Top five best WWE special guest referees of all time

Some iconic wrestlers have featured in this stipulation

The ideal guest referee match in WWE will be someone who either has a history with the contestants or brings a touch of celebrity stardust to the proceedings. They should contribute to the broader tale while keeping the focus on the contest. After all, a special referee is often only called in for major matches.

To be genuinely successful, they must serve as officiants for most of the bout, allowing the wrestlers to compete without intervention. When the time comes, however, the greatest special referees will know how and when to intervene, to either a loud cheer or a torrent of boos.

Unsurprisingly for anybody who watched in the late 1990s and early 2000s, one name appears here more than it does on a list of greatest matches, despite – or even because of – those magnificent shorts.

Here are the top five best WWE special guest referees of all time:

5. Daniel Bryan vs John Cena – Triple H as special guest referee at WWE SummerSlam 2013

Triple H served as the special guest referee for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam for the second time in three years, both times involving John Cena. This time, WWE’s COO served as the special guest referee for Cena’s WWE Title defense against Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam 2013.

This was one of Cena and Bryan’s finest battles, and it went off without a hitch, with Triple H having no impact on the outcome. Bryan defeated Cena with the Running Knee to capture the WWE Championship. However, his delight was short-lived when Triple H turned heel and executed the Pedigree on Bryan, and Orton cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to reclaim the WWE Championship.

4. Rated RKO vs D-Generation X – Eric Bischoff as special guest referee at WWE Cyber Sunday 2006

On Cyber Sunday 2006, Rated-RKO and DX faced off in a spectacular tag team battle. However, there was a caveat: former Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff got 60% of the public vote and served as the special guest referee.

Bischoff, in his trademark heel position, was far from unbiased. He preferred Randy Orton and Edge, and he proved to be the difference-maker. Orton attacked Triple H in the back with a steel chair, then performed the RKO on the chair to gain a major win for Rated-RKO, rather than disqualifying Rated-RKO.

3. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Dude Love – Mr. McMahon as special guest referee at WWE Over The Edge: In Your House, 1998

Mr. McMahon despised the fact that Steve Austin was representing his company as the reigning WWE champion. McMahon served as the special guest referee for Austin’s championship defense against Dude Love at Over the Edge: In Your House, a rematch of Unforgiven: In Your House.

The duo had a spectacular wrestling bout, but Pat Patterson, one of McMahon’s stooges and the special guest ring announcer stated that the match would follow Falls Count Anywhere rules. The Undertaker was a special enforcer who chokeslammed Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco through the two broadcast tables at ringside. McMahon was unconscious, and Austin used his hand to secure the WWE Championship.

2. The Undertaker vs Bret Hart – Shawn Michaels as special guest referee at WWE SummerSlam 1997

Shawn Michaels has served as a special guest referee on multiple occasions during his long career. However, one of the Showstopper’s most notorious appearances as a special guest referee occurred in the main event of SummerSlam 1997, which featured The Undertaker and Bret Hart for the WWE Championship.

Michaels and Hart despised each other, and it was difficult for Michaels to remain neutral throughout. The Hitman tested the waters in the final stages by spatting in Michael’s face. HBK had had enough and planned to attack Hart with a steel chair, but he unintentionally whacked Undertaker in the face with it. Michaels reluctantly counted Undertaker’s shoulders down and awarded Hart his fifth WWE Championship reign.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Undertaker – Shane McMahon as special guest referee at WWE Over The Edge 1999

Shane McMahon has officiated multiple WWE Championship bouts over his career, including Over the Edge 1999. Steve Austin defended his championship against The Undertaker, and the odds were set against the Texas Rattlesnake since Shane was a member of the Corporate Ministry.

McMahon was far from neutral; he did all in his power to guarantee that Undertaker retained the WWE Championship. Mr. McMahon, Shane’s father, did, however, emerge as the second special guest referee in the match’s final stages. Eventually, Shane pulled his father into Austin, allowing the Phenom to cover Austin, and Shane performed a quick count with Undertaker, bringing the WWE Championship to the Corporate Ministry and beginning his third reign as WWE Champion.

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