Jim Cornette on Entrance Music History

From Episode 284 of the Jim Cornette Experience!
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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@TheJimCornette
@GreatBrianLast
Visit Jim's official site at www.JimCornette.com for merch, live dates, commentaries and more!
You can listen to Brian each week on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com

[@theoneandonly09]

One of the reasons I like Cornette so much his wrestling knowledge. So much history I learn.

[@MrBrianboisselle]

Anthony “so much history I learn”? Who are you, fucking Yoda?

[@Hausbrauen]

​@@MrBrianboisselle Are you kidding? Fucking Yoda *already* knows all history he does.

[@walker2980]

Well that's one of the things I like about Jim but I wish he would just stifle his fucking political stance

[@theoneandonly09]

@@MrBrianboisselle LOL I'm just now seeing this reply. No not Yoda by any means.

[@wubuck79]

Surely he’s not fucking Yoda. That would be grody.

[@MilMaska]

Today ECW would have bankrupted just because of the copyright lawsuits for music alone

[@rickyhunt4075]

They had a deal with Tommy Boy records. The rock would have been an issue though.

[@xxxaragon]

that's why all of the ECW dvds that were released in the US (I'm not talking about the ones the WWE put out, but the initial ones) also had the music changed (or the entrances cut completely).

[@mre7152]

As long as the music doesn't get played on video, you can get away with it.

[@RyanPelley1]

@@rickyhunt4075 What's The Rock have to do with this huhuhuh jk

[@steeltownbrown52]

Now Major League Wrestling uses "industry" songs for talent entrances: Lance Anoa'i - Nas Is Like instrumental (DJ Premier), HF has Jake One's 3 Kings instrumental.

[@nickmccartan8128]

Pomp & Circumstance fitted Savage like a glove.

[@Michael_Chandler_Keaton]

Fit

[@TroystonB]

Hogan using eye of the tiger was cool. Also Hogan and Voodoo Child I loved.

[@donkeypant]

Of all of Hulk’s entrance songs, I still like his ‘84-‘85-ish one from the Rock ‘n Wresting intro best.

[@aaronperezsomarriba8504]

Jake Roberts' the snake pit theme was amazing even the trust me one too it sounded like something outta Vice city

[@SolidMike84]

Or something out of "Escape from New York" movie with Kurt Russell.

[@ddave7026]

One of thee most memorable!

[@huflungdung8252]

I liked when Dusty Rhodes came out to "I'm bad, I'm Nationwide" by ZZ Top.

[@robertstraw9881]

Stone Cold had the best entrance music ever. As soon as that glass shatters the roof blows off.

[@b0n3s]

When you hear the glass, it's Vince's ass haha

[@DaviTDamasceno]

@@b0n3s Ok...

[@troylowe814]

Scott Steiner coming out to just the sound of a siren stood out and fit his persona.

[@monoaguilar6867]

A hundred times better than "steiner line".

[@gabepollock1641]

@@monoaguilar6867Steiner line was fine for babyface Scott & the Steiner brothers tag team, but it’s clearly from a certain era and it would never work for a heel since it doesn’t have any irony about it. It’s not something like “All American Boys” where the song can work for heels by playing up a particular sentiment in the other direction.

[@JasonL77]

I’m a huge fan of Queen and to this day, I still think of JUD whenever I hear Another One Bites The Dust.

[@jasperdriver8546]

Eddie Gilbert - Donna Summers hot stuff was underrated

[@GetOnTheFloor82]

The Brood entrance music was so cool with Gangrel, Edge & Christian. Bret 90s. Austin. Warrior. Too Cool. Punk.

[@elyonkunda6772]

Christians At Last theme was good

[@anthonybradley1555]

one of jim johnstons best along with the original kane burned theme, man he was a musical genius.

[@johnrotuno1077]

Corny was there! He carpooled with X Pac=)

[@_Boobear_]

Lmao

[@tyreechiejackstone7379]

The Road Warriors, running out from the curtains at the old TBS studios to destroy their opponents, and "Iron Man" playing.. Changed my life. I was young, and didn't even know who Sabbath was. Heard that "Dowwarrugh" on Iommi's guitar, said to myself wtf is that sound?, and then Hawk and Animal RAN out, and I thought for maybe the first time that badassness like that was possible..

