After Johnny’s father abandoned him and his mother, Laura, Johnny developed deep abandonment issues that manifested in a variety of ways, but primarily through holding on to items that once belonged to his father. Eventually, Laura discovered Johnny’s secret hideout and explained that they were living with her new husband and Johnny’s new stepfather, Sid Weinberg. Being quite young, Johnny threw a tantrum and naturally had trouble dealing with the change. Luckily his mother was there to help him. Even when Sid belittled Johnny, Laura often stood in the gap to protect her son.
No wonder Laura’s death in 2002 sent Johnny into a downward spiral of alcohol abuse. For months, Johnny continued drinking alcohol and working odd jobs to maintain his rocking lifestyle. During this time he began dating alcoholic Shannon Keene, who became pregnant with his son Robby. Sadly, while drowning in his own grief, Johnny missed the birth of his son, who would grow up just as worried as Johnny. This haunted him for years because he believed he had “failed”. [his] Child on his very first day in the world.” Unfortunately, instead of fixing that mistake right away, it takes Johnny several seasons of “Cobra Kai” to even attempt to be a father to his son.