Entrance Theme Downgrades

[LiamMcDuggle]

With Carlito's new terrible theme, I thought I would make a thread to instances of where this happened. Stings WCW theme was an absolute classic and for whatever reason, they changed it for something that was fairly generic. They had the rights to the WCW theme, but just elected to use their own






(only version of his WCW theme I could find that worked within the guidelines of ProBoards)

[Nosnorb]

Johnny Wrestling has had trouble getting over on the main roster, and this butchering of his Rebel Heart theme hasn't helped in the slightest.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

I don't mind the theme Bret Hart has used since his return, but it's definitely a downgrade.

Fitting as they may have been, Bray Wyatt's themes after "Broken Out in Love" were downgrades.

Finlay's heel theme > Hornswoggle theme.

[Deleted]

Gunthers theme while I have gotten used to it is still a mass downgrade from symphony No .9

[Venti]

In the last few months he was in WWE, they gave Umaga a huge downgrade of a theme.

Also, I really disliked when they replaced Mr. Kennedy's heel theme with the AC/DC ripoff version. The older one was way better imo.

[chazraps]

Oct 22, 2023 20:51:47 GMT -5 Venti said:

Also, I really disliked when they replaced Mr. Kennedy's heel theme with the AC/DC ripoff version. The older one was way better imo.

Yeah, this was the nail in the coffin that ended his WWE career.

[Hypnosis]

Aleister Black's last WWE theme:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us3OVwDfw00

[DMO-]

Sami Zayn when he went heel, man that is up there with one of the worst themes.

[Nosnorb]

The version of "Just Close Your Eyes" by Story of the Year was the worst theme for an entrance Christian had in WWE and couldn't hold a candle to the version of the song he used as Captain Charisma in 2004-05.

[“Max Landis DickOnya”]

The couple of different themes they gave to Ciampa before going back to “No One Will Survive”. The theme Shelton Benjamin had for his entire second run in WWE.

[DMO-]

Kane’s theme after slow chemical was a major downgrade as well.

[rainandlava]

...Is it cheating to say a majority of Def Rebel's music when they used them after the fallout with CF0$?

[CMWaters]

Yes, they needed a new one for her heel turn, but I still think Bayley's current theme is a major downgrade from her NXT/Face theme.

Not helped that the intro to it I sometimes mix up with the intro to Judgment Day's group theme.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Gargano's was already said but my god do I have to echo the sentiment. I get sad every time I hear the first few notes devolve into garbage. That theme song should have NEVER been touched

Ciampa was in the same boat, but he got "No One Will Survive" back, don't know why Gargano came back with the dogshit remix still attached to him.

[DiBiase is Good]

Demolition going from their awesome Rick Derringer theme to “Generic Moody instrumental heel theme #26”.

When Ric Flair very first debuted in WWF, they used the classic version of his theme. Then for some reason changed it to the shitty WWF version of it he’d use for the rest of his first run there.

British Bulldog going from Rule, Britannia! to “Generic Moody instrumental heel theme #63 (with added dog barking)”

[Lizuka #BLM]

Omos going from his banger theme to Generic Monster Heel #78.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

SCSA going from iconic theme (even the Disturbed version kicked ass) to the most generic, royalty free rock riff in the middle of his heel turn.

[Nosnorb]

I would also nominate Christian when he rejoined the WWE, dude was unable to use his TNA theme (more or less an instrumental version of My Last Breath) and used the SOTY version of Just Close Your Eyes. The powers of the Turtleneck would have been nullified by that theme, can you imagine him coming out to that entrance music then telling someone they had a father?

[James Fabiano]

Oct 22, 2023 20:54:26 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Oct 22, 2023 20:51:47 GMT -5 Venti said:

Also, I really disliked when they replaced Mr. Kennedy's heel theme with the AC/DC ripoff version. The older one was way better imo.

Yeah, this was the nail in the coffin that ended his WWE career.

Worse than talking out of his ass during the Benoit Scandal? OK, I'll go with that.

So my choices...

VICTORIA. From All The Things She Said to happy dance music. And no, "I'm Not The Lady To Mess With" was still inferior too.

LOD becomes LOD 2000 and loses anything resembling their classic WWF theme.

I actually LIKE the WWF version of the 2001 music that Flair had in 1991-93. The original is the best and was it still public domain then? A minor yet major change...the version of the original theme that had to add a WOOOO! at the beginning. Not needed.

Likewise the Demolition horror movie music wasn't that bad, but can't hold a candle to Derringer.

Powers of Pain downgrading to NO music. Same as Power and Glory.

Beverly Brothers going from original theme to the one I admit more people remember.

Mr. Perfect's lower pitched version of his theme from 2002 bothered me for some reason.

Hot take: Bret Hart '94 replacing the Hart Foundation music.

Kidman losing his WCW theme.

Likewise Lance Storm (his WCW music was an overlooked banger), though he jumped back when he got the UnAmericans music.

Most times when wrestlers HAD to have a track from the latest WWF/E album as their entrances.

Christian at one point lost At Last and got a more generic theme with the "CHRISTIANNNNNNN!" intro.

Thankfully heard once, but that generic music The Rock used in 1998 the day after...forget which PPV but he wrestled Mark Henry. Reeked of "placeholder" (though I also theorized that they used it so as not to confuse Rock's entrance with the Nation's theme, as he was wrestling D'Lo...) I also felt this way when they didn't bring back the Nation Remix theme that debuted at SummerSlam '98 and instead we got the first version of what would be The Rock theme we all know and love today.

Come to think of it, another hot take: when they first introduced Danger At The Door. "I Think You Betta Recognize" was another forgotten, underrated gem. Especially the first mix.

Pre-Too Cool Rikishi had a neat theme before just using theirs.

Adam Bomb when he turned face.

DOINK WHEN HE TURNED FACE.

Shatter was a good song, but not as iconic as any version of....OK I won't say a name, I'll just call it Bray Wyatt's theme and leave it at that. Safer that way ;-)

Owen Hart's High Energy music > Owen 3:16/It's Time For A Change/whatever.

Finlay using Hornswoggle's music.

Bertha Faye going from Where It Happens to Ode to Bertha.

Yet another hot take: I missed That's All Right, Honky Tonk Mama when the Piledriver Honky Tonk Man theme took effect.

CESARO SHOULD BE THE POSTER BOY FOR THIS TROPE TOO.

We need an Other Companies version of this in the Wrest folder. In fact...

[Jindrak Mark]

He left the company soon after so he didn't have it for long but Angle got a bit of a remixed theme I think in 2006 that felt pointless to me.