10 Best WWE Raw Opening Themes Ever

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

I've given myself a thankless task here. I know I can't win. I know no matter what order I choose here it

will

be wrong - unless you're around 25 years old and have a fantastic taste in music like myself, that is. Do you like Babymetal, Scooter and early noughties pop sensation A1? We're going to get along just fine!

It's ok, I can accept being wrong - it's just how wrestling works. Whatever era was going on when your wrestling fandom either started or was at its peak, that's the best era. There's nothing anybody can say for you to think otherwise - even if your era was objectively awful. It's the one you associate with the glory days of life when the biggest problems you had were making sure you had the latest Hasbro, or convincing your mother that wearing the latest DX t-shirt to school was a

great

idea.

With that in mind, no matter your age the best opening theme song for Raw is the one from

your

era of WWE - if

your

era came before January 1993, I apologise, you're an anomaly and beyond any kind of medical help.

Most of the songs in this list are garbage, let's be real here. But they're our garbage and remind us of the good old days. Therefore, they're absolutely amazing.

"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them." Bernard, A (2013)

10. "Raw" By Jim Johnston

It's a catchy tune, but I want more from my Monday Night Raw theme. This effort from the incredible Jim Johnston gives me something, but not quite enough to titillate my eardrums.

This slice of tuneage - with one of the most ingenious titles I've ever seen, by the way - is just too repetitive to be any higher than bottom place on this list. And speaking of bottom, is it just me or does this theme have a passing resemblance to the song that closes Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's Bottom? (They don't own the same arse, to clarify. I mean the closing theme to their TV show named as such.)

It is just me? I implore you to go and listen to them one after another. You what? 'Go away'? Oh, ok then. But before I do and you read the rest of this list, please remember I'm nowhere near as bad a person as Michael Hayes. Don't hate my opinions as much as you undoubtedly hate him.

9. "The Night" By Kromestatik

Before we get going, I feel like I need to say that Kromestatik doesn't include Brians Clark and Adams. Kromestatik and Kronik are two very different things indeed.

As wrestling fans, we're anything but cool. It's something we accepted a very long time ago and there are no amount surgical procedures that will change anything - not that we have the money to go under the knife in the pursuit of coolness, of course. We'd rather buy a Rusev Day shirt. Happy Rusev Day, everyone.

This song being used on a WWE show is like your dad coming in from a

few jars down the pub

wearing skinny jeans and those thicky-wedged Nikes all the hip-hop-and-happening kids seem to wear these days. It's a very uncool wolf in the most dazzling of sheep's wool jumpers.

It's not right for the start of a wrestling show, in my opinion. It's too timid. I know WWE changed this song to a slightly racier version down the line but that still had the same effect.

You might have liked it, and good on you for doing so. I'm not going to sit here and take the stereotypical wrestling fan approach of saying your opinion is wrong because it is different to mine.

8. "Enemies" By Shinedown

The current Raw theme saw the show's opening jingle

grow a pair

for the first time in four years back in 2016.

Sometimes wrestling goes a bit too far down the rock route - comically so in some promotions - but it still works in the right places and the opening theme to the biggest weekly televised 'rasslin show is certainly one of those.

Like many on this list it's a toe-tapper, and serves the right tonic in getting you pumped up for a...

...

...

very disappointing show. Sorry Raw, but three hours is too long. You know it, I know it; woo woo woo.

7. "Burn It To The Ground" By Nickelback

Look at this photograph

Every time I do it makes me laugh

How did our eyes get so red?

And what the hell is on Joey's head?

Nickelback are horrible.

Despite knowing what they were letting themselves in for, WWE went for it and hired Chad and friends back in 2009. Even though they're Nickelback, and their music is offensive AF, this theme fit Raw pretty well - kind of like the gloves you undoubtedly got for Christmas, I guess.

Go on, admit it. You quite like this theme being used for Raw. Don't worry, we're all in this together. It's nothing to be ashamed of because they talk about getting their balls out, the fearless bastards, and that's BAD ASS. Lyrics of that ilk certainly showed mum and dad how wrong they were for lambasting our wrestling obsession back then, right? YEAH!

