Having created so many iconic WWE themes over the decades, the legendary Jim Johnston has given his thoughts on today’s “generic” entrance themes.
Appearing on the latest excellent episode of The False Face podcast, Johnston believes a lack of great themes is resulting in a lack of more top stars being created.
As Jim put it:
“I’ve been pretty vocal about it. It just sounds like noise to me, and all the themes just sound generic. It used to be, whether it was my music or a Jimmy Hart theme, or an outside band thing, you used to be able to be making dinner in the kitchen with the TV in the other room, and you’d know who was coming out. You could almost follow the program from the other room. Now, I just don’t think it’s like that at all. And for some reason, the powers-that-be have forgotten their roots or something, of how powerful music is in creating stars, and I further believe that’s why their not creating, either WWE or AEW, they’re not creating big stars anymore. There are no new Steve Austins now, there are no Rocks now, and it’s because everyone’s sort of in this layer of generic. I don’t understand it.”
When False Face host Paul McNamee suggested that it’s a case of a company finding something that works and simply deciding to stick with that approach, Johnston added:
“I think that’s a great and valid point, and I think that happens to a lot of corporations. They find what works, they’re making a lot of money, and, ‘Oh, well, we must be doing it right, so don’t change anything.'”
For younger or newer fans maybe not too familiar with Jim Johnston, he worked for WWE from 1985 through until 2017, and is the mind behind so many of the all-time great wrestling themes, from the likes of Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts, and Mr. Perfect to Bret Hart, the Undertaker, and the Legion of Doom, to Steve Austin, the Rock, and D-Generation X, to Randy Orton, Batista, and Brock Lesnar, and a whole, whole bunch of other total bangers. From generation to generation, from up-and-comers to bona fide superstars, Jim Johnston did so much great work over a mammoth 32-year period with WWE, and is likely responsible for the bulk of your favourite entrance themes.
As for the state of entrance themes today, Jim certainly has a point, particularly when it comes to some of the Def Rebel dross that has been put together in WWE in recent years; dross that even certain talents have reportedly complained about behind the scenes.
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