The man behind many of wrestling fans favorite WWE entrance theme’s recently spoke with Lucha Libre Online, where he discussed numerous topics. The former WWE composer, known as Jim Johnston, discussed Vince McMahon during the interview. Johnston spoke about McMahon, saying:
"Great. I consider Vince a friend. It was a little upsetting at the end with the way things ended but there were, as happens in corporations, were a lot of politics involved and people trying to get my job, but Vince and I have always gotten along. He's a really intriguing guy. He's an incredibly charismatic guy. He can be really tough. He can be a real bully but fortunately, I did not personally get that end of him too frequently. He and I stood on pretty solid ground for 32 years."
Johnston then revealed that throughout his career with the company, he and Vince McMahon operated on a “handshake agreement”. Johnston elaborated on the deal, telling Lucha Libre:
"Earlier questioned when I said I wasn't really signed for a long time, for years and years and years, Vince and I operated purely on a handshake and I honestly don't think either one of us ever thought a thing about it. Like, 'oh my god, this is not good, to just be operating on a handshake, we need to get some paper on this.' It wasn't really until the company went public and then lawyers get involved and they saw me as a risk. It's like, 'oh, you can't have this kind of important guy in the organization out there like a wildcard with no contract,' so then I became an official employee and contracts."
Johnston continued to talk about the WWE Chairman, and gave some insight into the way he and McMahon went about creating each entrance theme. Jim mentioned:
"Not that that ever really changed my relationship with Vince but he's a really intriguing guy. Really smart. Really stubborn. One thing I always loved about him is he loves to be creatively surprised even though when he gives you something to do he's always very specific. He hears something in his head or he has a feeling. Fortunately, with me, he learned that he didn't have to spell that out musically, that he just needed to tell me how he wanted to feel with that character. I also learned over the years with Vince you have to be respectful enough to give him something that he asked for."
What is your favorite entrance theme by Jim Johnston? Let the wrestling world know, in the comments below!
(H/T and transcribed by Fightful)