6. "I Like It Raw" By Jim Johnston

I gotta lose this pressure

I gotta get away

Every time I'm with you baby everything's ok

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Only every night can feel so good

No doubt about it

Make it a law

I like it Raw

Absolute nonsense. Absolute gold.

Just look at the state of those lyrics, man. Look at the state of them. How can you hate a song with lyrics like that? You can't - even though it looked like Shawn Michaels legitimately wanted to jump off the top of Titan Tower in the video that accompanied this song. Forget about Shawn, what does he know?

This is another example of a piece of music written for professional wrestling trying to be one thing, and then ending up so far away from the thing it's trying to be that it can't even see the thing it was trying to be in the first place - this makes sense in my head. I hope it does yours.

It's slow, underwhelming, and the lyrics... I just can't get enough of them in the same way junkies can't get enough of their awful fix. They shouldn't want more, just like I shouldn't want more of 'Like It Raw', but like them, I just can't help it.

I need therapy.

5. "To Be Loved" By Papa Roach

If we've learned anything over the past 25 years it's that WWE Raw's theme tunes love to have random noises as part of their make up. We've had the 'heys' with Nickelback's BARNSTORMING track so far in this list, and this time Papa Roach give us the 'woooooos'. So much type. So much cool.

It's quick, it's loud, it talks about the important issues in life like the "hardcore level," it's a solid choice for the opening theme of Monday Night Raw.

4. "Monday Night Raw" By Jim Johnston

You always remember your first and BOY HOWDY, how could you forget the first ever theme of WWE Raw?

I think the appropriate word to use here is 'anthem'. This is an anthem. I wouldn't say it's a timeless anthem - that's a bit

too

far as it's smothered in early 90s synthy mayonnaise - but it's one of those wrestling songs that takes you back to your parents' living room and makes your toes curl like one of Byron Saxton's mother's apple pies. It's just lovely, isn't it?

And

DAT

noise.

DAT

noise is sensational. I don't know what it is, but if fireworks lost the ability to make the noise they normally make, I think they'd pick

DAT

noise - you know the one that blurts out numerous times during this song - as its replacement. And I'm sure you'll agree, there's no higher praise than that because fireworks are the best.

3. "The Beautiful People" By Marilyn Manson

Don't fret, dear reader. You haven't clicked a dodgy link that has transported you to a wonderful top 10 list running down the top 10 themes in SmackDown history. Beautiful People was used as Raw's theme for a few weeks back in 1997.

I think it's a great tune to use to kick off a wrestling show. I'm not afraid to admit this to you, but I like its balls. It's a song that just fit the professional wrestling scene back in 1997 more snugly than the crotch of Ahmed Johnson's tights. And I should probably move on rather quickly as you now have the image of Ahmed Johnson's crotch in your head. Sorry.

2. "Thorn In Your Eye" By Anthrax Featuring Scott Ian

Marilyn Manson's Beautiful People was the perfect match for the wrestling world back in 1997. Thorn In Your Eye was also a perfect fit for the wrestling world back in 1997, with the only thing setting the pair apart from each other the fact that when paired with a baron warehouse and explosions and fire and a mini Battle Royal, TIYE fit that scene better.

Even though nobody apart from the fella singing it had any idea what the lyrics were, this is the Attitude Era. This is Raw Is War. This is the song most synonymous with the most successful period of wrestling history.

What also sets this song apart from Manson's efforts is its partner in crime: We're All Together Now. Thorn In Your Eye opening the show before the WATN's riff kicks in is like fish and chips, bangers and mash, Booker T and nonsense.

1. "Across The Nation" By Union Underground

You know when you find yourself in a situation where you firmly believe that something is better than another thing but if somebody was to ask you why you have no idea?

This is one of those occasions.

I think Across The Nation is the best Raw theme of all time, but I can't tell you why I prefer it to Thorn In Your Eye.

