Jim Johnston, best known as the man behind some of the most iconic themes in WWE history, has broken down what he thinks does and does not work when wrestlers decide what to use as their theme.
The theme is a huge part in what makes a character in pro wrestling, and Johnston has helped many ascend to superstardom. From Stone Cold and The Rock to Mick Foley and The Undertaker, Johnston’s themes fit the characters perfectly, with many fans believing him to be the greatest composer of all time. However, with some wrestlers using a different tactic, Johnston gave his own input.
Speaking to the All Access Entertainment podcast, Johnston claimed that “it almost never works out” when a wrestler goes the commercial route with their songs:
“There’s nothing more self-defeating, and it almost never works out, than to base a theme on a commercial song. I always thought it was a horrible idea when guys got big enough that they could convince Vince (McMahon) to let them use a commercial track. This is music and pure emotion. If suddenly your entrance theme is a theme where it was playing the first night a guy slept with his girl, his association is sleeping with his girlfriend, not with you. When you come out, you want people to only be thinking of you. That is the only thing in the universe you want them to be feeling. That happens in the case with Undertaker or Stone Cold. People aren’t thinking about other songs or experiences; they are thinking about what Steve Austin is doing tonight or in the moment and excitement. If part of your mind and heart is over here, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that song.’ It’s dumb, I think,”
Previously, the Hardy Boyz used commercial music for their entrance, a theme which is still recognisable more than 25 years alter. Other top stars such as CM Punk and Adam Copeland elected to use songs by bands, with Punk using Living Colour and Copeland using Alter Bridge.
Jim Johnston Doesn’t Expect WWE Return
Although many have called for Johnston to make his return to WWE, the composer doesn’t see it happening anytime soon. Elsewhere in the interview, Johnston noted that he wrote the iconic Triple H themes, not Motorhead, adding that the Chief Content Officer is not a fan of his:
“I still think Hunter wants to maintain that Motorhead wrote those songs. I don’t think he’s a very big fan (of me). When he was coming out of wrestling and into more of a behind-the-scenes role, he clearly wanted his own guys, and he perceived me as Vince’s guy. I think that’s why I’m not being asked to write themes anymore.”
H/t to Fightful for the use of transcription.
Featured image: WWE
