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These WWE theme songs always ring off in sold out arenas
AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images
By: Elton Jones
Published Dec 26, 2023
The element of music means way more to the sport of professional wrestling than you might think.
The glitz and glamour associated with World Wrestling Entertainment encompass several things – the crowd, the bright lights, the stage setup, the entrances, the attire, and most certainly the wrestlers themselves. But the presence of recognizable and enjoyable theme songs that are attached to fan favorites and hated heels is central to one’s enjoyment of the show. It’s no surprise that some of your favorite wrestlers became so beloved due to their iconic tune that signaled their upcoming appearance. Setting the tone and getting everyone excited about what’s coming next is easily accomplished once the opening notes of a crowd-popping theme song blare over the arena loudspeakers.
There’s a huge array of WWE theme songs that elicit feelings of warm nostalgia once they’re heard on your playlist and in the confines of a live event. These 40 songs are among the greatest WWE themes of all time and are required listening for anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of squared circle theatrics.
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1. “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Quick – go smash a random pair of glass cups in front of a line of fans waiting to get into a wrestling show. Do you know what’ll happen next? Every person in that group will begin belting out the greatest wrestling theme song of all time. “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” is not only Jim Johnston’s greatest contribution to the WWE, but it’s also the most recognizable wrestling theme song of all time. It always warmed our cold hearts whenever Austin would do a run-in to deliver a heartfelt promo or deliver some Stunners because it meant we got to hear this song for a few precious minutes every time.
2. “The Game” – Triple H
Hunter Hearst Helmsley is a proud metalhead. And judging by the band responsible for this legendary tune, it’s easy to see why. While “My Time” is still a kickass theme in its own right, Triple H’s Motorhead-assisted entrance tune is just that…damn…good. Once the arena grew dark and flashing lights began hitting every corner of it, this badass tune would play and signal the arrival of everyone’s favorite “Cerebral Assassin.” HHH concocted the perfect entrance alongside this song as he spat out his water at just the right time during the middle of this tough tune. HHH’s epic WrestleMania entrances always get a boost thanks to “The Game” and we hope that trend never changes.
3. “Are You Ready? – D-Generation X
Once Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna began running roughshod over their opponents and the authority meant to keep them in line, D-Generation X was born. Thanks to Chris Warren and the rest of the legendary DX band, we were treated to a quality theme song that would even rock a crowd at your local rock concert meet-up. “Are You Ready?” is such an ideal tune for a stable of wrestlers that went against the grain, played by their own rules, and rejected the system meant to keep their antics from disturbing the peace. This theme has remained relevant for a lengthy amount of time amongst wrestling fans and will stay that way for years to come.
4. “Know Your Role” – The Rock
“If ya smell…what The Rock…is cooking.” If you were still running around the schoolyard during the wild and rambunctious days of the Attitude Era, you probably uttered these exact words at one point or another. Once Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson embraced his babyface calling when he was at the top of the WWE ladder, the very best version of his theme song was introduced. This epic instrumental is amazing on its own, but the addition of The Rock’s verbal assaults on his foes provides the perfect cherry on top. Fans have been treated to remixed renditions of this theme in later years, but this Attitude Era staple remains untouchable.
5. “No Chance in Hell” – Vince McMahon
Do you know who truly deserves the honor of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? Legendary theme composer Jim Johnston. The man is responsible for producing some of the greatest WWE theme songs of all time and most of them are on this list. With the assistance of singer Peter Bursurker, Jim was able to create one of the Attitude Era’s most defining songs. And that song belongs to the evil boss in charge of WWE, Mr. McMahon. “No Chance in Hell” solidified Vince’s character as an overbearing jerk who used his power and influence to always get his way. It was so easy to boo him out of the building every time he showed up. But it’s always been pretty difficult to not recite the chorus to this catchy tune. This song perfectly describes “The Man.”
6. “Real American” – Hulk Hogan
The very first theme we mentioned on this list features the musical stylings of Rick Derringer, who’s most known for being a talented vocalist and excellent guitarist. His most famous contribution to the world of professional wrestling is Hulk Hogan’s super patriotic tune, “Real American.” During Hogan’s reign as WWF Champion and the face of the largest wrestling organization in the world, this tune symbolized his character in the best way possible. Crowds would spring to their feet and come alive whenever Hogan’s triumphant tune kicked in. It’s totally understandable if you ever get the urge to drop the big leg drop on someone whenever this comes on. Fun fact – “Real American” initially belonged to the tag team comprised of Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo (the U.S. Express).
