WWE SummerSlam 2012: Ranking the SummerSlam Theme Songs over the Years

SummerSlam's theme songs have featured well-known hits and WWE-produced instrumentals.  They have ranged from fun dance songs to guitar-heavy songs perfect for headbanging. 

WWE used the same theme for the 1988 and 1989 SummerSlams and kept a single one from 1990-1994.  2005 and 2006, on the other hand, featured double duty in the theme department. 

Which ones served to amplify fans' excitement and which only annoyed them? Where does SummerSlam 2012's "Don't Give Up" rank among the 20 themes we've seen in 25 years?

From worst to best, here are all the SummerSlam themes, the cloying and the catchy, the moving and the boring.

20. 1995-1997-"Real City"

Before WWE went to purchasing the rights to existing songs, they just created their own themes.  This was their worst. 

It neither captures the fun feel of SummerSlam nor does it emit the toughness of wrestling.  The cheap-sounding theme could have easily been the theme for a Michael J. Fox movie.

It doesn't work at all in getting wrestling fans pumped.  Anything that sounds like it might be a C&C Music Factory throwaway can't be considered a success. 

19. 2002-“Fight” by Jim Johnston

After 2002, WWE fronted the money for royalties.  2002 marks the last SummeSlam where WWE theme-maker, Jim Johnston, composed the theme for the event.

While Johnston has created many impressive songs, this isn't one of them.  Johnston usually stuck to instrumentals but goes for a standard rock song here and flops.

The subject matter (fighting) is right on, but the quality is that of a garage band.  The vocals are uninspired and with the lack of a true hook, the song drags. 

Wrestling theme songs can't survive with such a slow start without some riff or lyric that sticks in fans' minds. 

18. 2004-“Summertime Blues” by Rush

Like when the NFL hired The Who to perform at the Super Bowl, WWE banked too much on the past and misjudged what audiences want to see today.

Rush is a great band, but the majority of the SummerSlam audience doesn't know or care about them. 

This song in particular is a poor fit for the pay-per-view.  Maybe it was selected because the song's title mentions summer.  

17. 2007-"Whine Up" by Kat DeLuna (with Elephant Man)

Using a reggae-inspired song as the theme for SummerSlam is a great idea.  Unfortunately there is too much sugary pop to enjoy the island flavor. 

Kat DeLuna has a beautiful, powerful voice, but this song, as big as a hit as it was, is underwhelming.  Her song "Run the Show" is from the same album as "Whine Up" and would have made for a better theme with its stronger, bassier beat.

It's strange that a SummerSlam with the tagline, "The party is over" would have such a party song as its theme. 

16. 2009-“You Gotta Move” by Aerosmith

Who WWE was trying to reach with this song is a difficult question to answer.  The Venn diagram of Aerosmith's fans and WWE fans has only a sliver of crossover. 

The song was recorded by Aerosmith five years before this SummerSlam, and it was written decades before the show by bluesmen Fred McDowell and Gary Davis. 

It's fine to dip into the past if it's a song people care about.  "You Gotta Move" doesn’t fall into that category.    

It does have a good sound which features some fluttering harmonica and Steven Tyler's big voice.  It just doesn't mesh well in the WWE world. 

15. 2003-“St. Anger” by Metallica

Had WWE purchased the rights to a Metallica song in say 1991, it would have been a perfect marriage.  By 2003, the band was not the same. 

Sure they still sold a lot of records, but their prime had passed.

"St. Anger" is not half as good as most of the songs from And Justice for All, Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets.  It doesn't have the symphonic flair that so many of their earlier hits had which would have been perfect as a backdrop to SummerSlam or any pay-per-view.

It does have some powerful guitar as you'd expect, but has a weak beginning and Lars Ulrich overdoes the drums here. 

14. 1999-“Burnt Out” by Jim Johnston

This Jim Johnston instrumental is the kind of song that lets the video it plays behind do most of the work.  If it's not a fan’s taste, it's not prominent enough to ruin their experience.

It doesn't detract, but doesn't add much either.    

The simple song features some country-fried guitar and solid drum work.  It doesn't have quite the edge that the WWE product did at the time.  The in-ring action was so good at the time that no one paid attention to the pay-per-view themes and WWE could get away with mediocre songs like this.    

13. 2006-"The Enemy" by Godsmack

SummerSlam 2006 had two theme songs.  With them, WWE tried to appease two distinct groups.  One theme was a fun, poppy song probably geared toward a younger audience and a more intense song in "The Enemy."

This was probably intended for a slightly older, edgier section of the WWE Universe.   

It's not Godsmack’s best work, but a solid, straight-ahead hard rock song.  The lyrics easily tie into WWE action as all wrestlers have their share of enemies. 

12. 1988 and 1989

The SummerSlam's original theme brings back great memories.  There is a classic feel to it, making the event seem majestic. 

The theme isn't one you'd listen to out of the SummerSlam context.  It's more a repeated riff than an actual song. 

It suited the times and suited the pay-per-view.  WWE later used the same song for the Royal Rumble which takes away from this making fans think of SummerSlam. 

WWE could go this direction again, creating specific themes for each event that continue from year to year.  They'd of course have to update it.  SummerSlam's first theme is definitely dated now.      

