For over three decades, Jim Johnston produced some of the most iconic themes in WWE history. When Johnston was released in 2017, it came as a shock to many. Except for the man himself.
Appearing on Total Engagement with Matt Koon, Johnston opened up about being released and knowing that his time was coming to an end.
"I was getting cut out. That was by design. Not necessarily Vince's design, but other folks. It's his company, he can do whatever the hell he wants with it. It isn't like he owes me a job," said Johnston. "I knew this was coming to an end and particularly maybe for the last year, I knew the writing was on the wall. This guy has pushed me out, but you know I was so discouraged by it all and I wasn’t doing what I want to do, which is to write great music and I am a worker. I don’t want a job where I don’t have to work. There wasn’t ever a millisecond where I thought, ‘Wow, isn’t this great? I’m really not doing that much music, but they’re continuing to pay me! Oh my God, what a great deal!’ It was awful. I hate that. I hated that feeling. I’ve got handcuffs on, I can’t contribute and I eventually told Vince that as well. I said, ‘this is not right.’ I also told him at the time, ‘hey, if you’re unhappy with me, fire me. Fire me right now. You can fire me right now. I’m taking the pressure off. Go ahead. Fire me."
Johnston continued, discussing his final meeting with Vince.
"I had my one meeting with Vince and ultimately nothing changed and then suddenly I got a meet and planner one day that I had a meeting in Vince’s office the next afternoon and I knew in an instant, ‘Okay tomorrow at four, I’m being fired,'" he recalled. "It was a scary time, but it was a very brief event because after he said his piece I was like, ‘okay’ and I stood up and left."
Johnston admitted that he no longer keeps up with the WWE product or wrestling in general. He made an appearance this past September at Starrcast and is scheduled to appear at Starrcast II in May.