7. “Sexy Boy” – Shawn Michaels
Ever seen that meme that asks what song would you choose to sing if your life were on the line? The prevailing answer from most folks just so happened to be this song, which features this unforgettable lyric – “I think I’m cute, I know I’m sexy. I’ve got the looks, That drive the girls wild.” “Sexy Boy” is one of those themes that seem like pure cheese the first time you hear it. But after repeated listens, it quickly grows on you and enters your morning shower playlist. Shawn Michaels has kept this tune by his side for such a long time now and it will never grow tiresome. Always keep this lyric in mind when women try to downplay your attractiveness, King – “I’m just a sexy boy.”
8. “Hitman” – Bret Hart
That screeching guitar lick at the beginning of this tune is unmistakable. It’s pretty crazy when you think about how much this theme was relied upon by several WWE stalwarts – The Hart Foundation (tag team and stable) and Bret Hart himself had this in regular rotation during their respective eras. Bret put the best version of “Hitman” to good use during the height of his career and brought Canadian crowds to their feet every time it was played. The Hart Dynasty and Natalya Neidhart incorporated a remixed rendition of “Hitman” that was decent in its own right. But the New Generation brand of “Hitman” is still the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.
9. “Unstable” – The Ultimate Warrior
The hype derived from “Unstable” should make anyone reach high speeds as they randomly begin running down the street. Watching the Ultimate Warrior take off like a madman down the ramp whenever his theme hit was always a memorable watch. This simple yet impactful instrumental set the mood at an all-time high as it brought the Ultimate Warrior onto the man stage. Play this tune within the vicinity of an 80’s baby and chances are high that they’ll know exactly whom it belongs to. “Unstable” should be required listening for all aspiring track and field stars from this point forward. *begins shaking top rope*
10. “Break The Walls Down” – Chris Jericho
The countdown. The accompanying alarm noises. The fade to black. And then the massive pyro explosion that followed all meant one thing – the “Y2J” problem was about to take over. Chris Jericho’s days as a WWE Superstar started and ended with this unmistakable tune, which is still a solid listen for even non-wrestling fans. This song was especially triumphant during the days when Jericho would emerge from the darkness with his back turned and arms held out in a display of unrivaled power. “Break Down the Walls” is the type of theme that elicits feelings of excitement as it gives fans a lot to look forward to. And that was because they knew the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” was about to enter the scene.
11. “Rest in Peace” – The Undertaker
Don’t front – when you were a youngster watching wrestling back in the day, this theme scared you half to death and caused you to put your TV on mute. That’s because it marked the arrival of one of the most spine-chilling acts in WWE history, The Undertaker. “Rest in Peace” has evolved over the years, which has led us to this refined rendition of such a ghoulish tune. The foreboding bells at the beginning set the mood as the lights go dark and smoke begins billowing into the arena. Then this song springs into gear as it slowly increases the fear factor felt during The Undertaker’s reveal. It’s one thing to watch these moments unfold on live TV, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to experience it all in person.
12. “Next Big Thing” – Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar invokes fear. Brock Lesnar represents supremacy. And Brock Lesnar also goes hand in hand with the word devastation. And every time his theme song kicks off, everyone knows he’s going to emerge and send someone to “Suplex City.” “Next Big Thing” has been and always will be one of the most intimidating wrestling theme songs to ever emerge. Brock’s terrifying aura is magnified even more due in part to this fitting theme, which plays up his characteristics via an opening guitar shred and a bouncy beat to boot. Whenever the image of Brock bouncing around on stage with a championship belt around his waist comes to mind, this theme song helps fill in the blanks that can be heard during that vision.
13. “Metalingus” – Edge
Like his tag team brethren Christian, Edge’s history with theme music is more than satisfactory. His debut theme and Rob Zombie’s “Never Gonna Stop” were both pleasing to the ears. But Edge’s main event ascension also came at a time when he came out to his greatest theme song to date – Alter Bridge’s “Metalingus.” The flawless combination of the “You think you know me…” opening audio clip, the hard-edged instrumental follow-up, and the lead-in to the song itself make this theme an all-time classic. When Edge shocked the world at the 2020 Royal Rumble, it felt so good to see him in good health and ready to rock the world again with this awesome theme song still intact.
14. “Cult of Personality” – CM Punk
“This Fire Burns” by Killswitch Engage has to be given its roses due to how perfect it was at the time of CM Punk’s initial WWE run. It did an incredible job of explaining Punk’s unrivaled passion and desire to be the very best in WWE. When he became the talk of the town back in 2011, he re-emerged with Living Colour’s biggest single backing him up. The people who sang Punk’s praises quickly fell in love with his new choice of theme music. The song’s overall theme spoke well to Punk’s newfound gimmick change as the voice of the voiceless and the unlikely leader WWE needed at that time. “Cult of Personality” will forever be tied to the “Summer of Punk” that renewed fan interest in the WWE.
