Chad Gable’s new WWE entrance is not waiting for fans to create a reaction. The music was built to tell them exactly when to sing and clap—and the whole thing is already looking painfully forced.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed Gable’s new presentation following the July 20 episode of RAW. While Gable finally received a strong night inside the ring, his entrance music became the bigger talking point for all the wrong reasons.
WWE clearly wants Gable to have one of those entrances where the entire arena joins in. The song includes obvious sing-along and clapping sections, while Gable attempts to lead the audience from the entrance ramp. The problem is nobody is following him.
“The new music is there specifically designed to get people to sing, which they haven’t done yet, and clap their hands, which none of them do. They did not do it.”
WWE can add all the clapping cues it wants, but that does not mean fans are suddenly going to treat Gable’s entrance like Seth Rollins’ theme. Those reactions caught on because the audience wanted to participate. This feels like WWE trying to manufacture the same result from day one. That leaves Gable standing there clapping by himself while waiting for a reaction that never comes. Instead of making him look like a popular babyface, the silence makes the entire entrance fall apart.
“When he’s doing it, leading them, and they don’t do it, it’s kind of geeky, actually. At some point, either they’re going to have to do it or he’s going to have to stop doing it, because when you’re leading the crowd and they don’t do it—and you’re a babyface—that’s not the best thing.”
Meltzer admitted WWE fans could eventually learn the routine because they love participating in entrance songs.
“It’s still early enough in the game. I would think, in the long run, that they will, because that’s what the WWE crowd does. But tonight, I thought, ‘Okay, it’s been on television for a couple of weeks.’ He does the clap, and nobody does it with him.”
Alvarez did not bother dressing up his reaction to the theme.
“This new music f*cking sucks.”
The frustrating part is that Gable actually looked strong on RAW. He teamed with Penta against Ethan Page and Rusev, ran wild during the match and forced Rusev to submit to the ankle lock. Alvarez called it Gable’s first real step forward since returning. But when the entrance hit, and WWE’s attempt to force a special crowd moment made him look colder than he actually was.
Fans decide which songs become arena-wide sing-alongs. WWE cannot simply insert a clapping section, have Gable wave his arms and expect thousands of people to fall in line. Unless the crowd suddenly changes its mind, this entrance looks far more likely to embarrass Gable than help him.
Do you think fans will eventually play along with Chad Gable’s new WWE entrance, or is this forced crowd reaction already dead? Leave your feedback in the comments.
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