Jon Silver

**Jon Silverman** (born April XX, XXXX)is a fictional American professional wrestling referee and a currently inactive professional wrestler. He is currently signed to the American Wrestling Federation (AWF), where he wrestled and referees under the name **Jon Silver** or simply **Jon "the Ref"**. He was the inaugural AWF Pan-American Champion.

Silver originally worked exclusively as a referee for the AWF, but became a part-time wrestler after breaking up a mid-match brawl with a wrestling maneuver. However, he was forced to step away from the ring by J.T. Masters after losing to Brian Halligan at *Midterm Mania*.

## Professional wrestling career

### **American Wrestling Federation/AWF**

> "*One would think you would train to be a wrestler in order to be a wrestler. Jon however, decided to be the referee for the matches, feeling that being a wrestler himself would give him greater knowledge of maintaining the rules. He isn’t particularly interested in things like titles so he doesn’t really fight. That is, unless someone cheats or starts bending the rules during a match. Once that occurs, Jon becomes judge, jury and executioner. You’d think that a guy like him wouldn’t be able to do much damage… you’d be wrong.*"
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#### **Debut and early feuds (2015–2017)**

Silver worked as a referee with the AWF Originals during their time running the independent circuit in Florida. He was the most consistent referee in the company until his TV debut on October 11, where he attacked Trevor Gruen after he disqualified him during his match with El Flying Diablo and Gruen lashed out at Silver. This led to Silver facing Gruen in a one-on-one match that same night, winning with a submission maneuver and establishing himself as a viable in-ring competitor. Silver became the first talent to work as both a referee and a wrestler in the AWF. On November 29 at *Midterm Mania*, Mr. McPatz named Silver the last-minute special referee of the AWF World Heavyweight Championship match between The Lexbot and champion James Duffy Esquire. When Duffy attempted to retain the title via disqualification, Silver refused to call for the bell. This allowed the Lexbot to make the comeback and win the championship.

On February 21, Silver appeared on the talk segment Duffy's Courthouse to answer for the events of the title match, but had Diablo as a witness to defend him. He also was on the receiving end of multiple ambushes by Gruen, leading to the first AWF tag team match on February 26 at *Capitol Hill*, with Silver and Diablo losing to Duffy and Gruen. Silver took place in the first Capitol Hill match that same night, advancing to the second round by eliminating Benjamin Cole but would be eliminated from the match entirely by the debuting Trash Man. On March 13, Silver refereed a tag team match with Cole and Trash Man where the latter got his team deliberately disqualified by using a foreign object. In retaliation, Silver attacked both Cole and Trash Man, putting the offender through a table. After repeated attacks on each other, Silver challenged The Trash Man to a no disqualification match at *Graduation*. On May 29 at *Graduation I*, Trash Man won the match via knockout after an *Empire Elbow* onto Silver's head covered by a trash can.

On June 12, Silver and Diablo reunited as a team to take part in the AWF Tag Team Tournament, losing to Gruen and Duffy in the qualifying round. On August 14, Silver became preoccupied with Angus, the latest terror to the AWF. Silver lost to Angus in his debut match that same night in a #1 contender's match. On October 16, Silver found an ally in Sean Maximus after helping him against the AWF Tag Team Champions, Ben the Unhinged and M.C. Jeff Patz. After repeated attacks by Deadbeat, Maximus and Silver faced Deadbeat in a match for the Tag Team Titles on November 27 at *Midterm Mania*, which they lost. Silver struggled in the lower card for several months, losing matches to the likes of Gruen and Angus on the road to the 2017 Capitol Hill match. On February 26 at *Capitol Hill*, Silver advanced to the second round by beating Sam Bates, but ultimately was eliminated by Duffy. Silver then entered a rivalry with Dr. Disaster, a hardcore specialist with an affinity for rule breaking. Silver traded victories with Doc, receiving unexpected aide from his old enemy The Trash Man.

