AEW Vs. WWE: Head To Head

4. Music

Seth Rollins Thanos
WWE.com

In which AEW is considerably closer to WCW than self-professed fan Cody might like.

The volume of the entrance themes is too low in the mix to resonate—as pointed out, this is something Omega is keen to correct—and the music itself is forgettable. AEW’s brief existence isn’t really an excuse; few if any of the themes come with the instantly recognisable sting necessary to unglue the crowd. Kenny Omega’s Battle Cry is an accelerating, corny, synth-driven wonder, but in the context of a wrestling arena, the reflective intro doesn’t really work.

The Young Bucks and Hangman Page themes are excellent and familiar. Beyond that, AEW is positioning Britt Baker as the recognisable face of the women’s division, but her theme is fairly unremarkable. This is the case with too much of the AEW roster. Three shows in, and it’s difficult to hum along. AEW, on admittedly scant evidence, seems to trade, in-house, in fairly generic rock music.

In contrast, Bobby Roode’s ‘Glorious’ was such an instant banger that it became a viral sensation within wrestling circles. And, when WWE does opt for a thumping rock track, they have the nous to crank it up, or add something—BURN IT DOWN!—to encourage interaction with the crowd.

WWE’s excellence in this field is everlasting.

SCORECARD: AEW 4-2 WWE

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!