Road Trip After Hours w/ WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long and Host Mac Davis
Ever wondered what really goes on with AEW referees? Guest Brian Hebner joins Teddy Long and Mac Davis.
Jun 27, 2024Season 2Episode 89
Mac Davis and WWE Hall of FamerTeddy Long
What happens when the son of a legendary wrestling referee sits down with Host Mac Davis and a WWE Hall of Famer? You get an episode packed with behind-the-scenes stories, professional wisdom, and a deep dive into wrestling’s most iconic moments. Join us on Road Trip After Hours as we welcome Brian Hebner, a distinguished referee who has made his mark in WWE, TNA, and AEW. Alongside our co-host, the ever-entertaining Teddy Long, Brian opens up about his journey in the wrestling world, the invaluable lessons from his father Earl Hebner, and the sacrifices involved in upholding a family legacy. This conversation is as much about the human side of wrestling as it is about the industry itself.
Listeners will be treated to an engaging chat that relives some of wrestling’s most pivotal moments, including the unforgettable tension of the Hogan vs. Vince match at WrestleMania. We also discuss the emotional bonds formed within the wrestling community and the contrasting experiences Brian had in TNA compared to WWE and NWA. Teddy and Brian share their candid thoughts on the importance of maintaining the integrity of wrestling traditions, all while offering humorous anecdotes that capture the essence of life both in and outside the ring.
Ever wondered what really goes on with AEW referees? We tackle the critical issues head-on, stressing the need for stronger leadership and proper officiating standards. Through comparisons with WWE's disciplined environment, we highlight the urgency of clear roles and accountability in maintaining the sport's essence. Wrapping up, we uncover the humorous side of podcasting, from breaking kayfabe to amusing fan interactions. This episode promises a blend of insight, humor, and heartfelt appreciation for the wrestling world. Don’t miss this deep dive into the stories and experiences that shape the heart of professional wrestling.
What happens when the son of a legendary wrestling referee sits down with Host Mac Davis and a WWE Hall of Famer? You get an episode packed with behind-the-scenes stories, professional wisdom, and a deep dive into wrestling’s most iconic moments. Join us on Road Trip After Hours as we welcome Brian Hebner, a distinguished referee who has made his mark in WWE, TNA, and AEW. Alongside our co-host, the ever-entertaining Teddy Long, Brian opens up about his journey in the wrestling world, the invaluable lessons from his father Earl Hebner, and the sacrifices involved in upholding a family legacy. This conversation is as much about the human side of wrestling as it is about the industry itself.
Listeners will be treated to an engaging chat that relives some of wrestling’s most pivotal moments, including the unforgettable tension of the Hogan vs. Vince match at WrestleMania. We also discuss the emotional bonds formed within the wrestling community and the contrasting experiences Brian had in TNA compared to WWE and NWA. Teddy and Brian share their candid thoughts on the importance of maintaining the integrity of wrestling traditions, all while offering humorous anecdotes that capture the essence of life both in and outside the ring.
Ever wondered what really goes on with AEW referees? We tackle the critical issues head-on, stressing the need for stronger leadership and proper officiating standards. Through comparisons with WWE's disciplined environment, we highlight the urgency of clear roles and accountability in maintaining the sport's essence. Wrapping up, we uncover the humorous side of podcasting, from breaking kayfabe to amusing fan interactions. This episode promises a blend of insight, humor, and heartfelt appreciation for the wrestling world. Don’t miss this deep dive into the stories and experiences that shape the heart of professional wrestling.
Hey, all this is WWE Superstar Sammy Zayn, Selena Vega here, yours truly, the half-man, half-amazing, montel Vontavious, porter, mvp.
Speaker 3:
You're listening to Road Trip After Hours with Mac Davis and Hall of Famer, teddy Locke, with a certified G and a bona fide stud. And I'm not even talking about me, I'm talking about Teddy Locke and my man, mac Davis. How you guys doing. Enjoy the show, guys.
