10 Best WWE Special Guest Referee Matches

➡️ PURCHASE WWE 2K24 NOW: 2kgam.es/496wKiq
From Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin's WrestleMania 13 bout to The Rock Vs. Triple H at Judgment Day 2000, these are the 10 Best WWE Special Guest Referee Matches.
#WWE #ad
JOIN US and hit SUBSCRIBE!
PATREON: / cultaholic
WEB: cultaholic.com/
MERCH: www.cultaholicshop.com
TWITCH: / cultaholic
TWITTER/X: / cultaholic
FACEBOOK: / cultaholic
INSTAGRAM - / cultaholicwrestling
DISCORD - www.cultaholic.com/discord
CAMEO - www.cultaholic.com/cameo
PODCASTS - Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7yTfgtZ... - Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
NEWS PODCASTS - Spotify: www.cultaholic.com/spotify - Apple Podcasts: www.cultaholic.com/apple
Sign up to Wrestle Crate UK using code CULTAHOLIC and receive DOUBLE the merch with your first month's crate: www.wrestlecrate.co.uk
Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, and NXT), AEW, TNA Wrestling (formerly IMPACT), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@Cultaholic]

➡️ PRE-ORDER WWE 2K24 NOW: 2kgam.es/496wKiq

[@MutatedStudios26]

Wait were you actually sponsored by 2k24

[@itsOasus]

Honorable mention goes to: "ONE! TWO! IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ROCK COUNTS TO THREE!" That match also gifted us with the best gif ever: The Sliding People's Elbow!

[@lukekeen1127]

Has to be nunber 1 surely

[@itsOasus]

@@lukekeen1127 it is not unfortunately

[@lukekeen1127]

@@itsOasus should be

[@Macephtopheles]

@@lukekeen1127 Would only be worth being an honourable mention, in fairness. If it was a list of most memorable special guest referee matches then it'd be more than worth a place (arguably top) but the list is where the matches themselves were decent and the match itself was pretty meh.

[@lukekeen1127]

@@Macephtopheles very good point

[@aaronramnarain8142]

Shawn, the greatest special guest referee in WWE history💀

[@kickflipdemon]

bret hart stone cold match was soo good you almost forget shamrock was the guest referee

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

To be honest. I actually did forget that.

[@joekoe97]

Exactly. It made sense to have Shamrock as a gimmick, but the match was so good, it really wasn't needed.

[@freakfoxvevo7915]

I believe that Ken Shamrock's debut being as a guest referee was a perfect introduction for him as someone who means well in the ring, but when you get him mad, he can twist you into a pretzel

[@seankerr8748]

'A hair raising near fall" Understatement of the century there it's the greatest near fall ever

[@jeffro9252]

Also the dumbest. If they were gonna use that spot Taker needed to go down.

[@kurtzusmaximus1]

Everyone in our bar stood up, we thought it was over

[@J92-DS]

The panic that set through my whole body that Triple H was going to end the streak

[@J92-DS]

@@jeffro9252nah Triple H could never have been the one to end the streak

[@MrDp115]

Honorable mention to CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler with that tool Johnny Ace as the guest referee for the WWE championship at the Royal Rumble in 2012 as well the third Elimination Chamber match with HBK (of course) as guest referee at New Years Revolution 2005.

[@TiVo67]

I saw two of those live: Cyber Sunday 2006 and Judgment Day 2000

[@JamesMcClarron]

So let’s all agree, Shawn Michaels one of the greatest wrestlers of all time… isn’t a bad referee either lol

[@joekoe97]

Nearly all wrestlers know how to ref. Anyone that worked low level indys had to ref at some point.

[@cob2076]

Jesse "The Body" Ventura - SummerSlam '88 and '99

[@robertclark2253]

Great call on both counts . Loved it when everyone including Ventura didn't have a clue what to do after Elizabeth took her skirt off and in 99 when Ventura knocked out Shane and said "That's for your old man ".

[@ChristopherMikrowelle]

I’m already 43 years old and have no charisma or skill but my dream is to one day be a special guest referee in the Wwe.