Maybe it's got something to do with WWE's production staff in 2002. While the setting for the Raw Is War intro is nothing short of iconic, the way the Ruthless Aggression Era's Raw intro was paired with imagery on screen took the impact of the song to the next level. Without seeing the package for what can only be described as

BARE TIME

, I can still see Shawn Michaels' Superkick to Shelton Benjamin, Kane's pyro and all of the bloody faces quite vividly.

10. It’s Me, It’s Me, It’s La…Park…A

When Randy Savage was booked against LA Parka on the July 7th, 1997 episode of Nitro, it just seemed like a typical, random match that fans of the show had come to expect to see.

Given their respective statuses on the card – Savage was a solidified main eventer, Parka a little bit of novelty midcard fun – most would have expected a routine victory for the Macho Man.

This was emphasised by the fact that they cut away from the WCW ‘Chairman’s’ entrance to show a recap, while superstar Randy made a long walk to the ring flanked by nWo pals Scott Hall and Elizabeth.

The bout was short and one-sided as anticipated and Hall walked to the commentary booth in the middle of it, as Savage went for the big flying elbow to wrap things up while the prone Parka lay there, ‘unconscious’ according to the announcers.

But then he got his feet up and nailed a stunned ‘Mach with a…Diamond Cutter?

The man under the hood was, of course, everyone’s favourite Yoga Dad, Diamond Dallas Page, masquerading as the skeletonised luchador.

It was a great angle and an expert reveal, as nobody had a clue it was DDP under there and provided a rare moment of someone getting one over on the New World Order.

10. It’s Me, It’s Me, It’s La…Park…A

When Randy Savage was booked against LA Parka on the July 7th, 1997 episode of Nitro, it just seemed like a typical, random match that fans of the show had come to expect to see.

Given their respective statuses on the card – Savage was a solidified main eventer, Parka a little bit of novelty midcard fun – most would have expected a routine victory for the Macho Man.

This was emphasised by the fact that they cut away from the WCW ‘Chairman’s’ entrance to show a recap, while superstar Randy made a long walk to the ring flanked by nWo pals Scott Hall and Elizabeth.

The bout was short and one-sided as anticipated and Hall walked to the commentary booth in the middle of it, as Savage went for the big flying elbow to wrap things up while the prone Parka lay there, ‘unconscious’ according to the announcers.

But then he got his feet up and nailed a stunned ‘Mach with a…Diamond Cutter?

The man under the hood was, of course, everyone’s favourite Yoga Dad, Diamond Dallas Page, masquerading as the skeletonised luchador.

It was a great angle and an expert reveal, as nobody had a clue it was DDP under there and provided a rare moment of someone getting one over on the New World Order.

9. Sting Repels from the Rafters

Sting’s decision to walk out on WCW following the WCW versus nWo War Games match at Fall Brawl 1996 kicked off one of the best storylines in the company’s history.

The Stinger went all moody after that, ditching his neon threads and colourful face paint in exchange for gothy black and white and sat about in the rafters for a while, watching on as the Order continued to wreak havoc.

The first time he repelled down was an incredible moment.

It happened right at the start of the January 20th, 1997 episode of Nitro.

Randy Savage – who hadn’t been seen on WCW television since losing a WCW Title match to Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc months earlier – stormed out and announced that he wasn’t going anywhere until he talked to somebody with stroke.

He then beat up Chavo Guerrero and Maxx Payne and would have likely done the same to the gaggle of goons who came out next, until Sting descended from the ceiling.

The sea of wrestlers and officials parted as the baseball-bat-clutching Vigilante confronted the Macho Man and the two left together without a word spoken between them.

A killer way to start a show and a first proper look at the ‘new’ Sting.

How he could be so trusting after being turned on about 57 times in the past, I’ll never know.

9. Sting Repels from the Rafters

Sting’s decision to walk out on WCW following the WCW versus nWo War Games match at Fall Brawl 1996 kicked off one of the best storylines in the company’s history.

The Stinger went all moody after that, ditching his neon threads and colourful face paint in exchange for gothy black and white and sat about in the rafters for a while, watching on as the Order continued to wreak havoc.

The first time he repelled down was an incredible moment.

