Mike Chioda
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| Mike Chioda | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Mike Chioda |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 175 lb (79 kg/12.5 st) |
| Born | August 1 Twin Hill Park, Willingboro, New Jersey[2] |
| Trained by | Joey Marella |
| Debut | 1990 |
Michael Jason Chioda[3], (born August 1) is a senior referee who is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment to referee on the company's RAW brand. While not refereeing, Chioda, as well as the other referees in WWE, help set-up the arena before shows, constructing the ring and stage areas.
As a young man, Chioda lived close to the Marellas (Gorilla Monsoon and his adopted son Joey), who helped him break into the wrestling business.[2][1]. Being trained as a referee, Chioda first began to appear in WWE in 1990, when it was known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), most notably at SummerSlam 1990. After taking a hiatus from refereeing following WrestleMania VII, he began to reappear on camera around 1993 and has since become a competent referee and fan favorite.
Chioda has officiated many big matches during his WWE tenure, some of which include Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV, Triple H vs. Vince McMahon at Armageddon 1999, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8, Triple H vs. Batista at WrestleMania 21, John Cena vs. Triple H at WrestleMania 22 and John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 23. He also appeared in an episode WWF Tough Enough's second season.[2]
Chioda has also competed in an actual wrestling match, teaming with Chris Jericho and The Rock to take on the team of The Dudley Boys and referee Nick Patrick on an episode of SmackDown! in 2001[1]. Chioda actually scored the pinfall victory after delivering his version of "The People's Elbow" to Nick Patrick.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Chioda began to wear an American flag patch on his referee shirt. On an "All Referee" edition of the WWE.com show Byte This! in 2004, he told an inquiring Josh Mathews that he did not like the old-style "button-up and bow-tie" referee attire, preferring, at the time, the SmackDown! variant of referee shirt.
During the WWE Brand Extension, Chioda was sent to SmackDown! to become senior referee of that show. In 2003, he was traded to Monday Night RAW. Following the firing of RAW's senior referee Earl Hebner in 2005, Chioda currently serves as RAW`s head referee.
At WrestleMania 23, he refereed the match against John Cena and Shawn Michaels but got taken out after being hit with Sweet Chin Music by Michaels.[4]
