Nick Patrick (referee) out Hebner to take over as referee during the "Winner Take All" elimination tag match. After he gave a normal "slow count" for The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin became enraged, knocked Patrick out, and brought Hebner back in as referee. After the Alliance angle ended, Patrick became an official WWF referee. At first he was a heel referee, refusing to count to three for face wrestlers as Steve Austin and Rock, and favoring wrestlers like Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. After Wrestlemania, Patrick started portraying a down-the-middle, neutral referee once again. After the brand extension, Patrick was used as
Referee (professional wrestling) weight and musculature of some of the larger wrestlers and to compensate for smaller stars. In recent years to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, WWE referees now keep a pair of latex medical gloves in their pockets. The gloves are put on whenever a wrestler is bleeding. Although professional wrestling is worked, real injuries can be sustained. In such an event, the referee raises his hands above his head into an "X" shape to alert backstage officials and paramedics, as well as any other wrestlers that what is going on is really happening. An "X" sign