Speaker 1:
Hello again, everybody, and welcome to Road Trip After Hours. I'm your host, Mac Davis, along with my WWE Hall of Famer co-host, Mr Teddy Long. Hey, Teddy, how you doing.
Speaker 2:
They already know who we are. You tell them this each and every week. They already know who we are. Why are you being such a repeat?
Speaker 1:
Let's get on to the guest. Let's see what I go through all the time. I'm glad we have a guest today because I get to talk to somebody else that might be a little more talkative.
Speaker 2:
He's a little more talkative. He's a little more talkative, all right. I see that right now.
Speaker 1:
Teddy who is our guest today. Is this somebody you know very?
Speaker 2:
well, oh yeah, man, Young man that I watched grow up, man, I had the opportunity. When I first broke into the wrestling business with the NWA, National Wrestling Alliance. I was refereeing and me and his dad hooked up Earl Hebner and I learned so much from Earl and back in the day I never will forget. Man, Earl had this big old school bus and that's what it was. That's what they used to haul a ring on was a school bus. And we have very little money and we just put our monies together and we stopped at a store and buy like 50 cent worth of sauce, meat and a loaf of bread and that was our lunch man and we just kept on rolling.
Speaker 2:
So you know, I went through the struggles there with Earl and I thought he taught me a lot. I learned a lot and long come his son, brian Hebner, who's going to be our guest today, and had a chance, like I said, to watch Brian grow all the way up and become another successful official in the wrestling business. So I ain't going to just talk too much. We're going to get into him and let him tell his own story.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, he is, of course, as Teddy just mentioned, Mr Brian Hebner from WWE, TNA, even a stint in AEW at one time, if I'm not mistaken, and of course, you also got your own podcast, Brian Hebner. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:
Thank you guys very much. It's always an honor and a privilege to be anywhere where Teddy Long is. Thank you, hey. I woke up this morning, I swear to you and I said this could be a great day because I get to talk and see Teddy long today and I mean it, I mean it, yeah.
Speaker 1:
So it's always good to have Teddy around, because he's good for a laugh for sure, and I and, and Teddy I'm looking at Brian right now, and you know how I feel about referees. I've said this many times on this show. For me, the interviews I enjoy the most are with the referees, and there's a reason for that. You guys get to see everything, I don't. It's kind of like a little spy camera everywhere, because you see more than most people in that locker room and what happens behind the scenes. Was that something that you have a hard time with now, since you're not in WWE Hiding some of those secrets that were still there?
Speaker 3:
I mean the thing is being old school around old school. Teddy Long, my dad, nick Patrick. I learned very quickly because these guys embraced me which I was blessed to have been embraced by taught me that basically, you don't see anything. You see it but you don't see it. You know what I mean and that was a very important thing for a young guy like me to learn.
Speaker 3:
Teddy Long also taught me things like shut your mouth, learn when to talk and when not to, and nine times out of ten the not talking was the bigger portion of what we learned, or what I learned from my veterans. And it's so true and I always go back to when I talk to young referees or I'm training referees, I always go back to Teddy and and I always tell them this because it's very important, because when you're young, dumb and full of all that other stuff, um, it's so easy to run your mouth because you're immature, you don't get it and it's only one word you can say that just completely can destroy your career. So it's better to not say things than it is to say things.
Speaker 1:
You know, being from the family, you got your father, earl Hebner, who's been a guest on the show we just ran a show, actually just just last week, reminding people about that interview and you grew up in a family where this is business, this is the family business. Are there people behind you right now? I know you've got a sister or stepsister maybe, or something that's also doing some officiating somewhere. Is that right?
Speaker 3:
Well, yeah, I got my stepsister Katie. I don't know where she's at in her career in the wrestling world. I'm just being honest. I know that she had made several attempts to be a referee and a worker and all that stuff and I don't know where she's at right now with that. But I do have a son. His name is Trevor and he's in college. He's playing baseball at Mary Baldwin Very athletic kid.
