If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.
There is no denying the importance of the entrance theme in wrestling, and there is a certain novelty of a wrestler entering an arena to lyrics that they themselves have performed. That being said, it doesn’t seem to happen as often as we’d like it to.
When the theme hits, the fans need to be able to associate it with that wrestler immediately. What better way of doing this than having the wrestler’s actual voice singing the lyrics. The entrance theme can also be considered to be an extension of that wrestler’s personality. I can think of no better way of getting the wrestler’s personality into the song than having them perform it themselves.
On paper, having a wrestler sing their own entrance theme makes perfect sense, so let’s look at five times this has happened in WWE.
5. John Cena
This theme is among the most iconic themes in WWE history. Unless you’re fans of New York rap duo M.O.P, when you hear the start of that theme, you know exactly what to expect. This theme is so popular that even when non-wrestling fans hear the horns, they know exactly what it is.
We are of course talking about John Cena’s entrance theme, My Time Is Now.
It didn’t stop there, however, as Cena would then go on to release a full-length album in 2005, ‘My Time is Now’. To this day, we at TWM Wrestling still regard this album to be an all-time classic.
4. Mark Andrews
One half of NXT UK Tag Team Champions the South Wales Subculture, Mark Andrews’ motto is ‘High fives and Stage dives’. This is more than just a gimmick, however, as Andrews is in fact the bassist and a vocalist for South Wales Pop Punk band, Junior.
In his appearances on WWE programming, Andrews has used his ‘Fall to Pieces’ as his entrance theme, a song which he provides vocals for.
When a song has a connection to wrestling, it is only appropriate that it is accompanied by a wrestling-themed music video, and this theme is no exception.
The music video, which features a cameo from ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy, was filmed at Cathays Community Centre in Cardiff, an abandoned bingo hall that now serves as the home of Attack! Pro Wrestling. The video also features up and coming Welsh wrestling talent such as Danny Jones and Beano, who Andrews played a role in training as a coach at Dragon Pro Wrestling.
This was not the first time that Andrews had performed his own entrance music; prior to joining WWE in 2016, he used anther Junior song in the form of ‘A House that’s Not Quite Home’ in TNA and independent appearances, which he again provided vocals for.
3 & 2. R-Truth & Road Dogg
As far as wrestling entrance themes go, these are somewhat unique. Not only do R-Truth and Road Dogg perform their own entrance music, they actually rap it live on their way to the ring.
Between 2000-2001, Truth (then under the ring name of K-Kwik) teamed regularly with Road Dogg, performing a song titled ‘Get Rowdy’ as they approached the ring.
The pair were eventually released by WWE, and made their way to TNA which was just finding its feet as the main competitor to WWE after the untimely demise of WCW and ECW. There, they would align with former WCW star Konnan to form a stable known as the 3 Live Kru, who would continue the tradition of performing their own entrance music.
When the group disbanded, Truth would go on a singles run, recording his own theme titled “What’s up”, which he would perform during his entrance. When Truth re-signed with WWE in 2008, he would continue to make use of the What’s Up theme, still using it to this day.
1. Shawn Michaels
He thinks he’s cute, he knows he’s sexy, he’s got the looks, that drive the girls wild.
The Heartbreak Kid is one of the earliest examples we know of where a wrestler has performed his or her own theme. In a WWE interview, Shawn himself admitted that his singing was awful and that the theme’s lyrics only sound acceptable due to the wonders of post-production.
To this day, Jimmy Hart (who produced the theme) maintains this is his proudest work. This is another example of the wrestler’s personality coming through on the song. The theme itself is legendary and has held up fantastically over time.
As I alluded to earlier, this is something I think we should see more of in wrestling. Just imagine how much more entertaining WWE would be if every superstar sang their own entrance theme. A dream that I one day hope becomes reality.
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