With many notorious rulebreakers in Explosive Coastal Wrestling refereeing must be a difficult job. With the ECW Senior Referee out of action at AWAKENING, that unenviable task was left to rookie referees Simon Cage and Big Matty. Fortunately they were up to the task and performed sensationally under pressure. Since then a few of these rulebreakers have issued the referees with a warning to stay out of their way. We decided to see if these warnings had any affect on our referees. So we caught up with Simon Cage last week.

ECWPerth.com: Good Morning and thankyou for taking time out to answer our questions Mr. Cage.

Cage: Please just call me Simon, and it's no problem. This is a matter I'd really like to get out in the open. I'll speak mostly on behalf of ECW's referees today, but I'm gonna throw in a lot of my own opinions as well.

ECWPerth.com:AWAKENING was an exciting day. How did you deal with the pressure of keeping everyone in check?

Cage:Well it wasn't easy. All of the wrestlers were extremely hyped up and its hard to control all that energy. Matt and I just tried to follow the instructions of ECW's Senior Referee and always remain impartial. Once you lose your head it's very hard to calm down again so the secret is to not let the wrestlers get under your skin in the first place.

ECWPerth.com: That must be difficult in the ring when people try to push you around but what about when you read Davis Storm's threat to take out any official who gets in his way. What was your reaction and do you think action should be taken for making threats to officials?

Cage: What sort of reaction? Well its kinda hard to react anything but angrily when you have an insolent and arrogant fool like Storm making threats to you and friends that you work with. As far as taking action is concerned, I believe we've done enough so far by taking his title away. I think that the message has been sent loud and clear. We will not tolerate bullies. Our job is difficult enough without people trying to intimidate us.

ECWPerth.com: Fair enough. As a referee in ECW, how much power do you take to the ring? Where do you draw the line at having an impact on a wrestler who is getting out of control?

Cage: Good question. Firstly, the referees at ECW have the power to end a match when we see fit. To people who care about good clean competition that is enough to keep them in line. But then again, how many times have you seen a referee get smacked around in the ring by the wrestlers they are trying to control? How many times have you seen a referee overpower a wrestler single-handedly? How many times have you seen a referee have to get help from other referees to control a raged wrestler? I think you know the answers and to sum it up.....its not easy. We have power but then again we have no power. Know what I'm saying?

ECWPerth.com: Yes, I know exactly what your saying.

Cage: Don't get me wrong. Not all wrestlers are bullies and thugs. Many stiil care about the spirit of competition. But maybe it's time that some wrestlers got what is coming to them.

ECWPerth.com: So what your saying is that you'll use force?

Cage: My job doesn't allow me to go into the ring with that mindframe. What I'm saying is that I will now go in prepared. I'm the first referee that is actually as big as some of the wrestlers here in ECW. Sometimes I think I've got the wrong job. To the rulebreakers such as Storm I say this 'I'm changing the game'. Most referrees won't consider physically stopping a wrestler who attacks them. If he tries to take me out I will respond with force.Same goes for breaking the rules in a match, if they do that, then they might have to learn the hard way.

ECWPerth.com: What do the other wrestlers feel about the concept of a tough-man referee?

Cage: I only really have close contact with a few of the wrestlers on the roster, mainly Jimmy Payne, F'N Carnage, Vagrant and Psychofett. You can ask them about me and they will back me up 100% no questions asked.

ECWPerth.com: What about ECW's Senior Referee, your boss?

Cage: He's my boss so yeah of course I'd have to talk to him about if first. He doesn't get on too well with Storm, but then again, most people don't. Paul has given me his full support in defending myself in the ring, as long as I'm not going and looking for trouble with Storm.

ECWPerth.com: Ok, one final question before we have to leave. What impact will you have at Redemption? And will you be targeting any other rule breakers on the roster, or just Davis Storm?

Cage: Well now that's really two questions isn't it. To answer them, my impact at Redemption depends on the actions of the other wrestlers. My only job is to keep them in line, so you might as well ask me how long a piece of string is and I'd come up with a better answer. To answer your second question, back at Awakening I put up with a lot of crap from the roster. Richter, Mikey Whiplash and especially Davis Storm. I'll be keeping my eye on him all day and hope to God I actually get a chance to prove that I am a no nonsense referee. I also hope that the fans can appreciate how difficult our jobs is and cut us a bit of slack. Just know that we're trying our best.

ECWPerth.com: Thankyou for your time Cage.