Speaker 3:
He's a much bigger guy than I am, but A very athletic kid. He's a much bigger guy than I am. But he kind of feels like he wants to do it and I'm kind of thinking like he shouldn't do it because you know, I just know how much stuff I missed. Now don't get me wrong. I love this business with all my heart. It's given me everything in life, including my children. But it's just something that I think that if he can get an education first, finish his college and figure out if it's something that he really wants to do when he starts seeing that green that he's making, if it's worth what me and Teddy and my dad and all of us had to go through to make the money we made. Because you know, if you could just take me and transplant me in a ring and let me do my thing. I'd still be doing it.
Speaker 1:
Oh yeah, yeah yeah, I'm surprised you're not doing it. That's going to be one of my questions. Why are you not full-time somewhere right now?
Speaker 3:
Honestly, man it's my, my choice. Um, no one forced me out, um. Actually, when I went to the powers that be, they didn't believe me. They said I was lying. And I said I'm not lying. Um, I gave him the date of when I wanted to finish up through my contract, which was bound for glory. Um. He said, uh, could he do, could I do some additional ones? And I said I'll do what you need me to do before I leave. But I am leaving, um, and the reasons for me leaving had nothing to do with anything about wrestling itself. It had everything to do with my family. Um, I became um. What's the word? I guess ultra mature. What's the word? I guess ultra mature.
Speaker 3:
And I know what I did to my son, and by that what I mean is missing birthdays and missing Christmas and missing his ball games. And I could see the hurt in his face. You know, as as as he grew up. But he kind of understood because he was a boy and he was like that's my dad, he's doing this cool shit. Look, he's on TV, guys, you know he's main event in WrestleMania Yada, yada, yada. My girls didn't get it like that. They didn't get it. They didn't understand. Dad, you just came home. Why are you leaving? You're going to miss our softball game. You're going to miss this and I'm telling you when you see girls cry to you and they're your daughters.
Speaker 1:
I'm about to ask you to be honest. Listening to you right now, it sounds like that's still something you carry a burden with a little bit, and a lot of guys in the business go through this because the only way to be successful is to be away from your family. At least at the time that you were, especially in wrestling, you had to be on the road, yep.
Speaker 3:
Yep, but I just you know, to me it's not all about money all the time, and I was fortunate enough to do what my father told me to do is save all my pay-per-view checks. I never cashed one of them, things in, I lived off the money I was making, just my regular pay, which was plenty. Don't get me wrong. I was treated very fairly and sometimes felt overpaid, but I'm just fortunate I can walk away because a lot of people can't, and I'm in great shape, I'm not hurt and banged up over it. I can walk around and get up with no problems. And I look at my dad and no disrespect to him, he's a warrior, he's a warrior he is.
Speaker 3:
I don't want to be like that. I don't want to be like that. I don't want to be going to these conventions chasing money and chasing stuff like that. I don't want to. I want to be there. I'm going to be there probably an hour before the game starts, just so I can, just so I can get playing at somewhere where I can see everything. You know what I mean. And he loves that. He looks over and sees his dad and that means the world to that kid, so, and it means the world to me, and that's simply what happened. I just decided it was time. I've done everything. I've worked for every promotion major in us. I've done it, all you know. So that's just how I felt.
Speaker 2:
Teddy, you want to hop in here well, I was just listening to brian and there's a whole lot of truth to uh what he's saying there. Man, you know you got to be able to let this go and uh be able to walk away. And a lot of guys are not able to do that. You know they get caught up in it. But by you know people recognizing them from tv well, once they go off TV, see, they miss that. So and they let that get to them.
Speaker 3:
You got to understand that everything.
