Dave Hebner, a famed former WWE referee, has passed away at the age of 73, his family announced in their podcast Refin’ It Up w/ Brian Hebner.

Brian, the son of Dave’s twin brother, Earl, announced the 73-year-old’s demise, writing on Twitter, “RIP Dave Hebner. Gone but never forgotten. Always loved.”

Having joined the wrestling industry as a professional referee in the 1970s, Hebner began working with what was then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the precursor of today’s WWE, where he refereed several historic matches.

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Among the famous matches Hebner refereed was the clash between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the match between Savage and Hulk Hogan a couple of years later at WrestleMania V.

However, the most famous match refereed by Hebner was the one between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan on February 5, 1988. The clash for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship ended in controversy after Ted DiBiase locked Hebner in a closet and the ref’s twin brother, Earl, replaced him in the ring, granting an easy victory to Andre the Giant despite Hogan having his shoulder up when pinned.

Earl’s controversial entry to the WWF, however, marked the start of a successful career that saw him work as a referee with WWE, TNA, and AEW.

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Dave, meanwhile, continued to work as a referee for the WWF, and eventually, the WWE, till a knee replacement surgery forced him out of work.

After the surgery, Hebner worked as a road agent for the WWE until 2005, when we has released from contract.

Hebner went on to work for TNA subsequently, but gradually dropped out of refereeing after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.