Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we each name our top five greatest wrestling entrance themes.

John Kiernan’s Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

A little bit of background about my picks: I’m not just looking at the songs from a cool factor, but also how they serve each wrestler. As a wrestling entrance theme song composer myself, the best entrance themes help in developing and identifying the wrestler, even before they hit the ring. What can you tell about the talent without even seeing them? Are you about to get your ass kicked or entertained? Is the wrestler a demonic presence or an over-the-top charisma machine? Can someone who’s never watched wrestling understand who’s about to walk through the curtain? These questions and traits need to be at the core of any entrance theme. Being able to have a dope theme that fans can listen back to on Spotify and the like is great, but having an entrance theme that elevates your persona – those are the most effective.

Currently, here are my top five:

1. Kane – Burned

As soon as the first organ note hit, every person in earshot immediately regretted their life decisions. Kane’s physical stature was imposing enough, but you didn’t even need to see him in order to fear him – you just needed to hear his theme. Newer renditions, while not able to completely capture the original “Burned” essence, have kept the melody and chords for a reason.

2. Shinsuke Nakamura – The Rising Sun

Nakamura is a once-in-a-generation wrestler. Eclectic, charismatic and hits harder than a chair shot from Shawn Spears. The theme exudes a traveled, experienced wrestler who everyone better pay attention to. Although the song follows a standard A – B form (generally), the true star of the piece is Earl Maneein’s aggressive, emotional violin performance. The wrong violinist (or guitarist) would have made the song bland and generic. Earl’s perfectly unrelenting performance is the sonic embodiment of the one and only Shinsuke Nakamura.

3. Shawn Michaels – Sexy Boy

It’s brash. It’s in your face. Shawn even sings the theme. If he was a heel, that intro voice before the verse lyrics hit interrupts the babyface and turns the crowd against him. If he’s a face, the lyrics personified a cocky, showstopping individual that everyone wanted to get behind or wanted to be.

4. Malakai Black – Ogentroost

Let’s get controversial and modern for a second. AMENRA couldn’t have created a more tormenting, curdling theme for Malakai Black. To add to it, Black fading to black and appearing all over the arena is art in and of itself. Once again: you don’t even have to see Black in order to know what he’s about. It sounds like a man is being tormented, perhaps by possession, anyone in his way be damned. Also: Ogentroost apparently means “eyebright” in Dutch, so there’s even more levels to Black’s journey in the title.

5. Bray Wyatt – Live In Fear

Bray has been lucky to have amazing themes over his time in WWE. Surprisingly, the theme that fit a cult leader gimmick the best was discovered on a royalty free site. The point is that this entrancing, droning composition became just as charismatically gravitating in drawing followers to The Wyatt Family as his in-ring work and promos.

Dan Corrigan’s Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

5. Scotty 2 Hotty – “Bangin It”

When this theme hits, you know it’s time to get hype. The beat is dope with Scotty dancing in his absurd outfit, followed by the hilarious WORM.

4. Moose – “Moose Nation”

The greatest wrestling pump-up song ever. As the crowd chanted “Moose” while pumping their fist in the air, he easily carried TNA at one point, undoubtedly the most over wrestler during that time.

3. Mick Foley – “Chic Chic Bang Bang”

For someone who thrives on violence, his theme during TNA is perfect. The lyrics describe what Mick Foley has been through and what is to come for any opponent that drives in his sadistic lane.

2. Gregory Helms – “It’s Time”

It’s time to talk about the king of the cruiserweight division. Phenomenal athlete, easy-to-dislike persona and a noteworthy theme song. As much as I loved The Hurricane, Gregory Helms didn’t need a superhero gimmick; just give him the microphone and polish his title.

1. Deuce & Domino – “I’m All About Cool”

Bubblegum, roller skates and slicked back hair was all the rage in the ‘50s. Deuce & Domino managed by Cherry had the best theme in the industry. No song fits a character better than this. A doo wop sensation!

Steven Jackson’s Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

1. Bret Hart

That iconic guitar riff followed by rocking drums and the perfect beat still make me mimic “The Hitman.”

2. Harlem Heat

One of the few themes inherited by WWE from WCW, Harlem Heat’s song was R’n’B influenced goodness.

3. Bryan Danielson

“The Final Countdown” and pro wrestling – a match made in heaven. The pounding of the guard rails followed by the singing in unison of Europe’s rock classic was reason alone to buy a ticket.

4. Jushin “Thunder” Liger

Similar to Hart’s, the intro to Liger’s theme immediately sets your heart racing. Leading into a Japanese lyrical chorus, no matter how many times I hear it, I’m brought back to being a young fan loving the industry.

5. Hulk Hogan

“Real American!” Whatever you think of Hogan, regardless of what he has done, the moment that guitar starts you immediately jump to your feet. Another reason I’ve added this theme is because it is part of arguably the most amazing entrance of all-time at WrestleMania VI when Hogan walks down the aisle to battle the Ultimate Warrior.

Chad Gelfand’s Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

The Rock, circa 2003

The long build-up. The whisper of “is cookin’.” The slowed-down drums. Everything about The Rock’s 2003 theme is perfection. It captured the ego and overindulgence that encapsulated the “Hollywood” Rock character and some of the best theme songs align with the characters they belong to.

Maven

Maven’s theme might not have totally fit his character, but it still made a great wrestling theme. It was recognizable and got me excited for Maven to come out whenever it hit.

Jeff Hardy – “No More Words”

As a massive Jeff Hardy fan especially leading up to his 2008 WWE Title win, this song will always have sentimental value and is the soundtrack to one of my all-time favorite wrestlers finally winning the big one.

Christian – “At Last You’re On Your Own”

Christian’s theme was pretty self-explanatory – this was his anthem now that he had finally broken away from Edge and started his singles career. Even though he had middling success with this theme song, the opera elements combined with the gold pyro put this over the top for me.

Eddie Guerrero’s 2005 Heel Theme

*Cell phone rings “Can you feel the heat?” Eddie Guerrero’s 2005 theme was not around long due to his untimely passing, but it was fantastic. It helped signal a shift in his character, as “Latino Heat” became vicious and uncaring. Eddie brought that different type of swagger that he always had as a heel.

John Corrigan’s Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Entrance Themes

5. “The Stripper V.2”

You don’t need lyrics for a great wrestling entrance theme, especially when the ladies are gasping for air. A song that perfectly fit the character, “Ravishing” Rick Rude strutting down the aisle to never-ending sax before giving the sweat hogs a striptease was hilarious.

4. “Real American”

Even though “Eye of the Tiger” could have stayed The Hulkster’s theme, “Real American” gave our hero that extra oomph. It’s the anthem of the Rock n’ Wrestling Era, the soundtrack of ‘80s WWE.

3. “Glass Shatters”

I began watching pro wrestling in 2000, so when Stone Cold made his triumphant return to the ring, this is the entrance theme he used. As you can imagine, this was a sugar rush for an 8 year old. Disturbed deserves credit for freshening up Austin’s character, injecting more frustration and even some paranoia into his character, which suited his heel turn well.

2. “Cool, Cocky, Bad”

He’s got Peggy Sue behind him, the Colonel in the back, he’s coming to your town in his pink Cadillac. He’s The Honk Tonk Man! Eat your heart out, Elvis!

1. “Enter Sandman”

Is any other wrestler more defined by their theme song? Hell, an entrance is all The Sandman had! ECW was hundreds of drunk dudes screaming Metallica and hoping a drop of Sandman’s beer would land in their mouth. And it was awesome.