People can talk trash about wrestling being fake all they can want, but the bumps the wrestlers take during the matches is as legitimate as it can get. While the performers try most of the time to keep the action between themselves, sometimes the third person in the ring wearing stripes get caught in the action and takes some serious bumps.

While some of those are scripted bumps with minimum impact, some come out of the blue and take them out by surprise. With that said, let's take a look at ten of the most devastating referee bumps in WWE history.

RELATED: Referee Explains Why He Disqualified Seth Rollins At Hell In A Cell

10 10. Charles Robinson Runs Into Goldberg's Spear

Goldberg is the owner of one of the most devastating spears in pro-wrestling history. He has destroyed many of his opponents with the brutal maneuver, but he inadvertently struck an unsuspecting referee Charles Robinson on a June 2, 2003, episode of Raw.

Chris Jericho started to attack Booker T & Goldust with the Intercontinental title belt after he & Christian lost a tag team match against them. When Goldberg ran out to make the save, and Jericho used referee Charles Robinson as a shield to evade Goldberg's brutal spear.

Referee Robinson got literally broken in half after the devastating spear, and the EMTs had to stretcher him out backstage.

9 9. Triple H Pedigrees Earl Hebner On A Steel Chair

Earl Hebner's role as a referee is not just limited to officiating matches, but he also gets involved in the action very often. Hebner has paid the price for being a rouge referee multiple times, and, in this instance, he felt the wrath of Triple H & DX.

The Rock teamed up with Earl Hebner and defended the WWE Championship against Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac in a three on two handicap match on the May 4, 2000, episode of SmackDown.

After the Rock pinned X-Pac to retain the title, Triple H & DX took out their frustrations out by attacking the Rock & Hebner. Hebner took most of the damage when Triple H pedigreed him on to a steel chair.

8 8. Shane McMahon Sends Mike Chioda On A Ride

Mike Chioda is the longest-tenured referee in WWE history. The 53-year-old referee has been working for the WWE from 1989, and, if anyone knows the struggles of being a pro-wrestling referee, it's him.

Chris Jericho teamed up with the Rock to take on Rhyno & Booker T in a tag team match on an August 13, 2001, episode of Raw, and two referees were already taken out. There was no one to call for the bell when Rhyno was tapping out to the Walls of Jericho.

When referee Mike Chioda ran out to the ring in full steam to call for the bell, Shane McMahon blindsided him with a brutal tackle that sent him crashing down to the floor. He was lucky enough not to bang his head on the steel steps, which was just a few inches away from where he landed.

RELATED: Money Money Money: 10 Best Matches Of Shane McMahon's Career

7 7. Edge's Miscue With A Ladder

Ladder spots can be so dangerous if not done properly. The timing has to be precise to avoid disaster, but referee Mike Sparks found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Edge took on Eddie Guerrero in a No Disqualification match on a September 26, 2002, episode of SmackDown. When the Rated-R Superstar tried to use his trademark ladder as a weapon, Guerrero got out of the way just in time, and Edge drove the ladder face-first through referee Mike Sparks.

Sparks was fortunate enough to get his hands on the way to reduce the impact, but he was not able to continue with his duties and laid flat on the floor.

6 6. John Cone Collapses Along With The Ring

Braun Strowman & The Big Show took on each other on an April 17, 2017, episode of Raw, and, unfortunately, the ring was not reinforced to withstand the two behemoths.

Strowman performed a giant suplex on Big Show from the top rope, and the ring was just not strong enough to withstand the impact and collapsed. Referee John Cone, who also happens to be the father of Strowman's tag team partner Nicholas, was in the wrong position and hit the ropes before he was sent crashing out of the ring.

Cone landed in a very awkward position outside the ring and had to be helped backstage by other officials after the match.

RELATED: 10 Possible Next Steps For Braun Strowman

5 5. Jack Doan Suffers A Concussion At Royal Rumble 1998

Jack Doan worked as a referee for the WWE from 1991 to 2013. Being the second longest-tenured referee when he left the company, Doan should've known how to stand in a safe distance during the 1998 Royal Rumble match.

During the match, Mark Henry eliminated a 300 pound Phineas Godwinn over the top rope, and while going down, Godwinn inadvertently kicked referee Doan, who was standing very close to the ring, in the back of the head.

The referee collapsed to the floor after the blow, and it was later revealed that he had suffered a legitimate concussion.

4 4. Dan Engler Ends Up In The Trainer's Room

It's the job of the referees to hold back the superstars trying to brawl with each other to prevent any serious injuries, but, sometimes, they will end up in the trainer's room before the brawling superstars.

The referees had to carry out the difficult task of holding back Roman Reigns, who was trying to destroy Triple H. The action spilled to the backstage area with Reigns in hot pursuit of the Game, and Triple H knocked down everything in his sight to create an obstacle in Reigns' path.

When Triple H knocked down a production crate, and the sharp edge came in contact with referee Dan Engler and opened up a gash in his leg. WWE posted a fall out video showing Engler receiving stitches to close up the nasty wound.

3 3. Tim White's Brutal Hell In A Cell Bump

Hell in a Cell is one of the most brutal match types in the history of pro-wrestling, and we have witnessed devastating moments like Undertaker throwing Mankind off the cell. Tim White, who served as the referee in the infamous match, had the opportunity to feel Foley's pain four years later.

During the Hell in a Cell match between Triple H & Chris Jericho at the 2002 Judgement Day PPV, referee Tim White got catapulted onto the cell wall after Triple H inadvertently launched Jericho onto him.

Jericho once again drove White into the cell wall later in the match, and the other referees had to come out to check on him. He didn't return to referee a match until WrestleMania 20 two years later.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why Hell In A Cell Has Lost Its Credibility (& 5 Ways It Can Redeem Itself)

2 2. Jim Korderas Knocked Out Unconcious

A superstar has to be very careful using foreign objects during a match, as it could cause severe injuries to the opponent. WWE has moderated the use of such objects going as far as banning chair shots to the head, which was more common during the attitude era.

During the Intercontinental title match between the Honky Tonk Man & Brutus Beefcake at WrestleMania 4, the referee took a legitimate blow to the back of the head.

While trying to distract him, Honky Tonk Man's manager Jimmy Hart hit the referee Jim Korderas on the back of the head with his megaphone. Korderas got knocked out unconscious and had to be physically assisted out of the ring.

1 1. NXT Referee Tom Castor Breaks His Leg

Vince McMahon's golden words "the show must go on" must have been running through the mind of NXT referee Tom Castor when he finished off a match with a broken leg.

During an NXT live event held in Omaha, Nebraska on last April, Tom Castor served as the referee for the match between Tyler Breeze & the Velveteen Dream. Midway through the match, Velveteen Dream dodged a superkick from Breeze.

Referee Castor took the impact of the superkick and had an awkward landing breaking his leg in the process. Though another referee came out to replace him, Castor was the one to count the final pin to end the match and received huge props for his dedication.

NEXT: 10 Times Wrestling Referees Went Against The Rules