It happened right at the start of the January 20th, 1997 episode of Nitro.

Randy Savage – who hadn’t been seen on WCW television since losing a WCW Title match to Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc months earlier – stormed out and announced that he wasn’t going anywhere until he talked to somebody with stroke.

He then beat up Chavo Guerrero and Maxx Payne and would have likely done the same to the gaggle of goons who came out next, until Sting descended from the ceiling.

The sea of wrestlers and officials parted as the baseball-bat-clutching Vigilante confronted the Macho Man and the two left together without a word spoken between them.

A killer way to start a show and a first proper look at the ‘new’ Sting.

How he could be so trusting after being turned on about 57 times in the past, I’ll never know.

8. The Hitman Outsmarts Da Man

One of the great tragedies of Monday Night War era WCW is how they managed to waste one of the best wrestlers in the world while he was arguably at his hottest.

When Bret Hart came into WCW, he was fresh off being the victim of the Montreal Screwjob, and had a tonne of sympathy and fan support behind him, giving WCW plenty of options as far as angles and storylines were concerned.

They failed to do just about all of them, of course, because who likes money anyway? and instead The Hitman’s time in WCW is seen as a massive, missed opportunity.

He did have his moments, however, such as the Owen Hart tribute match, a couple of hilarious promos about El Dandy and that time he outsmarted Bill Goldberg.

It went down on the March 29th, 1999 episode of Nitro, which took place in Toronto, Canada, making Bret the de-facto most popular star on the show.

The Excellence of Execution challenged Goldberg, who said nothing but delivered his usually devastating Spear in response.

Usually, because on this occasion it was Da Man who came off worse, as Bret stood up to reveal a steel plate hiding underneath his hockey jersey.

Typically, WCW didn’t exactly follow up on this dynamite angle, but it made for compelling television nonetheless.

8. The Hitman Outsmarts Da Man

One of the great tragedies of Monday Night War era WCW is how they managed to waste one of the best wrestlers in the world while he was arguably at his hottest.

When Bret Hart came into WCW, he was fresh off being the victim of the Montreal Screwjob, and had a tonne of sympathy and fan support behind him, giving WCW plenty of options as far as angles and storylines were concerned.

They failed to do just about all of them, of course, because who likes money anyway? and instead The Hitman’s time in WCW is seen as a massive, missed opportunity.

He did have his moments, however, such as the Owen Hart tribute match, a couple of hilarious promos about El Dandy and that time he outsmarted Bill Goldberg.

It went down on the March 29th, 1999 episode of Nitro, which took place in Toronto, Canada, making Bret the de-facto most popular star on the show.

The Excellence of Execution challenged Goldberg, who said nothing but delivered his usually devastating Spear in response.

Usually, because on this occasion it was Da Man who came off worse, as Bret stood up to reveal a steel plate hiding underneath his hockey jersey.

Typically, WCW didn’t exactly follow up on this dynamite angle, but it made for compelling television nonetheless.

7. The first shot in the Monday Night Wars

One of the best moments in WCW Nitro history took place on the very first episode of the show.

A lot was riding on the success of the first Nitro, which took place at Minneapolis’s Mall of America on September 4th, 1995 and had all the major stars like Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ric Flair and Randy Savage appearing.

Setting the tone for what was to come in the weeks, months and years after, WCW also showed that they had one or two surprises up their sleeves and were really going for it in their ratings battle with WWE.

One day after wrestling for the WWE Tag Team Titles at a WWE house show, Lex Luger strolled down to ringside during the Sting versus Flair match, as the commentary team (including Eric Bischoff) flew into a panic at the sight of the supposed invader.

The Total Package came out again later at the culmination of Hogan’s win over Big Bubba Rogers, saving the Hulkster from a Dungeon of Doom beatdown before teasing a confrontation with Mr. Nanny himself.

For a first shot in the Monday Night Wars, this was a big one, as it immediately conditioned viewers to expect the unexpected and went off the air on a real cliff-hanger.

7. The first shot in the Monday Night Wars

One of the best moments in WCW Nitro history took place on the very first episode of the show.

A lot was riding on the success of the first Nitro, which took place at Minneapolis’s Mall of America on September 4th, 1995 and had all the major stars like Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ric Flair and Randy Savage appearing.

Setting the tone for what was to come in the weeks, months and years after, WCW also showed that they had one or two surprises up their sleeves and were really going for it in their ratings battle with WWE.

One day after wrestling for the WWE Tag Team Titles at a WWE house show, Lex Luger strolled down to ringside during the Sting versus Flair match, as the commentary team (including Eric Bischoff) flew into a panic at the sight of the supposed invader.

The Total Package came out again later at the culmination of Hogan’s win over Big Bubba Rogers, saving the Hulkster from a Dungeon of Doom beatdown before teasing a confrontation with Mr. Nanny himself.

For a first shot in the Monday Night Wars, this was a big one, as it immediately conditioned viewers to expect the unexpected and went off the air on a real cliff-hanger.

6. Lawn Dart!

Following their formation at the 1996 Bash at the Beach pay-per-view, the New World Order were just about unstoppable.

Hogan, Hall and Nash ran roughshod over WCW in the aftermath, doing what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it.

The Order are remembered as a kickass unit who made WCW cool and helped to keep them ahead of WWE in the ratings.

You know, before they welcomed every from Virgil to…well, that’s bad enough, isn’t it?

The episodes of Nitro immediately following the Bash at the Beach showed the nWo at their best, and perhaps none were better than the July 29th edition, where the trio took apart the WCW roster.

First they got to Arn Anderson, Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs with a baseball bat and stage light, before Rey Mysterio attempted to crossbody Big Sexy and got thrown mask-first into the side of a television truck like a human lawn dart.

And I, like you, probably only know what a ‘lawn dart’ is because of this moment.

Randy Savage then attempted a rescue, only to get driven away while dangling from the nWo limousine’s sunroof.

Everything about the angle and its aftermath was game-changing television and also happened on the same show as the first nWo paid advertisement, which gave us the debut of the nWo logo and entrance theme.

6. Lawn Dart!

Following their formation at the 1996 Bash at the Beach pay-per-view, the New World Order were just about unstoppable.

Hogan, Hall and Nash ran roughshod over WCW in the aftermath, doing what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it.

The Order are remembered as a kickass unit who made WCW cool and helped to keep them ahead of WWE in the ratings.

You know, before they welcomed every from Virgil to…well, that’s bad enough, isn’t it?

The episodes of Nitro immediately following the Bash at the Beach showed the nWo at their best, and perhaps none were better than the July 29th edition, where the trio took apart the WCW roster.

First they got to Arn Anderson, Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs with a baseball bat and stage light, before Rey Mysterio attempted to crossbody Big Sexy and got thrown mask-first into the side of a television truck like a human lawn dart.

And I, like you, probably only know what a ‘lawn dart’ is because of this moment.

Randy Savage then attempted a rescue, only to get driven away while dangling from the nWo limousine’s sunroof.

Everything about the angle and its aftermath was game-changing television and also happened on the same show as the first nWo paid advertisement, which gave us the debut of the nWo logo and entrance theme.

5. The Enforcer’s Farewell

A little over a year after being taken out by the nWo in that memorable backstage scene, Arn Anderson was forced to call it a day on his wrestling career.

The Enforcer had been experiencing a lot of pain due to severe neck and back issues and required surgery that would end his days as an active wrestler.

In a memorable and emotional scene, Anderson addressed his health and the events leading up to his decision to retire on the August 25th, 1997 episode of Nitro.

Speaking from the heart, Double A delivered the address/promo as well as any in his career. This Nitro was taking place in Carolina – Horseman territory – so Arn naturally got the respect he deserved as he said his piece (while Ric Flair tried to hold it together in the background).

He seamlessly and humbly parlayed his retirement announcement into another astute piece of business when he offered Curt Hennig a spot – not just any spot, but his spot – in the Four Horseman.

A time when wrestling wasn’t exactly known for its tact and class, this was refreshing and a respectful way to wrap up a hell of a career…

…and then the New World Order did a tasteless parody the very next week, because WCW.

