Ref Bumps: Are They Overused?
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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 talk about the ref bump. Are you into it or is it too much or not enough? We discuss right now on the Busted Open Podcast. This is the Busted Open Podcast. You and I already had odds. Already had odds and the show hasn't even started yet.
Since 8.30. When I log in, I'm here. We start arguing.
We start arguing. We talk about the show at hand. Talk about how our weekend was. Talk about NXT from last night. And I said something in the pre-show meeting that you completely disagreed with. Completely. So I'm looking forward to die completely?
Completely. Absolutely.
Like, you don't even give me any room here at all. Like, nothing. Like, you're just completely disagreement with what I had to say.
Well, let's spit it out, kid. Forget the particulars. Let's go.
I'm watching NXT last night. Main event. Izzy Dame and Lola Weiss for the NXT Women's Championship. Amazing match. I think the best match we've seen from both Lola and Izzy. I go on record to say that last night in that main event for me. And I think, not that it was completely ruined. I'm not going to go that far. But it did tarnish the match because we had, once again, a ref bump. And I think... Not just in NXT, but pro wrestling-wide. Way too many ref bumps, man. Way too many ref bumps. Circa 2012 TNA with the ref bumps.
Are ref bumps overused in professional wrestling today?
It seems like we get a ref bump on every single show. Now, I'm probably wrong by that, but by God, it seems like it.
I said you were wrong on your statement of there's a ref bump on every show.
It feels like it.
I feel that's a generalization.
Too many fucking ref bumps. Too many ref bumps, man.
You become them.
Who's them?
The bad people on social media.
Oh, I am not a bad people on social media.
That's exactly what you profess.
Don't you dare. Don't you dare compare me to that.
It's like that where there's a ref bump every show, every week.
It feels like there's a ref bump every show.
Okay. But if I have to go factually... I would go back and check every NXT in the last month and see how many ref bumps there's been.
I want to know, and I don't even know if there's a way to calculate this. I'm going to throw it on Paul like I always do.
Ref bump-o-meter.
I wonder if there's a way, just in 2026, we're not even halfway through the year, how many ref bumps there's been on TV. Between Raw, SmackDown, NXT... TNA, how many ref bumps we've seen. I don't even know. There's got to be a way. There's got to be some mutant living in their basement that has calculated how many ref bumps there has been so far in 2026. And I mean that in the most respectful way possible. No, I don't need NWA and MLW. Thank you. Thank you, Paul. And Paul, I don't mean that you're a mutant, but if you take it that way, then there's nothing I can do about it.
It didn't bother you when Earl Hebner would get bumped.
That was different. It was rare. You didn't see it all the time.
Disagree. Guy had a bad ankle.
from the ref bumps.
It's always getting in the way.
I just, I think like the ref bump should be something that's very, very rare in pro wrestling that it's rarely seen. That's how I feel about it. And like, listen, I don't think it ruined the match. As a matter of fact, I love what Izzy did with the ref bump where she came in with the title and instead of trying to hit Lola with the title, she threw it in the air to distract Lola and then kicked her in the head. I thought that was unique. I've never seen that before. So that was really unique. I liked that a lot. But, like, they're having such a great match. Like, to me, Tommy, it's a way to protect the wrestler when, you know, I don't think you need to protect. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you lose. And that's okay.
Like, I don't think that, like, it feels like every wrestling company, their top agenda is make sure that everyone's protected.
How do ref bumps affect the quality of wrestling matches?
Then if everyone's protected, nobody's protected.
You've been a referee. Not a good one.
Wait a second. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I have been complimented on my rare appearances as a referee.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:00
2
Are ref bumps overused in professional wrestling today?
2:00–5:19
3
How do ref bumps affect the quality of wrestling matches?
5:19–10:24
4
What are the historical perspectives on ref bumps in wrestling?
10:24–17:06
5
What unique ref bump techniques were showcased in recent matches?
17:06–23:03