Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has something else to thank professional wrestling for: an improved relationship with is oldest daughter.
Johnson revealed the extent that it’s brought him and daughter Simone together during an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast on Tuesday.
Simone, 21 is currently working in NXT, WWE’s developmental brand, as Ava Raine and her presence in the industry has seemed to salvage her relationship with her famous dad.
Simone Johnson, aka Ava Raine, at NXT Stand & Deliver
She was born in 2001 to Johnson and then wife Dany Garcia, when The Rock was at the height of his mega-stardom in WWE and the same year he got his big acting break as the Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns.”
“I have the privilege and honor of watching my daughter Simone,” Johnson said on the podcast. “I had her when I was young, in my 20s, and as dudes, we’re still trying to find ourselves in our 20s, in our 30s. If we’re lucky, we reach out fourth level, and we find ourselves a little bit. We get a little bit more wiser. So when I had Simone, I was flying by the seat of my pants. I was wrestling full-time, I started transitioning into acting full-time.”
Simone signed with WWE in February 2020 and had been training at the company’s Performance Center in Florida and is the organization’s first fourth-generation wrestler.
The Rock on The Pivot podcast.
She made her on-screen debut in NXT last October as the fourth member of Joey Gacy’s Schism faction and wrestled her first television match in a six-person tag at NXT’ Stand & Deliver on April 1. It’s all led to a different level of bonding between her and dad.
“I had so much sh-t going on, so I like to say me and Simone grew up together, so we had a relationship where I was always gone, but we tried to keep it together,” The Rock said. “Now, years later, as she becomes a pro wrestler, it’s actually brought us closer together. So in a way, it’s helped save that relationship too.
“In many ways, pro wrestling has been my family’s savior.”
