Ten Indie Wrestlers Who Used Nu Metal Songs For Their Entrance

There is a subsection of professional wrestling that, to me, embodies the spirit of nu metal like no other and that is the art of the deathmatch. These matches are akin to horror flicks or performances by shock rock artists, except that the pain inflicted is real. The blood from glass, skewers, light tubes, and blades are all real. Just as nu metal has been looked down upon by some in the metal community, so have deathmatches in the wrestling community. The main criticisms are that it's not "real" wrestling, the wrestlers who partake aren't talented enough without the shock factor to make it far in the business, and that it's too obscene and grotesque. However, those who enjoy this style of wrestling are passionate as hell, so much so that Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (IWA MS) delivered diabolical deathmatches in spades to the sickos who were tired of the mainstream homogenized wrestling on TV. The wrestlers went all out for the fans, whether they were selling out venues or wrestling for a crowd of 30 people in a barn, a bar, or a random open field. That is metal as hell.

Many of the wrestlers featured in this list have participated in this style of wrestling at some point in their career. When you're in the business of falling through panes of glass, picking thumbtacks out of places you didn't even know was possible, or slicing open your opponent's forehead with a pizza cutter, you need a badass, gritty, electric song playing you to the ring to hype up the crowd for the craziness that is about to ensue. While nu metal has been prevalent even in the PG and sanitized top company of the profession, there is just something about the underground independent wrestling organizations that captures the essence of the genre like no other. As the legend credited with bringing deathmatch wrestling to Japan, Atsushi Onita, once said "Wrestling is like music, there should be different genres."

If you're not familiar with deathmatches and have the desire and time to learn, I highly recommend this documentary by VICE.

Big thanks to cagematch.net and Deathmatch Mania on YouTube for being wonderful sources of information and examples for this article.

Drake Younger - "Whatever" by Godsmack

Drake Younger was a staple of the CZW roster in the 2000's before he eventually retired and took a job as a referee in WWE under the new name Drake Wuertz. Before he was officiating wrestling matches, he was participating in brutal deathmatches with other CZW legends who will make appearances later on in this list. Younger used Godsmack's "Whatever" to make his way to the ring for multiple wrestling promotions, including CHIKARA, CZW, and IWA MS. The track fit Younger's personality, as he wasn't flashy or in your face like some other guys. "Whatever" still goes hard, but in a more subdued manner rather than a song like say, "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit does. The track is about self-empowerment against opposing forces, so it's a great hype song for a wrestler to use when preparing for battle in the ring.

Kevin Steen - "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool

"Tear Away" comes off of Drowning Pool's debut album Sinner, possibly the most represented nu metal album in professional wrestling history. The former Kevin Steen (now known as Kevin Owens in WWE) used this song during his days in CZW. With lyrics detailing one's focus on self rather than the opinions of others, "Tear Away" was a great song to encapsulate who Kevin Steen was and what he was all about. Kevin Steen (and Kevin Owens, to an extent) was a guy who didn't take shit from anybody and was rough around the edges, but that's why you loved him (or loved to hate him).

Masashi Takeda - "Rock-impo Goroshi" by Maximum The Hormone

I'm of the opinion that the second intro song for Death Note would make for a killer entrance song for a wrestler. The band who performed that song, as well as this entry on the list, Maximum the Hormone, is one of the most popular Japanese metal bands. They have a similar sound to acts such as System of a Down and Korn. Japan's own Masashi Takeda uses their song "Rock-impo Goroshi" to accompany him to the ring. He is known by his nickname "Crazy Kid", and he blends deathmatches with his mixed martial arts background. Takeda wrestles mainly in Japan as a freelancer, working for promotions such as Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS and occasionally All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). When working in the States, he usually wrestles Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). In fact, he was just inducted into GCW's Death Match Hall of Fame. Takeda's entrance song matches his aura, which just screams badass.

Jun Kasai - "Wait and Bleed" by Slipknot

If one was to determine a Mount Rushmore of deathmatch wrestling, Japan's Jun Kasai would have to be in the conversation. He made his name in Japan wrestling for promotions such as Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS and Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), but also making appearances in the U.S. with CZW. Kasai's nickname is the "Crazy Monkey", and crazy is an understatement. Watching a Jun Kasai match is much like watching a Slipknot concert: you never know what to expect. Slipknot became infamous for their deranged live performances, including setting themselves on fire, jumping from high platforms, and sniffing a decomposed bird before the show. Fans come to expect buckets of blood, shattered glass, thumbtacks, and skewers stuffed into skulls when they witness a Jun Kasai match. It only makes sense for Kasai to call upon a track off of Slipknot's monstrous debut self-titled album in "Wait and Bleed" to play him and Jaki Numazawa to the ring that had the ropes replaced with barbed wire.

JC Bailey - "Faint" by Linkin Park and "Stupify" by Disturbed

Take one look at the guy and tell me he doesn't look like he would fit right in with bands such as Papa Roach or Mudvayne. JC Bailey became one of the most beloved wrestlers in CZW and IWA MS before his untimely death. He was fearless, resilient, had a never say die attitude, and participated in many dangerous bumps just for the love of the sport. While he had also used "Stupify" by Disturbed, "Faint" by Linkin Park would become the entrance theme most associated with Bailey. It is a fitting song as the lyrics describe the feelings of someone who has felt alienated, searching for purpose in life, and desperately wanting validation and attention. Bailey found his purpose in hardcore wrestling, giving himself an outlet to finally be heard. Unfortunately, he passed away from a brain aneurysm stemming from multiple concussions and incidents of brain trauma in 2010.

