What makes these people? What makes the Steve Austins, Bill Goldbergs, Rocky Maivias? It is impossible to name one specific thing that will make or break your character to the fans and get you “over” with them. I prefer to look at the pieces of the puzzle, the subtle things most people don’t think of, as the key reasons. Since wrestling today is so much more high tech and extravagant than it ever has been in the past, with nearly everyone having fireworks or some sort of catchphrase that they use to promote themselves, the fans look for things to separate the heroes and the people that no one really cares about.
Take, for example, someone’s entrance music. I think this is overlooked when fans are trying to discern exactly why they like someone. This is the opening promotion of the wrestler and the thing that can start the crowd eruption. What gets the crowd going crazy when Steve Austin is coming out? Is it when he appears down the rampway? Not at all. As soon as Austin’s music comes on the crowd goes crazy and cheers. It is a trademark of a wrestler and is undervalued by too many people.
Think of some of the biggest names in our sport when they were at the height of their popularity. Ric Flair will always be identified with the sequined robes and the bleached blonde hair. Yet another major identifying mark is his trademark music, “Thus Spake Zarathusa.” It is something that fans can identify with and feel the electricity of. Another major point is that non-fans watching wrestling for the first time hear that music and something just clicks inside of them saying, “This has got to be someone important.”
A major problem in today’s industry, at least in my opinion, is the constant changing of a wrestler’s theme music. I realize that copyright infringement is illegal when a wrestler travels to another promotion. His song probably won’t be coming with him. However, when a wrestler has been in either the WWF or WCW for a long period of time it is nice for that wrestler to have the same music during that whole time. Constant changing only confuses and annoys the paying customers. Fans pride themselves on knowing what is going on and that includes knowing the wrestlers theme music.
While I do wholeheartedly admit that redundancy can become a problem, I believe it is less of a problem than promoters think. Tinkering with existing music is definitely something that needs to be done from time to time, depending on the wrestler. An example of this is The Rock’s latest music. While not the best theme I believe it was necessary to change the music so as to solidify his break with the Nation.
When a wrestler’s gimmick just isn’t working and the promoter decides to change it up he tinkers with everything. The wrestler might get a haircut or a new outfit. He might even get a new manager to escort him to the ring. A heel or face turn is always a possibility. Yet one thing that people don’t always notice of a re-made wrestler is that his music normally changes. The promoters understand the importance of this. Why can’t most fans?
Until next time, comments are always welcome.
