Simone Johnson Opens Up on Fallout From The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Return

Simone Johnson, who wrestled in WWE as Ava Raine before departing the company earlier this year, has opened up about the personal toll of one of the most talked-about angles in recent WWE history: her father Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s shocking return in the buildup to WrestleMania 40.

Speaking on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Johnson explained that while her on-screen role as NXT General Manager had nothing to do with The Rock’s return, the timing put her directly in the line of fire. The Rock’s comeback saw him confront Rhodes and effectively insert himself into the WrestleMania main event picture, sparking intense fan backlash across social media. Two days later, on that Sunday’s NXT Vengeance Day special, Johnson found herself facing the fallout in real time.

She recalled sitting in makeup before the show when NXT head writer Johnny Russo pulled her aside to warn her that the crowd might boo when her promo aired. She said she understood the heads-up, but nothing prepared her for how far the reaction spread once it hit the internet. In her words, that day ‘changed the way I looked at fans overall and changed the way that I looked at the wrestling business,’ adding that for a period afterward she viewed the experience in a deeply negative light.

Johnson didn’t detail every twist of the backlash, but she did note she eventually found some perspective in the chaos surrounding the Rock–Rhodes rivalry, one of the most polarizing storylines WWE has run in years. It’s a rare glimpse into how quickly and personally digital fan reaction can affect performers, even those with no direct hand in the storyline drawing the heat.

Johnson’s WWE run included stints as a member of The Schism alongside Joe Gacy and the Grizzled Young Veterans before she transitioned into the NXT General Manager role. She ultimately left the company in January 2026 after choosing not to re-sign when her NXT contract came up for renewal, closing the book on the Ava Raine character.

Since exiting the ring, Johnson has pivoted toward the family business in a literal sense, joining Seven Bucks Productions as a Junior Executive. The company, co-founded in 2012 by her parents Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, has been behind major Hollywood titles including Jumanji, Moana and Jungle Cruise.

Her comments add another layer to the ongoing conversation about the Rock’s WrestleMania 40 angle, which remains one of the more divisive storylines in modern WWE booking. While the feud accomplished its goal of generating buzz heading into the show, Johnson’s account is a reminder that the ripple effects of a hot angle don’t stay contained to the performers directly involved. With Johnson now fully focused on her production career, it’s unlikely she’ll return to WWE programming soon, but her reflections offer fans a rare, candid look at what it’s like to absorb backlash meant for someone else.