Speaker 2:
Nothing is secure. Nothing is forever. Summer changes the winter. It's just that simple. So you got to understand that one day this life is going to be over. You got to step away, so be prepared when you step away. Like I said, it don't bother me. I never called WWE, tna, nobody for a job, because I don't care. I don't want no job. I'm enjoying the rest of my life. I'm so glad that God has kept me alive. I've been there, I've done that. I've made it to the Hall of Fame. The only other place I could go is I'd have to learn how to wrestle and become world champion.
Speaker 2:
I don't have any interest on doing that?
Speaker 1:
All right, now let me ask you this. Vince was somebody you worked with quite a bit in his matches. In fact, it seemed almost as if you were the hand-chosen one for every one of his matches that he would have in the ring. How much pressure were you under being that official for that match with Vince Um? You're kind of young still in the business at that point, yeah.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I was very, very young, um, I felt like I was very green, um, and uh, to put it this way, I was young and I didn't have that pressure. I had nothing could hurt me, nothing could do anything, so I wasn't scared. The biggest scare I got was with the Hogan Vince matched because I was there a week before, had papers, this stick to go over, I was studying, I was in the green room. Um, it was not just your regular match, it was beyond that, and it was WrestleMania, and it was the first time ever we had a vince hogan match. So, yes, the butthole was puckered and um, the stress and um age got to me there. That's where it was like, okay, you young buck, you think you know everything, you think that you can't get hurt. You think, oh well, it all set in that day.
Speaker 1:
Uh, as the, as the hours became ticking down, it was just like holy shit were there any bumps during the match that we don't know about, that actually happened or something that went off script?
Speaker 3:
Well, the only thing that went bad. That made me look bad. Uh thanks, vince. Um, we, we went over it. We went over it. I had to take a bump and he was going to pick me up and he was going to throw me over the top rope. So I'm prepared to go over the top. He even said you sure you can take this bump. I said you just put your hand in the back of my head and just push me that way and I'll take the best bump you've ever seen in your life. I'm prepared. We even went over it, shane. You know how sick Shane is. Shane was like you want to practice and I'm like I don't.
Speaker 3:
Salacious bump in the green room. Vets loved it, started clapping and everything was clear. Well, when it happened, he picks me up, I'm ready to go over the top and he forces me through the middle. So I take this stupid bump and never make it out and come back in. Then he picks me up and then I go out the middle. That wasn't on me. It looked bad for me but it wasn't on me. I was ready to take this sick-ass bump. Man, like seriously, I was going to just slip in the air and just, I mean I was, it was going to be sick, but it didn't happen, but it was cool.
Speaker 1:
You moved over to the TNA after your time. I mean, you know, your father and your uncle were let go by WWE and it seemed like within a year maybe, maybe less than that that you were there and you were kind of gone. You were faded away too, but you came back and TNA seemed to be your home. You know, we were just talking to Matt Cardona on our last episode and I had mentioned to him that I knew him more as Matt Cardona than I ever did as Zack Ryder, just from what he has done. And honestly, I didn't really know you until you got to TNA, even though you did those big matches in WWE Hogan and Vince. I didn't really know who you were until you got to TNA and I don't know if it was because it was a better environment or what it was, but I swear you looked like you were having fun.
Speaker 3:
That was the best time of my life ever. That's why I also chose to retire from tna, that being my my last stop. I was in the nwa prior and I was on a multi-contract when ring of honor was still there. I was working both ring of honor and nwa, which is very unique and um I wanted. During covid I wanted to get on my contract and go back to tna and have my last run. Didn't know how long, I just knew I was going to finish up there.
Speaker 3:
Billy Corgan wouldn't let me out of my deal at NWA and I had to finish that deal out before I could get back with TNA. And I was scared that that was going to ruin me coming back because it was going to be about a year and he offered them some ridiculous amount of money that he wasn't paying me for them to buy out of my contract. And I was negotiating with uh, dilo brown and dilo had said look, just hang tight, I got you dog. Just let this thing ride out, do your thing and I promise you you'll have a spot. And I just had to believe him, you know. So I finished my dates with nwa and went over to tna and um. That was my second term with tna. That first one, though, was the one that was the, the best, the best, and this last one was awesome too. I I felt sad to leave man.
