Longtime WWE referee Dave Hebner died on Friday.
He was 73.
A cause of death was not given, but Hebner had been battling a myriad of health issues across the past several years, according to multiple reports.
Hebner and his twin brother, Earl, were both well-known professional wrestling referees. Dave Hebner began working as a referee in the 1970s and moved to WWE in the 1980s. He and Earl were even part of a major angle in which Dave was revealed to be the “evil twin” of Earl and cost Hulk Hogan the heavyweight title. During that angle, Dave switched places with Earl after Ted DiBiase locked Earl in a closet. He then counted out Hogan in a match against Andre the Giant despite Hogan clearly having his shoulder up and not being pinned.
RIP Dave Hebner
"How can there be two Dave Hebners?" pic.twitter.com/GIdZPYXVvf
— On This Day in WWE (@OTD_in_WWE) June 17, 2022
He was released by the WWE in 2005 and later worked as a referee for TNA.
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Many wrestlers tweeted their condolences following his passing, including Triple H.
I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Hebner. My thoughts are with Earl and the entire Hebner family at this time. https://t.co/6eRJWMphWG
— Triple H (@TripleH) June 18, 2022
