Details On Internal Reaction To Criticism Over WWE’s Current Theme Music

A new report has a lot of detail around WWE’s internal reactions to the criticism of their theme music under Def Rebel. Def Rebel, aka DJDTP, has been in charge of WWE’s music production for several years after the company parted ways with CFO$. Fans have been outspoken in their dislike for Def Rebel’s themes, and Fightful Select reports that while WWE is well aware of the backlash and monitor the reactions online, there hadn’t been any plan to replace Def Rebel up to this point.

WWE posted a job filing on October 22nd for a Director of Music Strategy and Operations, which is described as an administrative-style position intended to grow the music division and streamline it, while also coordinating live events and performances. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that according to people in the company, this is not a composer position and the person who fills it would be communicating with other TKO properties like UFC and Professional Bull Riders.

According to Corey Brennan, WWE talents who are using Def Rebel themes expressed frustration “across the board” with the group’s methods and themes, with several talents having negative reactions to their current themes. Sapp was told that many were not told directly why their theme music changed despite asking, and the talent that they’ve spoken to say they haven’t met or directly had contact with Def Rebel. Sources that work in production told Sapp and Brennan both that they would prefer a new method and one source said that they were hopeful to see a more “motivated and personalized” theme song approach. One talent noted that at one point Judgment Day, Damage CTRL, and Seth Rollins all had very similar intros to their themes and joked, “For the period of a few years any one of a dozen people could have been coming out.”

As of now, sources say that there are no imminent plans they’ve heard of in terms of using licensed music for theme songs, and a few talents who asked were told that in some cases there were issues about long-term clearances. Licensed music is still expected to be featured in some capacity.

The report goes on to note that the planned theme music change for Randy Orton upon his Survivor Series 2023 return was a Def Rebel remix of his ‘Voices’ theme, and that several different remixes have been pitched but Orton rejected each one. Not every talent was approached or ordered a theme adjustment and some talent still use their Jim Johnston themes.

In regard to the changeover from CFO$ to Def Rebel years back, Sapp reports that there were major publishing issues between CFO$’ members and WWE tried to buy them out of their deal five years ago, but the publisher rejected the offer. WWE tried to get them in-house but the talks stalled and the group disbanded. CFO$ often listened to direct input from talent when working on themes and also had library of themes produced that they could use.

In regard to Jim Johnston, a return is unlikely as he’s in his 70s. There’s no word on his current relationship with WWE, though people they spoke to wouldn’t be surprised of a bridge was built in terms of acknowledging him under the post-Vince McMahon regime. An unconfirmed rumor in the industry is that WWE owned the publishing rights to Johnston and Def Rebel’s themes, but only owned 50% of CFO$’ themes. At least one of the members of CFO$ is said to have left the industry altogether.