Every WWE Raw Theme Song, Ranked Worst To Best

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One constant of WWE is that the presentation is always evolving. Indeed, it can be difficult for modern fans to remember a time before WWE Raw existed. Even that was an innovation, though back in 1993, as the company transitioned from its eight-year studio highlight show, Prime Time Wrestling, to the cutting edge new flagship weekly program.

The opening theme song for Monday Night Raw is never something that is going to make or break a show, however, it certainly can help to set the tone overall. Some of the songs work perfectly at getting audiences pumped up before anything even happens, which is a great sign for any track.

Some have been memorable, with audiences still recalling them to this day, while others are more forgettable and haven't created a lasting legacy with the WWE Universe. The mixture in quality over the years has been down to a variety of factors, and while change is inevitable with this, sometimes the wrong call has been made.

UPDATE: 2023/10/23 14:34 EST BY MICHAEL CHIN

One constant of WWE is that the presentation is always evolving. Indeed, it can be difficult for modern fans to remember a time before WWE Raw existed. Even that was an innovation, though back in 1993, as the company transitioned from its eight-year studio highlight show, Prime Time Wrestling, to the cutting edge new flagship weekly program.

Since that time, fans have seen the one-hour format expand to two and then three hours. They've seen the transition to Raw airing live almost every week, as well as shifts between eras with different defining stars emerging over time. Raw has had different authority figures and a run of featuring celebrity guest hosts as well.

The Raw theme music has changed over a number of times as well across three decades, with the song at the start of the show often setting the tone for the show and reflecting the aesthetic of WWE, if not the larger culture at the time.

14 "I Like It Raw" - Jim Johnston (1995)

Jim Johnston is a legend when it comes to creating music, and he has been involved in some of the greatest entrances in WWE history. However, "I Like It Raw" was not an example of his greatest work, with this song being rather bland and forgettable overall, which didn't start the show in the right manner.

The track didn't excite the fans and get people ready, with this feeling more like a random country song you'd hear. The lyrics weren't exciting either, and overall it didn't work as the opening song.

13 "Born For Greatness" - Papa Roach (2018-2019)

Papa Roach has the right type of vibe for a Raw opening song, bringing the guitar riffs and strong lyrics to kickstart the show with tons of energy, but this just wasn't the right song for that slot. They have contributed another song for Raw that was much better. There was something missing with this one, which was mainly due to the slower tempo.

It didn't quite connect, and there's a reason that it wasn't used for a long time by the company, as seemingly they understood that it wasn't working out either.

12 "The Search" - NF (2020-2022)

"The Search" is a recent opening song for Monday Night Raw, and while there's no doubt it's a good track, there is something missing with making this work for the show. There's a good beat to things, and it provides a nice vibe for the show overall, but it's not an iconic song, particularly relative to others featured throughout the history of the show.

It's quite a forgettable one, and something that audiences wouldn't complain about seeing change moving forwards. The lyrics aren't quite as catchy as they need to be, which is a shame overall and it stops it from connecting.

11 "The Night" - CFO$ (2012-2016)

"The Night" was a track that WWE used for many years, and while it did end up overstaying its welcome this was certainly a fun one. The music blended the rap and rock genres together in an exciting manner that built the energy of the show up before it even began.

The main issue with this song was how repetitive it was, which didn't help matters as the song did drag on at times, which isn't what people want from the opening of any song.

10 "Raw" - Jim Johnston (1993 - 1995/ 1995 - 1997)

This was another song that Jim Johnston created, and it was a much stronger one than his "I Like It Raw" track. This one was all music, rather than adding any unnecessary lyrics, and it helped to create an exciting and engaging start to the show that felt chaotic.

With police sirens being a core beat throughout all of it, the song wasn't a classic that people could recall, but it is one that gave a unique energy to the show that fans could expect something wild.

9 "Legendary" - Skillet (2019 - 2020)

When WWE had Skillet provide the opening song for Raw it felt like the company was returning to its roots with a much heavier rock song to get things started. This was a smart choice by management, because it set the tone for the episode perfectly before any matches were won or lost.