Speaker 3:
Um, I don't know if you saw the footage, but uh, yeah, they tricked me all day. They flew me in, and I was there all day that we had matches like for three shows. It was like bunches of matches. I had one match, and I'm like what's going on here? I was like I can do more, guys tell me. So they had me pegged in for the main event. Well, kazarian and um motor city machine gun. Uh, sorry, I can't think of his name, right, this second, but anyway, um, they wanted me to do that match. They wanted me to do that match, and frankie was not even in tna. I was a full-time. He was with uh aw, yes, he, he wanted that to be where he won the title, and he wanted me to be the one that hit the 1-2-3 for him, and it meant the world to me. And then everybody cleared out of the locker room and came out of the ring, and I cried like a little bitch, and it was crazy, man. But yes, tna is the place I loved, and that's where my heart is honestly.
Speaker 1:
All it is honestly all right. I gotta ask you about this because I did see something, uh, that hit the the dirt sheets when you had made a comment about samantha irving and her announcing. Yes, now explain for those who have not heard what is your opinion, from your viewpoint, about samantha irving and her announcing? I have?
Speaker 3:
no problem with her. That's where everybody took it wrong. I have no problem with her. I think she's a wonderful lady and everybody I've talked to she's a great human being. That wasn't what I was saying. What I was saying is I didn't like her style of announcing. That's all I'm saying. I'm old school, she's new school. I don't get this over the top yelling. When you're trying to say someone's name, she's gifted at what she does. If that's what you like, I personally don't like it. I wanted to voice my opinion and caught holy shit for it. Well, you know what. I have an opinion and I'll continue to give my opinion. And don't give two shucks. Sorry, teddy, I know you love that I.
Speaker 1:
I kind of understood that too. When I saw it I was like you know, because people made it personal uh, smart people got it.
Speaker 3:
It was the dumb idiot trolls that didn't get it. Who they can just go sit on an egg and let it hatch, and those are usually the ones you see on Twitter, and I'm sorry, but that's just the truth.
Speaker 1:
Those who comment down below more times than not are the ones that are just looking to kind of get themselves over in the comment section. So I mean, yeah, I was surprised when I saw him go after you that way, because I knew what you meant, but I saw that you took a lot of heat and it just really I thought was unnecessary. Let me ask you just a couple more things real quick before we run out of time, because I'm actually running a little bit behind already. Did you during a match, whether it was in WWE or TNA, did you ever break kayfabe, where you just broke down laughing in the ring? Something happens that you just had to break character.
Speaker 3:
Have you ever worked with Tony Chimel?
Speaker 1:
No, I haven't. What kind of things happen with you and Tony?
Speaker 3:
It wouldn't be. It was the boys that would do stuff. And I'm in the ring and we're doing TV, and they're un untying his shoes, and if the list goes on, it's. It's so many things that. But yes, I have broke K Fabian, I've actually had to remove myself out of the hard camera into a safe corner. Teddy Long was one of those guys that taught me what the lights were. I knew where the lights were at and I knew where to go to where it was safe. And I would get in that corner and pop. Yes, I would 100.
Speaker 1:
Look, I know being on the road as much as you were, you got to have some road stories, you got to have something.
Speaker 3:
I do. Where do you?
Speaker 1:
want me to go? Take it anywhere. You want to go, brother Wide open.
