Mount Rushmore of Referees ft. Earl Hebner
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to the Busted Open Podcast. This is Dave LaGreca. On today's episode, myself and Tommy Dreamer come up with the Mount Rushmore of pro wrestling referees. And we speak to our number one, Earl Heppner, right here on the Busted Open Podcast.
What is the Mount Rushmore of wrestling referees?
This is the Busted Open Podcast. The legendary Earl Heppner who joins us. Now, Earl, how are you? And thank you so much for the time. Oh, you're welcome. Thank you guys for having me. All right. I'm excited.
Who is Earl Hebner and why is he significant?
Obviously, you are a part of our WrestleMania show out in Philadelphia a couple years ago. So we truly appreciate the friendship and you joining us and sharing your knowledge on this show. We truly appreciate it. Thank you. Oh, you're welcome.
Mr. Hebner, how are you, sir? I love you.
I'm doing good, Dreamer. How are you doing, buddy?
We're talking about referees. You're on my Mount Rushmore of referees. You're on Dave's Mount Rushmore. If you were to truly define the object of being a professional wrestling referee, what is that? Because it's a business where though it's chaos and everything could happen, but you guys have to enforce the rules. So like, what would you say be number one key to be a referee in this business?
Well, the number one thing is if you're a referee, you need to go over your matches and learn the spots and what's going on and. Taking consideration when you see a bad bump, you always check your your talent and make sure they're OK. We have signs where they tell you OK or they tell you they're hurt and you know it's not just give me the finish as it looks like it's the big thing now. Because I hardly I've been in a couple shows around and. You know, after catering, we always went right to the ring to get our stuff together. Right. And it's just not give me the finish. It's give me everything. And I go from bill to bill. And sometimes when I see it on TV, I don't like these guys really know what's going on.
You know, I just don't understand some of it, the things that they do these days that we –
didn't do back then we we had to pat down you know what i mean yes sir when i when i think of you i think of the matches i think of the big moments those matches whether it was you know in the nwa the wwf the wwe is there one match for you that stands above all the others
Well, actually, the touring deal is the biggest thrill of my life. You know, my brother and I, we pulled that off pretty good, and that was one of the biggest things in my whole life as far as my great match.
It was a moment and a lot of people saw it. Oh, I mean, Dave, would you say that Earl is perhaps, I mean, it's also because of the situation, but from the twin refs to the Montreal Screwjob, he's the most famous referee of all time.
Yes. I mean, I think when most people think of pro wrestling referees, the image that they think of is is Earl Hebner. There's no doubt.
And for a job where you're supposed to be not really looked at or, you know, you're the third man in the ring. I think that's a great accomplishment of how great you were at your job, Mr. Hebner.
Uh, the one match that I want to bring up is to me, one of the most famous matches is the, I quit match between Magnum TA and Tully Blanchard at Starcade. Do you have any memories about officiating that match?
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I have a lot. Believe me. Uh, that was quite a match. And over the years, I've had a lot of compliments on that even far back as long as it's been, but that, that was, you know, the thing is I've been involved in a lot of things in this business, but I, The talent made me who I am. I didn't make myself. They gave me options and gave me a little bit more to stand out, to make who I am. It's just not that I did it all on my own. All those guys down the road, I could sit here and call a thousand names, but those guys helped me so much, and they actually made me who I am.
Earl, I just saw this clip online.
What key qualities define a successful wrestling referee?
It is the Hart Foundation going for their finish, and you're backing a wrestler out of the corner to get back in his corner. And as you turn into it, Bret Hart, full head of steam, hits you with a shoulder tackle.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:18
2
What is the Mount Rushmore of wrestling referees?
0:18–0:32
3
Who is Earl Hebner and why is he significant?
0:32–5:05
4
What key qualities define a successful wrestling referee?
5:05–11:23
5
What memorable matches did Earl Hebner officiate?
11:23–25:38