5. The Enforcer’s Farewell

A little over a year after being taken out by the nWo in that memorable backstage scene, Arn Anderson was forced to call it a day on his wrestling career.

The Enforcer had been experiencing a lot of pain due to severe neck and back issues and required surgery that would end his days as an active wrestler.

In a memorable and emotional scene, Anderson addressed his health and the events leading up to his decision to retire on the August 25th, 1997 episode of Nitro.

Speaking from the heart, Double A delivered the address/promo as well as any in his career. This Nitro was taking place in Carolina – Horseman territory – so Arn naturally got the respect he deserved as he said his piece (while Ric Flair tried to hold it together in the background).

He seamlessly and humbly parlayed his retirement announcement into another astute piece of business when he offered Curt Hennig a spot – not just any spot, but his spot – in the Four Horseman.

A time when wrestling wasn’t exactly known for its tact and class, this was refreshing and a respectful way to wrap up a hell of a career…

…and then the New World Order did a tasteless parody the very next week, because WCW.

4. Luger Beats Hogan

WWE.com

Though the New World Order usually got the upper hand on their opponents and came out of almost every situation smelling like roses, they did get their comeuppance from time to time.

Few would have expected it to happen to nWo leader Hulk Hogan on the August 4th, 1997 episode of Nitro, however.

The Hulkster was defending his WCW Title against Lex Luger in the main event of the show.

This was just five days before Hulk and Lex were due to clash in the main event of the Road Wild pay-per-view, so the odds were that Hogan was walking out as champ due to some shenanigans, in order to build anticipation for the event fans actually had to cough up for.

How nice, then, that Luger actually won the match and got a big moment out of it.

As a match, it was as good as you’d imagine, but the sight of Luger fending off the Order with his steel forearm of doom and then making Hulk cry ‘uncle, brother’ in the Torture Rack was just lovely.

The moment was made that much sweeter by the WCW babyface locker room emptying out and congratulating him after a rare triumph for the good guys.

I will give you one hundred shares in Hulk Hogan’s PastaMania if you can tell me who won the rematch at the pay-per-view…

3. The Bad Guy Shows Up

After Lex Luger showed up on the debut episode, it became readily apparent that absolutely anyone could and would show up on Nitro on any given week.

Former WWE Women’s Champion Madusa rocking onto the Nitro set and binning the title belt? Sure, why not.

Rick Rude appearing on the live Nitro the same night as he was featured on a pre-taped Raw? Simply ravishing stuff.

Of all the various former WWE superstars to show up in WCW during the Monday Night Wars, however, none had the same impact as Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.

The former Razor Ramon and Diesel’s contracts expired in the Spring of 1996 and they headed down south to disrupt WCW programming as ‘invading’ forces being sent from the competition.

The Bad Guy was the first to show up, walking through the crowd in stylish double denim during a nothing match between two losers, hopping the barricade and informed everyone watching (including ‘Billionaire Ted’) that they were going to get a war.

This worked because it was totally unexpected and, since this was 1996 and the internet hadn’t yet ruined wrestling for everyone, nobody was really clued up as to Hall’s contractual status.

His best buddy from ‘up north’ joined him two weeks later, sewing the seeds for the formation of the New World Order.

3. The Bad Guy Shows Up

After Lex Luger showed up on the debut episode, it became readily apparent that absolutely anyone could and would show up on Nitro on any given week.

Former WWE Women’s Champion Madusa rocking onto the Nitro set and binning the title belt? Sure, why not.

Rick Rude appearing on the live Nitro the same night as he was featured on a pre-taped Raw? Simply ravishing stuff.

Of all the various former WWE superstars to show up in WCW during the Monday Night Wars, however, none had the same impact as Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.

The former Razor Ramon and Diesel’s contracts expired in the Spring of 1996 and they headed down south to disrupt WCW programming as ‘invading’ forces being sent from the competition.

The Bad Guy was the first to show up, walking through the crowd in stylish double denim during a nothing match between two losers, hopping the barricade and informed everyone watching (including ‘Billionaire Ted’) that they were going to get a war.

