Simone Johnson, known on-screen as Ava Raine, recently opened up about the intense backlash she faced after her father, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, appeared to take Cody Rhodes’ main-event spot at WWE WrestleMania 40. The revelation came during an appearance on Rhodes’ podcast, What Do You Want To Talk About?, as reported by Fightful.
The Rock’s Return Sparks Fan Revolt
The controversy erupted in early 2024 when The Rock returned to WWE television shortly after Cody Rhodes won his second consecutive Royal Rumble match. Despite Rhodes earning a championship opportunity against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, The Rock’s insertion into the WrestleMania 40 main-event picture ignited a massive negative reaction from the global fanbase. Fans hijacked WWE’s social media channels to voice their frustration, but the hostility quickly extended beyond the principals involved.
Simone Johnson Caught in the Crossfire
At the time, Simone Johnson was an active performer on the WWE NXT brand. She recalled the specific moment she realized the depth of the audience’s anger. It occurred during the NXT Vengeance Day event, the first WWE programming aired after the controversial angle on SmackDown.
“Dad [The Rock] came back; he shook your hand; he took your spot. That was Friday. That Sunday was a NXT pay-per-view, Vengeance Day. It was the first time there was WWE programming since that Friday. I will never forget this. I was sitting in makeup. I finished my makeup, and our head writer, Johnny Russo, came up to me and was like, ‘Can I talk to you for a minute?’ ‘Sure.’ I don’t think I had filmed the promo that I was doing that day; we were about to film it.”
Johnson detailed the warning she received from the creative team moments before her segment aired.
“He was like, ‘Just so you know, when we play your promo, please don’t be surprised if they boo you.’ ‘Okay.’ I can understand that. That did happen. All of the hate online happened. That day, it changed the way I looked at fans overall and changed the way that I looked at the wrestling business. For a while, I thought about it in a very negative way. It was quite negative at the time,”
Finding Perspective Amid Adversity
Despite the difficult experience, Johnson explained how the ordeal ultimately contributed to her professional growth. She credited the situation with forcing her to develop a thicker skin and a more focused mindset regarding her own career trajectory.
“All these external factors are happening, and everyone can have an opinion because of who I am or what my dad has done. It made me be a little selfish in my journey and what I was doing, but it was necessary,”
Resolution and Departure
The WrestleMania 40 narrative eventually resolved in Rhodes’ favor. “The American Nightmare” finished his story by defeating Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night Two, while The Rock headlined Night One in a tag team match alongside Reigns against Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
Johnson remained with WWE NXT until January 2026, serving as both an in-ring competitor and the brand’s General Manager during her final run. She opted not to renew her contract, allowing it to expire as she moves on to the next chapter of her career.