[@robertclark2253]

I'm still waiting for a spot in the Royal Rumble and I don't give 2 effs even if it is the "cursed" №14

[@davidlandry3487]

I would have put any of "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin's series of referee matches on the list. That whole storyline and rivalry with Greg Valentine made for truly captivating wrestling back when special guest referees were still a rarity.

[@calebbonds4632]

Charles Robinson will always be a special referee to me!🙏🤟

[@mkhoicute]

Chris Jericho vs Batista with Stone Cold as the guest referee at Cyber Sunday 2008 is also worth to mention (btw Cyber Sunday 2008's theme song is lit af)

[@TiVo67]

Honorable Mentions cuz anything prior to Attitude Era is severely being overlooked: WrestleMania: Hogan & Mr T vs Piper & Orndorff (Muhammad Ali) Summerslam 88: Mega Powers vs Mega Bucks (Jesse Ventura) The Main Event 90: Hogan & Savage (Buster Douglas) WrestleMania X: Bret vs Yokozuna (Roddy Piper)

[@robertclark2253]

WrestleMania 1 had 2 special referees inside the ring Pat Patterson and outside referee Muhammad Ali . WrestleMania 5 Jake The Snake vs Andre The Giant referee Big John Studd . SummmerSlam 1990 Jake The Snake vs Bad News Brown special referee Big Boss Man . WrestleMania X Lex Luger vs Yokozuna referee Mr Perfect . WrestleMania XI Bret Hart vs Bob Backlund referee Roddy Piper also WrestleMania XI Undertaker vs King Kong Bundy special refere baseball umpire Larry Young and Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow special referee Pat Patterson . King of the Ring WWF title Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog special referee Mr Perfect .

[@TiVo67]

@@robertclark2253 I wouldn’t consider Pat a special guest referee as he would occasionally ref matches and was never billed or hyped as a special guest ref the same as Ali or others on the list.

[@RetroTube1982]

The Mega Powers vs. the Mega Bucks for sure deserves to be in the top 10. Sometimes these lists feel like they didn't start watching until the Attitude era.

[@TiVo67]

@@RetroTube1982 yeah there was a huge build for Jesse as the ref and if he could be paid off or will he call it down the middle that played out during the match. Probably top 3 special ref matches IMO.

[@robertclark2253]

@@TiVo67 Idk if you watched UK only pay per view Capital Carnage or not but the main event was supposed to a Fatal 4 Way with Stone Cold vs Undertaker vs Kane vs Mankind with Big Boss Man as referee and British street fighter turned actor Lenny McLean as enforcer . Unfortunately McLean died shortly before the pay per view and his role was taken by soccer player and genuine tough guy Vinnie Jones . Things were changed again right before the match started with Gerald Brisco as referee and Jones being ejected via a red card . Boss Man was relegated to bodyguard for Vince McMahon who did commentary with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler .

[@noobsaibot8844]

Another list video to watch later with my dinner after I get off work! 🙏🏻😁

[@marybonner7432]

When you're watching a news video and then the exact video Adam was talking about pops up. Fantastic timing

[@mackmorris6354]

I was always a fan of Kane v Undertaker with special guest Stone Cold. The ending was too funny to me

[@jeremywilliams5141]

Honorable mentions: 1. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (Special Referee: Muhammad Ali) at Wrestlemania in 1985. 2. The Usos vs The Street Profits (Special Referee: Jeff Jarrett) at Summerslam 2022. Dishonorable mentions: 1. Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg (Special Referee: Steve Austin) at Wrestlemania XX in 2004. 2. Andre the Giant vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts (Special Referee: Big John Studd) at Wrestlemania V in 1989.

[@robertclark2253]

Coincdentally I just mentioned WrestleMania 1 and 5 mind you I also mentioned Big Boss Man as ref Jake The Snake vs Bad News Brown and Gerald Brisco at UK pay per view Capital Carnage the match was Stone Cold vs Mankind vs Kane vs Undertaker one fall fatal 4 way . Big Boss Man was supposed to be the ref with actual streetfighter turned actor Lenny McClean as outside enforcer unfortunately McClean died just before the event and his role went to former soccer player and actor Vinnie Jones , who was also known as a tough guy on and off the pitch and had been a colleague of McClean in the movie Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels . All changed at the event as Brisco was made referee and ejected Jones via a red card and Boss Man was at Vince McMahons side while he ran commentary with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler .

