8: Kill the Messenger, Andrade El Ídolo
During Andrade El Idolo’s first AEW run, things didn’t always click as they have during this second run, despite the real Latino man having all the jacked pieces of the puzzle, including an awesome entrance song. Cutting the 37-second intro and its attempt at grandiosity and getting straight into that driving Mariachi-style guitar perhaps symbolically reflects how, on this second run, everything is clicking. You might ask, how do you know?
Mikey Rukus’ Kill the Messenger slaps hard. With its strong Mexican sounds that bring to my mind a wild west shoot-out south of the border, it stokes anticipation for whatever contest El Idolo is entering. It revs the audience up for a duel. The skillful and hypnotic notes of the guitar reflect El Idolo’s physical prowess and charisma. The song’s layers, like El Idolo’s abilities in the ring, sneak up on you. That Carlos Santana-like guitar solo strikes you like his spinning back elbow strike out of nowhere.
A song that’s smooth, multi-faceted and sultry, like Andrade El Idolo himself.
7: I Am (Limitless), Keith Lee
Indubitably, Keith Lee’s AEW run demonstrates one truth about the inherent risk of jumping from WWE to AEW, a few fans’ fantasy book. There are unseen variables no one can predict. While we don’t know and may never know for sure the exact reasons for what’s halted Keith Lee’s in-ring career, the brief highlights we got were frustratingly limited.
Fans had high expectations, and Mikey Rukus to a degree is responsible for setting expectations high. Crafting such a godly song with vocals provided by Lee himself, the song is a powerful declaration of intent. Like Lee himself, the song is confident, undeniable and ready for action, without compromising who Lee is.
Operatic and bold, articulate and untraditional for a wrestling big man. Like Lee, the theme takes the high ground and doesn’t care about other people’s expectations. You will bask in his glory and feel pumped up and better because of it.
