The man behind many of WWE’s most-loved theme songs Jim Johnston has revealed that All Elite Wrestling has never contacted him about working with the company.
Johnston had been a mainstay with WWE providing the soundtrack for their Superstars, shows, and video games for thirty-two years. To the surprise of many on-lookers, Johnston was formally released from his WWE contract in November 2017. This had followed CFO$ taking over the lead role of providing theme music for the company in 2014.
Many thought that Johnston might return to the wrestling business following the announcement of the formation of All Elite Wrestling in early 2019.
In conversation with Chris Van Vliet, however, Johnston revealed that AEW has never reached out to him:
“No, and it always amazed me from a business angle. If I was in that workroom, I would say ‘Vince just fired Jim, this is a way we could really stick it to them. Find that guy and get him in here this afternoon.’ It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Jim Johnston made a rare public appearance at the 2018 Starrcast fan convention that was produced in conjunction with the All In pay-per-view. All In was a precursor to AEW produced by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks. Following the gargantuan success of that event, the trio then teamed up with Tony Khan to form All Elite Wrestling.
AEW has used Mikey Rukus for many of their theme songs and music for their television and pay-per-view shows. As wells as Rukus, AEW President Tony Khan has also licensed various songs for use on AEW television.
Jungle Boy enters arenas to Italian group Baltimora’s 1985 hit ‘Tarzan Boy’. Even more recently Orange Cassidy has received new music in the form of The Pixies’ ‘Where Is My Mind’. Khan also licensed ‘Ol’ 55′ by Tom Waits to provide the soundtrack to a heart-wrenching tribute to the late Brodie Lee.