On a recent episode of Maven’s YouTube channel, veteran WWE referee Mike Chioda made a case for referees being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and named the one official he believes is most deserving of the honor.
When asked by host Maven if he thinks WWE referees should be in the Hall of Fame, Chioda was unequivocal. “Yes, I really do, man. I really feel like we should be a part of it,” he stated.
However, Chioda was clear that he was not advocating for his own induction, but rather for his late colleague, Joey Marella. “I don’t want to push myself, right? I’d rather push for Joey Marella. He’s done so many phenomenal matches before he passed,” he said. Marella, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon, was a senior referee for the WWF in the 1980s and early 1990s and was the official for many iconic matches, including the main event of WrestleMania III between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. He tragically passed away in a car accident in 1994 at the age of 31.
Chioda made a direct, though lighthearted, plea to WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “Hunter, if you’re listening,” Chioda began, before joking, “He don’t watch this shit… Yeah, he watches. They watch everything, bro.”
He concluded his point by reiterating his selfless stance on the issue. “But my thing is, look, I’m not gonna push myself. First. I’d love to see Joey in.”
The WWE Hall of Fame has inducted a number of non-wrestlers over the years, including announcers, managers, and celebrity contributors, but a referee has yet to receive the honor. Chioda’s comments highlight a long-running debate among fans and industry insiders about whether referees deserve to be recognized for their contributions to the business in the same way as other on-air personalities.
The full interview with Mike Chioda, where he discusses many other behind-the-scenes aspects of a referee’s life in WWE, is available on Maven’s official YouTube channel.
