Dwayne Johnson’s Daughter Simone Leaving WWE After 6 Years

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter is stepping out of the ring.

Dwayne Johnson’s oldest child, Simone Johnson, has decided to leave WWE. She started with the company in 2020, continuing the family’s wrestling tradition as the fourth generation to enter the sport.

On Tuesday, January 30th, Ava Raine (24) announced on Instagram that she had finished performing with NXT and WWE. She thanked her fans for all their support throughout her career.

She admitted that deciding to leave was incredibly tough, but she sees it as a fresh start. She added that playing Ava has been a true honor and a wonderful experience.

After Simone shared her news, her girlfriend and WWE colleague, Tatyanna Dumas, announced that their shared social media account, BigUps, would temporarily stop posting new content until they feel the time is right to resume.

Tatyanna posted on Instagram that these important times call for respect, clear communication, and a professional approach, and they are committed to meeting those expectations. She also thanked followers for their ongoing support and patience.

Four months before Simone announced her departure from WWE, Dwayne—who co-parents her with Dany Garcia—was visibly moved while expressing his pride in her for carrying on the family tradition.

He told MTV UK in September, becoming emotional as he spoke, how proud he was of her. He explained it was because she was following in his footsteps, doing something he loved and had grown up with. ‘She saw what I did and said she wanted to do it too,’ he shared.

What really resonated with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson about Simone’s career was her determination to achieve success independently, on her own conditions.

It really struck me when she said she admired my work but wanted to build her own career independently. She specifically didn’t want me to use my connections or help her get started, and that was a significant point for me.

Dwayne shared, “It made me incredibly proud to have helped raise such a wonderful person, along with her mother.”

Read on to see more athletes whose kids followed in their footsteps. 

Many people consider him the best basketball player ever, so it’s no surprise his sons, Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, also wanted to play the sport. After playing in high school, Jeffrey went on to college basketball at both the University of Illinois and the University of Central Florida, hoping to make a name for himself outside of his famous father’s legacy.

Okay, so back in 2005, Jeffrey told The Washington Post something that really stuck with me. He basically said he knew he wasn’t one of the best players in the state – not even close, really – but he was determined to prove he deserved to be there, that he wasn’t just some hyped-up name with no actual skill. It just shows you how much heart he has! I mean, he wasn’t pretending to be something he wasn’t, he just wanted a chance to show everyone what he could do, and that’s amazing to me.

While studying at UCF, Marcus also played basketball, and he says his father was instrumental in helping him find his direction in life.

He shared advice whenever I needed it, but mostly he emphasized the importance of staying focused and working hard daily, believing that effort would eventually lead to success, he told The Gainesville Sun in 2011.

Bronny James (born LeBron James Jr. on October 6, 2004) played high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in the San Fernando Valley and then went on to play college basketball at the University of Southern California.

LeBron’s busy NBA schedule often makes it hard for him to attend all of his son Bronny’s games, but he always makes a real effort to be there. He once even chartered a private plane on a day off just to watch Bronny’s team, Sierra Canyon, play against his old high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, in Akron, Ohio.

LeBron told reporters that watching his son play against his former college team was a really special and unexpected experience, feeling like everything had come full circle.

In June 2024, Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, creating NBA history with his father, LeBron James, as the first father-son pair to play on the same team simultaneously.

I’m so excited to watch Bryce James, LeBron’s youngest son, play college basketball! He’s officially joined the University of Arizona team starting in 2025, and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes.

 

Rounding out the Sierra Canyon team is Zaire Wade, the oldest son of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade.

Zaire, who joined the team in December 2019 after transferring from Florida, explained to Yahoo! Sports that they need to get used to the intense spotlight. He said the team is constantly followed by cameras, and while he’s experienced attention throughout his life, this is unlike anything he’s seen before – it’s on a completely different scale.

In April 2020, Zaire announced on Instagram that he was transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, Florida, because he wasn’t getting enough playing time.

