From Pop to Pop-Off: Do WWE Fans Come Just to Sing the Themes?

Do WWE Fans Buy Tickets Only to Sing Along with Entrance Themes?

Why Music, Spectacle, and Participatory Culture Now Drive the WWE Experience

In recent years, a curious claim has circulated among wrestling observers, podcasters, and even some wrestlers themselves: Do WWE fans buy tickets primarily to sing along with entrance themes rather than to watch the in-ring product? The idea may sound exaggerated, but anyone who has attended a WWE event since 2020, or even watched one on television, knows that entrance music has become one of the most potent engines of crowd participation across the entire company.

WWE has long understood that wrestling thrives on spectacle. Yet today’s fans no longer want to watch the spectacle; they want to perform it alongside the wrestlers. The rise of sing-along entrances reveals that modern fans seek emotional release, communal identity, and active involvement within the show. And WWE has embraced that shift more aggressively than at any point in its history.

The Evolution of the WWE Entrance: From Cue to Chorus

Early entrance themes did not encourage singing; they acted more like cues for crowd reaction. Hulk Hogan’s “Real American,” The Ultimate Warrior’s frantic guitar riff, and Bret Hart’s iconic intro were all immediately recognizable, but the audience rarely attempted to sing. Instead, the music signaled the arrival of a hero or villain.

But by the late 1990s, attitudes shifted. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s glass shattering became a Pavlovian trigger, while D-Generation X’s theme invited fans to yell “Suck it!” on command. In the 2000s, John Cena’s “My Time Is Now” was so ubiquitous that entire arenas rapped the first verse.

However, the post-2010 era, especially the 2020s, has taken fan-musical engagement to a different level. WWE has recognized the value of entrances as full crowd experiences, crafting themes that encourage chanting, clapping rhythms, and lyrical repetition. The result? A wrestling environment where the entrance can sometimes overshadow the match itself.

Case Studies: When the Crowd Becomes the Co-Performer

1. Shinsuke Nakamura — “The Rising Sun”

If one moment proves the power of crowd-led musical performance, it is Shinsuke Nakamura’s arrival in NXT. The violin-heavy instrumental piece contains no lyrics, yet fans turned it into a mass choral event overnight.

At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II in 2016, the sold-out crowd hummed and shouted every note of the theme for several minutes before Nakamura even stepped into the ring. The performance drowned out the commentary team, setting a precedent for how fans could use music to claim ownership of a wrestler’s presentation.

When a single track without lyrics becomes a stadium sing-along, it’s clear fans are attending for more than just the match.

2. Seth Rollins — “Visionary” Era Theme

Seth Rollins’ modern theme, with its long “Whoa-oh-oh-oh” refrain, functions almost like a church hymn. WWE instrumentation aside, the song is designed to pause in key spots so the crowd can take over. At WrestleMania 39, the audience sang the chorus for nearly two straight minutes while Rollins stood in the ring grinning.

Crowd participation became such a defining feature that WWE produced remixes tailored specifically to boost fan involvement. Rollins himself has said that the crowd’s singing “became part of the character,” essentially turning fans into co-authors of his persona.

3. Cody Rhodes — “Kingdom”

Cody Rhodes’ theme, complete with shouted lines like “Wrestling has more than one royal family!” and “Out the door and on to the next!” is built for communal shouting. Since returning to WWE in 2022, Cody’s entrances have become a form of emotional theater. Fans stand, point, shout, chant, and time their voices to the crescendos.

At the 2024 Royal Rumble, the crowd’s roar for Cody’s entrance hit decibel levels comparable to main-event finishes. Many attendees later admitted online that they “just wanted to be in the building to sing Kingdom with 50,000 people.”

Cody’s case shows how entrance participation can become its own form of catharsis.

4. Bayley — A Heel Turn Made Stronger by Song

Bayley’s pre-2020 “Hey!” chant was a cornerstone of her babyface identity. When she debuted a new, darker theme after turning heel, the absence of a sing-along moment immediately signaled character transformation. Fans couldn’t participate, and that was the point.

This illustrates that sing-along culture doesn’t just elevate entrances; it reshapes storytelling itself.

Why Singing Matters: The Psychology Behind Fan Participation

**1. Participatory Culture

Modern audiences, especially younger ones, prefer experiences that allow them to contribute. WWE fans don’t just want a show; they want a moment they helped create.

**2. Communal Identity and Ritual

Chanting, clapping, and singing instantly bond strangers. In a stadium, it transforms thousands of individuals into a unified collective.

**3. Social Media Feedback Loops

Fans know sing-along entrances go viral. A sound clip guarantees visibility on TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Social media creates a cycle: fans perform for the cameras, and WWE continues to reward them with music designed for social-media breakout moments.

Do Fans Only Come to Sing? Not Exactly—But the Line Is Blurring

While no serious observer would argue that fans exclusively attend WWE shows to sing, it is equally undeniable that entrances have become primary attractions.

Consider the following:

• Some fans leave their seats after entrances, returning midway through matches.

• Merchandise spikes often correlate directly with theme-song popularity.

• WWE frequently uploads entrances to YouTube within minutes because they consistently outperform match highlights.

• Wrestlers like Rollins or Nakamura can ignite an arena before delivering a single move.

  
  

The phenomenon mirrors trends in other performance arts. Many concertgoers attend pop concerts to experience one or two iconic songs in a communal environment; the rest of the set is secondary. WWE’s live environment now operates with similar expectations.

When the Entrance Overshadows the Wrestling

This trend has benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits

• Higher crowd energy

• Enhanced character branding

• Viral moments that drive ticket sales

• Memorable experiences for families and new fans

  
  

Drawbacks

• Matches can seem secondary

• Technical wrestling may receive less appreciation

• Performers risk being pigeonholed as “entrance acts”

  
  

Consider Bobby Roode in NXT. His operatic “Glorious” theme was so overwhelmingly popular that his matches sometimes struggled to maintain comparable fan engagement. Likewise, Nakamura’s WWE main roster run never fully recaptured the electricity of his entrances.

In some cases, the spectacle began to overshadow the art.

So, Why Are Fans Really Buying Tickets?

The true answer lies at the intersection of three forces:

1. They want community.

Singing with thousands of strangers creates an instant sense of belonging.

2. They want emotional investment.

A theme song communicates identity, story, and tone before the wrestler even speaks.

3. They want to participate, not just observe.

A WWE live show has become an interactive ritual rather than a passive performance.

Fans buy tickets to experience wrestling with their voices, not just their eyes.

Conclusion: WWE Has Turned Music Into a Co-Star

No, WWE fans don’t attend shows solely to sing along, but the sing-along has become one of the primary reasons live events feel electric. In an age where entertainment competes with constant digital distraction, WWE has cleverly embraced the participatory energy of modern audiences.

Entrance themes are no longer background music. They are the heartbeat of the WWE live experience.

As long as the company continues to craft themes that encourage crowd unity and emotional release, fans will keep flooding arenas not just to watch wrestling, but to become part of it.