Tag: Simone Johnson

WWE NXT General Manager Ava Announces Exit From Company

Simone Johnson — known to WWE fans as NXT General Manager Ava — has officially parted ways with WWE. The former Ava Raine confirmed the news on Friday, revealing she chose not to renew her contract and that this past Tuesday’s episode of NXT marked her final appearance with the company.

Taking to Instagram, Ava shared a heartfelt message thanking fans and those she worked with during her time in WWE. She acknowledged the decision wasn’t an easy one, but described it as a meaningful new chapter in her life.

“While my decision to not renew my contract was very difficult, it’s also a new turning point in my life,” Ava wrote. “It has been an honor & a privilege to be Ava.”

Ava’s WWE journey was historic from the start. As the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, she became the first fourth-generation wrestler to sign with WWE when she joined the company in February 2020. She began training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and eventually made her televised debut on NXT in October 2022 as part of Joe Gacy’s dark and controversial faction, The Schism.

Competing under the ring name Ava Raine — later shortened to Ava — her in-ring run was brief. She wrestled just four televised matches and never picked up a singles victory. Not long after, WWE pivoted her role on screen, positioning her as an assistant to Shawn Michaels before elevating her to the role of NXT General Manager in January 2024.

Despite limited ring time, Ava became a consistent on-screen presence as the authority figure of WWE’s developmental brand. One of her most high-profile moments came during NXT: New Year’s Evil in January 2025, when she shared a backstage segment with her father — a rare on-screen crossover between the two.

As of now, The Rock, who sits on TKO’s board of directors, has not publicly commented on his daughter’s departure.

What’s next for Ava remains unclear, but her exit closes a unique chapter in WWE history. Whether she stays connected to the wrestling business or pursues something entirely new, her decision marks a major shift — both for her personally and for the future direction of NXT’s on-screen leadership.

The Rock’s Daughter Ava Raine Revealed As Mystery Schism Member On NXT

The masked wrestler who has been aiding The Schism is Ava Raine.

Someone in a yellow mask has been appearing on NXT recently, and then that mysterious figure helped The Schism attack Cameron Grimes. Clearly, whoever they are, they have been better swayed by the group’s message than Grimes ever was. Schism’s leader Joe Gacy promised a reveal after Halloween Havoc, and that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday.

All three members of Schism were joined in the ring by their mysterious masked fourth. The unnamed fourth member then removed their mask, revealing themselves to be Ava Raine. Raine cut a short promo covering her appreciation for the group’s acceptance before the other three members of Gacy’s stable embraced her in the middle of the ring.

If you’re unfamiliar with Raine, well, there’s a good reason for that. Tuesday night was the first time she has ever appeared on NXT TV. If you do know Raine, that’s probably because she has received a little bit more attention than most other Performance Center recruits. That’s due to the fact she is The Rock’s daughter. Her real name is Simone Johnson, and she’s a fourth-generation Superstar.

Not only is Raine following in the footsteps of her movie star dad, but she also follows her grandfather Rocky Johnson into the wrestling business, and her great-grandfather Peter Maivia before him. Not to mention the countless other members of the Samoan Dynasty that have wrestled in WWE and beyond, and continue to do so to this day.

Raine has previously appeared at NXT live events but hasn’t actually wrestled her first match yet, at least not in front of fans. It remains unclear what exactly WWE has planned for her on that front. Whether she will aid Schism in tormenting other Superstars, or she will compete in matches right away. If The Bloodline is still around when she is eventually called up, perhaps the plans for her to be its first female member are already tentatively in place.

Source: TheSportster

The Rock’s Daughter, Ava Raine, Debuts Nickname In First WWE NXT Promo At NXT House Show

WWE NXT held another live event last night in Orlando, Florida, headlined by Bron Breakker successfully defending his NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo. Elsewhere on the card, the leader of Toxic Attraction, Mandy Rose, defeated Ivy Nile to retain her NXT Women’s Title, and The Creed Brothers defeated Joe Gacy and a member of the DYAD to retain their Tag Team Titles.

But one of the biggest stories coming out of the show isn’t about the in-ring action at all. Fresh WWE NXT talent Ava Raine, the real-life daughter of The Rock that signed with WWE in February 2020, cut her first promo at last night’s event. She was presented as a heel to the audience as she talked down to Cora Jade and the rest of the NXT women’s locker room.

Raine also revealed what her nickname will be going forward and it’s possibly a nod to a recent horror film. Raine, a fan of cinema influenced by the supernatural, apparent by the many references to “The Craft” (1996) on her social media, was referring to herself as “The Final Girl” during her in-ring promo. The film, “The Final Girls” was a horror/comedy film released in 2015 that first debuted at the SXSW Film Festival before receiving a wider release in the United States later that Fall. The premise of the movie sees the protagonist, Max, along with her group of friends, getting trapped inside a B-horror film where they must use the tropes they’ve learned from watching horror movies to survive. There’s no certainty this film influenced the new description Raine is giving herself in NXT, but the connection is possible.

