know that. The reason why I say Earl is cause as much as he's been respected by many, if you look back at the matches he's refereed, his counts are horrendous. Like when he goes for the count one, two and then when the opponent kicks out, it looks like he slips and brings his arm around like he's swimming. I know I might get hate for this but this is just my opinion.
Earl Hebner's counts used to drive me crazy. The first two hits of the mat were normal counts at a regular pace, but then he did this huge windup and throw his whole body into the last count for the near-fall. I guess it was supposed to make it seem like the person was kicking out at the last second, but I thought Hebner's theatrics made it obvious that there was going to be a kick out. He would do the regular 3-count at a regular pace only when the match was supposed to end. If you want to see what I mean, look at No Way Out 2001, The Rock vs. Kurt Angle. When Rock hits the first Rock Bottom, I think the plan was for Angle to kick out, but he didn't for some reason. Hebner still did his diving-like third count and acted like Angle kicked out when he obviously didn't even move. After the second Rock Bottom, all three counts by Hebner were normal, thus giving away that the match was about to end.
Danimal1177 that's what I'm saying.
Stopped reading after Earl Hebner. How dare u criticise the greatest referee in history.
Keep in mind that when Cornette is talking about Bronco Lubich being too old, he was talking about working with him in 1984. Lubich was still refereeing matches in Dallas in 1994.
But he was an institution in World Class. And unlike other refs, people at least remember him.
WCCW had a variety of refs but I mostly remember David Manning, Rick Hazzard and Bronco Lubich. Hazzard always wore those orangish red britches.
Most other people love Bronco Lubich. Cornette trashed everybody
Bronko Lubich can be as much of an institution and world-class as Bill Mercer both of them should have been put out to pasture by the time it became world class championship wrestling
@@MrVladteples maybe as a person Bronco ljubic was a great guy there's a rough he's among the worst ever joining the luxurious list of say oh I don't know Sonny Myers
Loved Branco lubich!!!!
Bronco was good until he got 140 years old
Bronco was too old by 1981
Bronco always looked like every movement he made hurt.
DAMN! 😂🤣
@@stevewarren4813 you ain't lying. 😂🤣
@@setadriftonfishandchips 😂🤣
You never had to tell Bronko Lubich to slow down the count.
You never had to tell Bronco to slow anything down.
Bronco would only get on both knees for the real finish, stay on one knee for any false finishes. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. Happened that way for years.
Bronco Lubich yelled at me at a spot show in the early 90’s for touching the ring apron. “That tape costs money,” he bellowed while violently wagging a disproving finger at me. I was maybe 10 years old waiting to have my picture taken in the ring with Kevin Von Erich. I’ve lost the picture, but I’ve never forgotten that rebuke. 😂
I love listening to Corny. He’s just fun listening to.
I always hated Nick Patrick's way of counting
Why did he have to wind up so much? It was like Ed Norton from the honeymooners. Still one of the best workers in the business.
Oh my god it was awful. Was the worst to me until I saw Scott Armstrong
I have seen Tommy Young sit at the table more than once playing the boombox with the microphone held up against it, at the Asheville Civic Center. Tommy Young is FLAT OUT THE 🐐
Bronco was REALLY frustrating to watch! I was used to watching Mid South , who had some of the most straight shooting refs in the world so when I first saw WCCW, and saw this lethargic, elderly man get down on all fours like a dog, and "pat" the canvass, I thought, "man, can Fritz do better than this?" Perhaps he was loyal old soldier, i don't know. But between him and the "dental floss" that served as a ring barricade at the Sportatorium, just gave me the feeling that World Class was cheap!
For me, Tommy Young & Dick Wehrle were the best referees out there.
Dick Wehrle barely gets any mention nowadays, and I agree with you about him. He had a legitimate look of a referee.
Tommy Young and Randy “Pee Wee” Anderson are my faves. I did really enjoy Joey Marella and the Hebners in the 80s/early 90s WWF too
Randy was tough son of a gun as well. One time I remember a mark hit the ring and Randy's dealt with the matter at hand before the wrestlers or security even knew anything was up. It was at a Nitro during the early days of the nWo when they had real heat.
If Beautiful Bobby doesn't trust a guy, believe him.
You ain't lying, he gets along with everybody. If HE doesn't like you I don't even want to be bothered.
Cornette Podcast: "Worst Referees"
AEW: "Hold our striped shirts"
I hate when referees going down sounds like 'one' before they're counting '1'.
I never saw Lubich count with his foot, but he did seem to have a very hard time reaching the mat in the 80's. He couldn't quite get down to his knees, just to a sort of semi-crouching position, where he'd reach down to the mat, and have a hard time making it. He didn't slap the mat, so much as graze it gently.
He'd go on one knee for the false finishes, two knees for the real finish. He did that every single match since the mid 70s
@@edwells4769been watching about 3 years of WCCW on Peacrap network and honestly didn’t notice that wtf..now I won’t be able to unsee it…I get fatigued watching him go back and forth for the count lol
Bronco Lubich pissed me of sooooo much as a 9 year old kid.
Earl Hebner always sucked. Loved when the Rock shoved his ease dropping ass out the way at WM19. Montreal will haunt him till death so there’s a plus.
I always liked Scrappy McGowan and Sandy Barr.
To be fair Bronco Lubich was like 125 years old in WCCW.
Dick Krohl was good, but he was taller than most wrestlers.
Teddy Long his Jheril curl juice would get on the mat
He let his Soul Glo, playa. Holla holla.
Earl herbner's 3 count is shit and predictable and ruined so many matches imo
Tommy Young was great but he should have been in the Four Horseman the way he called Flair's matches.
Thanks for all the great you're doing with Jim
Bronco Lubich was my college roommates neighbor...could not believe when I saw him taking out the trash....moving as slow as ever.
Does anyone remember Gilberto Romantic and
from the wwwf?
my god i remember the awa ref who would effectively do a 4 count because the first 1-count apparently wasn't one. drove me crazy
Referee Dick Whirly was the best in the biz
Little Natch will always be my favorite, his hair sells the Wrestlemania entrance ramp run and 'Taker's chokeslam and it's fucking gold.
I hurried up to click on this. This just gotta be funny 😄
Bill Alfonso. Hands down! The best ever!!
There was a ref that worked spot shows for Gulas during the 70s in West Tn [Bobby Gilliland] that was more clowning than ever toward the split of the territory. He was able to get over somewhat when Jim Kent would get heat on himself by beating up the ref thus starting 6 man tag matches. Bobby usually teamed with Tommy Gilbert and Eddie Marlin
I was there the night Lawler won the AWA belt from Henning and Cornette is right, the crowd was already celebrating before Fargo finished the count because it looked like a four count.
Sounds like the Tim White count (mistaken for a four count lol)
Bronco had the weakest, slowest 3 count of any referee
I grew up watching Bronco in the 80's.
bronko is a legend in Texas! but that slow motion stuff wore me out
Tommy Young had a strong three count.Plus he.would dive damn near the whole ring length to make a drama type count.He made boring matches watchable. Damn freak accident broke his neck though.
Best referee ever was David Manning is World Class!!!
No, the best referees of all time are Charles Robinson, Jimmy, corderas, Tim white, Teddy long, randy Anderson, Mickie jay and John finnigan
Jerry Calhoun was the best in pro wrestling. Big John McCarthy is the best in UFC, followed by Herb Dean.
Refs in wrestling are like Long Snappers in football. If you know who they are by name, they fucked up big time.
I knew a holder named Romo...
The ref in the picture is Bronco Lubich.
Scrappy McGown ruled
David Snyder, Oh yes!!!! 'Used to watch him on Georgia Championship Wrestling in the 80's; Thanx 4 mentioning him cause it's not a name you here anymore whenever people talk about referees. I enjoyed his matches!!!!
Hands down, Scrappy McGowan was the best!
Bronco Lubich was the best. You people are crazy.
Nope, he's probably the worst in wrestling history.
He was hopeless
He was too old by the 80s to be effective.
He was slow but I liked him however
Bobby Simmons in the NWA and the ASWA back in the 70’s was good.
Worst referee ever was Marty Miller in the AWA. He was beyond clueless. Plus, he always had a big set of janitor's keys on his belt.
What ever happened to Danny Davis ?
I'll always have a special place in my heart for peewee anderson. But Tommy Young is far and away the best.
dogleg Randy Peewee Anderson always counted too fast.
dogleg What?!?! Scrappy McGowan was the best!
The worst referees of all time are Earl hebner, Dave hebner and John cone.
John Cum who's John Cum your boyfriend???
Cornette pulls an Ilio DiPaolo reference. Nice.
Bronco Lubich was TERRIBLE!!!!
Bronco was 2 years older than Moses at this time. God said let there be light and Bronco light the candle.
Jeffrey Riley So was Bill Mercer
Bronco Lubich was unique lol.
Bronco always looked like, "Oh crap, I have to get down on my knees and count again. Crap!!!"
LOL. That's pretty much it. He was damn near immobile.
I remember one old fart back in 85/87 WWF who counted like 1.....................2......................3. I don't know his name but that ass hole who was always trying to interfere and tie up Ricky Steamboat during his matches with Jake Roberts in the WWF in 86 every time Steamboat would start winning. Steamboat should of dropped that guy! Look up Steamboat VS Jake on TH-cam and you might see it. The guy would grab Steamboat around the waste and pull him away or grab his hand when Steamboat was throwing those chops.
Bronco was TERRIBLE! The way he just skipped his hand off the mat when he counted was just nauseating.
Tommy Young was one of the worst ref, he was always out position when counting.. Joey Marrela was one of the best refs…Nick Patrick and Terry Yorkston
I remember Dustin Rhodes went off on a green kid who got thrown in as a referee for one of his matches in Georgia several years ago. The kid kept getting in the way of Dustin during his match and mess and spots up. Afterwards in the locker room Dustin kept telling the kid he sucked and was hot. Everyone in the locker room was quiet and felt bad for the kid but hey he had to learn somehow I guess..?!
Scott Dodson
ihateCrackas No, it was not me. I wrestled on that show. It was a 17 year old name Scooter
As someone that was never really blessed with great size or athletic ability or anything else one would need to make in the wrestling business I once thought about trying to become a referee. But my gimmick was going to be the hated shady underhanded referee on the take that the heels loved and the baby faces and fans hated lol.
I've got all the respect in the world for him,however, Sandy Barr in Portland was pretty bad!
Not as bad as his wardrobe though
But his flea market was top shelf.
I've seen a number of wwf refs do the Tennessee trick over the years (pre 2008 when I stopped watching their garbage).
Anyone see ajpw the bald guy in 90s looked like 60 years old slowest count in history
The referee in the thumbnail looks like every stereotypical villain in a old western movie. I don't know who that is.
Manic Scarecrow, Bronco Lubich
Doesn’t anyone remember Gilberto Roman??
joe fafara wasn’t he a short Latino guy that used to referee for the WWF?
@@JasonL77 if you say "latino" we already know he's a guy
One of the worst. I remember Paul Orndorff holding his nose and pointing at Gilberto.
The absolute worst... He would slow count the entire match but then fast count the pinfall.. Plus he was always out of position for any pin cover... Im sure Gilberto was a fine man but like i said. The worst referee..
@@leeberry689 Yes,awful...usually always out of position.
Bronko was literally born in the 20's man
Paul " Bald Eagle" Morton.
Ugh worst i seen recently is that guy they have on impact now now even earl hebner left that skinny guy who looks like pee wee herman
My fav Chioda prob spelled it wrong
You spelled it right
Army-precision fall counts!
Frank Morell
When Cornette is talking about the young ref in Dallas I think he means Tony Falk. I could be wrong but I am almost sure it is.
I don't think Tony Falk was in Dallas at that time. John Keeton, maybe?
Danny Davis was the best
I reffed on the indies in Minnesota for a few years and I always used Charles Robinson as inspiration.
JasonL77 I ref indies from time to time in Missouri and Illinois and I love watching him ref because of how many little things I can pick up from him
5:44.Ralph Pulley
Congrats to JJ by the way
Bronko Lubich was the worst referee ever.
I remember seeing the ref counting with his foot. I was like wtf...
😂🤣
oh no not Bronco Lubich Von Eric
Did y'all see the thumbnail? I didn't know Pablo Escobar was a referee
i thought it was john wayne gacey
Byron Scott did have that "Fuckboy" look aka Weasel
Craig Smith II he was my least favorite Laker
Greedy D
Lol. No I'm talking about Byron Scott the pro wrestling referee for the NWA.
Craig Smith II I know just messing around. Ya he was pretty bad
red shoes duggan loved the name!
Shout out to Ilio! Lol always get to meet wrestlers at his little place in blasdell NY
I miss old pea we Anderson from the WCW days and the slow count Frank Morales.
I forgotten about Old Pea We Anderson
Danny Davis almost ruined every 80’s WWF match with his “distracted heel” referee.
as he was paid to do in the storyline....
ECW had horrible refs
They always counted fast on the finish (likely because they knew the finish)
Roy George in Continental
I'd say Earl Hebner was the worst referee. Because his counts were as slow as a snail on a surfboard. Even the referees at AAA Lucha Libre are bad. Charles Robinson's a good ref, Mike Chioda 's ok even though whenever he makes the count, he slaps his hand to the mat but overall, he's ok. So, Earl Hebner and the referees at AAA Lucha libre are the worst.
to be fair the refs in AAA are like 80 years old.
OLE SammyOLE didn't know that. The reason why I say Earl is cause as much as he's been respected by many, if you look back at the matches he's refereed, his counts are horrendous. Like when he goes for the count one, two and then when the opponent kicks out, it looks like he slips and brings his arm around like he's swimming. I know I might get hate for this but this is just my opinion.
I was referring to Tropicasas the ref who is the father to many pro wrestlers in Mexico.
OLE SammyOLE don't know him.
ShadowAngel yes
My favorite referee was heel Danny Davis.
Saw and heard many a four count pin.
TOMMY YOUNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
World Class and AWA had some of the worse refs.
OLE SammyOLE Bronco was slow but the rest were good
was bronco the ref that ruined the lawler vs von erich super clash 3 and the scott hall & curt henning count out tag team matches?
Rick Hazzard who also wrestled was great as was Ralph Pulley & David Manning