15. “Burn in My Light” – Randy Orton
Today’s Randy Orton is calculated, sinister, and quick to strike at a moment’s notice. The Randy Orton from years past was a co*cky little bastard who knew he was destined for greatness the minute he linked up with Evolution. And when he began holding out his arms in front of raining sparks, this theme song marked his ascension to the top of the card. Mercy Drive, the band responsible for this tough tune, provided an incredibly catchy chorus for a future legend who was ready to take what was his. A lot of fans miss this song and can’t wait for the day when Orton brings it back for old times’ sake when he goes babyface for the umpteenth time. “HEY!”
16. “I Walk Alone” – Batista
“The Animal” may be retired from the world of professional wrestling, but his memory will live on thanks to this Saliva rendition of his iconic theme song. You could tell that Batista was about to enter a higher plateau of wrestling superstardom once he switched over to this theme during his run at the top of the WWE. Lyrics like “I walk a mile inside this pit of danger” perfectly described Batista’s gimmick as the type who’s willing to brave the harshest of in-ring trials. The machine gun pump from Batista himself and the rapid-fire pyro that came from it helped this song reach legendary status. “I Walk Alone” will sound so good on the very day that Batista enters to it during his WWE Hall of Fame induction.
17. “Blood” – The Brood
One of the hardest beats to ever accompany a wrestling theme has to be this one. Gangrel, Edge, and Christian would come up through a ring of fire on the arena stage while this headbanger caused a ruckus among a rabid Attitude Era audience. It says a lot about this theme’s high quality when the unnerving ghostly voices heard throughout it didn’t even bring it down one bit. “Blood” is an iconic wrestling theme song that wouldn’t be out of place if it were played within the confines of a late-night hip-hop spot. It’s just that good and worthy of its placement on this list.
18. “At Last” – Christian
Christian is a rare case when it comes to wrestling themes – throughout his entire career, the man has never been saddled with a terrible entrance anthem. From his introduction as a non-talkative vampire to a wily veteran, Christian has always been gifted with the catchiest of hard-edged melodies. The greatest of them all has to be this one, which was prominent during Christian’s solo heel run that took place after he split away from longtime partner Edge. What made it stand out is its opening lyrics that celebrated Christian’s switch to a man who’s finally ready to claim victory on his very own. The rocking tune and opera singers’ contribution to it all successfully made this song an undeniable favorite during the early 2000s.
19. “The Rising Sun” – Shinsuke Nakamura
While the edgier remix of Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme is fine in its own right, it pales in comparison to his original melody. As this song became more familiar to wrestling fans around the globe, they began to join in and loudly hum it. And every time this occurs, it’s quite an eye-opening event. And whenever it’s played live (either with the aid of a talented violinist or an amazing drummer), “The Rising Sun” sounds even more astounding. Nakamura’s very first theme elicits a positive response every time it’s heard and here’s hoping that it comes back the very day that he becomes a babyface once more.
20. “Glorious” – Bobby Roode
If you followed Bobby Roode’s NXT run, then you know just how impactful this theme was and still is. The proud and powerful vocalists that sing on this tune give it life and make you feel as if a living God is set to appear. The lyrics are empowering enough to get everyone in attendance to join in and sing it at the top of their lungs. The one time that this theme shined brightest is when an impressive gathering of singers sang over it while Bobby entered the arena like an avenging angel. “Glorious” is the type of tune you’d expect to hear on the very day that the skies open up and unveil God himself.
21. “Catch Your Breath” – Finn Balor
There’s just something about Finn Balor’s entrance that makes him feel like the coolest guy in the room. Whether it’s his regular entrance or his “Demon” assisted arrival, Finn’s crowd-popping theme works wonders during every televised occasion. Once Finn lifts his arms with his adoring crowd, the best part of this theme kicks into high gear. WWE’s modern-day instrumentalists knocked this song out of the park on their very first try when it came to giving Finn the perfect entrance theme. Things truly ramp up whenever Finn dons himself in a demonic paint pattern and gives this theme even more extra oomph. “Catch Your Breath” deserves to be listed among the greats when it comes to the most memorable wrestling themes of all time.
