Earl Hebner, who left Impact last month along with pretty much every other Impact referee, was interviewed by Sports Illustrated and talked about why he decided to leave:
“We thought the new company had it all worked out when they bought it, but they’ve been having financial problems. I feel like I’ve been paying them. It’s been pay cut after pay cut, so I asked for my release. Some of the wrestlers were only getting paid $100 a day. That’s a slap in the face to the wrestlers.
“My son, Brian, also wanted his release, and then they asked Brian Stiffler to be the senior ref. But the money he’d have made there would have been spent on expenses on the road, so he quit, too.
“I would love to go back to WWE and finish my life in this business right there. Vince McMahon was always good to me, and he gave me the opportunity to be who I am and what I am. I would love to go back and, if nothing else, do one more match to say thank you very much for what you’ve done for me.”
Full Card for NJPW The New Beginning In Osaka 2026
WWE: Triple H on Him Coming Up with Idea for Seth Rollins Knee Injury Angle & Keeping Rollins Work Injury Secret, Roxanne Perez Reportedly Receiving Praise Within WWE, Matt Cardona WWE Contract Update
Darby Allin on Him Being “Not A Fan Of Doing 100 Big Moves In A Match” & Not Wanting To Get Complacent with His AEW Career