[@Barronmore]

I remember in the dying days of WCW when Sid Vicious was World Champion he didn't have music and it really set his entrance apart. It was such a great departure i've not forgotten it.

[@ElectricStrider1]

Kudos to Jim Cornette for mentioning Bad Bad Leroy Brown.

[@anthonybradley1555]

badder than old king kong,meaner than a junkyard dog lol.

[@MaxxCoyote]

Gorgeous George did it first. Came out to Pomp and Circumstance (The WWF Randy Savage theme/Graduation theme)

[@grawakendream8980]

thats my guess too

[@willieholmes1483]

GR AWAKENDREAM, that’s what I thought too.

[@christophergarner6815]

According to Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson's book The Heels, Lord Landsdowne came out to "God Save the King" in the 1930s.

[@diamondwchamp]

You are 100% correct and he wore an elaborate robe while drawing sell-outs during the '40s and '50s. Might have been the first with a valet?

[@lukasd.4389]

@@christophergarner6815 I may sound ignorant, but could you hook a Record Player up to a sound system loud enaugh to actually hear it with a crowd in those days? I mean, you obviously could, but how? Arena Sound systems?

[@jjohnwords2873]

New Jack coming out to Ice Cube & Dr Dre - Natural Born Killers...you knew something bad was about to happen lol

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

The network version is SOOOOOOOOO horrible I've literally shed tears from laughing so hard at it. I almost wanna make it my ringtone out of pure masochistic pleasure. Seriously, LISTEN to the Network version more than once and tell me you don't envy the deaf.

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

The TNA version of The Gangstas theme song is (unsurprisingly) also the drizzling shits: Why I didn't literally die of laughter from the combination of that audio feces & Bubba's hilarious overselling of what I think was a kendo stick shot to the back is a small miracle. It was Hardcore Justice 2010. Anyone reading this who might be feeling down, I highly recommend you watch it: You'll feel much better.

[@TheXscreech2004x]

@@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150 holy crap its turrible! Just looked it up and my ears hurt.

[@SteelSunday]

New jack had his own theme recorded offered it to Heyman and Heyman kept wanting to use the illegal stuff.

[@DatFugginGuy]

When you heard his name it was something you were going to want to record. New Jack. Criminal in the ring. 😆

[@peimei22]

Hey, don't y'all be hatin' on JYD's "Grab them cakes." It's a banger! LOL

[@nileharding3137]

Jyd yet another all time great that the wwf ruined by signing him he was so over in wwf but only reached the mid card

[@bshaun]

I remember before grab them cakes it was another one bites the dust. Damn, that's going way back!

[@jerster152]

"everyone else was scratching their balls , cuz they haven't manscaped"

[@dalehulen369]

The Von Erich's coming to the ring with Nugent's Stranglehold or Rush's Tom Sawyer

[@tylermccune7092]

Rodney Duffer Wait a minute...The Von Erich’s came out to Stranglehold???

[@allancove4483]

@@tylermccune7092 Oh yeah, check out the Von Erichs vs the Freebirds from Texas Stadium at the parade of champions. Its on youtube. And the Freebirds came out to Badstreet USA. And your welcome!

[@leeberry689]

Kevin used STRANGLEHOLD, which I liked better than KERRY coming out to TOM SAWYER. But I liked GINO & CHRIS ADAMS coming out to WE WILL ROCK YOU the best.

[@duanedavis27]

@@tylermccune7092 Kevin used Stranglehold. Kerry used Tom Sawyer. David used La Grange.

[@machotorres856]

“The Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich came out to Tom Sawyer. True. Kevin came out to Stranglehold, also true. But Gino and Chris, the Dynamic Duo, came out to Bad to the Bone. And Lance Von Erich came out to Hurts So Good by JCM.

[@tommymclaughlin3203]

The Midnight Rockers used Living after Midnight by Judas Priest..awsome stuff.

