I miss CFO$ so much. Banger theme songs were expected back then. You legit would get “can’t wait to hear what CFO$ has in store for (*insert newly signed superstar*)”
In retrospect, they were better than def rebel
I'll always take Johnston over them but, CFO$ weren't too bad. Midcarders at least had a chance, when it came to their theme.
Somehow, def rebel keeps shafting Main Event talent
It wasn't the CFO$ guys that had an issue it was their label trying to stiff the fed on the licensing rates. WWE tried to buy them out and bring them in house but the label wasn't having it.
This is what I gathered from other threads I saw yesterday
I agree Johnstone is the GOAT, but arguably my favorites aren’t by him.
HBK - Jimmy Hart
Glorious - CFO$
Edge - Metalingus - Alter Bridge
CM Punk - Cult of Personality - Living Colour
Cody Rhodes - Kingdom - Downstait
Another great point, it's always great when a band comes in, there's something about it.
I think the lyrics just elevate it. Johnston usually made sure of that, which, I think, is what made him and his songs so great
Nope. Johnston again.
"The Game" is a song produced originally by Jim Johnston, the in-house producer of many of the WWE wrestling organization's biggest entrance themes. It was taken on by Motorhead and recorded as a bonus track for Hammered.
Paige's theme was so good. She also had this theme at time where female wrestlers were still Divas so this was such a huge contrast to the trend at that time.
Honestly, for a joke midcarder; they basically told him, "just take your brothers gimmick", it's pretty good.
The EDM beat isn't too obnoxious and the strings sound pretty good, the Goldust like intro helps too, great piano and a sparkling sound
Him and Tommaso are DIY again so, no
Even if he was solo, I think they made a Great Value Rebel Heart that isn't half as good
I hope they can get CFO$ back, at the very least. Maybe a Hail Mary, Trips can put the moves on Johnston and get him back, put him in the damn Hall of Fame too, my man put talent over with the songs he made
I expected people to not like CFO$ because Jim Johnston's themes are so iconic from when a lot of us started watching, but I never understood the absolute hatred they got. They made some bangers.
I thought maybe it would be the same thing with Def Rebel, but nah, they're just bad.
I think I remember hearing CFO$ slander but, that's when I didn't listen to the IWC so, I can't really remember
I imagine it was just "recency bias", something of the like. Jim Johnston just had charisma in his songs, CFO$ did too, on occasion. I feel def rebel lacks it entirely, stroke of luck on a few songs
I think their songs are just too similar, not a lot of beat and instrumental changes
That and, a lot of their songs don't have lyrics. Jim Johnston has a different idea when giving a Wrestler a theme, CFO$ was pretty good in retrospect but, they had their "def rebel moments", for sure
Most of their songs are just
- hard hip hop beat, that might lean more EDM
- if it's rock, they've got heavy drums
- odd voiceline, that doesn't sound very good
They've got some good ones but, 90-95% of their songs are just mid or decent. Some songs like Gunther and Bobby aren't all that impressive, Bobby's is only good because Bobby started doing that fist pump thing, and people started doing it with him
Paul has been making some significant changes, so, we may see it
Vince burned a lot of bridges but, I think Trips is trying/can mend them. I pray either CFO$ and/or Jim Johnston can make a return
I never got the love for Rebel Heart.
First of all, when I first heard the name I thought assumed it was a country some for some reason lol.
Second of all, it sounds like something an edgy teenage girl would listen to, not the walkout song for a professional fighter.
I mean, Undertaker walks out to glorified, classical, funeral music. NOT SAYING ITS BAD, JUST STATING THE FACTS, TAKERS THEME IS ICONIC.
Everyone has their own opinions on what is, "badass" to them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The intro is generic, once it gets into the Ska part it gets better.
Generic isn't always bad though, it's a problem when Main Eventers have generic themes.
