The theme starts, the anticipation rises, then the star steps out in front of the live audience; whether it’s WWE or AEW, the moment matters.
Those entrance themes are all too familiar, eliciting an appropriate response before the star in question appears, with the reaction elevated as they make their way to the ring.
As familiar an experience as it has become, there’s something to be said for a live performance of an entrance theme, as has been seen in WWE and AEW over the past years:
Triple H & Motörhead at WWE WrestleMania 21
The distinctive sound of Motörhead has long been associated with Triple H in WWE, with the band playing “The Game” live at WrestleMania 21 in April 2005.
Hearing Lemmy belt out the track on the stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles must have been a phenomenal moment, even know what Triple H was put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Batista, with The Game losing the title in the main event.
Rhea Ripley & Motionless in White at WrestleMania 40
Motionless in White brought “Demon In Your Dreams” to life for Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024, with the Women’s World Champion successfully defending her title against Becky Lynch.
Ripley has been a long-time fan of the metalcore band, basing aspects of her appearance on the lead singer, Chris Cerulli, something that became very apparent as they stood side by side on stage.
Shinsuke Nakamura & Lee England, Jr at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II
A Shinsuke Nakamura entrance was often something to behold, but adding Lee England Jr on violin for the live performance at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II in 2016 was quite the moment.
To some, the violin is probably just a classical instrument in an orchestra, yet musicians such as Lee England Jr have shown that it can be the heart and soul of a piece of contemporary music, evoking emotion with every note.
Chris Jericho & Judas at AEW All In
An absolute showman on many levels, Chris Jericho and Judas performed his entrance theme at AEW All In: London in 2023.
The theme had already got fans singing along since Jericho introduced it, but those in attendance at Wembley Stadium really embraced the experience when led in song by the AEW star himself.
Will Ospreay at AEW All Out
In his first AEW World Championship defense, Will Ospreay was accompanied to the ring in style, not only with a live violin rendition of an Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag theme, but with an entrance video narrated by Matt Ryan, the voice of Edward Kenway, the pirate protagonist of the video game itself.
Ospreay’s entrance at AEW All In: London was a heartfelt love letter from mother to son, while this one was a battle cry proving why the star is in the position he currently occupies.
Do It Live
Ruby Soho debuting at AEW All Out in 2021 with Rancid playing her entrance theme. Bryan Danielson entering at Revolution in 2024 to a live performance of Born to Greatness by Elliott Taylor. The Lucha Bros entrance being performed live by Mikey Rukus & Muelas de Gallo at All Out in 2021. In Living Colour, performing Cult of Personality for CM Punk at WrestleMania 29. Rev Theory accompanying Randy Orton at WrestleMania 30 with a live performance of Voices.
Used in the right way, at the right time, a live entrance music performance can serve to elevate a match to even greater heights before the first bell has even rung.
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