22. “Oh You Didn’t Know?” – The New Age Outlaws
Certain wrestling themes elicit a feeling of call and response. The combination of “Road Dogg” Jesse James and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn lay claim to that type of tune and it’s easily one of the most recognizable wrestling themes of all time. The guitar chords that ring off for this tune still send fans into a frenzy like they once did during the Attitude Era. Hearing Road Dogg talk his ish while perfectly in sync with this song was always a joy to watch during this duo’s heyday. The New Age Outlaws can be proud to say that their theme song/entrance performance remains unrivaled to his very day.
23. “Burned” – Kane
Once that ominous church organ could be heard and the lights turned to blood red, everyone knew who was set to make an appearance. The opening moments of this fear-inducing theme prepared you for the booming flames associated with the man they call Kane. “The Big Red Machine” was pure terror every time he slowly strolled down to the ring while this song played in the background. Everything about this theme made it easy to understand just who Kane is and how horrifying his next act of violence would be.
24. “Power” – Nation of Domination
The WWF’s version of the real-world Nation of Islam was so hard to dislike. Even though Faarooq Asaad and his loyal African-American contingent were portrayed as dastardly heels, their reasoning for handing out rampant beatdowns was totally understandable. The theme song that marked their arrival was powerful and signaled a shift in the arena, as it was time for a crew of dangerous brothers to come through. This version of the song is simple, precise, and straight to the point. There’s really no need to listen to the PG-13 rendition that featured the tag team of the same name spitting putrid lyrics to this excellent instrumental.
25. “Pain and Destruction” – Demolition
The leather and spikes-covered force known as Demolition were unstoppable during their late 80s/early 90s WWF run. The comparisons made between them and The Road Warriors ran rampant amongst hardcore wrestling fans, but no one could doubt Demolition’s cool factor and entertaining in-ring assaults. Their badass entrance was made all the better thanks to this hardcore theme. It’s the purest form of metal and encapsulated the impending destruction that was sure to come anyone’s way when Demolition stomped down the aisle.
26. “Here Comes The Money” – Shane McMahon
It's always a nice surprise when your ears are treated to a WWE theme song that features a slew of recognizable voices. 90s rap/hip-hop icons Naughty by Nature got the nod here to spit a few lyrics about the benefits of getting paid for Shane McMahon's entrance tune. This one is such a bop because it fits Shane O'Mac's gimmick perfectly - whenever he runs out to do his signature shuffle, everyone knows a fresh suitcase full of dollar bills just entered the building! "MONEY TALKS!"
27. “Some Bodies Gonna Get It” – Mark Henry
When Mark Henry finally got super serious and began brutalizing everyone on his way to winning the World Heavyweight Championship, he became a must-see superstar. And during that phase of his career, Three Six Mafia did the honor of blessing him with a new theme that perfectly summarized his memorable reign of terror. As soon as this theme hits, you just know the sh*t is gonna hit the fan! A path of destruction is fully encompassed within this terrifying rap song from Juicy J and DJ Paul.
28. “Who I Am” – Chyna
Chyna made her demands pretty clear - don't treat her like a woman or like a man. Just treat her for what she truly is - the 9th Wonder of the World. The lyrics are simple and the instrumental forever bangs, which are two elements that are essential for making a wrestling theme song such an earworm. This women empowerment theme makes us look back so fondly on Chyna's Attitude Era dominance. RIP, Joanie Laurer!
29. “No More Words” – Jeff Hardy
It's always such a mind trip when you hear The Hardy Boyz's theme blare out in the background for a random commercial. Just like Hardcore Holly's entrance tune, Matt and Jeff's theme is a royalty-free stock tune. During Jeff Hardy's epic singles run, he got a makeover version of his former tag team theme that came with words (which is hilarious considering the name of this song). The crowd always erupted when this one came on and it managed to do an amazing job of making The Hardy Boyz theme even more of a banger.
30. “If You Dare” – Tazz
Tazz's run as a legit killer during the beginning of his WWF run is unforgettable. The same night he debuted during the 2000 Royal Rumble, he emerged from the back with this headbanger of a theme. It fully embodied the intensity and brutality that Tazz was personified by during his active run. All those suplexes and that vicious Tazzmission of his immediately come to mind every time this tune comes through our loudspeakers.
31. “Danger At the Door” – D'Lo Brown
"YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT THE REAL DEAL NOW (WOO!)" Those opening lines could only mean one thing - the Attitude Era's resident bobblehead wrestler has arrived to put some fools down with a Sky High and a Lo Down! D'Lo Brown's energy levels matched up perfectly with this exciting tune that we still play on the regular. That post-Nation of Domination run D'Lo went on with this song in tow is one of the better Attitude Era midcard acts we couldn't get enough of.
