More than 23 years ago, a 15-year-old freshman in high school found himself in Weirton, West Virginia with a bundle of nervous energy, as it was the first time that he stepped foot into a professional wrestling ring for an official match at an official event as a referee. Under the banner of an alphabet soup organization, he put down the count for a bout to decide what was dubbed the "Inner City Championship." That 15-year-old had no idea that the first three count that he put down would be the start of a journey that would shape the rest of his life. Between the stripes as an official, and eventually his boots as a wrestler, the sport took Bobby Piskor from his hometown in western, Pennsylvania zigzagging through several states, across the country to the west coast, and even around the globe to England.
It all started with that first three count on May 26, 2001. However, Piskor, affectionately known as "Potter" for his striking resemblance to the JK Rowling character, will hit the canvas for the final three count of his referee career on December 7th of this year, wrapping up his final in-ring participation after almost a quarter of a century.
"Being a referee you have the best seat in the house. As a long time wrestling fan, I absolutely love being so close to the action. Being a referee taught me so much. A good referee can really add to a match, and a bad referee can really take away from a great match. I really enjoyed being involved in the ring for as long as I have," Bobby explained.
Throughout the more than two decades that Piskor has been involved in the grappling arts, he shared the ring with countless national stars and a myriad of legends. Names like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Tracy Smothers, La Parka, Mistico, Chris Sabin, and Alex Shelley are just some of those that he had the chance to stand alongside between the ring ropes. Still, he found that jumping in for the dramatic pin fall attempt and several years as an active wrestler, especially over the course of such a long tenure in the industry, made his decision to step away from the ring a little easier.
"I have been refereeing for 23 years straight. My body is not the same as it was when I began in 2001. I have accomplished so many things and shared the ring with so many legends. I have nothing left to prove anymore. I am 38 years old. I do not see WWE or AEW in my future as a referee," Piskor remarked.
However, that doesn't mean that Bobby plans to wind down his pro wrestling career. In fact, Bobby's decision to retire the stripes has a lot to do with his duties already outside the ring. He's currently one of the head organizers behind-the-scenes at the International Wrestling Cartel, one of the most well-known and longest-running groups in the area. Originally founded by radio personality and grappler, Bubba The Bulldog in 2001 before it was promoted for several years under the direction of "Notorious" Norm Connors, who is regarded as the godfather of Pittsburgh independent wrestling, IWC brought a plethora of stars to the steel city over the years. Ownership would change at points in time, but Justin Plummer, who broke into the industry as a video host for the organization, has promoted the brand successful during the past decade.
Given his vast amount of knowledge and experience, Bobby was asked to join the management team in recent years, and his duties within the company also expanded when he became one of the head trainers at the Iron City Wrestling Academy school for aspiring hopefuls that wanted to pursue the sport. It was undoubtedly a hefty responsibility, but with his lofty passion for the industry, Bobby knew that it was another avenue to contribute to the business that had given so much to him.
"When I was first asked to be a part of the IWC creative team, I knew I would be disliked. Booking is a thankless job. But it also can be the most rewarding. Many times I have seen one of my ideas from paper turn into reality, and then go off better than expected. Not everything we plan is a slam dunk. I felt like my strong points were attention to detail. I love subtle Easter eggs that were planted early on," he said.
Aside from the increase in professional responsibilities outside of the ring, which include meetings to determine the direction of events, making sure everything runs smoothly during the course of those live events, and of course, the planning stages for the next presentation, Bobby had to take personal circumstances into account when he decided to downsize his pro wrestling check list.
Tragically, his brother Ed Piskor, critically-acclaimed comic book artist with a global fan following for his work in the traditional printed pages, as well as digital media online, including the extremely popularly Youtube show Cartoonist Kayfabe, passed away suddenly earlier this year at the age of just 41. Since he received the tragic news in early April that his brother passed away, Bobby has taken the time to prioritize his well being, including a focus on his mental health as a part of the healing process.
"This year has been a difficult year for my family and I. My brother unfortunately passed away at a young age of 41. It really took a toll on my mental health," Bobby explained.
Aside from taking the time to care for his own mental health, Piskor expanded his tool belt, taking up the craft of photography when he wasn't in the ring to officiate the action. Some of his candid photos of IWC events have been highlights on social media.
"For the last year or so I have been dabbling with photography. I will pop up here and there when I am around to take photos. I have always been creative, and It will give me another notch on my already full belt. I have been around pro wrestling for 25 years, so I'd like to think I know what I am looking at which gives me an edge," Piskor commented.
So, from that nervous 15-year-old in Weirton when he still wasn't old enough to drive, to the family man that is regarded as one of the most accomplished veterans of the Pittsburgh area as a member of the management team of one of the region's longest-running companies, Bobby Piskor will make the final three-count as an in-ring participant on December 7th in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. He won't be as close to the action or get the energy from the crowd quite as much since he will step away from the ring, but the closure of a chapter that he started more than 23 years ago will be just another chapter in his story of a lifetime in the pro wrestling business. Bobby will still be there with pen and paper in hand to organize from behind the curtain, and he will still be there catching the action shots with his camera.
"I'm not sure what it will be like to make the final three count. It will be emotional, to say the least," Bobby concluded.
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