Zaire was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft by the Salt Lake City Stars. He later played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League and, in April 2024, signed with a team in the ASEAN Basketball League.

 

Former football player Cha’iel Johnson might be surpassed by his own daughter’s athletic achievements. She’s a talented track and field runner who won the 800-meter race at the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics when she was just 12 years old.

As someone who’s always been passionate about fostering athletic talent, I’ve seen so many incredible journeys begin in high school. This athlete’s story started at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, where she really honed her skills. From there, she took her talents to the next level, joining the University of Kentucky’s athletics program – a fantastic step for any aspiring collegiate athlete!

 

One of the NBA legend’s sons, standing 6-foot-10, played college basketball at UCLA. His career was unfortunately interrupted by a heart problem that needed surgery.

He sat out the 2018-19 season after leaving his California school and then transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU). LSU famously honors its alumni, including Shaq, with a 900-pound bronze statue outside the basketball practice facility.

After finishing his college career at Louisiana State University, the basketball player began his professional journey in 2022 with the NBA G League Ignite, a team designed to develop young talent for the NBA.

 

Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter, who is 6-foot-2, decided to attend Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2020 and play basketball alongside her brother, Shareef O’Neal.

Choosing what to do after high school is a really big decision, and I’ve finally made mine,” she said. “I’m a little nervous about the future, but I’m definitely up for the challenge. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve committed to playing a sport at LSU with my brother, Shareef O’Neal, and I can’t wait to spend the next four years as a Tiger. I’m so thankful for this opportunity!

She joined the basketball team at Texas Southern University for the 2021-2022 season.

 

The oldest daughter of a two-time NBA All-Star played basketball with Izela Arenas, daughter of Gilbert Arenas, while they both attended Sierra Canyon School.

In a December 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Zach Randolph described his time playing for coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He said Izzo was a tough, demanding coach who pushed his male players hard. Randolph noted that female players had a different dynamic, often eliciting a more supportive and understanding response. He explained that coaches tend to be more patient and encouraging with female athletes, feeling a special connection with them.

MacKenly jokingly claimed she had won against her father three times in their one-on-one matchups, adding that he doesn’t bother trying to defend himself.

Terique, the 6’3″ son of an NFL Hall of Famer, initially joined Florida Atlantic University’s football team as a walk-on in 2019. He had primarily played basketball growing up, but switched to football as a teenager. He began his college football career at Contra Costa Community College before transferring to FAU.

After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

A Sierra Canyon High School alum, he was a four-year starter and led his team to two state championships. He then played college basketball at Vanderbilt University, and in 2022, signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

I was so excited to see Scotty Jr. get signed by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2024! He’d been working hard with the South Bay Lakers, their G-League team, and it was fantastic to see that effort pay off with a two-way contract. It’s a huge step for him, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do!

Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls player and five-time NBA champion, is also a father.

Dennis Rodman Jr., also known as DJ, was a basketball and football player at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. He initially played basketball at Washington State University before transferring to the University of Southern California in 2023.

After a game in 2017, his high school coach, Ryan Schachter, told the Orange County Register that he was a talented player who hadn’t received enough recognition in Southern California.

After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Rodman family! While Dennis’ son followed him into basketball, his daughter, Trinity Rodman, really surprised and inspired me by becoming a phenomenal soccer player. It was tough when her first college season at Washington State was cut short by the pandemic, but she didn’t let that stop her. She turned pro quickly, joining the Washington Spirit in 2021 and then amazingly made the United States Women’s National Team in 2022 – she’s truly something special!

In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

It’s not surprising that Tiger Woods’ son is a talented golfer. Charlie Woods first appeared on television playing golf with his father at the 2020 PNC Championship when he was just 11 years old.

Asked about practicing his golf swing before playing with his son, the 15-time major champion said he hadn’t worked on it at all. He explained that he was more focused on making sure his son had a great time and enjoyed the experience, rather than on his own performance.

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2026-01-31 04:18