32. “Pearl River Rip” – Ahmed Johnson
Say what you want about Ahmed Johnson's incoherent rambling and less-than-stellar in-ring productivity - the man had an amazing aura that was hard to ignore back in the day! Whenever he landed that devastating "Pearl River Plunge" finisher of his, the crowd always came unglued. And this song perfectly encapsulates the full badassery of the man himself. Those guitar chords still go dumb hard!
33. “The Ho Train” – The Godfather
The Attitude Era definitely had its fair share of off-the-wall gimmicks that had parents running to the TV to turn it all off. But like many young kids who were alive during that wild time in wrestling, we snuck back to that same TV to watch The Godfather come down to the ring with his "employees" in tow. And the theme that accompanied his march down the ramp is still as funky as it was back in the day. That bass intro always gets us fully prepared to hop aboard that infamous "train."
34. “Get On Your Knees” – Jack Swagger
Jim Johnston is the musical maestro who's responsible for blessing our ears with so many super dope WWF/E themes. During his later years, his golden touch remained strong. And this Rage Against The Machine tribute tune is proof of that. Jack Swagger's amateur wrestling pedigree came through this theme's title and accompanying lyrics. "The All American American" took such joy in slamming his for down to the mat and making them pay for their transgressions - this rocking tune embodied that attitude to perfection.
35. “Eyes of Righteousness” – Reverend D-Von
One of the most underrated wrestling gimmicks of all time has to be Reverend D-Von. To see the famed Dudley Boys' brother transform into a conniving, money-hungry priest was so enlightening - we didn't know D-Von had it in him to switch it up like that! And while he gave his sermon, took offerings, and walked around with Deacon Batista by his side, this nice but of Christian music kept the Holy Ghost alive. The ladies singing this song definitely let everyone know they got the pipes to praise "Him." "LORD GIVE ME EYES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!"
36. “My Time” – Triple H / Chyna
"1, 2, is this on?" Every wrestling fan who witnessed Triple H's rise to the top and his rule over WWE during the McMahon-Helmsley Era knows this theme all too well. Hunter and Chyna's (and later Stephanie McMahon's) partnership meant they got to hit the ring together with this awesome Jim Johnston and Chris Warren-helmed tune backing them. The instrumental itself is so tough and evokes a rebellious mood. The lyrics point to HHH's reign of destruction and make it very clear that it is indeed "his time" to rule over everyone who chooses to oppose him. "Not gonna listen to anybody/Tell me who and what to be." DAMN RIGHT, WARREN!
37. “This is a Test” – Test
One of the more devastating masters of the dreaded Big Boot is none other than Test (RIP). Once he really got going on the Attitude Era WWF roster, this incredible tune provided him with just enough extra oomph to make the crowd care about him. Jim Johnston is practically scatting here and spitting out unintelligible lyrics, yet the song sounds so right with those random words thrown into it. This is undoubtedly Test's best theme and an absolute banger that always gets our heads bobbing.
38. “Special Op” – The Shield
"Sierra, Hotel, India, Echo, Lima, Delta...SHIELD!" Fun fact - the first letters of those six words spell out the word "SHIELD." That clever way of kicking this theme song off for one of the best stables in wrestling history is one of the coolest things ever. The bass-heavy beat and blaring guitar waling all over this banger will always evoke warm memories of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose walking down the stairs while amid the fans with one goal on their mind - pure domination.
39. “Visionary” – Seth "Freakin" Rollins
It's always a fun time whenever Seth "Freakin" Rollins spreads out his arms and bathes in the fans singing in unison to this perfect sing-a-long theme. "Visionary" gets a nod here on our list of the best WWE theme songs just based on how sing-songy it is - the crowd just can't help themselves whenever the choir-like chorus kicks in. Even when Seth is in the middle of a promo or when he's standing across from an opponent, the fans will start singing that familiar portion of this theme just because it's so fun to belt out. Thank god the actual instrumental behind this tune is tough enough to stand tall on its own.
40. “Made in the USA” – Lex Luger
We wish Vinnie Mac would have taken the plunge on Lex Luger and just let them man win the WWF Championship at WrestleMania X. We were 100% behind his mega push as he rode across the USA in the "Lex Express" and campaigned himself to the fans as the main man to dethrone Yokozuna back in the day. This inspiring theme song instills a sense of pride in everyone who hears it and it gets the blood pumping to the point where even you feel like an American hero. Jim Johnston had to be feeling super patriotic in the studio when he was cooking up this All-American tune.
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