Speaker 3:
Well, I think one of the funniest ones that I could think of was that me and a couple of boys, we went to a bar what a shock, right, teddy? A bar, and we had this fan who just basically, was shitting all over what we did. Um, I was controlling the boys, believe it or not. I was at mature level and it was me that was saying guys, don't worry about it. And I had some tough guys with me I don't want to mention because I don't know if they want to be in the store or not, but and I'm not like that, I don't you know, do that. Um, but I got this now and I said to the fan I said what do you think of wrestling? He said I think it's a. I think it's a bunch of shit and it's fake. I I said you think it's fake? He said yeah, and I said tell me why you think it's fake. Well, they have trampolines they land on. I mean, this is how ignorant this guy was. They got trampolines, they land on, they hit their leg, they do this, they do that. I said all right, well, I'll tell you what. Let me show you how fake it is. Are you cool with that? And he's like yeah, man. I mean yeah. I said so I'm going to be fake and I'm going to tell you right now and you could do what I do back to you and I'm gonna let you do it.
Speaker 3:
First I said cause we're just faking here, right? And he's like yeah. I said okay. I said pull my shirt up and I said go ahead and chop me, chop me. So he rears back and he chops me the worst, weakest, cheap, like pop. It was terrible, didn't hurt, it was nothing, nothing. I said okay. So now we're aware this is fake. And he's like oh yeah. So I went and grabbed one of my buddies who knows how to chop very well, he walks over there and raises his shirt up and chops the living shit out of him. That bar, they cut the music in there, they did everything, this guy. This guy said to all of us he's sorry, wrestling is the real deal and you have just taught me a valuable lesson. I either stop drinking or stop calling your business fake. How about both, buddy? Very good, it's just, that's a fun one. You, you know what I mean. I don't you know.
Speaker 1:
Those are a lot of good ones. Your podcast you have a partner that has already been on this podcast ahead of you and that we'll talk about in just a minute, but tell us about your podcast. When you started this podcast Now, because, Brian, were you initially by yourself on this podcast? Was this a solo podcast? Okay, how far back does this podcast go?
Speaker 3:
My podcast is now a little over two years old and a guy named RJ, who's my co-host, called or DMed me on Twitter. I ignored him for almost like eight months, but he kept coming hard at me, coming hard, and I finally responded to him and he pitched the idea about doing a podcast with me. And so that's what we did. We started like that and it was terrible. It was terrible. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know how to talk on a forum like this. Um, it was terrible.
Speaker 3:
But we got really good, we got really better and started you know getting a, you know a pattern, a pattern together. And then one day, um, I thought to myself you what? I'm more the new school still, at this point I wanted to mix in an old bag of an old school guy and I immediately thought about Jimmy Cordero's, and I added Jimmy about a year ago, because now it doesn't matter how old or young our guests are, we can cover them with some knowledge. So we've had old guests on there, like you know, a bunch, a bunch of just guys I'd never worked with, never worked with at all, and Jimmy had. Jimmy had been in the Fed when these guys were working. So it just works out for us. With Wrapping it Up, it just works out where Jimmy and me can kind of go off each other with whoever the guest is, like Teddy Long. We both got to work with him, ted, so. So jimmy now has his stories, I've got my stories and we can all get together and it comes together.
Speaker 1:
so it just made more sense to have a three-man booth for me. Yeah, I, I enjoy the program. I know who rj is, I've known rj for a while as well and, uh, it is a fun podcast. It's interesting, I think I told you the other day too. I said, listening to you and jimmy, it's like good cop, bad cop. Jimmy's the good cop and you're the you're the mean, nasty bad cop when you got to be, because you're the one with the spit and fire that seems to come out. Are there times when jimmy actually loses his cool?
Speaker 3:
man, it's the funniest thing when he does. It's not often, but it is. He got so mad when Tony Khan said on air that referees don't matter, no one cares about referees. Jimmy lost his shit. He flipped, he flipped out, he started dropping F-bombs. Teddy, can you believe it? Wow, it got him hot. It got him hot.
Speaker 2:
Well, I don't blame him. Jimmy Cadarez has been with some of the greatest in this business and he knows, so how can you say something so disrespectful like that? I agree.
