The Top 10 Best Current Wrestling Entrance Songs
Let’s have fun.
If you could name your top five wrestling themes of all time, what would they be? A loaded question that comes with some deep and very nerdy reflection. Of all time? I don’t think I’m ready to tackle that one yet.
(Though anyone who is anyone knows that the correct answer is “Victims of Hardstyle” for Special K in Ring of Honor)
Anyway, how about we look at current themes? Who has the best? Certainly, this is subjective. If you want to die on the hill that the the Don Callis family actually has the best wrestling entrance song right now, I wouldn’t argue with you.
(It does have aura, though…)
But to do this, we need a criteria. It will help narrow this down a bit. And as always, these are just my opinions, and well, this is an opinion column. Let’s not rip each other apart in this discussion. Nobody needs to crash out because we can’t all agree that William Regal’s “A Real Man’s Man” is the true greatest entrance song of all time. Which it is. I won’t be taking feedback on that one. Sorry, Special K.
Anyway, I digress. We’re talking about current wrestling themes. The best of the best right now. But to find the best, we can’t just take anything. We must have a criteria of some sort.
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Criteria
Must have been created for said wrestler in question.
This is straight forward. While Crybaby Messiah Punk has a very recognizable theme song with “Cult of Personality” by In Living Color, that song wasn’t made for him. That song existed long before Punk even likely thought about becoming a pro wrestler. The same goes for examples like “Metalingus” for Adam Copeland by Alter Bridge, which came out in 2004. Even MJF’s very recognizable theme song is a 2014 public domain/royalty-free song by RW Smith called “Dig Deep”. So this also doesn’t count here. Same with Orange Cassidy’s “Where is My Mind?” and “Jane” as well as Jack Perry’s “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora. I would have loved to throw Maki Itoh’s Brooklyn in the Hole on this list, as it’s a banger, it’s perfect for her — but actually wasn’t created for her. It was written and performed by the band Tokiwoikiru. Itoh simply covered it.
We need a true entrance theme song, and for that, it must have been created for the wrestler in question.
It has to be a banger.
We should be honest here. Is this a song you would normally put on? Is it on your playlist? Would you pause to listen if it came on the radio? (Do people still listen to the radio for music?)
HBK’s “Sexy Boy” is downright famous when it comes to wrestling theme songs, current or not, but I don’t have the urge to ever put the song on, or put it in a playlist rotation — unless I am in fact feeling like a “sexy boy”, but not a “boy toy.”
Moxley’s Death Riders theme fits him well, but it wouldn’t be something I’d normally be into — unless you like listening to music made for a seedy 90s porno flick.
I believe a truly great entrance theme should be something you would normally listen to, subjective to tastes of course. Hell, maybe you think Bam Bam Bigelow’s WWF theme is a true banger and have it on heavy rotation. I won’t judge.
…well I might judge a little.
Anyway…
It must get you pumped up to see that wrestler (or even just pumped in general)
Killswitch Engage’s “The End of Heartache” is a subjectively good song. A tad light for my metal tastes, but good. However, it doesn’t pump me up to see a Roderick Strong match. You know that feeling you got when Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme hit? The glass shattered, the riffs kick in, and shit was about to go down and you were there for it.
That feeling. But without the visuals.
Aura
Any wrestler worth their weight is presented like a modern day superhero. You are watching a superstar capable of incredible feats done by no other human on earth, or so they would like you to believe. In short, this theme needs aura.
When it hits, you stop what you’re doing. You pay attention.
This is where entrance is important. Sure, a great entrance matters — just look at the Undertaker. However, his theme (taken from Chopin’s Funeral March) isn’t something you’re going to whip out at parties, unless you want everyone to leave.
The aura within the song itself must carry a certain magic in it. And that’s partially entrance, but it doesn’t happen without the song itself.
Crowd Participation
This is the least important one of the five, but still matters. For example, just because the crowd tends to chant “dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah-dah-do…” along with MJF’s entrance theme, doesn’t make it quality. But in general, it’s helpful. It adds to the aura a little.
That all being said, the list:
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Honorable Mentions
Minoru Suzuki | “Kaze Ni Nare” – Ayumi Nakamura
This is a badass song. However, if I’m being honest, most fans just wait until they can chant ‘Kaze Ni Nare’ (become the wind) in unison 1:53 into the song. For me, it just misses the mark for a top 10 because of this. Though for my money, it makes ‘#11’, if that makes any sense…
Chris Jericho | “Judas” – Fozzy
While this song, his own song, has become synonymous with Chris Jericho, it wasn’t actually written for his entrance. This is a Fozzy song that came out in 2017. So it gets an honorable mention, but can’t make the cut.
Brody King | “Be Harder” – God’s Hate
I love this song. It’s on my YT playlist. But for the same reasons above, just gets an honorable mention, even if Brody himself is at vocals.
Is this even her current theme? Can we count this since she’s semi-retired? Hard to say, but at belongs on an honorable mention. Nobody will ever be ready for Asuka.
Maki Itoh | “Brooklyn in the Hole” – Tokiwoikiru
Reasons: See above reference to Maki Itoh. But she deserves an honorable mention.
Unfortunately, New Japan doesn’t have too many notable tracks. From Okada, to Tsuji, to Takahashi, there are plenty of good themes — but not great themes. But I’ll give House of Torture an honorable mention.
