Earl Hebner is an American professional wrestling referee, best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He has been an active referee since 1975, and is also the brother of referee Dave Hebner.
Earl was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1953. He was trained as a referee by his brother, and eventually began working for Jim Crockett Promotions in 1975. He quickly gained a reputation as an efficient and fair referee, and was often seen officiating matches between the top stars of the time.
In 1988, Earl joined WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation) and was assigned to referee some of the company's biggest matches. He officiated matches between stars such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker. He was also the referee for the first-ever Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker.
Earl is also known for his involvement in the infamous Montreal Screwjob. During the 1997 Survivor Series, Earl was ordered by Vince McMahon to ring the bell and end the match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart even though Hart had not submitted. The incident caused a huge controversy, and is still talked about today.
In 2000, Earl was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He continued to referee matches in WWE until his retirement in 2005. He returned to WWE on a part-time basis in 2006, and continued to make occasional appearances until 2019.
Earl Hebner is one of the most well-known referees in professional wrestling history. His contributions to the sport have earned him a lasting place in WWE history. He is widely regarded as one of the best referees in the business, and his legacy will be remembered for years to come.
