Every member of the WWE Universe has their favorite entrance theme. It might be Hulk Hogan’s patriotic ode to America or The Undertaker’s ominous funeral dirge, but it might be another Superstar’s trademark song.
The debate of what is a truly awesome theme brings forward an eclectic discussion. Names like Steve Blackman, Pete Gas and Koko B. Ware were tossed around WWE.com’s offices as we tried to narrow down our list of underrated entrance music to just 15 songs. We finally came to a consensus with this list. Give the tunes a listen, then let us know what your favorite underappreciated theme is in the comments below!
When The Rock returned to WWE from Hollywood in 2003, he wanted to remind everyone that he was The Great One. In addition to destroying rivals verbally with unparalleled creativity, Rock debuted a theme that radiated greatness. It built anticipation for half a minute, which felt like forever in WWE time, with an instrumental intro. Rock then interrupted the calming tune by whispering “… is cookin’,” leading into an electrifying version of his older, more well-known “The Rock says” beat. You wanted to boo, but had to fight the urge to jump with excitement when it came over the loudspeakers. — JEFF LABOON
Watch The Rock take on Hulk Hogan at No Way Out 2003 on WWE Network
Jake “The Snake” Roberts turned on friends and foes alike during his WWE Hall of Fame career. Whether luring The Ultimate Warrior into a trap or tormenting Randy Savage, Roberts wanted his prey to believe every word he uttered to make his eventual snakebite that much sweeter. He unveiled entrance music to match, with an electric beat and a subliminal repetition of “The Snake” uttering the words, “trust me.” At a time when most themes were poppy and fun, Roberts’ dared to be creepy. It was unsettling, but for a Superstar who carried snakes with him everywhere, that’s only fitting. — JEFF LABOON
Watch Jake Roberts clash with Randy Savage on WWE Network
And Fandango was the one whose theme charted? Not that the WWE Universe doesn’t love a good cha-cha, but if anyone’s entrance song had the potential to be a crossover hit, it was the last theme of Eve’s career, a pulsing pop number called “She Looks Good.” We’ll grant you that the auto-tune on the verses is a little thick, though much like the jiu-jitsu practicing Diva herself, it hits you when you least expect it, and it hits you hard. As far as a theme song goes, it’s everything you want, everything you need. — ANTHONY BENIGNO
There’s no doubt that Ric Flair’s entrance theme is iconic and world famous in and out of sports-entertainment. Richard Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra” has heralded the arrival of “The Nature Boy” since the 1970s. However, when Flair shocked the world by leaving WCW and joining WWE in 1991, he used a different theme. It was similar to Strauss’ classic, but undeniably more percussive. Although he only used it during his time in WWE from ’91 until ’93, the theme perfectly fit “The Nature Boy” at a time when he was living up to his reputation away from WCW. — KEVIN POWERS
Watch Flair's epic battle with Randy Savage at WrestleMania VIII on WWE Network
Like a hex falling upon the WWE Universe, Papa Shango’s terror-inducing entrance tune — rivaling the eeriness of a PIX-11 Shocktober promo — played a pretty big part in the mystique of this master of the dark arts.
With its emphatic drumbeat and a disorientating pump persistent throughout the voodoo hymn, Shango’s theme had the perfect percussion for skin crawling. It wasn’t only the black-hatted villain’s smoke-filled entrance that spooked children and discomforted adults. The aural experience associated with his malevolent melody stirred visions of the occult in the minds of WWE fans. They sat in awe, chilled down to bones not unlike those dangling around Shango’s neck. — CRAIG TELLO
Deuce & Domino stepped out of the 1950s and into a WWE ring. In their red Cadillac convertible, these greasers from “The Other Side of the Tracks” were the type of guys you didn’t want to cross walking home from the diner after grabbing a shake with your best gal. Adding to their attitude was their heavily underrated entrance theme. While the song’s lyrics were a bit pompous, the slow, doo-wop of “All About Cool” was as much of a throwback as the team it represented. — KEVIN POWERS
“When I was asked compose a theme for The Rockers, it was easy to do,” “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart told WWE.com. “Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were a tag team that exhibited fast-paced athleticism. They just rocked. So I worked out a few riffs to parallel their style, and it all fit like a glove.”
