You know that sound. That immediate, high-octane blast of "Money, money, money, money, mon-ey!" followed by a beat that feels like it’s punching you in the chest. It’s Naughty By Nature. It’s Shane McMahon. It’s Naughty By Nature Here Comes the Money, and honestly, it might be the most effective piece of branding in the history of sports entertainment. If you grew up in the Attitude Era or watched any WWE during the early 2000s, this song is hardwired into your brain.
It’s weirdly iconic. Shane McMahon wasn't a rapper. He was the boss's son, a guy who wore expensive suits but would also jump off a 50-foot screen for your entertainment. Somehow, a legendary hip-hop group from East Orange, New Jersey, provided the perfect sonic backdrop for a billionaire's son who wanted to prove he was "street" enough to take a bump.
But there is a lot of confusion about this track. People often think it was a mainstream radio hit or just a generic production track. It wasn't. It was a very specific collaboration that happened at the height of the "Attitude Era" crossover period, where hip-hop and pro wrestling were basically obsessed with each other.
The Story Behind the Beat
When we talk about Naughty By Nature Here Comes the Money, we’re talking about a track that debuted in 2001. Specifically, it was released on the WWF Forceable Entry album. That era was wild for music. You had Limp Bizkit doing themes for The Undertaker and Creed working with the WWF. But Naughty By Nature? That was a different level of cool. Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee were hip-hop royalty. They had "O.P.P." and "Hip Hop Hooray" under their belts.
So why did they do a song for Shane-O-Mac?
Basically, the WWE (then WWF) wanted to distance Shane from his father, Vince McMahon. Vince had the "No Chance in Hell" theme, which was corporate, aggressive, and cynical. Shane needed something that screamed "new money" and "rebel." He was the leader of the WCW/ECW Alliance at the time. He was the young executive who could actually fly. Naughty By Nature delivered a track that felt arrogant but incredibly fun.
The song replaces Shane’s original theme, which was a more generic instrumental. If you listen closely to the lyrics, it’s not just about cash. It’s about power. It’s about the arrival of someone who owns the building. The hook is so simple it’s infectious. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to spend money you don't even have.
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Why This Track Hits Different
Most wrestling themes are loops. They’re 30 seconds of music played over and over because a wrestler only takes a minute to get to the ring. Naughty By Nature Here Comes the Money is a full-blown song. It has verses. It has a bridge. It has that distinctive "Chaching!" sound effect that has been sampled and reused in a thousand TikTok memes since.
The production is classic DJ Kay Gee. You’ve got those sharp, staccato horn hits. You’ve got the heavy bassline that was designed to rattle the subwoofers in an arena. When that beat drops, the energy in the room shifts. It’s one of the few entrance themes that people actually listen to at the gym or in their cars without feeling like a total nerd.
- It’s catchy.
- It’s synonymous with "The Big Leap."
- It defines a specific 2001 aesthetic.
There's also the Treach factor. Treach is one of the most respected lyricists in hip-hop history. Having him voice the intro to your entrance gives you instant credibility. Even if you’re a guy in a silver jersey and track pants, if Treach is on the track, you’re the man.
The Commercial Impact of the "Money" Brand
It’s not just a song anymore. It’s a meme. It’s a signal. In the modern era, Naughty By Nature Here Comes the Money is used by creators across YouTube and Instagram whenever someone gets a big payout or makes a successful trade. It has transcended the ring.
Think about the financial world. You’ll see "Here Comes the Money" quoted in Reddit threads about stocks or crypto. It has become shorthand for "The bag has been secured." That’s the power of Naughty By Nature’s songwriting. They took a simple concept and turned it into an anthem for success.
Kinda crazy when you think about it. A song written for a scripted TV show about guys in spandex has become a global anthem for capitalism.
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Breaking Down the Lyrics
If you actually sit down and read the verses, it’s some of Naughty’s cleanest work from that period. They talk about the "green paper with the faces on it." They talk about the "bling bling" (remember when people said that?). It captures a very specific moment in the early 2000s when hip-hop was moving from the "gritty" 90s into the "shiny suit" and "luxury" era.
Shane McMahon himself has often been asked about the song. He’s gone on record saying he loves it. It fits his personality. Shane was always the "cool" McMahon. He was the one who could hang with the boys in the back. The song helped bridge that gap between his billionaire status and his "daredevil" persona.
Misconceptions and Legal Weirdness
One thing people get wrong is who actually owns the song. While Naughty By Nature performed it, the song was heavily produced in conjunction with Jim Johnston, WWE’s legendary in-house composer. Johnston was the guy behind Stone Cold’s glass shatter and The Rock’s "Electrifying" theme.
The collaboration was a masterclass in licensing. By bringing in a mainstream act like Naughty By Nature, WWE was able to move units of their Forceable Entry CD, which eventually went Gold. It showed that wrestling music didn't have to be cheesy; it could be legitimate hip-hop.
There was a period where the song was almost replaced. During some of Shane’s later returns, there were rumors of new music. But the fans revolted. You can't have Shane McMahon without that specific "Money!" shout. It would be like Stone Cold coming out to jazz. It just doesn't work.
The Legacy of the Song in 2026
Fast forward to today. We’re still talking about it. Why? Because the song represents a peak in pop culture crossover. We don't really see this anymore. Most modern wrestling themes are generic rock or trap beats made by anonymous production houses. They lack the soul and the star power of a Naughty By Nature track.
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Naughty By Nature Here Comes the Money remains a staple on "Greatest Entrance Themes" lists, usually sitting right next to "Real American" or "Enter Sandman." It’s a testament to the longevity of Naughty By Nature as a group that their work for a wrestling promotion is just as remembered as their Grammy-winning hits.
The song also serves as a reminder of Shane McMahon's impact. Every time he climbed a cage or stood on the turnbuckle, that song was the heartbeat of the moment. It promised something big was about to happen. Usually, something that involved Shane falling from a terrifying height.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this track or the era it represents, there are a few things you should do. First, don't just look for the radio edit. Find the version from the WWF Forceable Entry album. That’s the "pure" version of the track.
- Check out the "making of" clips. There are old segments from WWF Excess or Confidential that show the recording process. It’s a trip to see Treach in the studio talking about Shane McMahon.
- Compare the versions. Shane had a few "remixes" over the years for specific events, but the original 2001 Naughty By Nature version is the gold standard.
- Look for the vinyl. If you’re a collector, the Forceable Entry vinyl is becoming a bit of a white whale. It’s a great piece of history that captures the intersection of rap and wrestling.
The song is more than just an entrance. It’s a cultural marker. It tells us where we were in 2001—a time of transition, excess, and some really, really loud music. Whether you're a fan of hip-hop or a fan of the squared circle, you have to respect the hustle.
To truly appreciate the track, go back and watch Shane McMahon’s return in 2016 at Joe Louis Arena. The pop from the crowd when that "Money!" hit was deafening. It wasn't just for the man; it was for the music. It was the sound of a thousand childhoods rushing back at once. That's what a great song does. It doesn't just play; it announces.
Next Steps for the Soundtrack Obsessed
Go listen to the full Forceable Entry album. It’s a fascinating time capsule. You'll hear how different artists like Drowning Pool or Kid Rock tried to capture the essence of a wrestler. None of them did it as well as Naughty By Nature did for Shane. Once you’ve done that, check out Naughty By Nature’s Anthem album. It was released around the same time and has that same high-energy, Kay Gee-produced feel. You can see how they took their mainstream sound and tweaked it just enough to fit the world of professional wrestling. It's a masterclass in "work-for-hire" that doesn't feel like a sell-out.