[@shahabuddin5513]

best special ref moment for me was in 99, a smackdown match, rock as the ref.... "1......2....... IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I COUNT TILL 3!"

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

The End of an Era match is great and HBK certainly added to the drama. But Bret vs Austin is one of the best matches ever and my personal favorite of all time, so that's #1 in my book and I had hoped it would be #1 on this list.

[@danielsmith7084]

All the wrestlemania classic! Including Benoit vs Hunter vs HBK? LOL

[@Rocketboy1313]

I think Miz vs LA Knight with Cena in the ref role is underrated. You hardly noticed Cena for long stretches and then he pops in to keep things clean and by the end of the match he raises Knights hand and just like that LA was turned face rather than a heel that was getting cheered.

[@nicksoapdish157]

Two honorable mentions: Triple H versus The British Bulldog for the WWE Championship with the Rock as the guest referee and Lita vs Stephanie McMahon for the Women's title with the Rock as the guest referee.

[@chadcload1349]

I always thought itd be sweet to have a 3 way match w a special ref who part way thru the match they inject themself in the match

[@mjdf122]

Finally the Top 10 List has come back to Cultaholic Wrestling

[@geeshep4836]

I Got One Undertaker Vs Kane (Steve Austin Guest Referee) Judgment Day '98, Rock Vs Austin (Shane Mcmahon Guest Referee) Backlash '99, Lita Vs Stepahanie Mcmahon (The Rock Guest Referee) Raw August '00.

[@miguelnewmexico8641]

that was three.

[@BrynHarding]

I just saw William Regal, I didn't realise he was in the game! Chuffed about that!

[@lilpoetat]

thanks!

[@Justin_North]

Now I am disappointed that Kane never had the gimmick "The Big Red Love Machine".

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@McGomezAddams]

Shawn Michaels truly the GOAT

[@thomasedge8438]

I know this list is only for WWE, but Michael Hayes as guest ref for Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich led directly to the Freebirds/Von Erichs feud and made the Freebirds some of the hottest heels in the business.

[@ALLINONE-gp3hx]

Wow wwe is sponsoring you 🆒😎

[@A3GamingATL]

So far I learned that trips and a special ref will always be a classic 😆

[@benespinosa6725]

kane vs rob conway on raw in 2006 gets an honorable mention lol that was great stuff 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@thedetshow3610]

Gotta have Dan Severn as the SGR in the Lions Den Match between Shamrock and Owen Hart as honorable mention.

[@AJARyan-yn2uv]

You Forgot Lesnar v Goldberg at WM 20.

[@omarvazquez3355]

Honorable mention: Stone Cold Vs Dude Love Over the Edge 1998 with Vince Mcmahon as referee. Great match and great ending.

[@multiyapples]

They should bring back Cyber Sunday.

[@WIBYTIEDH]

The streak should have honestly been retired with that match. The end of the Attitude Era should have been the culmination of the streak and DX. It would have been a proper send-off

[@zmankicks7688]

Whoever has been the ref for Roman’s defenses the last couple years needs to be on a list of worst refs. Dude is made to look like a damn fool getting knocked out by a shoulder bump or missing a bloodline member interference every time

[@marcwhit1]

One of my favourites is the Rock vs Austin Backlash main event with Shane McMahon as guest referee.

[@jeremycastillo8594]

This is yet another list that Hart/Austin should’ve been #1 on

[@ddjsoyenby]

i love special guest referees.

[@GMak220]

Jesse Ventura, Mega Bucks vs Mega Powers at SummerSlam 1988

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I forgot Brad Maddox existed

[@bristolmclean8772]

Nobody ever talks about how Michaels knew he was getting his ass beat so might as well make the right call lol

[@christopherharing9883]

No Roddy Piper at WrestleMania XI?! "WHADDYA SAY?!"

[@SpanishFly120]

Honorable mention has to of course go to the Special Guest Referee match of WWF Referee Earl Hebner vs WCW Referee Nick Patrick with Mick Foley officiating, lol.

