Diamond Dallas Page reveals how the WWE escaped Nirvana lawsuit
Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) recently recounted the intriguing backstory of his WCW entrance theme, “Self High Five,” which bore a striking resemblance to Nirvana’s renowned track “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” However, despite the similarities, DDP and WCW never found themselves in a legal tussle with the band over copyright issues. In a conversation with Chris Van Vliet, DDP detailed how Jimmy Hart, the composer of the theme, cleverly navigated potential legal concerns by making subtle modifications to the music.
Diamond Dallas Page reveals why WWE escaped Nirvana lawsuit
Hart, whom DDP hailed as a “musical genius,” played a pivotal role in crafting the iconic theme. DDP shared, “I went down to Florida, he said, ‘So what music do you like?’ I said, ‘Right now I’m listening to Nirvana, I really like them. I think they’re the sound of the ’90s.’ He goes, ‘Which song do you like?’ and it was between ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ and I can’t remember the name of the other one.”
Delving into the technicalities, DDP explained how Hart ingeniously “flipped the beat” while keeping the essence intact. This alteration rendered a discernible difference when both tracks were played simultaneously. Despite this artful workaround, DDP expressed disappointment when he learned that WWE had opted to replace his theme music in its archival footage, presumably to avert any potential legal complications.
Diamond Dallas Page’s journey intertwined with WWE when the company acquired WCW in 2001. Subsequently, he entered WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2017, cementing his place in wrestling history.
In addition to his insights on theme music, DDP voiced his support for fellow wrestler LA Knight during the same interview. He endorsed Knight’s journey from NWA and Impact Wrestling to WWE’s main roster, appreciating his success achieved at an older age. Reflecting on Knight’s trajectory, DDP expressed his belief that Knight’s talent deserves recognition and urged for a little extra push that could potentially elevate him to greater heights.
