Cody Rhodes brought his Kingdom theme song along with him for his WWE return, but that’s not the only anthem Downstait has provided for the pro wrestling world.
When the sentence “Wrestling has more than royal family” was played over the speakers of the AT & T stadium at Wrestlemania 38, followed by the opening guitar of “Kingdom,” the WWE Universe became unglued.
It heralded the long-rumoured return of Cody Rhodes, giving us confirmation that the American Nightmare was back in the house that Vince built.
For better or worse, it certainly was a happening, and Kingdom, performed by the band Downstait, went straight back into the iTune rock charts at number 2.
But like how wrestling has more than one royal family, it also has more than one Downstait anthem to headbang along to.
When you think of WWE composers you may think of the legendary Jim Johnson, JJ Maguire, Jimmy Hart, or CFO$.
If you’re of an age to remember wearing baggy jeans and back-to-front baseball caps, groups like Saliva, Kid Rock, Drowning Pool, and Limp Bizkit may also spring to mind.
Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the awesomeness that was The DX Band!
For some reason, people seem to rarely bring Downstait into the conversation, which is a shame because they have surely contributed enough to pro wrestling’s sound across the years to be held in the same regard.
So here is a list to demonstrate why Downstait is one of your favourite wrestling bands, even if some people may not even be aware of it!
The Miz
It took a long time for Mike Mizaninto be accepted when he first came into WWE back in 2004, by both fans and some of the boys backstage.
Over the years he worked hard at his craft, proving that he had what it takes to be a success in the ring and by 2010 the former reality TV star was a bonafide WWE Superstar.
This was also the year he debuted his DownStait theme “I Came To Play,” and it has remained his walk-on song ever since.
Alex Riley
Kevin Kiley signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2007 and was assigned to the territory FCW to help hone his skills.
After a few years and name changes later, Kiley had become Riley,and was off to the second season of NXT in 2010.
With the Miz as his mentor, it kind of made sense the now seasoned veteran and his protégée shared the same band, and in 2010 Alex Riley would have his own Downstrait entrance song called “Say It To My Face.”
Dolph Ziggler
Almost ten years ago, on an April 2013 episode of Raw, an injured Alberto Del Rio was lying in the ring after a battle with Jack Swagger, when all of a sudden…
“I’M HERE TO SHOW THE WORLD, I’M HERE TO SHOW THE WOOOOOORLD!”
What followed was one of the biggest pops of the last decade, as Dolph Ziggler made his way down ringside to cash in his money in the bank.
Of course, Ziggler’s iconic theme was performed by Downstait. Otherwise, it would be a bit silly bringing it up on this list, wouldn’t it?
All In
Before The Elite went All Out with AEW, they went All In with the PPV that ignited the flame, and from that point on pro wrestling was shaken all about with a new era, and that’s what it’s all about.
Sorry.
In 2018, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, ROH, New Japan, and more produced All In, which was the biggest independent wrestling show of all time.
It showed the world that maybe WWE didn’t have a full monopoly on the industry, and another company could potentially rise to provide some competition.
An event of such magnitude needed a score to show how legit the moment was, and Downstait provided a song that sounded familiar but new at the same time. A proper pro wrestling anthem that took the name of the event itself.
Britt Baker
Just because it’s Downstait song, doesn’t mean it has to feature epic vocals. Even if the song itself is called The Epic.
Dr Britt Baker (DMD) turns the crowd into a dentist’s waiting room with the opening note of her theme, before “The doctor will see you now” and the crunchy guitars kick in with this instrumental.
Well, it’s kind of an instrumental. Lead singer Darren Zack Call can still be heard slightly supplying some good old fashioned ‘WOAAAAAAAAAAAAAHS’
Buddy Matthews
In 2021, like so many others, Buddy Murphy was let go from the WWE.
Like most wrestlers released from the company, he made like Doctor Who and regenerated with a new name, image, and of course, a new theme song.
Matthews collaborated with Downstait for his new entrance theme Secret No More.
He revealed to Alicia Atout in an interview that he never really cared for any of his old songs, and couldn’t wait for his new one
“I’m super excited for the boys to release this [new entrance] because I’ve always wanted a song to listen to in the gym. I’m not going to lie, I listen to Triple H’s music, Kane’s ‘Slow Chemical’, and Batista’s song, that’s all in my playlist.”
“It’s cool music, so you don’t have to be a wrestling fan to know cool music, right? That’s where we’re going with this song, so it’s super cool.”
Matt Cardona
Zack Ryder’s whole gimmick, including his youtube show and entrance theme, was a take on the “Jersey Shore” culture that plagued the early 2010s.
By 2016 that boat had well and truly sailed, and it was high time Ryder mixed things up a bit, including a new, more rockin’ version of his theme recorded by Downstait.
Although his Jersey gimmick lingered for a while, the Michael Jordan of figure collection is now considered a king of reinvention.
Heel Cardona has been making waves ever since leaving WWE, but one thing that remains the same is his entrance band of choice, who have also given Matt his new song “When The Lights Go Down”
Downstait has been part of the wrestling industry for years. Who knows, maybe they’ll provide new music for Johnny Morrison/Mundo/Impact/insert show name here.
After all, they certainly have the approval of his groomsmen.