[@jovanss2361]

Nothing will ever top the music used in promo packages from 99-05/06, the gritty metal/rock. I don’t even like that music but it worked so perfectly in those packages

[@Viper316RKO1]

Around 86/87, in Mid Atlantic, a tag team named The New Breed used the Beastie Boys' "You Gotta Fight For Your Right". I was hooked to the Beasties immediately and The New Breed...they consisted of Chris Champion and Sean Royal.

[@skot373]

My mind will never change. Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez are the main reason "We Will Rock You" became a staple in every major sporting event in the country.

[@silverdarlin]

Well, wrestling is so old that people may of come out to music before the 40's. Shows used to be run out of music halls, so I imagine someone found a trumpet or something backstage and used it before the matches

[@isaacgraham5727]

Much as I love “Chase” from Midnight Express, my immediate first association with it is “FROM THE HIGH DESERT…” from my many years of working nights and listening to Art Bell.

[@evanmarion4007]

I remember that the road warriors used the beginning of black sabbaths iron man

[@carrie3470]

Evan Marion that scared me so bad when it came out lol

[@Dr170]

Hate is a hell of a motivator... but hey, so is some Skynyrd!

[@stormydavis8546]

The rock style of Pomp & Circumstance that Savage got in TNA was perfect for Randy, far more than the original score. Hayes used to take credit for bringing rock n roll into wrestling, but he’s since stopped, I think. King Parsons used Cold As Ice in Missouri for NWA, but used Sister Sledge for Mid-South

[@itsmequasi]

Superstar Billy Graham in 1974 during the IWA Tour, came out to the 101 string Jesus Christ Superstar sang by Carl Anderson. It was Mighty Inoue who decided to do this this in September 1974

[@eddiepineda3562]

Midnight Express had the best entrance music in my opinion. Also gold dust entrance was good and shinsuke nakamura theme was awsome too untill they changed it

[@evolution031680]

Ultimate Warrior, man! That music was like audio adrenaline.😁

[@futuregohan4837]

Undertaker Has Had His Fair Share Of Dubbed Themes Including The Equestria Girls Rendition Of American Badass (Which Actually Sounded Great)

[@RobbaKeef]

I just figured out a few months ago that their music is from the movie midnight express!

[@Cyclonus84]

In the picture Cornette should be wearing a big Gold chain with a C hanging from it.

[@HollowRighteous]

Scott hall came out to Fugees -- Ready or not in ecw , awesome!!!

[@JaculaDudek]

watch the entrance he did with Nash in Japan to that song - smooth as fuck

[@sgzartan]

I was there for the June 28, 1997 WCW House Show in L.A. where The Outsiders used that theme.

[@TroystonB]

that was my personal favourite. it fit hall perfectly.

[@HollowRighteous]

Definitely dude

[@HollowRighteous]

Awesome

[@tnbk_andrxw4474]

Sandman- Enter Sandman🔥🔥

[@jessieb9384]

Eh I liked sandmans gimmick but that's all he was. He wouldn't have gotten over any where else his wrestling skills weren't that good if not for the blood,beer,and kendo stick and that crazy entrance no one would of cared

[@Sasso-pf1mo]

@@jessieb9384 you just summed up ECW

[@sonedts]

I liked when Sandman came out to Big Shot.

[@tnbk_andrxw4474]

@@jessieb9384 I ONLY cared for his entrance. Thanks for proving my point and how wild/ exciting those 3-5 minutes were lol

[@dcaraway3809]

Growing up road warriors had the best with midnight express

[@MrJjburgess11]

I think Andre the Giant went his whole career without music.

[@ironman2326]

Cause he never got over

[@Gravydog316]

@@ironman2326 ?

[@ironman2326]

@@Gravydog316 😆 kidding

[@OneSideofFries]

Ik in svr 06 he had a theme “the eighth wonder” I thought it was perfect for Andre

[@Dave-rf1zj]

He had music in New Japan Pro Wrestling when he wrestled there.

[@Zalacoza]

Hahaha that Randy Savage impression was on point!

[@RichMitch]

Fair play for employing less ads here

[@damiendemento9852]

"Gorgeous" George had entrance music in the 1950's long before the Freebirds.