[@Spermwhales93]

You know the match is gonna be a banger when Shawn Michaels or Stone Cold is the special guest referee

[@MarkieDood]

I still get a kick out of how with the benefit of hindsight we can look back fondly on the SummerSlam 2013 main event post-match angle. To put it mildly: people were NOT happy at the time. Of course we know now that WWE eventually turned it into something great (reluctantly, like 7 months later), but understand that at the time, that angle encapsulated everything so many fans had become so frustrated with WWE over.

[@Littlebigdan]

Austin vs dude love with Vince McMahon has to have a special shout out somewhere

[@chrisrd86]

I was unsure going in to taker triple h at 28 of why shawn was there. i loved shawn on of my favourites of all time, but undertaker vs triple H hell in a cell match that can sell seats easy i didn't think it needed shawn then i saw the match and i fully understood why he was there shawns selling always been top notch one then best sellers ever but his facaly expectations the sitting in the corner in tears he was there for the storytelling and it wad awesome

[@GreyWind1988]

I worlds have liked to have seen Orton vs Barrett on the list. I think in that one, although maybe not the best match still had a ton of intrigue and stakes. Of course the stakes were useless because ... of course they were but it was a rare match where the special ref stupulation was used well.

[@ShaunHopkinsAVFC]

Big time sponsor!!!

[@gingergreek]

There's no arguing against Number 1. That is one of the best matches in WWE history

[@benpezzot8805]

I thought number 2 was better than number 1

[@johnharvelhines9803]

Shawn Michaels is to special guest referees what Gunther is to chops. He’s the underrated goat in that department

[@timbaughman6375]

I'm beginning to think Shawn Michaels is pretty good at the guest referee thing

[@Toste1212]

Bret vs Austin the double turn match will be number one. My guess before I watch

[@tssCaramel]

My absolute favourite part of the WWE2K series is that in recent years they’ve become extremely hostile towards the modding community, which is of course an excellent design decision!

[@frank2mb]

#1 was always going to be "End of an Era" Hell in a Cell (Triple H vs The Undertaker, SGR: Shawn Michaels)

[@mandatorymist7792]

Was watching the news video with Adam and Ross when they started talking about the list video, which came out the second after they finished mentioning it

[@grimreaper1542]

If HBK as ref for HHH vs Taker at WM isn’t on here, I might lose it

[@Zeke_O3773]

Hehehe HBK’s “possible career-ending knee injury” that healed the second he didn’t have to do the job at WM.

[@Slick5150]

Yes, it was such a miraculous recovery that Shaw was at Wrestlemania that year & not only that, he was walking & dancing around like nothing 😂😂

[@rileyanthony]

I remember the special guest referee

[@keithcrockett7838]

You totally forgot 2 Much (2cool) vs AL Snow & Head Jerry Lawler as referee

[@jasonjimerson7046]

I hope I get lucky and see a Shamrock in this list.

[@mrbrooklynny]

Wait he didn't mention Austin vs Dude Love at Over The Edge.

[@Frenik42]

I just heard Adam talk about the video and here it is! Timing

[@grazza96able]

They should of put the backlash 2000 main event in this list

[@ch4tterbox263]

Thought Mike Tyson was just a special enforcer

[@stingrey1571]

mike tyson's favorite wrestler was Cold Stone.

[@thekingofoldskool2]

Mick Foley at Wrestlemania X7

[@camoveteran2219]

I was at MITB 2012, and I do not remember AJ being guest referee.

[@dannygonzales3331]

HBK knows how to entertain

[@bubbajoshproductions3990]

Stone Cold VS Dude Love, Guest Ref: Vince McMahon

[@HelsinkirocksAGF]

I haven't watched it yet but it better have Rock versus Triple H where Shawn Michaels super kicks him

[@ClassicChad]

1:26 when you see it .... 🤦‍♂️

[@rcdune7132]

40 YEARS OF WRESTLEMANIA!!.. ..... With only 21 matches 😂😂😂🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻

[@MrAjking808]

Most people from the past don’t work there anymore cant do much with that

[@rcdune7132]

@@MrAjking808 extremely poor excuse... The 30 Years of WrestleMania showcase had at least one match from every single Wrestlemania up to that point ...

