Earl Hebner
|
|
Earl Hebner (born May 17 1949, in Richmond, Virginia) is a professional wrestling referee currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment as the RAW brand Senior Referee.
Career
Perhaps the most infamous event in Hebner's career came was WWF Survivor Series 1997, which has been dubbed "the Montreal Screwjob". During a match for the WWF Championship between "The Heart Break Kid" Shawn Michaels and Bret "The Hitman" Hart, he was informed to 'ring the bell ' by Vince McMahon, causing Michaels to win, without informing Hart earlier. The original plan was for Hart to lose the belt the next night on RAW, but Vince feared Bret would walk out and appear with the WWF Championship on WCW Monday Nitro, since he had already signed a contract with the rival promotion. Even now, he (as well as Vince and Shawn) receives "You Screwed Bret" chants at shows in Canada and especially Montreal, and fans bring signs to the same effect. In the same vein, Earl's son Brian, now a WWE referee, receives chants of "Your dad screwed Bret" at shows in Canada.
Prior to the "Montreal Screwjob," Hebner was most famous for his role in a WWF Championship match pitting champion Hulk Hogan vs. challenger (and bitter rival) André the Giant, which aired live February 5, 1988, on NBC's The Main Event. Hebner's twin brother, Dave, was the assigned official, but unbeknownst to Hogan, André's manager, Ted DiBiase, had bribed Earl to take his brother's place. Earl then counted André's pin against Hogan, even though Hogan's shoulders were clearly off the mat. As André and DiBiase were celebrating (with André quickly "selling" his title to an overjoyed DiBiase), Dave Hebner – whom DiBiase had locked in a closet prior to the match – ran to the ring and confronted Earl. Hogan turned around just in time to see the two brothers arguing and Earl knock down his brother. This match helped set up a 14-man elimination tournament at WrestleMania IV, where the winner would win the WWF Championship (since WWF President Jack Tunney declared the title "vacant" a week after The Main Event match).
Earl Hebner, who was originally portrayed as a heel referee (in a short-lived gimmick) has remained a vital part of WWF/WWE since.
Profile
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
- Weight: 160 lb (73 kg)
- Professional Debut: 1978
Job Titles
- WWE Senior Referee
- WWE Raw Senior Referee
- WWE Referee
- NWA Referee