Rest in peace, J.C. Bailey.

Jon Moxley - "My Own Summer" by Deftones and "Sugar" by System of a Down

The ace of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has made his love for metal known over the years, especially Deftones. In the interview below, Jon Moxley declared that he would consider Deftones his favorite band and that it was life changing when he discovered their album, Around The Fur. Initially picking up the record due to the scantily clad woman on the album cover (as I'm sure many teenage boys did at the time), he came to love the music as well. The opening track "My Own Summer (Shove It)" blew him away so much that later on, he would decide to use it as his entrance music for his debut match in CZW as well as the first time that he wrestled at the famed ECW arena. Moxley even dedicated two whole pages in his autobiography to the album, including the tidbit that he had also used "Rocket Skates" off of Diamond Eyes a few times on the indies. Mox is so intense about his love for this album, he had this to say in his book:

"Call Around The Fur a dud to my face and I'll F'n headbutt you and put you in a Bulldog Choke until you apologize and write a sincere letter of apology to the Deftones."

Another great quote:

"This album is me at 12, but also me today. It never gets old."

Unfortunately, I was not able to find any video footage to share of Mox coming out to either song. Even worse, Moxley also used "Sugar" by System of a Down during his time in CHIKARA, but that video footage eluded me too.

"Sick" Nick Mondo - "Last Resort" by Papa Roach, "Blue Monday" by Orgy, "After The Flesh" by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and "Headup" by Deftones ft. Max Cavalera

For a guy whose in-ring career only lasted four years, "Sick" Nick Mondo left a lasting impression on those who witnessed him live in action. He had to retire early due to injuries suffered in his short career but no one can say he wasn't dedicated to his craft. There wasn't an insane spot that Mondo wouldn't do, including anything involving light tubes, barbed wire, tables, concrete, and falling from great heights. This man was even hit with an actual weed wacker. Mondo came out to the ring to many great nu metal songs, but the song most associated with him is "Last Resort" by Papa Roach. Below is a clip of two deathmatch icons in Nick Mondo and Jun Kasai coming out to the nu metal classic together before their tag team match against Justice Pain and Johnny Kashmere in CZW.

Nick Gage - "Voodoo" by Godsmack

From one sick Nick to another, Nick Gage is one badass motherfucker. You know you've made it when fans chant your name "Nick Fuckin' Gage" with raucous love and adoration. Gage remains a staple of the hardcore wrestling community, frequently making appearances for GCW and even participating in the main event of the New Japan Pro Wrestling produced show Death Vegas Invitational alongside other previously mentioned deathmatch icons Jun Kasai and Masashi Takeda. The energy that Gage brings to the room when he makes his entrance is infectious, and it feels like you're in the middle of a moshpit with him.

Currently, he comes out to "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica, but back in his CZW days, Gage used the more lowkey "Voodoo" by Godsmack. At the time when he used this song, he was an intimidating, sneering bad guy, so it makes sense that he would use a slower song to accompany him to the ring. Nick Gage is a legend in the hardcore wrestling community, despite his addiction and legal troubles in the past, and he is beloved by many to this day.

CM Punk - "People = Shit" by Slipknot

CM Punk has had some great entrance theme songs throughout his career. Most notably, "This Fire Burns" by Killswitch Engage, "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour, and "Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)" by AFI come to mind. However, it may not be known that Punk had used "People = Shit" by Slipknot from the hellish beast of an album that is Iowa during his run on the indies including IWA MS. In the lead up to his main event at WrestleMania 42 against Roman Reigns, Punk had made references on Instagram to past theme songs he used to come out to, including "People = Shit". He posted a photo of a black goat, much like the one that can be found on the cover of the Iowa record. He referenced another previous theme song that he used in IWA MS, "When Will They Shoot?" by Ice Cube by playing that song on the post. If you know anything about CM Punk, you know that an angsty track about being angry at society fits him perfectly.

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Brain Damage - "Bullet With A Name" by Nonpoint, "Dig" by Mudvayne, "Right Now" by Korn, and "Miracle" by Nonpoint ft. Chad Gray

Brain Damage was one imposing and menacing dude. He was 6'4, tatted up, and built like a tank. While he may not have been the best in-ring worker, his presence alone and willingness to sacrifice his body for the crowd's entertainment more than made up for his wrestling ability. He was hard hitting, brutal, and intimidating in the ring, but credited with being one of the nicest guys in the CZW locker room. Brain Damage drew many comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in The Terminator, which is pretty cool if you ask me. He used a myriad of different theme songs during his time in CZW, all of which are bangers. Sadly, I couldn't find a clip of him making his entrance to "Dig" by Mudvayne. Brain Damage is another one that left us too soon, believed to have committed suicide in October 2012.

Rest in peace, Brain Damage.

Honorable Mention: Bryan Danielson - "Last Resort" by Papa Roach

The legend that is Bryan Danielson has had many iconic theme songs over the course of his career, including "The Final Countdown" by Europe or the classical "Flight of the Valkyries", but who knew he had a nu metal side to him as well? Now, this is an honorable mention because Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan isn't considered an indie promotion, but I still wanted to include this. Danielson used "Last Resort" by Papa Roach during his very short time wrestling for NOAH through their partnership with Ring of Honor. He is not a guy that you look at and would expect to come out to the super edgy smash hit by Papa Roach, but that makes this entrance even more ridiculous in the best way. While Danielson is a quintessential technical wrestler and great in-ring storyteller, he is no slouch when it comes to hardcore matches either. He truly is one of the best to ever do it.