Ava exits WWE: Daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson departs NXT
Ava, daughter of WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is leaving WWE. On Friday, Ava announced that her six-year tenure with the professional wrestling promotion was coming to an end.
Ava has chosen not to renew her contract with WWE, she said in a statement. Appearing on NXT programming earlier this week, her release came as a major surprise.
“Last Tuesday was my last appearance on NXT and then WWE,” Ava wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to everyone who has applauded, watched and supported me throughout my journey. Although my decision not to renew my contract was very difficult, it is also a new turning point in my life. It has been an honor and a privilege to be Ava.”
Ava has exclusively played the General Manager of NXT for the past three years. Before that, she had six matches as part of the villainous faction Schism. She spent six years under the WWE umbrella and is the first fourth-generation superstar to sign with the company.
“WWE thanks and applauds Simone Garcia Johnson for her outstanding work as Ava and beyond,” the company said in a statement. “His passion, dedication and impact have been felt throughout the NXT and WWE community. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.”
Professional wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp noted that WWE generally does not release statements about talent leaving.
Ava, whose real name is Simone Alexandra Garcia Johnson, is the eldest of Dwayne Johnson’s three children. Johnson currently serves on the board of directors of TKO Group Holding, the parent company of WWE and UFC.
