The former General Manager Ava has opened up about her departure from WWE NXT.
In January 2026, it was announced that The Rock’s daughter was leaving the company. She had progressed from wrestler to General Manager, and it was she who made the decision to leave.
This week, Cody Rhodes had Simone Johnson, also known as Ava, as a guest on his podcast, and she revisited her decision to leave the company. For her, it was all about evolution, and she felt she could no longer grow:
“It was really difficult as a decision. It was something I had been thinking about for about a year. I knew my contract would end in February. A lot happened. There are many different reasons that pushed me to leave. It was extremely hard, but I felt it was the moment. I really wanted to evolve, and I didn’t think I was in a position at WWE that would allow me to progress. I am extremely grateful for the time I spent there; I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I knew I had to do something else. I needed to learn, grow and see what lay on the other side.”
A Fresh Start
Since the end of her contract with WWE, Simone Johnson has completely stopped wrestling.
She now holds an executive role at the production company Seven Bucks, run by The Rock and his mother. This allows her to explore the realm of entertainment and the production of films and TV series.
It will be interesting to see whether she will take on only a behind-the-scenes role or also appear in front of the camera.
