One of the most-overlooked positive aspects now commonplace in today’s pro wrestling scene that was truly a Vince McMahon invention was the popularization of wrestlers coming to the ring with theme music. Sure, others down the line had incorporated it into their repotoire — Gorgeous George actually was the first to use “Pomp and Circumstance” and not Randy Savage) but it was McMahon who not only gave his pro wrestlers the soundtrack, he also gave them the attitude by marketing something he called Rock and Wrestling.

Originally launched for the first WrestleMania with Cyndi Lauper, it wasn’t before Vince must have tired of paying royalties to bands whose music he was employing. For soon after, Eye of the Tiger gave way to Real American (specially written for Hulk Hogan by Rick Derringer) with the eventual move to have various wrestlers even record their own entrance themes. Let’s just say there were some variances in quality. One of the better ones, actually, was Koko B. Ware’s “Piledriver” ditty, which actually came of The Wrestling Album 2. Even better than the tune, however? This way-out video produced by the former WWF featuring several stars of the day, smack in the middle of a construction site. Check out Billy Jack Haynes; Bam Bam Bigelow; Jimmy Hart; Honky Tonk Man; Hogan; Arnold Skaaland; Don Muraco; Superstar Billy Graham, Sir Oliver Humperdink and — yes, naturally — McMahon himself (although conspicously, he only appears in the segment when the crew is on break. Not a lie). A nostalgic treat for those who grew up in this era. And for those that didn’t? Just watch. It’ll do ya good to some genuine no-doubt-most-if-not-all-these-dudes-are-steroid-users in full glory! Pile-driver!! We-e-e-e-e-l-l-l . . . pile-driver!!

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