[@jeffreyb6165]

Gorgeous George waaaay back in the 40s and 50s used entrance music. I knew this little factoid and of course Cornette had to steal my thunder with his wrestling knowledge! 😦

[@tombradley37]

It was Poison who did the remake of Mama Don't Dance, from there 1988 album Open Up And Say Ahhh

[@jasonjimerson7046]

I had a feeling that this was going to be its own video. This was very informative with wrestling history. Thanks, Jim!

[@omarsruvalcaba6]

The Von Erichs coming out to Stranglehold was badass

[@ddave7026]

That's was Kevin's Kerry was Tom Sawyer. Un less it was tag team or Three man Tag.

[@willieholmes1483]

If I were a wrestler, my music would be “One of the Living” by Tina Turner from the “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” soundtrack.

[@josemuniz4454]

Jim and brian, keep up the great work!!!👍

[@Magicmike57]

stop

[@Dave-rf1zj]

I forget which one it was, but it was either the first or second Battle of the Belts in Florida, when Ric Flair came out to "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins & Philip Bailey. Tripped me out.

[@kevinpayton2664]

I love that song.

[@patrickdepew4976]

I am not at all ashamed to admit I'm a huge John Denver fan, but I cannot under ANY circumstances imagine his version of "Some Days Are Diamonds" working as an entrance theme for ANY wrestler.

[@philaman1972]

Oh man, this clip brings back a lot of memories .

[@ddave7026]

I'm also remembering when they would announce the tour dates for WWF on that Saturday morning show they used to have, I believe it was The Who's- Eminence Front Ted DiBiase used Bad Reputation not as entrance music but a tribute to himself.

[@bamacapt115]

Austin Ido used...The Kid is Hot Tonight by Loverboy, when he was in Southeatern/Continental Championship Wrestling. And I remember that Midnight Express song they used in Southeastern too.

[@Drummer8282]

Watching classic 80’s WWF, I’m shocked how long it took for Ted Dibiase to have entrance music. Seems strange watching him walk down the aisle without ‘Money, Money, Money, Money, Moneeeeeeeey’ playing. Loved his theme song. I don’t think Andre the Giant ever had entrance music.

[@televiper11]

Andre never did. Neither did The Brainbusters

[@kshinokevin]

@@televiper11= Paul Riordan's "Coast" = It should have been That Song for Tully (Blanchard) and Arn (Anderson, "Double A / The Enforcer").

[@TheLegendKayge]

The Road Warriors coming out to 'Don't Worry Be Happy' would have been hilarious!

[@kevinpayton2664]

They would've beaten up whoever came up with the idea.

[@mikedolan6176]

Man, when Ultumate Warrior's song hit, the fucking noise! Great pump up tune

[@larryhughes1864]

Iron Man Road Warriors

[@DaremoTen]

Yes! A short clip on a specific subject! This is what I've been missing! Good work Brian or whoever!

[@markt8475]

I was down with this clip right until the end when TGBL knocked Grab Them Cakes. C'mon son, that's a classic! :D

[@yoholmes273]

Gorgeous George the legend used "Pomp and Circumstance" way back in the black & white days. Oh how the young marks forget....

[@awkc63]

Oh good. Glad you broke this down into a shorter video. This is REALLY interesting. I had been wondering for a few years if it was Georgous George who had entrance music first or not.

[@FreneticZetetic]

I remember renting the older WWF PPVs on VHS (I grew up in the 90's), and always thinking it was weird that the first two WM's had no music for entrances. Music really made the product what it is IMHO, it adds to the characters and the atmosphere. The old school style definitely had its high points, but wrestling really came into its own in 1983 with the expansion (for good or bad).

[@xxxaragon]

but the first WrestleMania already had entrance music, at least for some workers (e.g. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T coming to the ring to "Eye of the Tiger").

[@ddave7026]

Smooth Operator - Rick Rude Perfect Strangers - Shane Douglas The Game -HHH Huka Blues - Sabu Here Comes The Hotstepper - Public Enemy RESPECT RVD Undertaker theme. Kid Kash- Bawitdaba Stranglehold - Kevin VonErich Im the Mounty... The Mounty 😅😅

[@mrcarlthe4th]

Did Rick Rude come out to Smooth Operator early in his career??

