Mike Chioda Reveals WWE Had Plans for New Role Before Release

On April 15, 2020, WWE let go of over 100 employees, making it the biggest staff cut in the company’s history. One of them was veteran referee Mike Chioda, which surprised many people. However, it appears there were plans for him to take on a different role before he was fired.

While speaking on Wrestling Life with Ben Veal, Mike Chioda revealed that before his release, there were discussions about transitioning him into another role within the company. He recalled a conversation with Triple H, who pointed out that he wouldn’t want to still be refereeing at 60 years old. Chioda agreed, showing his interest in training referees or taking on a producing role.

Chioda considered working with new wrestlers and referees, emphasizing the importance of both groups understanding how to work together in the ring. He questioned whether NXT currently teaches that aspect, stating that he wasn’t sure if it was still a focus in the developmental system.

“There was kind of a plan at one point when I talked to Triple H. He’s like, ‘Hey, you know, you don’t want to be this referee at 60 years old running around the ring.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t. I don’t. You know, I’d like to start training refs or doing something else in the company—producing maybe?’

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Well, yeah, producer, or more or less, maybe training the referees and helping the new wrestlers and the new talent coming in—working with the referees. Because not only should the referees know how to work with the talent, but the talent should also know how to work around the referees as well. And I—I don’t know if they teach that much in NXT now. You know, maybe they do, maybe they don’t.”

Mike Chioda was heartbroken about his WWE release but he would make his way to AEW and work as a referee for a couple of appearances, especially during Double or Nothing 2020. In fact, Chioda even made it clear he would be open to working with AEW again in the future.

On the other hand, Mike Chioda is not sure about returning to WWE with Triple H in charge. Regardless, Chioda is more than happy with his life right now but fans do wonder just how well he would have performed in a backstage role in WWE.

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