Simone Johnson discusses leaving WWE and future plans

"

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 12: Ava opens up the contract signing during NXT Great American Bash at Center Stage Theater on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bradlee Rutledge/WWE) | WWE via Getty Images NXT General Manager Ava’s departure from WWE was always going to be news. That’s because Simone Johnson played Ava, and Simone is the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It became an even juicier story when Ava’s social media was shut down after Simone posted a message denouncing United States President and WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump and his anti-immigrant agenda. We haven’t heard from the authority figure formerly known as Ava since he late January departure… until now. That’s when the latest episode of comedian Gianmarco Soresi’s podcast The Downside dropped, with guest Simone Johnson. If you were thinking her departure was all about WWE’s Trump ties, Johnson says you’re wrong. She does say it was definitely the right decision for her: “There wasn’t one particular thing, unfortunately. It was like a lot of things and had been something that was on my mind for a while. And I am so grateful for my time at WWE. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I got to live out the dream that [younger] me always wanted to. ”But I think it was just — it was time for something new. It was time for something different. And I really — I don’t regret leaving, and I’m really happy now.” Johnson is now working for her mother (and dad’s producing partner) Dany Garcia, who runs management and clothing companies. It doesn’t sound like a return to WWE or pro wrestling is in her plans, but she’s not becoming a recluse. She’ll at least keep doing what she’s currently doing online: “I think to a certain degree, but I do feel like so much of my life was public for so long. I’m not sure if I would want to participate in entertainment in the scale that I did when I was at WWE. “But I feel like I love the outlet that I have now of being able to like make cute travel vlogs and do that. Because obviously it’s still public and being here [on the podcast] is still public, but it’s just not to the same degree [as] at WWE.” She and her partner Tatyanna Dumas have an Instagram account where they post vlogs and other content. View this post on Instagram