For some matches, a guest referee is assigned instead of a regular WWE official. The reasons for this, as well as the names chosen, vary, based on the match.
In January 2006, Trish Stratus was caught in the middle of an issue between Ashley and Mickie James, so she donned the stripes for their match at the Royal Rumble. Weeks later, Mick Foley refereed a WWE Championship Match on Raw between John Cena and Edge; in this case, Cena & Maria defeated Edge & Lita the week before, which gave Cena the right to choose the referee for the match. And at WrestleMania X, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Mr. Perfect were chosen to referee the WWE Championship matches. WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, Big John Studd and Shawn Michaels are also among those who have refereed a WWE match over the years. In an unusual situation, Kurt Angle for a time declared manager Daivari as his personal referee for all his matches.
It’s not always a WWE Superstar who gets chosen for the guest referee assignment, however; celebrities, athletes and even politicians have been involved in matches over the years. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was the ringside referee for the main event of the first WrestleMania; 13 years later, Mike Tyson was the outside enforcer for the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania XIV. At the 1994 Survivor Series, Chuck Norris was chosen as the outside official for the Casket Match between Undertaker and Yokozuna. And at SummerSlam 1999 in Minneapolis, former WWE Superstar and then-governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura was the official for the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship.