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Back in April of this year, WWE released a large amount of their employees. Amongst them was long term WWE Referee, Mike Chioda. Chioda had been with WWE for 31 years, refereeing around 15,000 matches during his career.
Whilst speaking on Talk Is Jericho, Mike Chioda revealed that his release came as a huge surprise to him, however he thanked WWE for his time in the company. He also said that he had signed a new contract with WWE shortly before his release.
“Yeah Chris, it took me by complete surprise. I had surgery in October 1st in Alabama, and I had a torn rotator cuff and torn bicep,” Chioda revealed. “So I went through surgery in Alabama. [with] Dr. Dugas, and surgery went great. I’m healed up great, and I was ready for WrestleMania. Actually signed a new contract in the middle of March. My contract was up. Actually got a little bump in pay, and then I get a phone call on tax day, April 15. So yeah, it took me by complete surprise.”
Chris Jericho asked if he knew of a specific reason for his release, which Chioda replied with saying that it was probably due to the amount of money he was making in WWE.
“No there was no reason,” Chioda said. “I asked if it came from certain people like Vince and Stephanie, and he said no. It didn’t. It sounded like they pulled me out of a hat and said, OK, we have a company and Mike Chioda’s salary is at the start of the thing. It was, I think, something completely different. I don’t know if it’s heat, but how can you have heat if you’ve been off for six months rehabbing? I haven’t even been on Twitter and Facebook since 2015. So yeah, it took me by complete surprise Chris.”
Jericho went on to compare Chioda’s situation to Mark Eaton, as both were long time employees who were released for no specific reason.
“It’s interesting because you see that kind of happening. I mean the first thing that pops into my head is Mark Eaton when they did the same thing to him,” Jericho recalled. “He’s another guy that had been there for years and just out of nowhere, he’s gone. Like you said, you’re going to cut costs but this going to start with Mike Chioda and Mark Eaton’s contracts. Is that gonna make a difference?
“That’s correct,” Chioda replied. “I kind of figured he put me on the chopping block, head of TR. He got it past somehow. I don’t know where the heat came from. I mean, I haven’t been on the road in six months. My career is definitely not over. I definitely got plenty, plenty left whether it’s inside the ring or outside the ring in training referees and work with talent and so forth.”
Credit to Talk Is Jericho for quotes used and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.