WWE has confirmed that long-time referee, Tim White, has passed away. Tim was best known as working with Andre The Giant as his “handler or assistant” and refereeing some of the biggest matches in WWE history. He had many amazing Andre The Giant stories that can be found online.
He was forced to retire after an injury suffered while working a match at Judgment Day 2002, where Chris Jericho wrestled Triple H inside Hell in a Cell. Tim was knocked from the apron into the cell, tearing up his shoulder in the process. White returned to referee a match between Chris Jericho & Christian at WrestleMania 20, but injured his shoulder again while counting the final 3. He wouldn’t referee in WWE again.
After his referee career came to an end, Tim was a part of many comedy ‘skits’ on WWE television where he would repeatedly ‘attempt suicide’, but always fail and try again the next week. WWE dubbed this series “Lunchtime Suicide” as it was a weekly WWE.com segment that would be uploaded at around “lunchtime” for most people. Detractors of WWE found this storyline to be tasteless.
Tim White was also the owner of The Friendly Tap in Cumberland, Rhode Island. WWE utilized Tim’s bar in numerous skits over the years, including a bar room brawl that featured The APA (Bradshaw and Farooq).
He was with WWE until 2009 working in a backstage capacity.
Before posting WWE’s statement, we here at PWP Nation send our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Tim White.
Official statement from WWE:
“WWE is saddened to learn that long-time referee Tim White has passed away.
For more than two decades, Tim White was a dedicated WWE referee and official. White began his illustrious career in 1985 working with Andre the Giant and as a part-time referee.
During his tenure, he was the referee for some of WWE’s biggest matches, including the infamous Hell in a Cell Match between Undertaker and Mankind at King of the Ring 1998.
A shoulder injury effectively ended White’s in-ring career, but White still remained a major part of WWE working behind the scenes as an official and talent agent until 2009.
WWE extends its condolences to White’s family, friends and fans.”