What Happened to Ava on NXT?
Ava’s last appearance on NXT was on the Tuesday episode she later confirmed as her final night with WWE, after which she chose not to renew her contract. She had been serving as the on‑screen General Manager of NXT, regularly opening shows, making matches official, and acting as the “boss” figure fans saw week after week.
@FadeAwayMedia shared on X that Ava, the daughter of The Rock, has confirmed her departure from WWE after deciding not to renew her contract.
In her Instagram statement, she thanked viewers who followed her journey and called it “an honor & a privilege to be Ava,” which gave the exit a pretty emotional, chapter‑closing feel rather than anything dramatic or scandal‑driven.
WWE quickly moved to name an interim NXT GM on TV, signaling that her departure was planned around the end of her deal and not a sudden firing or storyline injury. For viewers who had just gotten used to her as the authority figure on Tuesday nights, it felt abrupt on screen but, behind the scenes, it was simply the end of a contract cycle.
Why Ava Left WWE?
Ava left WWE because she decided not to renew her contract, with multiple reports and her own statement framing it as a personal choice rather than a disciplinary or creative issue.
In her message, she mentioned that the decision was “very difficult” but also described it as a “new turning point” in her life, which lines up with backstage reports that she simply did not want to continue down the WWE path at this time. @WrestleOps shared on X that Ava has announced her departure from WWE.
Industry reports add a bit more color: outlets like Wrestling Observer and Slam Wrestling note that there was no single explosive reason, just a growing sense that she didn’t see long‑term fit and had other opportunities, including the possibility of working with her parents’ studio and projects linked to Dany Garcia.
Another factor mentioned is the lack of clear space for her on the main roster, especially with established authority figures already anchoring Raw and SmackDown, which may have capped her short‑term upside beyond NXT. Altogether, it paints less of a “WWE vs Ava” story and more of a young talent stepping away before getting stuck in a role that didn’t fully match her ambitions.
Who is Ava?
Ava is Simone Alexandra Garcia Johnson, the eldest daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and a fourth‑generation member of the famous Anoa’i wrestling family. Born on August 14, 2001, in Florida, she grew up around the business but didn’t rush into the ring; instead, she signed with WWE in her early 20s and was positioned as a long‑term developmental project with a big legacy attached.
Her WWE ring names were first “Ava Raine” and later simply “Ava,” and she leaned into a darker, mysterious presentation when she debuted as part of the Schism faction on NXT. Viewers often noticed how her presence felt different from her father’s over‑the‑top charisma more reserved, more experimental, like someone still figuring out how to be a character on live TV while carrying a huge last name on her shoulders.
Ava’s WWE and NXT Career
Ava’s WWE career moved from short in‑ring experiments to a much more successful run as an on‑screen authority figure in NXT. After signing with WWE and training at the Performance Center, she debuted on television in late 2022 as Ava Raine, revealing herself as a member of Joe Gacy’s Schism stable and working mainly in a supporting, faction‑heavy role. Her actual wrestling career was brief reports note she wrestled only a handful of matches and had not worked a bout since mid‑2023, which quietly signaled that WWE saw her value more in character and speaking roles than as a full‑time in‑ring performer.
From early 2024, Ava transitioned into the role of NXT General Manager, making matches, appearing in key backstage segments, and even popping up on SmackDown in that authority capacity.
That run helped her connect with the audience without the pressure of carrying long matches, and it gave NXT a fresh, younger “boss” figure with a famous lineage and a different energy from the usual veteran authority characters. When her contract came up in early 2026, though, she chose to step away, leaving behind a short but very closely watched chapter in NXT’s recent history—one that showed both the promise and the pressure of being The Rock’s daughter in modern WWE.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on publicly available news reports and Ava’s own social media statements. Situations in WWE and NXT can change quickly, and details may be updated by the company or talent. Readers should treat this as informational, not official communication from WWE or Ava.