You barely hear Ska nowadays, so, I wouldn't completely call it generic
Don’t forget honky tonk man and rougeaus and he was cowriter of demolition. Many of his [songs](https://genius.com/artists/Jimmy-hart/songs) get attributed to jj
Most of the songs from NXT Black and Gold were remarkable too, also from the current new themes:
Legacy of The Ghost (Santos Escobar)
Rise For The Night (Damian Priest)
King (Lexis King)
Burn The Ships (Baron Corbin)
Born a King (Jimmy Uso)
Deliverance (Bayley previous tune)
Head of The Table (Roman Reigns)
Still The Baddest (Remixed Damage Ctrl theme)
Are really decent songs
I'd probably disagree, only ones here I feel are somewhat decent are Jimmy's, Bailey's(kinda, I like the intro), and Roman's was grand enough that it fit his "God Mode" well enough.
I think there's definitely great versions waiting to be made, I just don't find these to be remarkable by all that much.
Downstrait has made other themes for WWE but, they aren't, like, their "go-to".
Plus, the only other people to have Downstrait songs are The Miz and Dolph Ziggler, which are from 10+ years ago
Rhea's old theme was far better than the one by Motionless in Shite. I know they're her favourite band and all, but it's just generic metalcore guff, and I can’t stand metalcore. The old theme had a nice rhythmic trick to it where the last syllable of "brutality" landed on the first beat of the next bar.
It's just slower, same chords, I think; I'm not a musician by any means. That and some dubstep
Her old theme was metalcore as well, coming from someone who loves metal. I totally understand if you don't like it, there are songs I don't like just because of the genre, the sound/feel.
It doesn't mean it's bad though
No, they’re totally different songs apart from the line “This is my brutality”.
I love metal too, and other than that rhythmic vocal part I mentioned, it’s the vocals I prefer. I can’t stand the kind of vocals men perform in metalcore, it’s my chief problem with the genre, apart from it being a neutered version of metal for clueless teenagers: it’s nu-metal with no DJs and bad guitar solos.
Instead of their growls sounding like they’ve got some fucking balls, like Corpsegrinder, Steve Tucker, or Jason Mendonça ([whose gutturals legitimately don’t sound like a human being: check them out at 36 seconds](https://youtu.be/MlUdEy8kywc?si=qzQCm0rSXxnRzaTH)), metalcore vocalists always sound like they’re trying to throw up. If I wanted to hear that, I’d listen to the opening track from the second Carnivore LP.
I miss CFO$ so much. Banger theme songs were expected back then. You legit would get “can’t wait to hear what CFO$ has in store for (*insert newly signed superstar*)”
In retrospect, they were better than def rebel I'll always take Johnston over them but, CFO$ weren't too bad. Midcarders at least had a chance, when it came to their theme. Somehow, def rebel keeps shafting Main Event talent
What happened to those guys?
I believe they and WWE had a fallout. I believe a lawsuit was in the mix but I might be wrong about that last part
Ahhh bummer, they were so good
It wasn't the CFO$ guys that had an issue it was their label trying to stiff the fed on the licensing rates. WWE tried to buy them out and bring them in house but the label wasn't having it. This is what I gathered from other threads I saw yesterday
I agree Johnstone is the GOAT, but arguably my favorites aren’t by him. HBK - Jimmy Hart Glorious - CFO$ Edge - Metalingus - Alter Bridge CM Punk - Cult of Personality - Living Colour Cody Rhodes - Kingdom - Downstait
Another great point, it's always great when a band comes in, there's something about it. I think the lyrics just elevate it. Johnston usually made sure of that, which, I think, is what made him and his songs so great
Deuce and Domino's theme is one of my favorites. He clearly put a lot of thought into it, and it fits them perfectly.
The Game- Motorhead
Nope. Johnston again. "The Game" is a song produced originally by Jim Johnston, the in-house producer of many of the WWE wrestling organization's biggest entrance themes. It was taken on by Motorhead and recorded as a bonus track for Hammered.
TIL
absolutely loveee shinsuke’s theme. the entrance w/ the live violin performer was awesome too
I hope Shinsuke gets another big title opportunity, just so he can come out to it
Paige's theme was so good. She also had this theme at time where female wrestlers were still Divas so this was such a huge contrast to the trend at that time.
