Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring. After a match, the entrance theme of the victor will normally be played as they exit the ring. Entrance themes are used to alert the audience to the immediate arrival of a wrestler, and to increase anticipation.
Entrance themes
editEntrance themes are often customized to the wrestler and are used to establish or accentuate their gimmick (character or personality).[1][2] It is also used to increase anticipation, as a wrestler's theme can often recognized after only a few seconds.[1] Sometimes the audience participates in the entrance by chanting or singling along; for example during Kurt Angle's theme Medal in WWE, spectators chant "You Suck!" in time with the rhythm.[2]
For example, Jacob and Eli Blu (The Blu Brothers) had an entrance theme in the World Wrestling Federation that resembled a piece of blues music, while The Undertaker has often used entrance themes which resemble a dirge, including the ringing of an eerie bell and a quote of Chopin's Funeral March. In practice, modern day entrance themes are normally rock, rap, or R&B.
History
edit1950s–1970s
edit
In the early 1950s, female champion Mildred Burke often entered to theme music. Gorgeous George was associated with "Pomp and Circumstance". Sgt. Slaughter has sometimes claimed to have introduced the idea of entrance music to Vincent J. McMahon, entered to the "Marines' Hymn" at a Madison Square Garden show in the 1970s. Though British wrestler Big Daddy had been using "We Shall Not Be Moved" as his entrance music in the 1970s in the United Kingdom.[3]
In the 1970s, Micheal P.S. Hayes of The Fabulous Freebirds had promoters play Lynard Skynard's Freebird during their entrances.[2] Subsequently, other wrestlers such the Junkyard Dog and Kerry Von Erich of World Class Championship Wrestling also began using music to accompany them to the ring.[2]
Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection
editThe "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection" was a period in the 1980s in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) featuring cooperation and cross-promotion between the WWF and elements of the music industry.[4] The idea was formed by WWF manager Lou Albano, who met singer Cyndi Lauper on a trip to Puerto Rico.[4] Lauper asked Albano to appear as her father in her video for the single "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in 1983.[4] McMahon later booked Lauper and Albano on a segment of Piper's Pit.[4] During the segment, the duo argued, and Lauper challenged Albano to a match between two female wrestlers of their choice.[5] Lauper chose Wendi Richter, while Albano chose The Fabulous Moolah.[5] The match was scheduled for July 23, 1984, at The Brawl to End it All, broadcast live on MTV.[5][6] At the conclusion of the match, Richter defeated Moolah for the WWF Women's Championship.[7]
The connection between Lauper and the WWF continued with the video for the song "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough", "Time After Time", and "She Bop", all of which featured WWF wrestlers.[7] Richter later had a match with Moolah's protégé Leilani Kai at The War to Settle the Score, with Lauper and Moolah in their respective corners.[8] Kai won the title with the help of Moolah.[8]
1990s–present
editIn the 1990s, the WWF often used stock music for wrestling themes.[9]
Original music
editWhile some wrestlers retain entrance themes when changing promotions or use popular songs, most modern wrestlers use original music.[1] This is due to licensing costs and in order to avoid having to pay royalties. A promotion might also purchase music from production libraries, which is considered to be cheaper than the royalties of commercial music, or use public domain music, which is available for no fee. Due to less restrictive copyright laws in Mexico, lucha libre promotions use mostly popular songs. In addition, ECW used popular music in order to promote a hip, edgy, counter-culture image.
In-house composers
editThe following are composers known for composing numerous in-house theme songs for particular wrestling promotions:
- Jimmy Hart (composed music for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling)
- Michael Hayes (composed music for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling)
- Jim Johnston (composed music for World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment)[1]
- CFO$ (composes music for WWE)[9]
- Adam Massacre (composes music for Ring of Honor)
- Dale Oliver (composes music for Impact Wrestling)[1]
- Sheri Shaw (sstaria)[10] (composed music for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Impact Wrestling)
- Harry Slash (composed music for Extreme Championship Wrestling)
- Yonosuke Kitamura (composes music for NJPW)
Footnotes
edit- ^ a b c d e Ali, Reyan (July 20, 2011). "Meet Dale Oliver, TNA Wrestling's architect of a thousand songs". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Giannini, Alex (August 30, 2013). "The 50 greatest WWE entrance themes ever!". WWE. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Greetings, Grapple Fans: Big Daddy". Fighting Spirit Magazine. October 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 166–167.
- ^ a b c Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 169–170.
- ^ Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p. 87.
- ^ a b Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 171–173.
- ^ a b Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p. 176–177.
- ^ a b Richards, Morgan (June 15, 2019). "The greatest WWE entrance music themes of all time". Mirror. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Del Mar, Pollo (August 25, 2016). "Rocker Billy Corgan's Impact On TNA Has Only Started, Says Musician Behind Wrestling Theme Songs". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)
References
edit- Lillian Ellison (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. ISBN 978-0-06-001258-8.
- Shields, Brian (2006). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. World Wrestling Entertainment. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
{{WWE Albums}} {{Portalbar|Music|Professional wrestling}} [[Category:Professional wrestling music| ]] [[Category:Professional wrestling-related media]]