[@Scaramanga7]

He and Manny Fernandez in JCP as a tag team used Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” I always thought that was a weird choice for a heel team.

[@weworldwide1348]

@Captain Brandon Horror Film Lover naw, his best theme was his last WCW theme.

[@randyjohnson7734]

I thought it fit him well.Like that song I like Sade

[@GenGamesUniverse]

Yup, that was his NWA theme before the "Simply Ravishing" theme in WCW

[@med1965]

CARLTHE4TH Yes, he used it in World Class Wrestling in 1986 after they withdrew from the NWA.

[@vaneyhag]

8:28 "cause everyone else was scratching their balls bc they forgot to manscape" lmao cornette could make a dead man pop

[@davidfrederick6003]

Most Identifiable Rock Songs/Wrestling Stars: - Rock-n-Roll Express (Rock and Roll is King) - The Fantastics/Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin (Sharped Dress Man) - The Road Warriors (Iron Man) - Jimmy Valiant (Boy from New York City) - Hulk Hogan (Real American) - Ric Flair (2001 theme) - Midnight Express (Midnight Express movie soundtrack) - Junk Yard Dog (Another one bites the dust) - Dusty Rhodes (Cant Judge a Book by Its Cover)

[@GenGamesUniverse]

I would add more to that - Steve Austin (Stunning Steve Austin) - Jesus Christ Superstar Mike Awesome - Welcome To The Jungle Finn Bálor/Prince Devitt - You're The Best Tyler Bate - Sledgehammer/Danger Zone King Kong Bundy - Crazy Train Cactus Jack - Back In Black, Symphony Of Destruction, Born To Be Wild, Welcome To The Jungle Tommy Dreamer - Man In The Box, Even Flow Undertaker - American Bad Ass, Rollin Goldberg - Crush Em Sting - Seek & Destroy

[@dabunnyman9133]

Early 70's WWWF wrestler Beautiful Bobby (Bob Harmon) managed by the Grand Wizard would come to the ring with entrance music (wish I could remember the name of the music.) It was done on the cheap with the ring announcer putting a cheapo cassette player up to his microphone.

[@JoeR203]

Wasn't Pat Patterson's music "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses? :-)

[@ericrasnake8981]

The first heel team that I started liking was "The Stud Stable" because they came out to "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" by KISS

[@rolltide9547]

Continental was great

[@RogerLockridge]

Slaughter also used the Marine music early on during his first run in the WWWF.

[@tbg1972]

He also claims he was the first to use music but maybe for the WWWF at the time.

[@Hammerhead547]

There was a guy in a local promotion here where I live who came to the ring to slayer's dead skin mask then it was changed to bloodline.

[@chrisgrissom3610]

Great show, Jim

[@neilarcher2551]

The Skyscrapers coming out to China White by the Scorpions . I think Barry Windham used to use Lagrange by ZZtop and Ricky Steamboat Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project.

[@craigstrachan]

Best theme songs . Hulk Hogan -Eye Of The Tiger, Sandman -Enter Sandman ,New Jack-Natural Born Killaz, Road Warriors -Iron Man,JYD-Another One Bites The Dust ,Fabulous Freebirds -Freebird ,Midnight Express -The Chase ,Shane Douglas -Perfect Strangers ,Randy Savage -Pomp And Circumstance . Just to name a few .Personal opinion though .

[@futuregohan4837]

If Undertaker Came Out To Natural Born Killaz In 1994 New Jack Would Automatically Assume That Undertaker Is An Unstable Psychopath Hellbent On Revenge And Destruction

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

When I started watching wrestling again in 1998 (I was 14), I became a fan of DX and at least 90% of that came from their ring entrance & theme music: Songs on the radio from 1998, now, and all years in between are rarely even close to being that good. When I bought their VHS at Sam Goody (goddamnit, I'm old...) I would rewind the part where they play their entire theme song and titantron video so much, I still don't know why my VCR didn't break. Here I'm known as Moonwalker 9705, but was also known as "Mark". #breakitdown

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Of course, Jim Croce and "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" inspired not only Leroy Brown the wrestler but also Junkyard Dog. Probably more obscure: Roddy Piper used to say "I'll put out my cigar in your face just for kicks, jack" in his promos. Someone told me a long time ago that the line was lifted from a Croce lyric, though I've yet to find the song in question.

