Jim Johnston Breaks Silence on Reason Behind WWE Firing

Jim Johnston, the legendary composer behind some of WWE’s most iconic entrance themes, is finally opening up about his unexpected release from the company after 32 years of service.

Known for creating unforgettable music for stars like The Undertaker and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Johnston’s departure in 2017 left fans stunned. Now, in a revealing interview with Hannibal TV, Johnston is shedding light on what really went down behind the scenes.

During the interview, Johnston disclosed that the last few years of his WWE tenure were marred by backstage politics.

“For about the last four or five years I was there, things got really political in a bad way. And finally, things just degraded, and Vince didn’t—Vince fired me, basically. I mean, he put it in terms of, ‘I’m not renewing your contract,’ but that’s what it means in my case.”

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Johnston shared that he wasn’t caught off guard when the news came; in fact, he had been anticipating it. “

“By the time it actually happened, I knew it was coming, and I was looking forward to moving on. I’d actually been looking forward to moving on for a long time,” Johnston admitted. Despite this, he reflected on how habit kept him at WWE longer than he intended. “In hindsight, I wish I had had the foresight or really the courage to just leave. But the force of habit just keeps you rolling.”

Surprisingly, Johnston revealed that for 15 of his 32 years at WWE, he worked without a formal contract. This revelation has only fueled fan sentiment that letting Johnston go was one of WWE’s biggest mistakes—a sentiment that shows no signs of fading.

Since his departure, Johnston has continued to work in the world of pro wrestling for ROH and has moved forward with his career, leaving fans to reminisce about the golden era of WWE music he defined.

What are your thoughts on Jim Johnston’s firing from WWE? Do you think WWE made a mistake by letting him go? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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