Ava Raine – born Simone Johnson, daughter of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – has addressed her WWE departure for the first time.
Speaking in depth, she told The Downside podcast host Gianmarco Soresi that the exit came down to many accumulating factors.
The 24-year-old announced on January 30, 2026, that she would not renew her contract after six years with the company. She said the decision is one she does not regret, and she described herself as genuinely happy in the months since.
Ava Raine Quits WWE
Raine confirmed her departure date – January 29, 2026, marked the expiration of her WWE deal – and confirmed she is now working alongside her mother, Dany Garcia.
The podcast interview, conducted roughly six months post-exit, is the most expansive on-record statement she has made about her reasons for leaving. No disciplinary or creative dispute has been confirmed by any named party as a contributing factor.
What is not confirmed is any formal next role. Industry observers, including reporting connected to Wrestling Observer‘s Dave Meltzer, indicated internally that Raine simply did not want to continue in professional wrestling – framed as her choice, entirely.
No announcement from Seven Bucks Productions, the film and television company run by Dwayne Johnson and Garcia, has been made.
Ava Raine Explains Why She Left WWE
She said: “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.”
What Has Ava Raine Achieved?
Raine was the first fourth-generation talent ever signed by WWE, continuing a lineage that runs through The Rock, grandfather Rocky Johnson, and great-grandfather High Chief Peter Maivia.
She joined the WWE Performance Center in early 2020 and debuted on NXT television in October 2022 as part of Joe Gacy‘s Schism faction.
Her in-ring career was brief – six recorded matches – before WWE and Raine collectively pivoted toward a non-wrestling role. She became NXT General Manager in January 2024 at age 22, the youngest person to hold that title, and introduced the NXT Women’s North American Championship at Stand & Deliver 2024.
It was a significant on-screen elevation, but the exit came regardless.
What the Exit Actually Means
The probability that Raine returns to a major wrestling promotion is low based on her own stated discomfort with high-scale public entertainment. She told Soresi she prefers her current outlet of travel content and selective podcast appearances over the relentless visibility that came with a WWE general manager role.
The more likely destination is production or talent management inside the Seven Bucks/TKO ecosystem. WhatCulture and CBS Sports both noted industry expectation pointing in that direction – though no formal announcement has arrived.
Her background, family network, and stated interest in lower-profile creative work all point that way. WWE meanwhile loses one of its highest-profile legacy names and, as wrestling’s crossover appeal into mainstream entertainment keeps growing, the absence of a fourth-generation Johnson on the roster is a genuine brand gap.
What Comes Next For Ava Raine
Until Seven Bucks Productions or Dany Garcia‘s operation makes a formal announcement, Raine‘s podcast circuit and social media presence remain the only visibility she has chosen to maintain. The industry is watching. Her next public-facing role – whatever form it takes – will draw significant attention given her surname alone.