Speaker 1:
And Brian, you led me right into something I wanted to ask you about, too Today's working with the referees and the ring, and especially the work of them in aew. Uh, that has to be a little frustrating for you, because you're a little more old school when it comes to the officiating of a match and certain things that do or shouldn't happen. Uh, in aew, so free. You were there for a brief time, was it? It because you just didn't gel, or what was the deal?
Speaker 3:
Well, all right, so that's a two-parter there.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I'm sorry, yes.
Speaker 3:
Well, the thing is with the referees over there, okay, and I'm not talking about every one of them, and I don't care what people think what I say, and if they don't like it they don't have to listen. It's just that simple. They're there for themselves, they think they're stars, they think that they're bigger than the boys, and that's a huge problem, and that's a that's a huge problem. You're going to have these referees that work for AEW will never work anywhere else. That's out there. If they lose their job, none of them because they've got it too far wrong.
Speaker 3:
No one is paying a ticket to see them no one. And if they are, they're an idiot. Yes, and the only time anyone's ever came to see me with a ticket is when I gave it to them for free. Okay, no one's ever paid to see me referee. So the biggest thing I have with that is that there's no one to reel these guys in and girls in. There's no one to answer to in the back so they can act like idiots. And when I say that, I mean it. I got, we got one referee that sells everything more than the boys just dancing and prancing around. It's it's, it's comical, but it's stupid and it doesn't need to be there. They have tag matches that mean nothing because they don't enforce the rules. You got guys that are fighting outside for 20 minutes of the show and the match inside of it, where you get paid, where people want to see you, it's in the ring for three minutes.
Speaker 1:
you know, it's just frustrating and it's no, and I understand that, because teddy and I, uh, teddy won't watch it, I do watch it. Uh, I say I watch it.
Speaker 1:
I don't blame you, I don't blame him uh, but it really to me it's scattered, uh, without the rules and officiating be what it should be. How does a heel and teddy, oh yeah, let me, because he'll say there's no heels anymore, there's no faces anymore. But I still want good guys and bad guys. I want to know who's good and who's bad and who needs to get their ass whipped. And their programs is pretty much hey guys, we got a great lineup of matches for you tonight, watch, and that's pretty much all you get. The referees do not matter and they stand out way too much. You're absolutely correct, and they got other problems. They need people. That well, they got people. Teddy has said this before. There are plenty of people backstage that know better. It's just somebody is not listening to the advice that they could be getting from these guys in the back who know. Hey Baca, honestly.
Speaker 2:
We're not giving them any advice. Okay, they're just doing like the old school, like they've been doing for 50 years. Hey, good job, guy, good job, that's great out there tonight.
Speaker 3:
You know what I mean. So yeah, that's what they're doing, man All they're doing is to get a paycheck.
Speaker 3:
And that's the thing, teddy Mac, here it is. It's people that are lucky to have a job, it's people that are getting paid way more than they deserve and they're going to agree to say whatever Tony says, and that's what it's going to be. No one's going to buck this man. No one's going to buck him no one. So if you're a referee and you're trying to be a star, if Tony doesn't think it matters, why are they going to change? True? Why are they going to change true? Why are they going to change? If I, if he hired me right now and said you're in charge of all the referees, they would probably quit. They'd probably quit, and I'll be dead.
Speaker 1:
I'll be a dead serious but but I agree it needs to happen.
Speaker 2:
They would need to quit. If they didn't want to do it right then let them go then don't. Don't even give them a chance to quit, fine yep, exactly, yep, exactly.
Speaker 1:
Man, what is that? A 20 count on the outside if they go outside, or something like that. Hey.
Speaker 3:
Teddy, when we were messed up and we had to go backstage and we knew we messed up, how did that make you feel, Teddy?
Speaker 2:
Made me feel pretty bad because I know the man was waiting on me.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. I was told one time Brian, when you're done, come see Vince in my earpiece. Okay, that's the kind of stuff we had to deal with. That's what we had to deal with ramifications for not doing a job correctly.
