Wrestling theme songs are incredibly important. They have to indicate the arrival of a wrestler and have the ability to catch on with an audience so that two things happen the moment the first note hits. One, the audience identify which wrestler is about to enter the arena and two, the desired face/heel reaction occurs. For that desired reaction to be instant, the theme song has to fit perfectly with the character it accompanies. Taking Fandango as an example, you couldn't have a heavy metal song to accompany a dancing gimmick. For a bad ass like Stone Cold Steve Austin, a pop song wouldn't have been the greatest of ideas. As well as fitting the character, theme songs need to be composed to feature character traits. I'll discuss that more as we go on. Finally, an entrance needs uniqueness. TNA has some great theme songs for their main stars, however, some of the lower card have generic music that is by no means unique and thus hard to identify which wrestler is entering the arena.
I will say this before I start, this is just my opinion and by no means am I saying this is an exact order of the greatest theme songs. That's up for your interpretation. Here's my list:
10. Edge:
When Edge retired he said he thought he had one of the best theme songs in the business, he was right. While the song may just be a reworked version of Alter Bridge's 'Metaligus,' it simply works. When he debuted the song, Edge was just becoming a real main event player in the WWE. The lyrics "I've been defeated and brought down" before moving onto "the time has come to change my ways" are indicative of a superstar on the war path after finally realising his goal of being the best. The opening thrash style riff and drum beat are impossible to mistake and the 'You Think You Know Me' monicker that Edge has carried around with him his entire career, make this a great overall theme song.
9: Ric Flair
No one represents the pomp and pageantry of Pro Wrestling like Ric Flair and his theme song is no difference. While it may have been used in Space Odyssey, this piece of music by Richard Strauss has come to embody the limousine ridin', jet flyin' son of a gun. The crescendo met by a chorus of 'Woooo's' from a live event crowd always gives me goose bumps when I think of his Wrestlemania 24 'send off.' The man himself dressed in his over the top robes, strutting his way to the ring with this piece of music playing is the perfect cocktail of character marketing.
8: The Rock
The Rock has had a handful of remixed themes throughout the years. My favourite happens to be the one in the video, which he used as he turned on the Corporation and became a face from 1999-2001. All of his theme songs have the same premise; a rhythmic beat to match the swagger of his entrance and some kick ass guitar solo's over the top to symbolise the 'electricity' as he smells the air from the top rope. The theme song is unique through the way it highlights The Rock's skills on the microphone, as well as his penchant for catchphrases and talking about himself in the third person. Nice.
7: D-Generation X
D-Generation X were one of the starting points of the Attitude Era. Their theme song, video and entrance represent the gang of rebels perfectly. Everything from the lyrical content, the strippers, the flashing images, the violence was exactly what the WWE needed to produce an edgier product in the Monday Night Wars. 1..2..3... crotch chop!
6. Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon. The Boss. The owner of WWE. He needed a fitting theme song, right? Well he got one. This theme accompanies McMahon's ridiculously hammy power walk so perfectly it's scary. Vince McMahon has often stated that he was the biggest 'grapefruits' in the world, and damned if this piece doesn't amplify that. 'No Chance In Hell' represents the tyrannical 'Mr McMahon' character's domination of his employee's ('puppets' 'boy'), in addition to the his domination of the wrestling world. Kudos, Jim Johnston.
5. The Undertaker
No one has the presence when performing an entrance like The Undertaker. The 'Graveyard Symphony' death march theme song that accompanies him just makes everything that much more eerie. The Undertaker is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents as he makes his way to the ring, this creepy piece of music just accentuates that to the audience. It fits his supernatural 'deadman' gimmick and the gong tolling at the beginning is the daddy of all identifiers.
4. Triple H
Nice one, Motorhead. This theme song is so bad ass. I mean, Motorhead...man. HHH exudes confidence, and in particular when he debuted this song as a heel... he was probably the most hated man in the business. Many fans accuse him of using his relationship with Stephanie McMahon to his advantage and this was definitely evident in his long drawn out promos he cut in the earlier 2000's. Just listen to the lyrics, though. An overanalyst (like myself) would say 'The Game' in this case is actually the game of backstage politics...orrr... it could just be a self reference. Either way, those single rung out chords at the beginning of the song are unmistakable.
3. Hulk Hogan
It was silly, it was corny, it was Hulk Hogan and it was great. 'Real American' really set the benchmark for theme songs to follow, and it still hasn't really been beaten. The song screams '80's' along with the message that Hogan was peddling at the time to 'say your prayers, take your vitamins.' Hogan represented America in his hay day and what better theme song to accompany him on his travels? Sure, he may have tarnished his legacy in recent times but this theme song will always represent one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling history when he was 'the man.'
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Glass shatters, raise hell, leave. Stone Cold Steve Austin was an absolute ass kicking machine. His character as a beer fuelled, bird flipping, foul mouthed anti- hero turned him into the arguable the biggest star the WWE has seen and his theme music just aided that meteoric rise. The glass shattering accompanied some of the biggest pops the industry will ever experience during the Attitude Era, the likes of which we may never experience again. The theme features a driving bass line and a gradual build up that just signifies the danger and violence that Austin brought to the table to an absolute 'T.' Another triumph from Jim Johnston!
1. Shawn Michaels
While Shawn may have not been breaking many hearts as his career drew to a close, his theme song was still tremendous. Back when The Rockers first broke up, Shawn's character as a flamboyant, heart breaking, pompous ass hole needed a theme song to capture that. What better way than to sing your own theme song, about being a 'sexy boy' all while Sherri Mantell exclaims 'oh ohhh, Shawn' at the beginning? I really can't think of a better way. The theme really encapsulated Michales as 'the ultimate showman.' Whether he was a face or a heel, the song was incredibly catchy and has endeared itself by becoming an iconic part of Shawn's magnificent Hall of Fame career.
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