A popular song by a Christian rock band is the newest theme of World Wrestling Entertainment’s Raw.
The WWE show opened Monday’s night’s USA Network broadcast with a new theme song – Skillet’s Legendary– alongside a new stage, new logo and new broadcasting team, Newsweek reported.
WWE also posted a live performance of Legendary on its YouTube channel.
It’s not the first time WWE has used the band’s music. Monster and Hero were used for pay-per-view events. Both songs also were included in the video game WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010.
TONIGHT! Our song “Legendary” becomes an official theme song for @WWE’s #RAW! Catch the season premier tonight at 8PM on @USA_Network. Watch the full new live video of #LEGENDARY here: https://t.co/NdMfh1IJuC pic.twitter.com/58JqiWlrNJ
— Skillet (@skilletmusic) September 30, 2019
Skillet is one of the most popular crossover bands in music history and performs at both mainstream and Christian concerts.
Its music includes Christian themes, although it’s not overt.
“I will admit that it's quite difficult to explain what Skillet is, and everybody has a different version of labeling it,” Skillet lead singer John Cooper told Christian Headlines. “And that's why I never care if you say we're a Christian band or if you say we're a metal band.”
Legendary, Cooper explained, encourages the audience to make an impact in life. It includes a reference to 1 Corinthians 9:24with the lyric, “While I'm alive, I'll push through the pain, I'll run for the prize.”
“That, of course, is a New Testament reference,” Cooper said.
Skillet was intended to be a crossover band, Cooper added.
“I always wanted to play for mainstream audiences,” Cooper said. “I never wanted to only play for Christian people. I just thought we could do both.”
But it took a “really long time” to be successful as a crossover band, Cooper said. In 2018 alone, its songs were streamed 1 billion times. Skillet released a new album, Victorious, this summer.
“Typically, only Christian people listen to Christian music. … I grew up listening to Christian music, and I love it,” he said. “But I want to be an evangelist – that's my heart. I want to reach people that don't like Jesus. I want to reach people that hate Jesus. And that's where I feel the most comfortable.”
Related:
Skillet’s John Cooper Willing to Defend Christ ‘If it Costs Me My Career’
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Ethan Miller/Staff
Video courtesy: WWE