“The Final Girl” is also a common trope in horror cinema as a whole. She is recognized as the last girl or woman surviving in the film as the story becomes centrally focused on her.

As seen in the photos below, Raine was trending after she dropped the promo last night, signifying that we might be approaching a televised debut for the 20-year-old. She has been teasing her debut for several weeks until last night when she finally revealed her persona to a live crowd.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock’s Daughter Simone Johnson To Undergo Surgery

WWE Performance Center talent Simone Johnson announced she’ll be having knee surgery for a third time today.

“So, tomorrow I’m having knee surgery for the third time,” Johnson wrote. “As not fun as surgery is, I’m looking forward to my knees not popping out anymore. That said, please send me video games suggestions, movie suggestions (preferably scary) or anything else to help pass the time.”

Johnson, the daughter of The Rock, signed with WWE back in February and reported to train at the WWE PC since her signing.

She has yet to debut on NXT, but did make multiple appearances in the crowd at the WWE PC and Full Sail when WWE was not allowing fans in for shows.

https://twitter.com/SimoneGJohnson/status/1305172194960584706

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Shares Footage Of Simone Johnson Wrestling At WWE Performance Center

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared a video on Sunday of a brief guest coaching session he did at the WWE Performance which shows the first in-ring footage of his daughter Simone.

The video begins with The Rock saying he had about 4-5 hours to visit the PC and see his daughter Simone Johnson train. Dwayne also says there’s only one place he’d trust his daughter learning to wrestle, and that’s with family aka The McMahons.

As we previously reported, the 18-year-old fourth generation wrestler recently signed with WWE.

In the footage, Simone is seen trading moves in the ring with Deonna Purrazzo as The Rock and most of NXT’s female roster watch on. He then asks to show them something and offers advice to his daughter in regards to what he had just seen.

Simone explains in an interview that is shown how it’s been great having her dad advise her and that he lets her find her own path, while also giving guidance when he can.

Dwayne Johnson is also shown taking questions from the PC trainees.

The video ends with The Rock and Simone preparing to lock up in the ring together, as well as Dwayne lifting her up for a vertical suplex.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The Rock’s Daughter Begins Training At WWE Performance Center

WWE announced that Simone Johnson – the daughter of WWE great Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – has begun training at the WWE Performance. If she makes it to the main roster, she will become the first 4th generation wrestler in history as her grandfather Rocky Johnson and her great-grandfather “High Chief” Peter Maivia also competed for WWE. Rocky Johnson and Maivia are both WWE Hall of Famers.

“It means the world to me,” Johnson said. “To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy.”

“Simone Johnson’s unbridled passion and incredible drive has earned her a coveted spot training with the elite athletes from around the world at the WWE Performance Center,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “Not only does Simone now have an opportunity to cultivate and display her passion for WWE within the Performance Center, but she’ll carry on the tradition of her incredible family lineage while creating her own impact as WWE’s first fourth generation Superstar.”

Johnson will join the diverse group of Superstars in training at the Performance Center, learning from a coaching staff that includes legends of the squared circle, led by Head Coach Matt Bloom and Assistant Head Coach Sara Amato.

“Simone knows she has a lot to learn,” said Bloom. “She’s hungry to learn and picks the coaches’ minds, and the veteran Superstars’, as well. She’s not going to rest on her laurels. It’s been a short time, but she’s been crushing it.”

“Simone is a wonderful girl,” Amato added. “She’s like a sponge, it’s pretty amazing. She knows what it takes to succeed and all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into it. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1226931688573415426

 

The Rock’s Daughter Has Started Training At The WWE Performance Center

Image result for The Rock’s Daughter Has Started Training At The WWE Performance Center

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter Simone Johnson is training on a part-time basis at the WWE Performance Center.

In the latest episode of Lilian Garcia’s Chasing Glory podcast, Zelina Vega talked about becoming close with Simone and revealed the 17-year-old has been training at the PC in Orlando.

Zelina detailed working closely with The Rock during the filming of “Fighting with My Family” and how Simone gave her the ultimate compliment following a shoot at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Vega says Johnson told her, “I knew I wanted to start wrestling for sure where I saw you at RAW doing the movie. ”

Sources tell Pro Wrestling Sheet Simone has been training part-time at the PC for the past few months, mainly just occasional sessions with trainers, but there’s word going around that she’ll be starting at the facility in a more serious manner in the near future. Since she’s still in high school, it’s safe to assume that factors into her schedule.

Back in November of last year, Simone spoke about being interested in the business. At the time, she said she hoped to give it a try following graduation from college.

“It’s a sport that is unlike anything else in the world. There’s just a certain amount of passion that every move and match requires, and that’s so admirable. It’s definitely something I’ve thought about and want to pursue,” Simone said.

“The Great One” later came out in support of his daughter pursing sports entertainment, saying she’d be a future champion in the business.

You can listen to Zelina’s comments around the 1:17 mark of the podcast by clicking here.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet