Jim Johnston’s 20 Greatest WWE Creations

By Alexander Podgorski /

12. The Rock - Know Your Role

The Rock€™s theme has undergone several changes and transformation over the years, but one thing has been a constant: like Edge€™s theme, virtually all of Rocky€™s themes have begun with the words €˜If You Smell What the Rock Is Cooking!€™ What puts this one in particular on this list over the others is because it included some of the Rock€™s catchphrases, particularly €˜the Rock says€™, €˜Jabroni€™, €˜€™SmackDown hotel€™, and €˜Know Your Role€™, both of which would become part of his legendary promos. He was one of the first to revolutionize referring to himself in the third person, and the full line, €˜know your damn role, and shut your damn mouth,€™ would become so popular that they would be the titles to two SmackDown video games. All it takes for this theme to work is those first three words to instantly electrify the crowd. Anytime those words are spoken, even the most hostile crowd jumps to their feet, as demonstrated by the ending of the 2015 Royal Rumble. Well done, Mr. Johnston, well done.