WWE: Jim Johnston on His WWE Themes, Updated Taping Schedule, NXT New Year’s Evil Theme Song

Jim Johnston Comments on Creative Process for WWE Themes, Including D-X and Vince McMahon

VICE held a recent interview with former longtime WWE composer Jim Johnston. Some of the topics discussed included his creative process for the memorable D-Generation X’s entrance theme and Vince McMahon’s “No Chance in Hell” theme.

On the topic of the creation of the D-Generation X theme, Johnston stated:

“A lot of people tell me this is a Rage Against the Machine type of song, but it was always a straight-up funk groove to me. It’s a complete swing rhythm and I guess an ode to people like James Brown in terms of my chord progression.

I think it was Chris Warren’s brilliant vocal that gave the song this counterculture punk-rap vibe. He really symbolized what D-Generation X was all about in terms of upsetting the order of things. I remember we were in the studio and I held up a big sign with phrases that I wanted him to say in his iconic wise guy voice. I had written down, ‘You think you can tell us what to do?’, ‘You think you can tell us what to wear’ and like hundreds of other phrases, which I then cut down to what you hear on the intro. The long introduction of this track was a big risk as it went against the instant glass-shattering chaos that so many of the other themes had. I was worried Vince was going to shut it down quickly because, boy, the intro is so long! But there’s just something about it. Chris’ voice has this magnetic quality and he creates this anticipation in the arena. I feel like the song’s sound inspired a few nu-metal bands. That line: ‘Are you ready?’ caught on as well, as it was used on adverts for holidays, insurance and all kinds of things.”

On the topic of the creation of Vince McMahon’s “No Chance in Hell” theme, Johnston stated:

“When I was writing Vince’s No ‘Chance In Hell’ entrance theme, I had been really upset with him about something at work. I found myself thinking: ‘You’ve got no chance against this guy!’ He’s got the power, the money, and in terms of pro-wrestling, he was pretty much the only game in town. I had written the guitar groove much earlier, and I found myself singing ‘No Chance…No Chance’ over that groove. Rather than a song about one man, I wanted it to be about ’The Man’.

The song is about the work system that imprisons us all. It’s got a thrust of someone who’s kind of like marching like they’re the kind of ‘big I am’. What I loved about Vince was how he liked to be surprised. He let me take risks and if I surprised him with something and it was good then he would be delighted. But if it wasn’t good then boy he would tell you about it! I will always class him as a friend. We were creating something entirely new as the business Vince had bought from his dad didn’t have any music for the wrestlers. Our work together radically changed things and made it so much more theatrical. I’ll always be proud of that.”

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WWE Television Tapings Schedule Update

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that WWE’s current taping schedule for this holiday season is for RAW to remain airing live every Monday, NXT to remain airing live every Wednesday, and Friday Night SmackDown to remain airing live every Friday with the exception of Christmas Day.

Johnson reported that WWE is currently planning to tape the Christmas week episode of SmackDown on December 22nd and WWE officials still are planning for the New Year’s Day episode of SmackDown to air live.

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NXT New Year’s Evil Theme Song Announced

Triple H recently announced that the official theme song for NXT’s New Year’s Evil television special is “Lazaretto” by Ghostemane.

Ringing in the new year with a bang…@Ghostemane is #NXTLOUD this @WWENXT New Year’s EVIL…. #WeAreNXT #NXTNYE pic.twitter.com/B441kUywTB

— Triple H (@TripleH) December 16, 2020