WWE, in essence, is so much more than in-ring action. We adore this art form to no end because it is a style of entertainment that gives us a lot more than any sport can- truly magical stories and a chance to lose oneself in fantasy.
An integral component of each character is his/her entrance. When the music hits, and the wrestler makes his/her down the ramp, it gives the audience a chance to immerse themselves in this otherworldly experience. Many entrances through time have become iconic, but few can send chills down our spine.
Read on, as we present five entrances that give us goosebumps every single time.
Honourable Mention: Bobby Roode
Bobby Roode has taken the NXT Universe by storm. Not only is he a great hand inside the ring, his entrance has been making waves all over the world. While his ‘Glorious’ theme song harks back to the sound of bands such as Queen; Roode’s entrance at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II was truly ‘Glorious’.
With a choir of singers voicing his theme song, Roode walked the ramp with pomp, pride and swagger. Nobody who saw it happen will ever forget the glory of the moment. In case you missed it, check this link.
5: The Wyatt Family
While there have been several supernatural characters in WWE history, The Wyatt Family represents the ‘horror’ element in this new era of sports entertainment. Led by the enigmatic Bray Wyatt, a cult leader who carries a spooky, glowing lantern, there have been many incarnations of the evil Wyatts.
Each time they come out, the arena is filled with mobile phones lending their glare to a phenomenon Bray Wyatt calls his ‘fireflies’. The mystique of this cult lends greatly to their matches and their storylines, as does their creepy entrance theme.
4: Finn Balor
Anyone who’s watched NXT knows about the demon that ruled the roost there. While Balor’s run was cut short because of a freak injury (from Seth Rollins,) the WWE Universe did catch a glimpse of the demon in his gear, attired like the monster king he is named after, from Irish mythology. What made Balor special, in addition to his in-ring skills, was his breathtaking entrance as the mystical demon king.
One little-known fact is that Balor changes the paint on his body, based on whichever town he is currently in. We cannot wait for him to return and captivate us once more, with his mighty goosebump inducing entrance! Shame he only does this entrance for bigger events.
3: Shinsuke Nakamura
The night before Wrestlemania 32, the WWE Universe experienced a debut that would change the NXT landscape forever. Shinsuke Nakamura is a man who lives to entertain, with his crazy mannerisms and highly eccentric entrance.
A man inspired by Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson, Nakamura swings, prances and carries himself with ‘swag’ all the way to the ring. And if that was not enough, every NXT Takeover sees Nakamura accompanied by very special musicians, enhancing the appeal manifold.
2: The Undertaker
How The Undertaker performs at the top of his game, even at this age is anyone’s guess! One of the most respected men in sports entertainment history, The Undertaker’s entrance has attained the kind of mythical status that the man himself has, over time. When the church bells hit, and The Undertaker makes his slow walk down to the ring, we know that business is about to pick up.
There have been many variations of this entrance over time, but each time, it has brought us goosebumps. It is said that unless you have witnessed an Undertaker entrance first hand, you really have not been to a WWE show.
1: Goldberg
There is a reason why Paul Heyman refers to Goldberg as ‘the myth’. Unlike many other superstars, Goldberg’s entrance begins backstage with a security officer knocking at his door. Then accompanied by a security squad, Goldberg makes his way to ringside, stepping through smoke and fire. At one point during this entrance, Goldberg even breathes fire from his nostrils much like a real dragon would.
And when the pyro clears, and Goldberg’s warm up kicks are accompanied by firecrackers bursting behind him; the crowd seranades him with chants of ‘Goldberg’! The entrance alone made Goldberg one of WCW’s top draws, and a good reason why WCW was able to edge ahead of WWE in the Monday Night Wars of the mid-90s. A truly epic spectacle! Here’s a modified WWE version of the same entrance.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