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The Top 10 Current Pro Wrestling Themes
#10 – Miu Watanabe | “Chokotto Love Me Do” – UpUpGirls
This is a literal Japanese idol group, with TJPW pro wrestlers in the group itself, whom created and released a song for themselves. In this case, Miu Watanabe, whom happens to be an easy top 10 joshi in the world right now.
Yes, it’s disturbingly cute. You might even feel a little uncomfortable if you’re not into techno/rave/pop. But give it a few listens. It will grow on you…
Anyway, this does tick all of the boxes in my opinion, but just barely. So it sits at number 10.
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#9 – Rhea Ripley | “Demon in My Dreams” – Motionless in White
For the record, I hate this song.
I need less…whine in my metal. If it’s not Japanese, then it better rip my head off. My flavor is more Volatile Ways or Peeling Flesh when it comes to hardcore I can enjoy (if you’re wondering how I can mark out for cutesy J-pop but not Rhea Ripley’s theme).
Anyway, it makes this list because I recognize that it’s a banger to others, and honestly, if it wasn’t for Chris Motionless’s whiny-ass vocals, I would actually dig this song. Give me gutturals or give me death.
But the song/entrance/aura checks all of the boxes here, and I can’t deny it.
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#8 Darby Allin | “I Fell” – Wicca Phase Springs Eternal
No theme song out there sounds like the current AEW World Champion’s theme. Honestly, I don’t think anyone else could have a song like this and make it work.
It just screams “hardcore emo skateboard kid”.
And that’s awesome and that’s why we love it. I don’t think Darby has many haters out there, and this long-time song only adds to his current Cinderella run.
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#7 – Seth Rollins | “Burn it Down” – CFO$
Catchy. Chanty. Immediate aura. The double bass saves this song. No notes. Let’s move on…
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#6 – Kenny Omega | “Battle Cry” – Little V Mills
If can imagine the ultimate hero song in a fantasy game, this would be it.
“Are you ready to go? Are you ready for this?”
Easily one of the most recognizable songs in AEW, Kenny Omega’s “Battle Cry” is the perfect fit for his one-winged angel persona. It’s a song I have on my playlist, and will often turn the volume up on if it pops on.
A fitting entrance song for the GOD of pro wrestling.
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#5 – Roman Reigns | “Head of the Table – CFO$
Is this best suited for background music you would hear at a gym? Yes. However, if I’m lifting, and this hops onto my playlist, am I skipping it?
Hell no.
This is a pretty epic song for Roman. It fits his current aura with perfection, and we’ll likely be hearing this one for a long time.
A lot of WWE entrance songs don’t have lyrics, and personally, I think that hurts them a little. Lyrics give a song personality. Not all instrumentals can be great — but this is an example of when it’s done right.
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4 – Swerve Strickland | “Hit Different” – Swerve, Raekwon, Monteasy
What else can yo say? Dude produced and performed his own entrance music. You could add in “Big Pressure” as well, as his former theme, but Swerve Strickland gets a ton of credit for turning his entrance into a weekly performance, with crowd participation. (Have you done Nana’s dance? Don’t lie…)
Immediate aura. Flawless presentation. Only Swerve Strickland can come out to something like this. The most dangerous man in pro wrestling.
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#3 Cody Rhodes | “Kingdom” – Downstait
It’s a tad whiny, but Cody has made this song work for him in more ways than one. The crowd always sings along with this song. “Something, something Cody Rhodes” is by far my favorite lyric in this one.
This song helped reshape Cody Rhodes in every single way possible. From becoming the “American Nightmare” to “EVP” to that guy who gets a rubber chicken thrown at him because he didn’t finish his story that one time — this song has been here for the ride.
I didn’t think Cody would make my top 3, but here he is. The song has everything. Kudos, Cody.
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#2 – Saya Kamitani | “Phenex Queen” – Stardom
I almost had this at number one.
If you haven’t heard this song, just watch the video above. It literally has everything.
Epic “end boss” theme? Check.
Dramatic aura-filled entrance? Check.
A complete banger? Check.
My current personal favorite, this is a song that does sit in rotation on my personal playlist. While we don’t have crowd participation for this one, I can overlook it because the epic factor is so damn high here.
And while Saya Kamitani just lost her Stardom red belt, she’s far from done in her years-long dominant rise to the top. Perhaps we’ll see her at Forbidden Door…?
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#1 – Will Ospreay | “Elevated” – It Lives, It Breathes
(note: it starts at 3:25)
This is a very good song that should get you pumped up about literally anything in life. Going to work, paying bills, doing the laundry — whatever.
Crowd participation from beginning to end of the entrance. along with complete and total aura, this is by far the best entrance theme in pro wrestling right now.
Is Will Ospreay also my current favorite pro wrestler?
Yes.
Did that create some bias in creating his #1 spot?
Also, yes.
But I can make a case for number one here. I can only imagine how loud London is when Ospreay wins the AEW Men’s World Championship a All In later this year.
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Well there you have it. How much did I get wrong? What are your favorite current themes? With enough positive response, perhaps I’ll do all-time.
That is, if we don’t all kill each other over dissenting options on entrance music first.
-TKW