Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Legacy Under Fire as WWE Composer Slams Modern Entrance Themes

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s iconic themes called out by their creator

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s legendary status took another hit this week when Jim Johnston, the man who composed Austin’s explosive 1996 theme, called today’s wrestling entrance music ‘generic noise.’ Johnston, fired by WWE in 2017 after 33 years, still holds the keys to the company’s most iconic riffs: including Austin’s snarling guitar and The Rock’s ‘If You Smell…’ banger. His verdict on modern themes? They’re forgettable, and he pins part of the blame on WWE and AEW’s failure to create new megastars like Austin or The Rock.

What happened?

Johnston aired his grievances on *The False Face Show*, arguing that current entrance themes lack the punch that once turned wrestlers into household names. “It just sounds like noise to me, and all the themes just sound generic,” he said. “You used to know who was coming out just by the music: now you can’t even tell from the next room.” His critique lands days after WWE teased a Chicago Worlds Collide event, a reminder of an era when Austin’s theme alone could sell out arenas.

Why it matters for Stone Cold Steve Austin

Johnston’s comments aren’t just nostalgia: they’re a direct indictment of how WWE and AEW now build stars. He insists music was the secret weapon that forged Austin and The Rock, and its absence explains why neither company has produced a comparable draw in years. “There are no new Steve Austins,” Johnston declared. “It’s because everyone’s stuck in this layer of generic.” His words carry weight: the man behind Austin’s theme knows exactly how much the music shaped the Texas Rattlesnake’s aura.

What comes next?

WWE’s next big event, Worlds Collide in Chicago on July 26, will spotlight the company’s push for fresh stars: but Johnston’s skepticism lingers. If the themes don’t improve, he warns, the pipeline for future icons like Austin will keep drying up. For now, the man who made Austin’s music iconic says the industry has lost its way: and the proof is in the playlists.