Do we underestimate how effective entrance music gets a wrestler over?

[Damndirty]

Think about it! Would Stone Cold be as popular if he came out to smooth jazz, or the Rock with country music? Titantrons used to be cheaply made and, though more showy, are still really goofy. The wrestler's walk down the entrance ramp and pose would also look goofy and pointless on its own. But the music makes these things work, making them look and feel more promotable, and really makes the wrestler's gimmick feel legit.

Now I ask, do you think some wrestlers cannot draw because their music really turns people off?

[Corporate CockSnogger]

The best guy in the business right now doesn't even have entrance music.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/906490/20111128_raw_exclusive_jl_c.jpg

[Xero]

I think the music helps, adds to the aura and adds different things they can do (especially with something with a distinct opening, like the glass shattering or even Cena's open) but it's absolutely not the be all and end all. And I don't think they'd be anywhere near as incompetent to give someone like Austin smooth jazz or Rock country, so that's not really a problem.

It adds to a character, and I do think it could detract a bit if it was something so incompetently chosen, but for the most part it won't make or break a character.

Honestly, WWE is especially good with music choices. Jim Johnston is the unsung genius when it comes to themes, and when he retires WWE will lose an important part of their production team.

[Nicky Fives]

Music definitely helps..... without ominous music, Mark Calaway wouldn't have made it big.....

[RVDmark]

The best guy in the business right now doesn't even have entrance music.

Of course Punk has music. Oh I see what you did there. How can Larengitis possibly be the best guy in the business, he hasn't wrestled in years.

[parkmania]

The best guy in the business right now doesn't even have entrance music.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/906490/20111128_raw_exclusive_jl_c.jpg

Does anyone else think that if he sticks around in his on-screen role long enough to "earn" entrance music that it'll be Linda's that gets reused?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eFRrlDuJ948" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Corporate CockSnogger]

He should get music that starts with "My name is John Laurinaitis. I am the executive vice president of talent relations and interim general manager of Monday night Raw!"

[Corporate CockSnogger]

He only really needs something to get peoples attention quicker when he interrupts them than "hey, hey, hey Punk, hey, Punk, CM PUNK!, HEY! HEY PUNK" Maybe the lights in the arena should just flash on and off before he reels off the executive vice president... line.

[Next Big Thing]

Wasn't Linda's theme the original Summer Slam theme? Either way I hope he gets it. It's so Disney feel good youth music esque

[Xero]

Michael Cole REALLY needs this theme.

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If they're going to keep him on commentary, they should have him skip the opening segment then come out to a theme like this. On every show.

[Damndirty]

I wonder what Cena's heel music would be like. It definitely wouldn't be "My Time Is Now".

[Xero]

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[Damndirty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbU1nRYWYo&feature=related

I thought this one would be good too.

[XCaliber]

Wasn't Linda's theme the original Summer Slam theme? Either way I hope he gets it. It's so Disney feel good youth music esque

Nope it was used for Wrestlmania only it had lyrics.

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[Lock Jaw]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K3ihJjLJE1w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Raven Reaper]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AR50OBKqtu4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I really miss this super heel team... They're like the new 4 Horsemen!! This is the best entrance theme for a heel team.

[Skippord]

He should get music that starts with "My name is John Laurinaitis. I am the executive vice president of talent relations and interim general manager of Monday night Raw!"
*Mr. John Laurinaitis

[XL]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oP2zj2_zTY8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Been singing that for 2 days.

[Skippord]

also Stone Cold's music would have been kind of sweet if the Glass Shattering went right into some Coltrane

[parkmania]

Michael Cole REALLY needs this theme.

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If they're going to keep him on commentary, they should have him skip the opening segment then come out to a theme like this. On every show.

While I love that theme for him, WWE will never use it now because it'll remind people of <s>Lock Jaw</s> the Anonymous GM.

[Damndirty]

While I love that theme for him, WWE will never use it now because it'll remind people of <S>Lock Jaw</S> the Anonymous GM.

That sounds kinda like the Right To Censor background music with a drumline and Cole-over added on.