This worked because it was totally unexpected and, since this was 1996 and the internet hadn’t yet ruined wrestling for everyone, nobody was really clued up as to Hall’s contractual status.

His best buddy from ‘up north’ joined him two weeks later, sewing the seeds for the formation of the New World Order.

2. Goldberg Beats Hogan

Seeing Hogan lose the World Title on Nitro is so nice we just had to put it twice.

The circumstances surrounding him dropping the strap to Goldberg on July 6th, 1998 were a lot different to when he lost to Lex the year before, however.

The rookie had been on an unprecedented run since debuting, steamrolling through the competition and getting seriously over in the process.

Goldberg was a unique phenomenon, a lightning-in-a-bottle situation that WCW simply had to capitalise on.

Though they may have forewent a gazillion dollars in pay-per-view revenue by putting the match on free TV, the company booked Goldberg against Hogan on Nitro in a WCW Title match.

And not just any Nitro, either, but one emanating from a sold-out Georgia Dome.

40,000-plus were on hand to watch the former Atlanta Falcon wrestle the biggest match of his young career.

As a contest, it wasn’t going to win any Match of the Year awards, but nobody cares (or should care) about technique and finesse when there’s this much star power and heat involved.

Following interference from DDP and basketball player Karl Malone to counteract Curt Hennig at ringside, Goldberg blasted a distracted Hogan with his Spear/Jackhammer combination to become WCW Champion to a monstrous ovation.

And we still love seeing him winning world titles these days, don’t we guys?

Erm, guys….?

2. Goldberg Beats Hogan

Seeing Hogan lose the World Title on Nitro is so nice we just had to put it twice.

The circumstances surrounding him dropping the strap to Goldberg on July 6th, 1998 were a lot different to when he lost to Lex the year before, however.

The rookie had been on an unprecedented run since debuting, steamrolling through the competition and getting seriously over in the process.

Goldberg was a unique phenomenon, a lightning-in-a-bottle situation that WCW simply had to capitalise on.

Though they may have forewent a gazillion dollars in pay-per-view revenue by putting the match on free TV, the company booked Goldberg against Hogan on Nitro in a WCW Title match.

And not just any Nitro, either, but one emanating from a sold-out Georgia Dome.

40,000-plus were on hand to watch the former Atlanta Falcon wrestle the biggest match of his young career.

As a contest, it wasn’t going to win any Match of the Year awards, but nobody cares (or should care) about technique and finesse when there’s this much star power and heat involved.

Following interference from DDP and basketball player Karl Malone to counteract Curt Hennig at ringside, Goldberg blasted a distracted Hogan with his Spear/Jackhammer combination to become WCW Champion to a monstrous ovation.

And we still love seeing him winning world titles these days, don’t we guys?

Erm, guys….?

1. FIRE ME! I’M ALREADY FIRED!

WWE.com

Despite being one of the best wrestling groups ever and still adored by wrestling fans, the Four Horseman were noticeably phased out during the Monday Night Wars.

Eric Bischoff felt as though the stable were ‘passe’ and that Flair, in particular, ought to be nowhere near the main event scene.

The two fell out in 1998 and The Nature Boy disappeared for months, as threats of lawsuits flew back and forth.

In the end, Flair would come back to WCW.

And how.

Once again, this Nitro took place in Carolina, so to say he was greeted warmly is like saying he liked a cocktail or sixteen (one for each World Title reign, you know).

The Dirtiest Player in the Game – WITH A TEAR IN HIS EYE – embraced his fellow Horsemen and cut an impassioned promo, thanking the fans for sticking with him before turning his attentions to his boss and absolutely roasting him with the kind of delivery that can only come from the heart.

FIRE ME! I’M ALREADY FIRED! WOOOOOOO!

Sorry, got a bit carried away there, which isn’t hard when you’re watching something as raw and genuine as this, for my money the best moment in WCW Nitro history.

And a really welcome palate cleanser on a show also containing the Ultimate Warrior, ‘drunk’ Scott Hall and Van Hammer.