Charles Robinson reveals how he helps wrestlers avoid mistakes in counts

The recent controversy over the visible error by referee Daphanie LaShaunn in the main event of SmackDown was widely criticized this weekend, but now it seems to have an explanation. Veteran referee Charles Robinson revealed the unwritten rule that obligates officials to intervene to prevent mistakes in the ring, confirming why errors like Daphanie's are so difficult to prevent.

Robinson explained that his role requires constant instruction to the wrestlers. He confessed that, in addition to counting out loud, he sends a verbal signal to the wrestler: "I'm counting out loud... And many times I tell them 'Raise your shoulder!' [kick out], when I'm close so they know they have to do it. This is necessary because wrestlers sometimes forget," he stated.

Charles also justified why referees hesitate to count to three when a wrestler doesn't move, despite public criticism. The reason, he explained, is a mental block: if the official knows that the submission is not the planned ending, their brain stops the count, mentioning the pressure of having to prioritize the script over the count in the ring.

Finally, Robinson mentioned the central dilemma of his profession, which boils down to two risky paths for the referee: "Either we count all the time, which would end many matches quickly due to mistakes. Or, when they don't get up, we simply try to fix it somehow," he concluded.