WrestleMania 27's Unsung Hero: Scott Armstrong's Refereeing Performance

A day removed from WrestleMania XXVII, the reception for the show was decidedly mixed. Some loved it, others hated it. Some thought it was disappointing, others thought it far exceeded mild expectations.

Despite the many differing opinions coming out of last night's "Showcase of the Immortals," the WWE fans seem to be in agreement in regards to one match: The Undertaker and Triple H not only stole the show, but had one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history.

Both men, veterans of WrestleMania, crafted a story that many will remember for years to come. And while Triple H and Undertaker will undoubtedly, and deservedly so, reap the rewards from such a classic encounter, one man helped in achieving the drama needed for the match to be successful. He, too, is a veteran of the squared circle and enjoyed his WrestleMania moment.

The son of newly-inducted Hall of Famer "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, Scott Armstrong and his brothers Brad, Steve and Brian enjoyed long careers as professional wrestlers. Brian would go on to star in the Attitude Era of World Wrestling Entertainment as one half of the New Age Outlaws under the name "Road Dogg" Jesse James. Brad was a criminally-underrated technician during his days in WCW and, unfortunately, was often saddled with ridiculous gimmicks. Despite his obvious talents, he was rarely given the opportunity to succeed.

Scott and Steve Armstrong spent the majority of their careers as enhancement talent for the stars on WCW. Often found on the WCW Saturday Night program, Scott and Steve displayed great technical abilities but had little opportunity to showcase their personalities. As a result, they were often beaten soundly by such illustrious talent as Shark, Zodiac, Loch Ness and whatever low-level New World Order star that was relegated to the C-level program.

When WWE purchased Ted Turner's WCW, and Armstrong wrapped up his career as an active wrestler, he found employment with Vince McMahon's company as a referee. He began his officiating career on the fledgling ECW brand and, not long after, was named the brand's senior official.

He would go on to graduate to the SmackDown brand, once again achieving the title of senior official. Unfortunately for Scott, he would be released from his WWE contract in 2010.

Elimination Chamber 2011, the February pay-per-view on the road to WrestleMania, would see Armstrong once again take his place as a referee for a WWE match. Rehired by the company, coincidentally at the same time plans to induct his father into the Hall of Fame became public, Scott officiated the Raw brand's Elimination Chamber match, the main event of the broadcast.

At WrestleMania XXVII, Scott Armstrong was trusted with the task of officiating the most prestigious match on the card. While it was for neither the WWE or World Heavyweight Championships, The Undertaker vs. Triple H was arguably the most anticipated match of the entire event. The match proved to be every bit as dramatic, exciting and excellent as expected. Each man floored the other with high-impact finishers, and Armstrong proceeded over the action every step of the way.

When Triple H executed a Pedigree or Undertaker flattened "The Game" with a Last Ride power bomb, Armstrong pounded the mat to count the fall. As the pin attempts came faster and more furiously, and the fans hung with every movement, Armstrong's hand became closer and closer to striking the mat for a three count. For those watching the event on pay-per-view, the camera caught just how close the official's hand came to the canvas.

Scott Armstrong is an unsung hero of the epic clash between the Undertaker and Triple H. As a former wrestler himself, he had an uncanny understanding of timing and match-pacing and was able to keep up with the performers as they performed several high-intensity spots. His ability to control his count yet make it fast enough to create a sense of excitement and uncertainty was as responsible for some of the more dramatic moments of the contest as either Undertaker and Triple H.

You may ask yourself why anyone would devote an entire article to a referee. How can a referee have an effect on the match when his only job is to keep track of time and to count the falls? The right referee, one with little ego and who is not affected by pressure situations, can make an ordinary match extraordinary. The cadence he uses on near falls can create an excitement in a match that did not exist previously. Exciting near falls are only exciting if a referee can keep up with the competitors performing them.

WrestleMania XXVII was a disappointing show for so many reasons. Yet, in the middle of the average and the mundane, The Undertaker and Triple H gave the WWE fans a performance. And Scott Armstrong, a journeyman wrestler and referee whose family is wrestling royalty, achieved his WrestleMania moment in a performance befitting not only the match he officiated, but also the stage on which it occurred.