Speaker 3:
And if you've done something real bad as soon as you hit that curtain, Vince was standing up. He's waiting on you. Yeah, With them, glasses slammed down to the table. Yeah, I mean, but I don't think it has to be quite to the extreme. But my point being there should be. I don't have a problem with that either.
Speaker 2:
Me neither, brian. You know what. I don't care about that. You know. Vince made a man out of me. He did the right thing. He never got on me but a couple times, but that was all I needed because I understood exactly what he wanted and who he was. So by him getting on me didn't bother me whatsoever, and let me know. Oh okay, I got to spray my ass up here. This ain't no, nothing to play with, right so he helped me out.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, sir and there and teddy, there's a difference between teaching and learning and listening, which is not happening, that's not happening. No, I mean some of them don't even know how to work the hard camera.
Speaker 1:
Still Right, I mean it's just Teddy had that problem just recently.
Speaker 2:
And you learned that from back in the day and then we'll forget. Jj Dillon told me one time this was straight out his mouth Keep your ass out of that hard camera Now.
Speaker 3:
Keep your ass out of that hard cap.
Speaker 2:
Yes, sir, I learned that back in the 80s with NWA.
Speaker 1:
Well, brian, I know we're out of time and plus you've got to get to a baseball game, so I'm going to let you get out of here.
Speaker 2:
Oh, so now you want to relax, like now you care about Brian getting to his baseball game. I live here.
Speaker 1:
I can keep talking. Trust me, I've got plenty of questions for you, but we can save those for another time. Tell us again how everybody finds your podcast. Where can we find you?
Speaker 3:
Well, you can find my podcast on all podcast platforms. Sorry, easy for you to say no, no, there's a double one there. But yes, it's called reffing it up with Brian Hebner and of course we do have, uh, jimmy Cordera's on there. My co-host, rj, and we drop. Usually sometimes it switches because of the talent, but it usually drops every Wednesday at 9 o'clock. It's a fun, happy listen. We don't get in the dirt, we don't do any of that stuff. We want to have fun, we want our guests to have fun and I'm having a blast with it. And you can also catch me on Instagram and Twitter at Baby Hebner. So make that very simple too. If you're a troll or you want to mess with me on it, I suggest you don't do that, cause I do fire back and I don't give a shit what I say, so watch it.
Speaker 1:
That should get you more, more comments. Just from saying that, they'll come after you right now.
Speaker 3:
Hey, man, I have tough skin, man, I have tough skin.
Speaker 1:
All right, Teddy, we got to get out of here Anything you want to say before we go.
Speaker 2:
Oh, man, I just want to thank you know, before we go, I just want to thank Brian for taking the time to come on with us. Man, this I thought was a great show. A lot of knowledge was explored here today, and so, once again, brian, thank you so much, man.
Speaker 3:
And don't forget anytime me and Matt can here. Man, I couldn't wait, and when Matt reached out to me, it was a yes, right away.
Speaker 1:
Right or wrong, it was immediately which is nice and I appreciate that very much. Like I said, the referees have always been good, especially for this show, because of the stories and the views that you have. Let's face it how many stories are you going to hear from the wrestlers that all, basically, are the same and they're telling it from a wrestler's perspective? To get it from an official is completely different. You're hearing stories you might not ever hear again, so make sure you go to his podcast, listen to him, listen to the interviews they do. It is a fantastic show, brian. It really is Well.
Speaker 3:
Thank you guys very much. I really do appreciate it, and if y'all ever want to jump on mine, I'd love to have you on. I know you weren't that long, teddy, but we could do it once a month. I don't care, no, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2:
We'll work right on that, man Don't worry.
Speaker 3:
All right. Well, I love you guys, man. Thank you very much, all right.
Speaker 1:
And thank you very much, along with WWE Hall of Famer, Mr Teddy Long and our special guest, Mr Brian Hebner. We'll see you again next week.