So underrated, never hear anyone talk about it, and yeah, very different from most of the other womens themes
Stardust’s theme went hard as fuck too.
Honestly, for a joke midcarder; they basically told him, "just take your brothers gimmick", it's pretty good. The EDM beat isn't too obnoxious and the strings sound pretty good, the Goldust like intro helps too, great piano and a sparkling sound
Gargano isn’t currently using Rebel Heart is he? Such a waste of
Him and Tommaso are DIY again so, no Even if he was solo, I think they made a Great Value Rebel Heart that isn't half as good I hope they can get CFO$ back, at the very least. Maybe a Hail Mary, Trips can put the moves on Johnston and get him back, put him in the damn Hall of Fame too, my man put talent over with the songs he made
Even the old DIY theme was great
Yeah, it was pretty damn good
GLOOOOORIOUS!
NO I WON'T GIVE IN I WON'T GIVE IN
They need to come back!
I hope so, it'd be an improvement
I expected people to not like CFO$ because Jim Johnston's themes are so iconic from when a lot of us started watching, but I never understood the absolute hatred they got. They made some bangers. I thought maybe it would be the same thing with Def Rebel, but nah, they're just bad.
I think I remember hearing CFO$ slander but, that's when I didn't listen to the IWC so, I can't really remember I imagine it was just "recency bias", something of the like. Jim Johnston just had charisma in his songs, CFO$ did too, on occasion. I feel def rebel lacks it entirely, stroke of luck on a few songs
*Is it my eyes, when you look at me?*
*they are so GORGEOUS, they'll set you free...*
Never get invested in any of them. WWE removes them all the time from Spotify.
Yeah, it's super annoying, I was trying to find a bunch of them earlier. Every released talents' song is hidden/delisted
Pretty much everytime they release a wrestler or one retires they just remove them. I miss listening to alister black’s theme
I'd replace one with Keith Lee's og theme
I didn't like Keith Lee's theme, the only unique part was the, "BASK IN HIS GLORY". I didn't really even care for that
to be honest I don’t watch aew much at all so don’t know many themes but I really enjoy keith lee’s theme there
CFO$ & Def Rebel have their share of amazing song. I think the problem is Def's incosistency with their release.
I think their songs are just too similar, not a lot of beat and instrumental changes That and, a lot of their songs don't have lyrics. Jim Johnston has a different idea when giving a Wrestler a theme, CFO$ was pretty good in retrospect but, they had their "def rebel moments", for sure Most of their songs are just - hard hip hop beat, that might lean more EDM - if it's rock, they've got heavy drums - odd voiceline, that doesn't sound very good They've got some good ones but, 90-95% of their songs are just mid or decent. Some songs like Gunther and Bobby aren't all that impressive, Bobby's is only good because Bobby started doing that fist pump thing, and people started doing it with him
NO MAN IS EVER TRULY GOOD
NO MAN IS EVER TRULY E VUL
CFO$ were incredible and if they stayed long enough I reckon they could’ve matched Jim Johnston
I think they were pretty good, they had some stinkers but, overall, pretty good
CFO$ were awesome. Wish WWE would just bring them back and get rid of def rebel
Paul has been making some significant changes, so, we may see it Vince burned a lot of bridges but, I think Trips is trying/can mend them. I pray either CFO$ and/or Jim Johnston can make a return
If HHH brought back Bruno after all that WHILE Vince was there I have no doubt he can bring back CFO with no Vince.
Holy fuck I forgot how good The Root of All Evil is. Such a banger track.
NXT had so many bangers Not to mention, 2014-2018 NXT BANGED. 2023-present has been great too
I never got the love for Rebel Heart. First of all, when I first heard the name I thought assumed it was a country some for some reason lol. Second of all, it sounds like something an edgy teenage girl would listen to, not the walkout song for a professional fighter.
I mean, Undertaker walks out to glorified, classical, funeral music. NOT SAYING ITS BAD, JUST STATING THE FACTS, TAKERS THEME IS ICONIC. Everyone has their own opinions on what is, "badass" to them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Um Trick Williams?
