Rozie “The Ref” Jones is no stranger to hard work. By day, she’s a dedicated human factors engineer, improving how people interact with products and advancing innovation in her field. But once the workday is done, she takes on a whole new role as a wrestling referee, traveling to events, setting up rings, running time cues, and keeping matches fair for the athletes she admires. Now, after an injury, she’s making a comeback, eager to return to the wrestling world she loves.
In this exclusive cover story, we dive into Rozie’s life as a woman who has paved a unique dual career path that blends intellect and intensity, resilience and passion. Rozie shares how her engineering background makes her a better referee, and vice versa, and reveals how her recovery journey has deepened her connection to the sport.
Wrestling and Recovery: The Comeback Journey
Though her injury took her out of action temporarily, Rozie never lost her love for wrestling. As she explains, “At first, it hurt too much to even watch wrestling. But as I got stronger in physical therapy, I started to feel that hunger again.” With inspiration from promotions like New Japan, Stardom, and NXT, she draws strength from athletes like Mercedes Moné and Azumi, whose fierce style and creativity remind her of what she loves about wrestling.
Rozie’s set to return to the ring on March 29th at House of Heat Pro Wrestling in Indianapolis, with more appearances planned for Mania Week in Las Vegas. For Rozie, this comeback is more than just rejoining the sport; it’s about reclaiming her role as a referee and a leader, ready to bring her energy back to the ring.
The Life of a Referee: More Than Meets the Eye
Refereeing is more complex than it seems, Rozie shares. Referees don’t just count to three; they’re the backbone of each match, setting up rings, running time cues, managing transportation, providing first aid, and even selling merchandise. “The more you can do, the more you help the promotion succeed,” Rozie says. Certified in first aid and experienced in handling high-intensity events, she knows referees often serve as the unsung heroes of each show.
An Unexpected Balance: Engineering and Wrestling
Rozie’s engineering work requires the same discipline she brings to wrestling. As a human factors engineer, she conducts interviews, analyzes data, and shapes product markets with a forward-thinking approach. The flexibility of her job also allows her to keep up with weekend wrestling shows, enriching both her professional and wrestling worlds. “Being a businesswoman in both spaces, I get to merge these worlds. My job often flies me out, so I can pick up wrestling shows on the weekends.”
Follow Rozie’s Journey
Rozie invites fans to follow her journey on social media at @RozieTheRef. Through her Big Cartel store, she connects with fans through merchandise — from T-shirts to friendship bracelets and stickers — letting them be a part of her comeback story.