Referee Mike Chioda Opens Up On WWE Release

Former WWE referee Mike Chioda has opened up on being release by the company as part of cost cutting measures on April 15.

Chioda had been with WWE since 1989 and played a part in plenty of the biggest moments in the company’s history.

He joined the latest edition of Talk Is Jericho, during which he opened up on his release. He said:

“Yes, it took me by complete surprise. I had surgery in October in Alabama. I had a torn rotator cuff and a torn bicep. The surgery went great. I healed up and was ready for WrestleMania. I signed a new contract in the middle of March. I got a bump in pay. I got a phone call and text on April 15th. There was no reason. I asked if it came from certain people like Vince and Stephanie and they said no. I don’t know if it’s heat, but how can you have heat if you have been off 6 months rehabbing? I hadn’t even been on Twitter or Facebook since 2015. My relationship with Vince was awesome over 35 years.”

He also further discussed his 30+ year career, saying:

“I’ve been a referee for 31 years, but I have been with the company for 35 years. Back in the day, you didn’t come on and be a referee. You had to pay dues. You had to pay ring crew dues for 20 years. Chief Jay Strongbow made me a referee way back in the day in the ‘80s. I actually worked for Gorilla Monsoon when I was 15 and 16 setting up the rings with Joey Marella. Victor Quinones used to run the ring crew back in the day for Gorilla because Gorilla owned a territory in South Jersey, Philadelphia Spectrum, Wildwood, New Jersey. I used to do the ring crew in the summertime and on the weekends when I had off from school. I made a lot of money on the road, $500 bucks a night when you are 15 was great money.”

Thanks to WrestlingNews.co for the quotes