‘The Ref Didn’t See It!’ Bringing New Clarity To Pro Wrestling
Officiating represents one of the more unique elements of pro wrestling.
For the longest time, referees were supposed to be deaf to pleas from the crowd and blind to blatant cheating. As the crowd cheers on their favorite, most referees labor in anonymity.
Unless, of course, you are someone whose attention is captured by the referee.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the referee,” said Colin Hunter, a personality far more familiar in wrestling through his innovative Kayfabe News satire site. “And I'm one of those people, maybe one of the few, who always wanted to be a referee.”
From the creator of Kayfabe News comes a new documentary, aptly called The Ref Didn’t See It! It is a creation from Hunter, who writes the endearing fictional stories (often closer to reality than they should be) for Kayfabe News. Hunter developed the Onion-inspired site over a decade ago, and he has relished the chance to write more than 3,600 outrageous stories that make pro wrestling a more entertaining place to inhabit.
“Kayfabe News has been an entryway into professional wrestling,” said Hunter. “I think people in the wrestling business have understood the satire of Kayfabe News is done out of love and not disgruntled snarkiness.”
Hunter’s newest project is a film celebrating pro wrestling’s most overlooked figure, the referee.
“Every piece of wrestling you watch, the referee is always there,” said Hunter, a longtime fan who has remained in constant awe of what unfolds behind the curtain. “I had this idea, half-joking, to make a movie about it, and my friends who had made documentaries loved the idea. With the Kayfabe News style, I wanted to approach it with that lighthearted tone–celebrating the unsung zebra in wrestling.”
The plan is for the film to premiere in June of 2024. A Kickstarter runs through this Wednesday, and Hunter even quit his job to focus on bringing the project to life.
Hunter and his team conducted the first shoot in January, and they continue shooting at local indies where he has donned the black-and-white referee shirt.
“I still feel a thrill every time I get in the ring,” said Hunter, who has been officiating matches in indies throughout Canada. “And I get the best view in the house during the matches.”
The documentary details Hunter’s journey as he acquires the knowledge and secrets necessary to succeed as a referee. That has had benefits–the 47-year-old stopped drinking, and a renewed emphasis on his cardio has helped him shed weight–but it has also brought him a step closer toward crafting the story he intends to share.
“This isn’t just about me,” said Hunter, whose film features cameos from star referees like Earl Hebner and Bill Alfonso. “It started with my ambition to become a referee. More than that, I wanted to tell the story of people who’ve found something very important in their life through refereeing.”
A main character is Emily Parker, a referee out of eastern Canada. She is following in the footsteps of her late father, who was a wrestling referee.
“This is a film about why people want to become a referee,” said Hunter. “This is a chance for referees to get the spotlight. It’s amazing how much they actually do.”
Courtesy Colin Hunter
The film has already affected how Hunter consumes his pro wrestling.
“I can’t watch wrestling now without carefully watching the referee’s every move,” said Hunter, who conducted the interview after pausing his IWTV app. “I’ve learned how tough it is, too.
“Your goal is to be invisible, but that means you’re moving in the opposite direction, yet staying exactly where the wrestlers are for pinfalls. It isn't easy, and definitely not as easy as it looks.”
The Ref Didn’t See It! has brought Hunter behind the curtain, and he is eager to share the lessons learned. If the project comes to life, it will add an uplifting, engaging, and entertaining story to an industry that is constantly in need of more babyfaces.
“Kayfabe News gives me license to tell the story the way I want,” said Hunter. “The whole story evolved organically, and it’s a chance to share a different side of pro wrestling.”
