It wouldn’t be the World Series of Poker Main Event without a bit of Hellmuthian chaos, and this year, poker’s loudest legend brought the noise like never before. On Thursday, 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth stormed into the Horseshoe with a rock ‘n’ roll entrance that was equal parts theatrical and controversial. Branded “Highway to Hellmuth”— a cheeky nod to AC/DC’s immortal 1979 anthem “Highway to Hell”— the Poker Brat arrived at the $10,000 buy-in Main Event flanked by a live rock band, his son Nick, and a posse of 17 models symbolizing each of his gold bracelets. It was pure spectacle: guitar riffs blaring, stage lights flashing, and Hellmuth dressed like the child of a Vegas headliner and a ‘70s metal god.
“It’s been a tradition to have the models,” Hellmuth told PokerOrg before the event. “Some people want to cancel us for the models, not most people, but a few people… It’s just a fun spectacle.” But not everyone at the tables was thrilled, as players reportedly rolled their eyes when the tournament break stretched on to accommodate the show. Still, there’s no denying Hellmuth knows how to grab headlines. Just months earlier, he threatened to boycott the WSOP entirely, a threat no one ever truly believed. Now, he’s back, louder and more Hellmuth than ever, despite telling the press he has “no chance of winning” the tournament. Classic Phil.
A Salute to Bon Scott: The Rock ‘n’ Roll DNA Behind the Entrance
If you thought “Highway to Hellmuth” was just a clever pun, think again. The entrance was a full-blown tribute to the Bon Scott era of AC/DC—when rock was raw, gritty, and unapologetically loud. Scott, who fronted the band from 1974 until his untimely death in 1980, was known for his tattooed swagger, streetwise lyrics, and rebellious charm. His voice powered some of rock’s most enduring anthems, from “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” to “Let There Be Rock.”
Hellmuth, now in his early 60s, grew up in the golden age of heavy metal, and his poker persona mirrors that same outlaw energy. He’s a showman, a provocateur, and someone who thrives on the chaos of the spotlight. In many ways, Bon Scott’s influence feels like a perfect match: both are larger-than-life characters who made their names by breaking the rules and soaking up the heat. Just like Scott’s fiery stage performances, Hellmuth’s WSOP entrances have become the stuff of legend. Over the years, he’s shown up as Gandalf, Julius Caesar, a boxer, and even a circus ringmaster. But this year’s rock star fantasy may be his most on-brand yet, especially for a man who once said that being hated is “just a sign of relevance.”
Chris Moneymaker Called It: “He’ll Pay $10K Just for the Entrance”
Chris Moneymaker, the man credited with launching the modern poker boom after his 2003 WSOP win, saw it coming a mile away. “I would bet he plays… He’ll pay $10K just to have his entrance,” Moneymaker quipped earlier this summer. Turns out, the 2003 champ was spot on. The two poker icons have a storied relationship built on mutual respect and mutual notoriety. Both men changed the game in different ways: Moneymaker by proving that an online amateur could conquer the WSOP, and Hellmuth by becoming the face (and mouth) of poker’s most flamboyant traditions (with the most bracelets). They’ve shared tables, stories, and the unique burden of being targets. “People generally play us a little bit differently,” Moneymaker has said. “And I think that’s always going to be the case.”
Now a pro with Americas Cardroom, Moneymaker’s poker journey started with an $86 online satellite. His win ignited a surge in online poker signups and paved the way for a new generation of players. Hellmuth, ever the traditionalist, once dismissed the 2003 online newcomers as “super easy to read,” as reported in a 30 For 30 podcast episode, but today, both men are pillars in a game that’s constantly evolving. Even when they’re not in the same room, they’re playing on the same level of poker folklore.
Angela Defoe Brings Real Rock to the WSOP
While Hellmuth played the part of faux rock royalty, the 2025 WSOP had a real star from the music world seated just a few tables away. Angela Defoe: vocal producer, music director, and wife to Red Jumpsuit Apparatus frontman Ronnie Winter-Defoe, made waves as one of the most intriguing crossovers at this year’s series. Known for directing the anniversary music video for the band’s 5x platinum hit “Face Down” and producing for some of L.A.’s fresh new talents, Defoe is now focused on winning poker gold.
Her presence added a layer of authenticity to this year’s rock-heavy WSOP. While Hellmuth’s entrance might’ve sparked headlines and eye-rolls, Defoe’s journey brought genuine crossover appeal to the felt, representing the perfect fusion of passion and discipline for a generation raised on both emo and eight-handed tournaments.
Love him or loathe him, Phil Hellmuth knows how to own a moment, and his “Highway to Hellmuth” entrance proved that the Poker Brat still has a few tricks up his studded sleeve. Backed by a nod to Bon Scott’s rebel legacy and predicted to the dollar by fellow icon Chris Moneymaker, Hellmuth’s 2025 WSOP entrance might be his loudest encore yet. But it’s voices like Angela Defoe’s that are reshaping what it means to be both a rock star and a card shark in the modern poker era. As poker continues to draw players from music studios to Twitch streams, the line between the stage and the felt is blurrier (and more electrifying) than ever.