[@MrAjking808]

@@rcdune7132 half of these manias have no important matches .. lol

[@rcdune7132]

@@MrAjking808 haha wow could you be any more wrong??😂

[@woke49]

what happened to the extreme rules match between Matt riddle and Seth rollins

[@HoV326]

I hope Taker vs HHH WM28 tops this list

[@CMcS-xk3hb]

whats the name of the background music?

[@JasonPeck-pf6rn]

Roddy piper at wrestlemaina 10 Bret vs Yokozuna

[@robertclark2253]

Mr Perfect Lex Luger vs Yokozuna WrestleMania X WrestleMania XI Roddy Piper Bret Hart vs Bob Backlund , Larry Young Undertaker vs King Kong Bundy and Pat Patterson Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam Bigelow Mr Perfect King of the Ring 1996 Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog Big Boss Man SummmerSlam 1990 Jake The Snake vs Bad News Brown Sid Justice SummmerSlam 1991 Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior vs Sergeant Slaughter , General Adnan and Colonel Mustafa Big John Studd WrestleMania V Jake The Snake vs Andre The Giant Jesse Ventura SummmerSlam 1988 Hulk Hogan and Macho Man vs Million Dollar Man and Andre The Giant Jesse Ventura SummmerSlam 1999 Stone Cold vs HHH vs Mankind Gerald Brisco Capital Carnage 1998 Stone Cold vs Mankind vs Kane vs Undertaker Dean Ambrose AJ Styles vs James Ellsworth can't remember what year though .

[@zanethind]

Perfect timing since 2K24 has special guest ref matches again

[@zanethind]

I really wish Edge could've been in the game for Wrestlemania 40. Honestly feels robbed. He should be in the game since he left after his retirement match against Sheamus in the Summer

[@robertclark2253]

Are you kidding me with casket matches or gauntlet matches being new these were on PS1 and PS2 games ? As for showcase matches have you never heard of Legends of WrestleMania on XBox 360 ?

[@johnnychino4061]

Daniel cormier was great

[@themachomanrs]

So like… I’m glad you guys got sponsored… but who’s gonna be convinced to buy 2k24 that wasn’t gonna buy it already? ☠️ like I’d bet nearly every wrestling fan has seen it and wants it lmao

[@Dim4323]

Hbk was a great Special guest, Refferee. I wish He would be a Refferee has a new job.

[@TheFloridaStateFlag]

dude didn't even mention battle of the billionaires, TDS gotcha good huh

[@darshin95]

No way you think DX vs Taker is better than Austin vs Bret. BOYTOY MARKS.

[@chrisbosh6301]

Theres no way hhh vs bulldog (the rock) wasnt here

[@jamesaditya5254]

End of an era should be Taker's retirement match

[@ANDCFC95]

To this day, I still think the streak should have remained unbroken

[@apparentlysmart]

Where is Austin/Dude Love from Over The Edge 98????? That’s easily better than Rated RKO & DX.

[@AdreesPlays]

1 2 is donsent matter if the rock counts to 3

[@FarajiCouncil]

Good idea for a top ten list frfr. Hope everyone at cultaholic including you Adam are doing well physically but more importantly mentally and emotionally. As men it's often difficult to admit when we're struggling so I hope all of you are doing well and everyone that reads this is doing well

[@Dr_1212]

😆😎👍

[@PabloMcFlyFTW]

Shawn Michaels in those bike shorts was the first time I ever saw him. I guess I started watching after he retired and did his commissioner spot.

[@manikfl0385]

Wwe2k24.. you say Special guest Ref is a new mode? Gauntlet too? Hm I really dont think so

[@robertclark2253]

Th Smackdown games on PS1 and PS2 had in game special referee matches and options for special referee matches in the Create A Match feature .

[@manikfl0385]

@@robertclark2253 Not only them but WWE says its new. What a Joke

[@robertclark2253]

@@manikfl0385 Gaunlet matches are not new either , as any veterans of PS1 or PS2 know . A lot of games companies and " games journalists " seem to either forget or even ignore previous games