11. 2006-"Cobrastyle" by Teddybears with Mad Cobra

"Cobrastyle" combines an upbeat tempo with an island playfulness that matches SummerSlam's vibe well.  The song does seem a bit unfocused at times, but has enough catchy moments to snag our attention.

Teddybears or Mad Cobra won't bring much of anyone in because of their names, but may have made some new fans thanks to WWE. 

The clap-heavy beginning is fun, as is most of the song.  The other catchy part sounds suspiciously like Kid Rock's "Badwitdaba." They both feature a nonsensical pop style that can either drive you crazy or have you bobbing your head. 

10. 2012-“Don’t Give Up” by Kevin Rudolf

The newest SummerSlam features a light, poppy song that Attitude Era fans might find too soft. 

The saccharine song would be a ridiculous theme for a SummerSlam in 2001, but makes perfect sense for 2012.  It's catchy and fun and heavy on the cheese. 

The lyrics are about overcoming obstacles and being a star, easily a match for what happens with WWE.  It appeals to a youthful demographic, WWE's wheelhouse at the moment. 

9. 2000-“Race Against Time” by Jim Johnston

Another WWE self-produced theme backed SummerSlam 2000. 

Does it sound dated now?  Sure, but the throbbing beat filled with lashing guitars made a lot more sense in 2000.  It sounds like the soundtrack to an action movie which isn't all that far from what WWE is at times. 

It's not something you want to play at parties, but it gets the blood pumping and was more than sufficient to get fans geared up for one of the best SummerSlams to date. 

8. 2005-“Get It Poppin’” by Fat Joe with Nelly

This served as SummerSlam 2005's secondary theme.  It is one of the most fun, dance-worthy tracks ever used for SummerSlam.

Nelly and Fat Joe team up for a smooth song that grooves mightily. 

WWE and pro wrestling in general has been more associated with rock music than rap.  The genre though can fit, boasting bravado often seen in WWE and an energy that befits SummerSlam.   

7. 1990-1994

For five years, this song meant SummerSlam. 

There's really nothing all that special about it, but having that continuity of the same theme for so long helped fans grow attached to it. 

The trouble with picking the hot song of the day as the theme is you run the risk of choosing a song some folks just aren't into.  Keeping the same instrumental theme like WWE did here helped SummerSlam create its own identity. 

It has a touch of rock and roll, a touch of a Ghostbusters soundtrack.  For a generation of fans, this is the song for SummerSlam.   

6. 2008-“Ready to Roll” by Jet Black Stare

SummerSlam 2008's theme was a supercharged number by Canadian band, Jet Black Stare. 

From the get-go, the song rocks.  It blasts ahead with aggressive drums and anthem-like vocals.  There is an infectious energy about it. 

The "whoa" in the background is a nice touch.  Its weakness is in an unimpressive guitar solo and that it drags toward the end.  Being a theme though, it only needed to be played in chunks, highlighting its best parts. 

5. 2010-“Rip It Up” by Jet

"Rip it Up" works on several levels, having a summer feel and being packed with enough guitar punch to satisfy.  Using it as the theme for SummerSlam 2010 meant that it was used four years after it came out though.   

The drums in the opening mimic clapping.  The upbeat song has great energy. 

The rock and roll verses bleed into a catchy chorus that continues the fun. 

4. 2011-"Bright Lights, Bigger City" by Cee-Lo Green with Wiz Khalifa

Some fans will argue that WWE gave Cee-Lo Green too much SummerSlam time when he performed two songs during the event.  Regardless, the theme song he provided is a superb fit.

The song is light, fun and catchy.  It's a song that would feel odd as a Hell in a Cell theme, but has a definite SummerSlam feel. 

In the context of WWE's recent reliance on pop over rock, the Cee-Lo choice makes perfect sense.  "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is an example of higher quality pop, a song fans could listen to long after SummerSlam 2011 was over.

3. 2005-“Remedy” by Seether

SummerSlam 2005 was powered by one of Seether's best songs.  It's adrenaline driven and fast-paced with enough catchy spots to hook listeners. 

Lead singer, Shaun Morgan's voice is deliciously gravely and gritty.  Screeching guitars and pounding drums are the song's other highlights.

"Remedy" doesn't have a bit of summer feel nor do the lyrics tie in thematically, but it's a song that gets people excited, the primary objective of a pay-per-view theme. 

2. 2001-“Bodies” by Drowning Pool

No song has been used as the soundtrack to YouTube wrestling videos more than "Bodies."  It's easy to see why.

Not only do the lyrics sound like they were written about WWE action, but the energy and momentum is exhilarating. 

Since SummerSlam 2001, the song has been ruined by overplay, but at the time it was awesome. 

There are certainly songs that fit the summer part of SummerSlam better, but few pay-per-views have featured a song that elevates the clips of wrestling and promos it’s combined with. 

The hard-hitting song was worth every penny. 

1. 1998-“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

WWE doesn’t emphasize their pay-per-view taglines like they once did.  SummerSlam 1998 fully utilized the "Highway to Hell" theme. 

It fit perfectly with the main event of Steve Austin vs. Undertaker and with the edgy direction WWE was headed in. 

AC/DC's classic song holds up beautifully today and '98 both.  It tackles the summer theme in a more roundabout way, associating hellfire and summer heat. 

The song made the SummerSlam promos 1998 as gritty and captivating as Austin in his prime.