Jessika Carr Makes History As WWE’s First Female To Referee A World Title Main Event
Jessika Carr made history at Saturday’s WWE Backlash France premium live event by becoming the first female referee to work a World title main event.
Cody Rhodes acknowledged the milestone on social media. WWE’s first full-time female referee says she’s honored and grateful to make history once again.
Honored and incredibly grateful. https://t.co/QnYTE0jnDh
— Jessika Carr (@WWELadyRefJess) May 4, 2024
Triple H and fellow WWE official Daphanie LaShaunn also congratulated Carr on her milestone achievement.
Jessika Carr has been smashing through glass ceilings since she joined @WWE, and last night was no different.
At #WWEBacklash France, @WWELadyRefJess became the first female official to ever referee a #WWETitle PLE main event match. pic.twitter.com/4L5h0HcSPm
— Triple H (@TripleH) May 5, 2024
Thank you my lady. The future is bright. Looking your way. ??
— Jessika Carr (@WWELadyRefJess) May 4, 2024
Carr officiated the match between Rhodes and AJ Styles which headlined the night inside the LDLC Arena. The show saw Rhodes get the win in his first Undisputed WWE Championship defense to play out on TV. Rhodes dispatched of the Phenomenal One with a series of signature moves before hitting his Cross Rhodes finisher.
This is hardly the first time Carr has made history for the women of WWE who don the black and white stripes. In 2021, Carr became the first woman to referee a WWE event in Saudi Arabia at that year’s Crown Jewel event. Carr officiated that year’s King of the Ring finals won by Xavier Woods as well as a Hell in a Cell match (another first for her!) between Edge and Seth Rollins. This milestone came two years after Carr became the first female referee to be called-up to the main roster.
How it started, and how it’s going.
What a life. pic.twitter.com/gA2aiDipFg— Jessika Carr (@WWELadyRefJess) May 7, 2024
Carr’s success in the striped shirt continues to show WWE’s change from how things have been done in the past. Not too long ago, WWE would shy away from a female referee, with the only exception being Rita Chatterton. These days, however, fans can expect Carr and other women to hold the Superstars to account, whether it be at live events, WWE TV, or at PLEs.