The Hardcore Icon, sometimes referred to as The Sandman in ECW and WWE and Hardcore Hak in WCW, developed a cult following in the late 1990s. This was mostly because of his entrance, which involved navigating a mob of enraged supporters while sipping beer and puffing on smokes as he made his way to the ring. The ECW legend recently admitted that Enter Sandman by Metallica wasn’t always his entrance song.
The Sandman would slam beer cans against his face till he broke himself open. The Metallica hymn Enter Sandman served as the background music for this entry and all of its theatrics. The Hardcore Icon, however, has admitted that this wasn’t always his entrance song.
The former Hardcore Hak acknowledged a totally different genre of song as his first entrance theme during an interview tape that was posted to the WSI – Wrestling Shoot Interviews YouTube Channel. The former ECW World Champion admitted that he wrestled in Memphis while using Billy Joel’s Big Shot. He then expressed his love for Billy Joel’s music.
In Memphis I was using Big Shot by Billy Joel.
I love Billy Joel. I saw him in concert like 10 times. One of my favorites.
The former Hardcore Hak then revealed the history of why he chose Enter Sandman as his ECW entrance song. “He goes ‘listen to this song’ , I f***in’ listen to it and I was like, damn. And that helped elevate me even more. Y’know? The right entrance music?”
Wrestlers frequently made their “own calls” regarding themes in ECW, Sandman admitted that he chose the music himself. However, a young construction worker he knew in North East Philadelphia gave him the idea. Check out the videos below.
What did you think of The Sandman’s entrance music? Sound off in the comments!