Hart’s composition clearly clicked, as The Rockers’ theme is one of those tunes that is still instantly recognizable today. — HOWARD FINKEL
When Doink the Clown appeared in WWE during the early ’90s, his music certainly did not come from under the big top. Instead, it seemed to come from the depths of hell. The happy beginning of his theme quickly dissipated into a chilling feel of evil that clearly matched the wicked clown’s persona. Doink’s very first macabre theme song was one that made you stop what you were doing and take its demonic tones all in. — HOWARD FINKEL
Watch Doink vs. Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1993 on WWE Network
The initial chopper-like whir of Kerry Von Erich’s entrance song suitably signaled the arrival of a potent force, a cyclone about to touch down. Spirited guitar strumming and rapid thumping followed as Texas Tornado spun his way out from the curtain toward the squared circle for battle.
A memorable theme of its era, the exciting anthem enlivened the WWE Universe for an ensuing match contended with just as much zeal as Von Erich’s high-energy entry. Constant rhythm reflected the constant action that Texas Tornado made his signature. — CRAIG TELLO
Watch Texas Tornado take on Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam 1990 on WWE Network
Question: What kind of music fits a stoic cage fighter whose idea of entrance gear was a slightly dampened gray t-shirt?
Answer: Dan Severn’s entrance theme.
Thumping bass drums backed the ominous guitar riffs that signaled the arrival of “The Beast.” It was a no-nonsense theme for a no-nonsense fighter. As soon as it kicked in, an arena would be hushed as the emotionless grappler stalked to the ring, ready to pick apart his prey. It wouldn’t be long before Severn’s music played once again, after “The Beast” forced the opposition to tap out in one of his countless submissions. — BOBBY MELOK
Watch Dan Severn grapple with The Rock at King of the Ring 1998 on WWE Network
On first listen, it’s hard to imagine this entrance music belonging to Billy Kidman. The hard-hitting hip-hop beat, with lyrics spit by an MC that sounds a little like DMX, seemed to be the antithesis of the high-flyer’s attitude. But this song was introduced at a time where Kidman began to display a new arrogance. After realizing just how much damage his Shooting Star Press could do, Kidman had a little extra swagger in his step. The lyrics rang true for anyone who faced Kidman: “You can run if you want to, but you can’t hide.” — BOBBY MELOK
Watch Billy Kidman battle Paul London at No Mercy 2004 on WWE Network
When selecting a theme song, it’s important that it touches all the bases of a Superstar’s personality. For Cody Rhodes, whose 2011 anointing as “the best-looking man in WWE” sent him on a years-long obsession with his face, that was “Smoke and Mirrors,” an infuriatingly catchy ditty about glorious artifice.
The former Intercontinental Champion complemented his outrageous theme with an equally elaborate entrance, complete with a mirror in which to admire a face as lotioned and smooth as a newborn baby. The Dashing One’s theme went through a few variations (a ghoulish, distorted remix during his masked phase and a jacked-up rap-rock version when he ditched the facial wear), but this remains his most ridiculously transcendent. Hearing it resurrected in spectral sound bites during Cody’s run with Goldust was true music to the WWE Universe’s ears. Whoooa-oh! — ANTHONY BENIGNO
Ahmed Johnson stormed into WWE in 1995, making an immediate impact by bodyslamming the massive Yokozuna. The Pearl River Powerhouse had the music to match his brute strength. Driving guitars and pounding drums almost matched Johnson thunderous footsteps toward the squared circle.
After stepping through the ropes, the big man hurled his opposition around the ring with ease before making them take the Pearl River Plunge. The former Intercontinental Champion’s music echoed the foreboding three-word warning he gave his foes before the opening bell: “You’re going down!” — BOBBY MELOK
Watch Ahmed Johnson take on Goldust for the Intercontinental Title on WWE Network
Shane McMahon’s crew of preppy snobs from Greenwich, Conn., did little to endear themselves to the WWE Universe. Flaunting their ritzy lifestyle in the face of their opponents, The Mean Street Posse was easy to hate, but their theme was undeniably catchy.
A laid-back, bluesy guitar riff reverberated throughout arenas as Rodney, Pete Gas and Joey Abs strolled to the ring — a carefree song for a trio who never had to worry about a thing. While The Mean Street Posse didn’t find much success in the way of championships during their time in WWE, their theme song still sticks in the heads of the WWE Universe. — BOBBY MELOK
Another Jimmy Hart composition evolved around a theme song change for Big Boss Man, and the legendary WWE Hall of Famer was up for the challenge.
“As Boss Man’s popularity grew, I was asked to compose a new theme to complement that surge, and also write some lyrics that exemplified his character, and what he stood for. It took a little while to perfect, but we nailed it.” — HOWARD FINKEL
Watch The Big Boss Man tangle with former partner Akeem on WWE Network