When it comes to legends of the wrestling industry, you often think of the people who were on screen. The wrestlers, the announcers, the authority figures – but it takes a lot of people to really make a show work. One of the biggest names behind the scenes for years in WWE was Jim Johnston, who would write and often perform the entrance themes for wrestlers. His work spanned many years, and really was a driving factor in making stars instantly recognizable. However, WWE let him go years ago – and he feels that’s made a huge difference.
Jim Johnston Feels The Music In WWE & AEW Is Mediocre
While speaking with Chris Van Valet, Johnston would give his insight onto the modern entrance themes, heard in his former home of WWE – and the newcomer to the wrestling world AEW. Johnston feels themes across the board are falling flat. He’d be quoted saying the following.
“The music now, in WWE and in AEW, I think it’s.. sorry this is mean, it’s all homogenous and it’s mediocre and doesn’t have anything to do with the characters, and I think that’s why there are less big stars. I don’t think there are no potential stars hiding there. I mean, before he was Steve Austin, he was the Ringmaster, and there are many examples there. These people need the right storyline, the right costuming and definitely the right music to lift them up.”
The Importance Of Music In Professional Wrestling Explained
As for the importance of entrance music, Jim Johnston would give his thoughts on why it matters so much.
“Particularly the music, is serving multiple masters, in a way. It’s entertainment for the audience, it’s a big boot in the ass for the wrestler before they go out, to sort of get them in the head space of their character, and to kind of get them jacked up to do a great performance.
If you’re in that situation, I can’t imagine being in that situation where you’re not really sure of your character, the storyline. ‘I’m supposed to hate this guy, I don’t know why I’m supposed to hate this guy.’ And your music is just kind of generic, wrestler-guy music, and you’re supposed to go out there and be on top of the world. I think that’s a big ask.”
Do you agree with Jim Johnston? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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