While the lyrics were a little cheesy at times, they worked for the purpose that they were there for, with this song working because of the guitars and drums, which were heavy and consistent throughout the entire song.

8 "Greatness" - Vo Williams (2022 - Present)

"Greatness" has a lot going for it as a theme for WWE Raw, between a string section that lends an epic feel to the song, skillful rapping on the part of Vo Williams, and a healthy dose of mounting tension built over each verse as the tempo picks up.

RELATED: 10 Best Episodes In WWE Raw History, RankedBest of all, the track's lyrics tell a specific story. The refrain of "break the rules, break the laws" sells a certain sense chaos and willingness to do whatever it takes to win that fits WWE well. Moreover, the chorus's proclamations about greatness and especially the lines about being "legendary in the making, reach out, and we take it" help communicate to fans a sense that they're watching stars on the rise and, indeed, a new, important historical era in wrestling.

7 "Enemies" - Shinedown (2016 - 2018)

Shinedown's "Enemies" was a song that fans enjoyed throughout its run, in particular for its great sense of energy and excitement. This was a great track that worked well for the changes WWE was making during that period following the WWE Draft.

This felt more like the past, with lots of guitars and that helped to get fans ready for the show fight from the start as it would attack fans with a surge of adrenaline right from the beginning.

6 "Beautiful People" - Marilyn Manson (1997)

This song wasn't used for a long time by WWE, and because of that, it didn't end up becoming a truly iconic part of Raw history. However, there is no doubt that it was a great track, and was one that suited that time in wrestling history perfectly.

The track was chaotic and brought a ton of noise, making sure that fans were ready for the excitement that was about to take place on the show.

5 "Burn It To The Ground" - Nickleback (2009 - 2012)

Nickleback is a huge artist in the musical world, so any song that they create is always going to bring a certain level of notoriety behind it, and this was no exception. The rock band is known for its grand sound, and that is something that lends itself perfectly to the world of professional wrestling.

This song was an excellent choice of opener as it brought tons of energy and moments that the crowd could easily sing along with and get behind. The excitement was clear with this one, and that is why it became an iconic part of the event.

4 "Monday Night Raw" - Jim Johnston (1993 - 1997)

This was the first-ever opening song for Monday Night Raw, and because of that, it has ended up becoming an iconic one that people have remembered. When fans think about the past and the original version of this show then this song always springs to mind.

The beat of the guitar and drums all coming together creates an exciting and vibrant start to the show, with the song itself being incredibly catchy, which is something that always helps with an opening song.

3 "Thorn In Your Eye" - Slam Jam (1997 - 2002)

This is one of the most iconic songs in WWE history, with the video for this one being a classic part of the company. Seeing Steve Austin make his iconic entrance by walking recklessly through fire and explosions as the wrestlers fought and the music belted out all worked together perfectly.

While, as a song, this was nowhere near as strong as many of the others that have been used by WWE, but it worked right for the time, and the vibe that it created was a brilliant one that nobody will forget.

2 "...To Be Loved" - Papa Roach (2006 - 2009)

Papa Roach always brings great tracks to the forefront, and that was the case when WWE used this song, which was an amazing opening track. There was tons of excitement with this one, with lots of guitars, great lyrics, and fantastic drums to make fans ready for the next episode.

It was an ideal opening song for Raw, as the rock genre is always something that fans connect to when it comes to professional wrestling. This is one that was around for a while, but didn't overstay its welcome, and that helped it become even more popular with the fans.

1 "Across The Nation" - The Union Underground (2002 - 2006)

This song was perfect for the Ruthless Aggression era, bringing the right level of angst to the product to match the tone at that time. It's one that fans always remember, and there were certainly unique elements to this that helped fans appreciate the song even more.

The rock vibe that this brought helped WWE at the time. It was loud and in your face, and while that's not how WWE operates anymore, at that point it was a song that absolutely worked.