[@gabepollock1641]

It’s not a Croce lyric; I’m pretty sure that line originates from Maggie’s Farm by Bob Dylan.

[@richardmcdowell9475]

Also Sprach Zarathustra is the 2001 theme.

[@allancove4483]

Ah yes, Ric Flair's theme!!!

[@jeffnettleton3858]

Savage used :The Chase," then Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" then "Fame," in ICW.

[@jimjohnston5719]

Eddie Gilbert also used Donna Summer.

[@tonymickens8803]

I Remember The Bruiser and The Crusher entering to the Beer Barrel Polka back in the 60's in the old Olympia Stadium here in Detroit. @Official Jim Cornette

[@CHR1SZ7]

savage impression at 14:15 has cracked me up!

[@stuartmorris6299]

Cornette knows the history but my personal fav intro music is the WWF Dusty Rhodes music, American Dream! Well good tune innit!?

[@jcarreon1983jc]

Art Bell and The Midnight Express using Giorgio Moroder's disco classic "Chase".

[@johnnyruttley1598]

Funny the music used by the Midnight Express was also in soundtrack of the movie Midnight Express

[@freddyvidz]

TBE!!!

[@tristaperez1079]

Lord Humongous coming out to War Machine was a favorite of mine. And can’t recall what Adrian Street’s song was but we loved it.

[@ddave7026]

when Adrian Street was here in San Antonio's Southwest championship wrestling. He cut his own record. " imagine what I could do to you" I think It was called?

[@tristaperez1079]

@@ddave7026 That's it! Thank you so much.

[@televiper11]

“Superstar” Billy Graham coming out to “Jesus Christ Superstar” is my all-time fav

[@southernohio3541]

memphis was first in ALL COOL WRESTLING GIMMICKS ECT

[@shanewilt1]

Like him or not, gotta appreciate Jim's historical knowledge

[@mattjarrells]

Underrated theme song: The Brood.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Gorgeous George can be credited with starting so many trends…including entrance music.

[@monoaguilar6867]

The von Erichs mostly used "la grange" "stranglehold " and "tom sawyer".

[@IcarusAtreides]

Yes, it was used way before in mexico. Late 20's with regional music.

[@chriskern186]

Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude. We will Rock You.

[@officialSTR1FE]

I don't know how I found Corny on the tube, but everyday since, it's like Christmas!

[@Football__Junkie]

Thus Spoke Richard Flair

[@joshmiller793]

I will never call this song anything else again. Woooo!

[@Gravydog316]

one of my idols, Mildred Burke used music (maybe before Gorgeous George?)

[@lordhelpus2326]

Rick Rude used to come out to SMOOTH OPERATOR. That's up there with Road warriors/IRON MAN

[@trumpstriggerfinger]

midnight express had the best intro theme...

[@DPK365]

That Savage impersonation is awesome!

[@TheUnitedRoninNetwoR4ks]

Great Mach impression!

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

Chris Colt was so damn far ahead of his time, was rocking the face paint and feather boas and entering to Alice Cooper music in the mid 70s before anyone did any of that regularly.

[@skincarver1797]

Jimmy Valiant made the song 'Rocker and Roller' in 1978 that he used as his entrance theme. He made a video too. Michael Hayes claiming he was the first to use rock music as entrance music is definitely lie.

[@womack900]

I do believe Jimmy Valiant was the first documented wrestler to use CUSTOM entrance theme music. At least that’s what I’ve always heard.

[@droc6927]

New FTR Midnight Entrence!!

[@Gawdzillest]

As an audio guy I LOL’d at 10:20 “and there ya go”

[@tapockesci1171]

The Samoan Swat Team used Don't Worry be Happy in World Class