Rock and Wrestling connection left lasting memories
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!!
- Mr. Mal
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July 21st, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Now that is simply BRILLIANT!!!!!! That Video just shows you how incedibly huge those guys were back in the day…. of course all done through legit vitamins and milk!
July 21st, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Oh one other thing.. I maybe wrong, but wasn’t Derringers ‘Real American’ originally used for Rotundo and Windham??
July 21st, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Wow!! A WrestlersRamblings Official No-Prize for Hawkboy!! You are indeed correct, sir. Initially, the song was — in fact — composed for the popular Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo tanden, known as American (and later the U.S.) Express. But Windham left the WWF shortly after the Wrestling Album’s release. Rotundo was repackaged with Windham lookalike Dan Spivey and Hogan — who initally was given the instrumental “Hulk!” song also used for the Hulk Hogan’s Rock and Wrestling cartoon — was then given Real American, a much, MUCH better song for Hogan. The instrumental tune didn’t do him justice at all. In fact, I dare say Hulkamania wouldn’t have been as big with it, if in fact, Windham wouldn’t have left. Here’s what was supposed to be Hogan’s tune:
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Also a little known fact… the wrestlers did indeed travel around together in real life versions of the cars used in ‘Hulk Hogans Rock n’ Wrestling’ cartoon. Okay…maybe not.
Now as some of you may know Barry Windhaw was a huge fave of mine as a kid, but I always thought the ‘Golden Boy’ Danny Spivey was highly underrated as a wrestler.
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Spivey’s bad knees derailed his career. He was a GREAT heel as Waylon Mercy (his last gimmick) and was in line for a big push — prior to being forced to retire. Windham had bad knees, too. Kind of a by-product of being that big I suppose. You would know, Hawkboy. I bet you can’t bump in the ring like ya used to!
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
The Ol’ 6′7″ frame can’t Jump Kick like I used ta!!!!!