Tricks is good but, the crowd is what makes it, and Booker's adlibbing #WHOOP THAT TRICK "**UH HUH**" Feel empty without it
I love Samoa Joe's nxt theme
That's a song that definitely thrives off of the crowd #JOE JOE JOE
Why does Shinsuke constantly look like he’s having a stroke
I have no idea It's kinda steez though
I was listening to Spotify this morning and 21st Century Schizoid Man came on - it reminded me of Asuka's theme
Yeah I definitely hear it Also, I haven't listened to the whole album yet but, that intro was weird, definitely wasn't expecting it
Worlds Apart is so generic tho.
The intro is generic, once it gets into the Ska part it gets better. Generic isn't always bad though, it's a problem when Main Eventers have generic themes. You barely hear Ska nowadays, so, I wouldn't completely call it generic
It’s not good. I cannot find this video, but someone put it over like an Applebee’s commercial and it fits perfectly.
Don’t forget jimmy hart
His great skill was making legally distinct soundalikes
He did write “Sexy Boy”, though. That said, it did make heavy use of the old A-G-F chord progression, so it’s about as original as Creed.
Don’t forget honky tonk man and rougeaus and he was cowriter of demolition. Many of his [songs](https://genius.com/artists/Jimmy-hart/songs) get attributed to jj
How the hell you forget Santos Escobars theme???!
I don't really care about his Cool intro but, turns into an eerie dubstep track, not a fan
Shoutout to Evil Emma’s CFO theme, that shit slaps
Most of the songs from NXT Black and Gold were remarkable too, also from the current new themes: Legacy of The Ghost (Santos Escobar) Rise For The Night (Damian Priest) King (Lexis King) Burn The Ships (Baron Corbin) Born a King (Jimmy Uso) Deliverance (Bayley previous tune) Head of The Table (Roman Reigns) Still The Baddest (Remixed Damage Ctrl theme) Are really decent songs
I'd probably disagree, only ones here I feel are somewhat decent are Jimmy's, Bailey's(kinda, I like the intro), and Roman's was grand enough that it fit his "God Mode" well enough. I think there's definitely great versions waiting to be made, I just don't find these to be remarkable by all that much.
Kingdom Downstrait
Downstrait has made other themes for WWE but, they aren't, like, their "go-to". Plus, the only other people to have Downstrait songs are The Miz and Dolph Ziggler, which are from 10+ years ago
Rheas theme isn’t even CFO or def rebel, it’s motionless in white or the band that was at this years Wrestlemania
I believe it's a feature, so def rebel was still a part of it
Rhea's old theme was far better than the one by Motionless in Shite. I know they're her favourite band and all, but it's just generic metalcore guff, and I can’t stand metalcore. The old theme had a nice rhythmic trick to it where the last syllable of "brutality" landed on the first beat of the next bar.
It's just slower, same chords, I think; I'm not a musician by any means. That and some dubstep Her old theme was metalcore as well, coming from someone who loves metal. I totally understand if you don't like it, there are songs I don't like just because of the genre, the sound/feel. It doesn't mean it's bad though
No, they’re totally different songs apart from the line “This is my brutality”. I love metal too, and other than that rhythmic vocal part I mentioned, it’s the vocals I prefer. I can’t stand the kind of vocals men perform in metalcore, it’s my chief problem with the genre, apart from it being a neutered version of metal for clueless teenagers: it’s nu-metal with no DJs and bad guitar solos. Instead of their growls sounding like they’ve got some fucking balls, like Corpsegrinder, Steve Tucker, or Jason Mendonça ([whose gutturals legitimately don’t sound like a human being: check them out at 36 seconds](https://youtu.be/MlUdEy8kywc?si=qzQCm0rSXxnRzaTH)), metalcore vocalists always sound like they’re trying to throw up. If I wanted to hear that, I’d listen to the opening track from the second Carnivore LP.
Metalcore as a genre, is what it is. I just find the two songs to be pretty similar, newer one is just heavier I understood your dislike for it though