[Kane Knight]

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Finally, we know what kind of music plays in Hell.

[XCaliber]

Also to answer the OP's question i'd have say very much so it's supposed to give you a sense of who the character is and most of them are done very well but there is the occasional ones that feel spot or way off/generic though i'd say this one is an example of the sooner especially since it's evolved along with him.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MAboa9fwA0A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Damndirty]

Also to answer the OP's question i'd have say very much so it's supposed to give you a sense of who the character is and most of them are done very well but there is the occasional ones that feel spot or way off/generic though i'd say this one is an example of the soonerespecially since it's evolved along with him.

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Yeah, this version of Smoking Mirrors is hundreds of times better than the one he had before putting a bag over his head. The old one got on my nerves, and added with the grooming tip segments, made him look like a cock-craving homo.

[XCaliber]

Yet there have been instances where it appears the reverse has occured where the music has dictated the wrestler in how they change their demeaner when they come out to the ring like as follows.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEagk882N7Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I remember when I heard this for the first time I thought it was quite a contrast for Burn In My Light but at the same token it didn't really suit him anymore since he wasn't the cocky guy anymore. At this point Orton himself never gave any indication of hearing voices in his own mind until quite awhile after that in fact I think Cole brought it up even before he did.

[ace3025]

Entrances and their music are very important. However the wrestler and his/her music have to go together. Case and point Drew McIntyre. His music and entrance is pretty sweet, but he himself doesn't seem to fit the slow methodical badass that his music is for.
Plus I think a theme should have that big attention grabbing moment. Look at Austin, rock, lesnar, Goldberg, ddp etc., their music hits and you know who it is and you immediately know how to react. Unlike say, wade barrett. His theme is good but the opening sounds like someone randomly just cranked up the volume on their radio halfway through a song.

[Damndirty]

Kurt Angle's fit him well, but got repetitive after a while, and I was less into it when I found out it was the Patriot's theme.
Sometimes, I think WWE gets lazy in giving a new guy a theme used elsewhere many times before, like Ezekiel Jackson's was used by Bart Gunn and the Brawl For All, and I think for a ppv or another wrestler too.

[Kane Knight]

Kurt Angle's fit him well, but got repetitive after a while, and I was less into it when I found out it was the Patriot's theme.
Sometimes, I think WWE gets lazy in giving a new guy a theme used elsewhere many times before, like Ezekiel Jackson's was used by Bart Gunn and the Brawl For All, and I think for a ppv or another wrestler too.

I was amused by it being the Patriot's.

[Damndirty]

I was amused by it being the Patriot's.


I wish they would have stuck with the idea upgrading it to the theme they ended up using for Zack Gowen.

[XCaliber]

I wish they would have stuck with the idea upgrading it to the theme they ended up using for Zack Gowen.

It was better when they tweeked it to a rock version which I really liked but they decided to switch it back shortly after then came that awful ECW version that was the most annoying of all.

[Damndirty]

It was better when they tweeked it to a rock version which I really liked but they decided to switch it back shortly after then came that awful ECW version that was the most annoying of all.

Yeah, but they did the rock version at a bad time, when he wasn't popular. If they did it during the Invasion angle, it would have been over better. Not going to happen now.

[JimmyMess]

Scott Hall, quoting Kevin Nash on why Hall will be so over in WWF during the 1990's...

"You know why you're gonna get over? Because you got COOOL music... bada bad bada bada"

[Kane Knight]

Yeah, but they did the rock version at a bad time, when he wasn't popular. If they did it during the Invasion angle, it would have been over better. Not going to happen now.

You mean, it's not going to happen while he's in TNA?

[Damndirty]

LOL! TNA isn't even happening, so nobody really cares if it did or not.

[Kane Knight]

Come to think of it, Kurt Angle's music could probably draw more in WWE than Angle himself in TNA.

Perhaps they should give Angle's theme a push.

[Xero]

Give it to Cena. He likes to glom onto guys' heat. Just look at how he's all over Ryder's push.

[Damndirty]

Or Swagger, you know the whole American American thing, but I like Swagger's theme the way it is.
Maybe they can use it on the Eagle.