TheXtremisT
Main Eventer
10 Year Member
This is the way
Joined on: May 3, 2008 8:03:15 GMT -5
Posts: 3,870
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Post by TheXtremisT on May 19, 2020 8:54:57 GMT -5
I know I'm not the only one who thinks this.
My take is - he is not a "bad" referee, but in terms of pure refereeing, he is much worse than many others out there. For kayfabe and suspension of disbelief, he is terrible when it comes to near-falls.
You can easily in a split second see that it will be a near-fall because he telegraphs it by doing a much wider arm stroke for counting the third count than for the other 2. He sometimes also twists his shoulder and part of his upper body when doing it too. He does this just before someone gets their shoulder off the mat as late as possible before he counts 3.
It is so egregiously noticeable, that I just can't unsee it every time he officiated.
Add Kurt Angle into the match, a notorious late "kicker-outer" and it just looks laughable when Earl does the near fall even BEFORE Angle gets his shoulder up.
Other referees do not do this, and they are better. Eg Tim White, Charles Robinson, Mike Chioda.....
The only reasons Earl is so revered as he is are:
A. His tenure with the WWE as a senior referee
B. His charisma in high stakes matches. He was no-nonsense, showed his disdain for heels and confronted them, for example Triple H.
Plus he bumped like a twig getting snapped.
Anyone have any reasons I'm wrong?
Haha all done in fun, but still it is annoying. Here is a great match showing his favour to the face (RVD) and the long third count with his arm for the kick out
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,253
Member is Online
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Post by ClassicFan2 on May 19, 2020 14:49:28 GMT -5
he was getting old by then. back in the 80's early 90's he was the best!
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Post by TheLastDude on May 19, 2020 14:55:25 GMT -5
He played his character, he played it well, and he's likable.
You're looking way too far into this. Next you're going to tell me that the wrestlers talk to each other during the match and telegraph moves.
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Post by Triple S: POOR on May 19, 2020 15:42:40 GMT -5
Mike Chioda > Earl Hebner
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TheXtremisT
Main Eventer
10 Year Member
This is the way
Joined on: May 3, 2008 8:03:15 GMT -5
Posts: 3,870
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Post by TheXtremisT on May 19, 2020 17:02:40 GMT -5
He played his character, he played it well, and he's likable. You're looking way too far into this. Next you're going to tell me that the wrestlers talk to each other during the match and telegraph moves. Yeah... no I'm not. When wrestler's speak to each other, they cover it up and work to prevent it from being seen (unless it's Cena). Earl did this in every match, and it was always noticeable. So in your world, people are supposed to overlook obvious things like this where a performer is not doing their job to the same standard as others? Like I said, yes he was well-liked and played well in matches where he showed being more than just a referee. But strip that down and he messed up one of the most important things he was supposed to do, every night. If there was a newer referee who did the same thing with counts, everyone would be criticising him left and right. But because it's Earl, he gets a pass. Take that bias out of it, and participate in the discussion. Otherwise don't criticise me for pointing out something that is worth discussing on a board that talks about all sorts of things in classic wrestling. |
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Post by Mongo Bears on May 20, 2020 5:35:20 GMT -5
I liked Nick Patrick the best
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JP
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
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Post by JP on May 20, 2020 5:59:49 GMT -5
Charles Robinson > Every other ref.
Seriously though, Earl played a character, and he played it well. I also loved his long-running feud with Triple H - it was entertaining!
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nibs92
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 29, 2008 5:47:21 GMT -5
Posts: 2,240
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Post by nibs92 on May 20, 2020 6:37:35 GMT -5
Maybe just me but I always took the wider arm stroke was a deliberate exaggeration to add to the drama of the near fall. Everyone in the ring uses their bodies to sell a story and see this as being no different.
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Post by Brad on May 20, 2020 9:28:17 GMT -5
He played his character, he played it well, and he's likable. You're looking way too far into this. Next you're going to tell me that the wrestlers talk to each other during the match and telegraph moves. My thoughts exactly. Earl will always be the GOAT in my eyes |
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Post by rowdy1971 on May 20, 2020 10:40:56 GMT -5
Earl, to me, always thought he was just as big as the wrestlers in the ring. Earl is wrong. Never liked refs getting into storylines. On a side note, Earl doing all that has made all the refs I deal with in indy wrestling thinking they are the stars of the show. NOBODY pays to see a ref.
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jking1979
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 3, 2019 20:00:02 GMT -5
Posts: 754
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Post by jking1979 on May 20, 2020 20:24:56 GMT -5
I liked Tommy Young in NWA.
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Post by The Brain on May 20, 2020 21:53:20 GMT -5
I didn't mind Earl but my 2 fav refs ever are
WWF-Joey Marella
NWA-Tommy Young
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Post by LK3 on May 20, 2020 22:02:03 GMT -5
You can easily in a split second see that it will be a near-fall because he telegraphs it by doing a much wider arm stroke for counting the third count than for the other 2. He sometimes also twists his shoulder and part of his upper body when doing it too. He does this just before someone gets their shoulder off the mat as late as possible before he counts 3. This was ALWAYS something I noticed. I wouldn't necessarily say it bothered me, but I never understood why he was the only person to have such an obvious quirk like that. It's even more noticeable in watching matches back as opposed to when they happened live. |
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Post by JC Motors on May 26, 2020 15:42:38 GMT -5
What about Dave?
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Post by cordless2016 on May 27, 2020 7:33:55 GMT -5
I didn’t mind Earl. Was always solid to me but I’ve always been a Chioda guy.
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Post by greenjack1992 on May 28, 2020 14:29:12 GMT -5
I agree that the theatrical three-count used to wind me up, but this was an era before false finishes were really even a thing.
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Post by HandsomeHollywood on May 28, 2020 15:41:24 GMT -5
My issues with Hebner were his being booked as a tough guy during the attitude era. He would often distract from matches.
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