#### **AWF Pan-American Champion (2017)**

On May 5, Silver was announced as one of the participants in the six-man ladder match to crown the first AWF Pan-American Champion, along with Flairs, Maximus, Bates, Gruen and Cole. On May 28 at *Graduation II*, Silver outlasted the other five competitors to become the inaugural AWF Pan-American Champion. On June 23, Silver was attacked by Gruen, who would be his first challenger. On July 30 at *Summer Breakdown*, Silver defeated Gruen in his first successful title defense. Later in the night, Silver attempted to help restore order during the main event, but was taken out by The Nightmare. On August 4, Silver brutally attacked the crooked referee who caused controversy in the main event. As Silver sought to find out which referees had been paid off by Flairs, Gruen qualified for a rematch for the Pan-American Championship. After repeated attacks by the Nightmare interfering in his investigation, Silver defeated him in a match on August 25. On October 1 at *School of Pain*, Silver defeated Gruen a second time in a submission match. That same night, Mr. McPatz named Silver the special referee for the steel cage main event match between Keegan Stone and Chris Pyle. During the match, Silver was deliberately knocked out by Stone and could not prevent him from using a key he smuggled in to escape the cage. On October 6, newly appointed general manager Flairs (now calling himself J.T. Masters) put Silver in a match against Dr. Disaster. Silver won, but was attacked by Doc after the match. The recently fired Brian Halligan came to his rescue, only to attack Silver immediately afterwards and reveal his loyalty to Masters and The Conspiracy. On October 27, Silver was put in a title match against Halligan, which he lost. On November 10, Masters granted Silver his rematch but added the stipulation that he would have to retire from the ring and become a full-time referee if he lost. On November 26 at *Midterm Mania*, Silver lost to Halligan after fighting off multiple crooked referees. During the main event of *Midterm Mania*, Silver joined several other AWF wrestlers to help The Lexbot defeat Angus and regain his AWF World Heavyweight Championship rematch.

#### **Full-time referee (2017–present)**

On December 22, Silver refereed a match between The Trash Man and Justice. After the match, Trash Man asked Silver to be the special referee for his No Holds Barred street fight match against Dr. Disaster. On January 12, Silver agreed to referee the match after saving Benjamin Cole from Disaster. On January 28 at *Grim Resolution*, Silver refereed the match between Trash Man and Disaster, calling for the bell after Trash Man hit Disaster with the *Hangman's Noose* on a table. During the show's main event, Silver was sent to the ring by James Duffy Esquire to count the pin after The Lexbot had to take out several crooked referees, allowing him to win back the AWF World Heavyweight Championship from Keegan Stone. On February 2, Silver was taken out with injury after Masters had him referee another Dr. Disaster match. Silver returned on May 4, coming to the aide of Sean Maximus, K-C-L33T and Trevor Gruen against The Conspiracy. On May 27 at *Graduation III*, Silver refereed a six-man tag team match where his new allies defeated Conspiracy flunkies Sam Bates, Benjamin Cole and Big Ty.

On June 29, with Masters deposed by Duffy, Silver announced his new elite team of disciplined referees known as Enforcers, naming himself their leader to help restore order to the AWF in the wake of The Conspiracy's defeat.

## Personal life

Silverman models his refereeing style after New Japan Pro Wrestling referee Red Shoes Unno, strongly against blindly allowing heels to get away with cheating.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Life DQ* / *Justice Lock* (Rear naked choke) – 2015–present
	+ *Hangman's Noose* (DDT, with theatrics) – 2015–present
* **Signature moves**
	+ Belly-to-belly suplex
	+ Double underhook floated over into a cross armbreaker
	+ Electric chair drop
	+ Forearm smash
	+ Frog splash
	+ Northern Lights suplex
	+ *Seeing Stripes* (Repeated shoot kicks to a kneeling opponent's chest followed by a roundhouse kick to the opponent's head)
	+ Sunset flip
	+ Swinging neckbreaker
	+ Running corner dropkick
* **Wrestlers managed**
	+ Sean Maximus
	+ El Flying Diablo
* **Nicknames**
	+ **"The Ref"**
	+ **"The Enforcer"**

* **Entrance themes**
	+ **"I Am The Law"** by Anthrax

## Championships and accomplishments

* **American Wrestling Federation**
	+ AWF Pan-American Championship (1 time, inaugural)