Rita Chatterton reveals how tragic incident led to her becoming a WWE referee (Exclusive)

Rita Chatterton worked as a WWE referee between 1984 and 1986. In an exclusive interview, the company's first female official disclosed personal details about why she got involved in the wrestling business.

Before Chatterton's refereeing career began, her brother passed away after an automobile accident. He always wanted to be a professional wrestler one day, so she decided to fulfill his dream by learning how to referee.

Chatterton told Sportskeeda Wrestling's Senior Editor Bill Apter that she only realized how much wrestling meant to her brother after he died:

"Many years ago, my brother was killed in an auto accident. Wrestling was his dream. I mean, this is exactly what he wanted to do. The day he was killed, I walked into his room, I found a notepad on his bed of all the wrestling schools he had called, people he had talked to, how much it was gonna cost him, how he was gonna pay for it, what he was gonna do. He had everything all listed," she said. [1:25 – 1:46]

Watch the video above to hear Rita Chatterton talk about her first conversation with former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in 1984.

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Rita Chatterton refused to give up on her dream

At first, Rita Chatterton had to delay her entry into the wrestling industry due to finances and her busy home life.

Once she earned enough money to train, Chatterton repeatedly contacted legendary wrestler Tony Altomare in the hopes of making her brother proud:

"I decided that day that I was going to do it for him. It took me a few years. I had to save some money. I was a single mom at the time, and I called Tony Altomare and I drove that man crazy. 'Nope, I'm not training referees. I'm not doing [it]. Nope.' He wouldn't train me, being a female. I called this man three or four times a week. I wasn't giving up," she said. [1:48 – 2:14]

Chatterton also trained under former WWE wrestlers Mario Mancini and Paul Roma in the early stages of her career. In March, Mancini spoke to Sportskeeda Wrestling about Chatterton's allegation against Vince McMahon.

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