This one was an interesting show. In the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to referee again, after an 11-year hiatus. A hot, yet absolutely beautiful summer evening outdoors, in Haapsalu, Estonia. It was the summer vacation season, and all our refs were somewhere else. So, I was back on zebra duty.
I knew at the time that my cardio sucked. So, on two different days during the week, I made my way to the downstairs gym in my building and hit the elliptical trainer. I wanted to avoid the possible risk of gassing out, so some cardio work before the show seemed like a good idea.
And, sure enough, I had honestly forgotten how physically active refereeing can be. It was only four matches, but I was absolutely drenched. I tend to be an ‘active’ type of ref, so it felt pretty exhausting.
I’m right-handed, and I use my right hand to make the count, but surprisingly enough, it was my left shoulder that disagreed with my refereeing. It was the ‘diving down for the count’ that caused some type of discomfort in the shoulder blade. It kept bothering me for about a year and a half, then slowly settled.
A big shoutout to all the refs out there. Sometimes wrestlers tend to forget the referee’s role in the game, which is a shame. It’s the person in the striped shirt you gotta listen to, and that’s no joke. So, work together and you’ll all up your game.
A big thanks to Jarmo Katila for photographing the show that day! On the card that day were Ricky Sky, TT Suosalo, Miika Forsström, Eemi Helén, Lexa Valo, Mel Fire, StarBuck, Bjorn Sem, Mikk Vainula, Artur Arder, Stark Adder, and Johnny McMetal.
