Legendary composer Jim Johnston is the creative genius behind some of the most iconic entrance themes in professional wrestling history, crafting unforgettable music for Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, The Rock, D-Generation X, Triple H, and hundreds more.

Jim Johnston sits down with host John Kiernan on Ropes N Riffs to discuss how a chance meeting at a sushi bar led to his start in WWE, why he views entrance themes as movie scores, why heels originally didn't get music, collaborating with bands like Downstait, the accidental sound behind Triple H’s "My Time," the new music he is preparing to release, his outlook on composing music and making it real, and so much more.

Enjoy!

-

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Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

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Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Today's exclusive interview is with Frankie Kazarian, one of the most innovative wrestlers in the last many years. With Bound For Glory right around the corner, we spoke with Kazarian about what Bound For Glory means to him, TNA Wrestling, and his favorite moments.

Why has Kazarian been hanging around Avery Styles? What are some lessons he's teaching the young son of AJ Styles?

We also talk to Kazarian about his bass playing, Metallica's influence on him, and who he'd love to have make a custom theme for him. We also talk about his band Gutter Candy, and who his favorite Metallica bassist is.

We also find out what's on the playlist of Frankie Kazarian.

Enjoy!

-

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Sirena Linton, fresh off of her most recent TNA Xplosion four way match, sits down with me to talk about a range of topics such as her time in WWE on WWE LFG, her transition from gymnastics to WWE, how her first ever matches were in WWE, how she came into being a metalhead, and her recent debut match for TNA Xplosion.

We also talk about the story behind her new entrance theme "Spicy" (composed by John Kiernan), her WWE LFG theme "Demented", and some of her favorite entrance themes of all time.

We also find out what is on the playlist of Sirena Linton.

Enjoy!

-

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Big Trouble Ben Bishop's been lighting it up like a skyscraper across the wrestling landscape and on social media. So of course Ropes N Riffs has to get the rub from Ben Bishop.

On today's episode, Ben Bishop's safe from Tribal Keith as he talks about his entrance theme written by Suplex Sound. We talk all about his favorite entrance themes in wrestling, his emotional My Sacrifice video he made after his AEW match, and how an entrance theme can make a night at the office in the squared circle even easier if it hits the crowd the right way. Eddie Kingston we're looking at you, bud.

We also put over the work of Joe Hendry's theme and how he's taken that theme and launched off with it. Maybe we talk about Linkin Park, too? Vicki Venuto will be happy to hear that.

We also find out what's on the playlist of Ben Bishop.

Enjoy!

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Shane Taylor. One of my favorite wrestlers to write a theme for. Shane Taylor and Shane Taylor Promotions has been changing the game in AEW, Ring Of Honor, and anyone that's crazy enough to bring Shane's brand of violence to their ring.

On this episode, Shane Taylor shares insights on wrestling entrance themes and the evolution of his themes over the years. We talk about his career journey, and the importance of music in building persona and intimidation.

Discover how themes reflect character evolution, collaboration with composers, and the power of music in sports entertainment. We talk about his theme Lion In The Jungle and collaborating with me and former WWE Nexus member Michael Tarver and his son, as well as working with Monteasy over the years on the current STP theme and previous themes.

We also find out what songs on the playlist of Shane Taylor.

Enjoy!

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Join me as WOW Women of Wrestling tag team champions Miami Sweet Heat aka The Carlson Twins share their journey in women's wrestling, their experiences with WOW, and their insights on growth, community, and staying at the top of their game.

Laurie and Lindsey Carlson talk all about how they got started with Women of Wrestling and what they thought when they first heard their entrance theme that I wrote for them. Laurie and Lindsey also discuss being part of the recent Lodestone with Bayley from WWE and how the sisterhood of women's wrestling is in a great place. We also find out from them what's on their playlist and who else in WOW has the best entrance music. Enjoy!

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

One of the things about doing this show that I absolutely love is being able to sit down with wrestlers that I've worked with and talk about the behind-the-scenes of putting an entrance theme together.On today's episode, we're doing just that with Smart Mark Sterling.

You're absolutely familiar with his work from AEW and Ring of Honor as well as his show the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast with Brian Myers and Matt Cardona, but are you familiar with his singing? No? Well, you're about to be.

Mark Sterling and I talk about how his new entrance theme came to be, and what started off as a nugget of an idea exploded into an artistic work all its own, full of an amazing video with Dani Venen, an epic musical arrangement, and a roadmap to success...known only as The Mark Sterling Way.

Enjoy!

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com

One of my dream guests and biggest compositional inspirations, Bear McCreary, joins us on this episode. Bear's newest record The Singularity: Ekleipsis has just released.

We talk all about the collaborations with him, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Meshuggah, Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria, and the process of writing the follow up to 2024's The Singularity. We also get into the heart of composing music, the choices we make (or don't make), how Scott Ian of Anthrax told Bear he knew he loved Sepultura (did he, though???), writing music for you vs. writing for others, and so much more.

We also find out what's on the playlist of Bear McCreary.

Enjoy!

-

🔔Subscribe To The Show! https://www.youtube.com/@ropesnriffs?sub_confirmation=1

Email me! ropesnriffspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Ropes N Riffs on social media:

🤘Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ropesnriffs

🤘 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropesnriffs

🤘X: https://www.x.com/ropesnriffs

💰Support the show via PayPal! https://paypal.me/ropesnriffs

📣$10 or more will get you shouted out on the next episode!

📹 I use Riverside.FM to record and edit my shows!

• Sign up today: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_2&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-kiernan

Listen to Ropes N Riffs wherever you listen to podcasts! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more!

🎧Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3upFt8nCe2ONsS29jtjzA0?si=81198fdfdfe84019

🎧Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ropes-n-riffs/id1781702913

About The Show:

Do you like wrestling? Do you like music and stories from the road? Join John Kiernan, wrestling entrance theme song composer, and professional musician of over 10 years for stories and interviews with your favorite wrestlers, rock stars, and personalities!

About the Host:

John Kiernan is a wrestling entrance theme song composer with over 150 themes written for wrestlers in various promotions such as NJPW, WWE, ROH, MLW, and many more. As a professional musician, a veteran in the podcasting space, an avid pro wrestling fan and wrestling personality by way of creating the soundtracks for your favorite wrestlers, John Kiernan forges his latest podcasting venture into diving into stories of music, stories from the road, and wrestling from all walks of life from your (and his) favorites of all time.

Are you looking for a custom wrestling entrance theme or walk out music?

Contact via email at johnkiernanmusic@gmail.com. Or fill out this form here! https://johnkiernanmusic.com/custom-wrestler-entrance-themes/#contact

Take a listen to my themes!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIkQOXc7x9NFiIHsYDov27nsUJpcIYJ49

Social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnkiernanmusic

• Twiter: www.twitter.com/jkiernanguitar

• Website: www.johnkiernanmusic.com