Dave Meltzer and I are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about the big news from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
AEW’s Alex Marvez joined us to talk about the life and times of Kim Wood.
Here were some of the things we discussed:
Possible Royal Rumble winners
AJ Styles and whether this is his last match or not
Possible surprises
AEW Dynamite ratings
Simone Johnson’s status in WWE
If booking wrestling today is easier or harder than in years past
The Rock’s daughter is the latest WWE talent to undergo a name change.
Ava Raine will now be known simply as “Ava” going forward, according to the NXT star’s WWE.com profile page.
Raine appeared on this week’s NXT program during the Thea Hail vs. Tiffany Stratton bout, and was referred to only as “Ava” on commentary. All references to the Raine name have been dropped from her WWE.com biography.
Ava, real name Simone Johnson, made her NXT debut on a live event in July 2022, cutting an in-ring promo at the house show. Her television debut as the mouthpiece for The Schism faction came during the October 25, 2022 episode of NXT.
WWE announced in February 2020 that Johnson, now 21 years old, had begun her training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Last night’s NXT featured the WWE television debut of Simone Johnson.
Weeks of a mysterious hooded figure appearing led to Johnson being revealed as the newest member of the Schism last night. Johnson, who is going by the in-ring name “Ava Raine,” joins Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, and Jagger Reid in the faction.
Simone is the eldest daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After unmasking last night, she cut the first televised promo of her career.
“The love and acceptance the Schism has given me defies any preconceived notions of who I’m supposed to be,” Simone said. “This family completes me.”
Simone is the first fourth-generation wrestler in WWE history. She joined the WWE Performance Center in February 2020.
Also on last night’s show, Ilja Dragunov and JD McDonagh faced off in the main event, two Tag Team title matches took place, and R-Truth stopped by NXT to set up a match with Grayson Waller for next week.
The fallout from NXT Halloween Havoc on today’s episode of Speak Now!
We had a lot of stuff to talk about on tonight’s show including two tag team title matches, Wes Lee as new NXT North American Champion, Ava Raine joins The Schism, JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov in the main event, and more!
On Tuesday’s NXT, the hooded figure that had been seen in recent weeks with The Schism revealed themselves to be none other than The Rock’s daughter Simone Johnson, who is now going under the name Ava Raine. She cut a short promo saying that The Schism has removed any preconceived notions of who she is, and that this family completes her.
In recent weeks, a hooded figure had been seen with the Schism. At Halloween Havoc, Gacy asked the figure if they were ready to reveal themselves. They nodded, with Gacy saying it would go down on Tuesday.
Johnson joined the WWE Performance Center back in February of 2020. In September of that year, it was reported that she was undergoing knee surgery. In May, it was reported that Johnson had been given the Ava Raine name. She started to make appearances on NXT house shows starting in July.
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson continued to express his excitement for his daughter Simone’s pro wrestling career getting underway.
Simone Johnson (who is going by the name “Ava Raine” in WWE) made her first NXT house show appearance earlier this month and cut the first promo of her career. After her debut, The Rock told Entertainment Tonight that he’s “very, very proud” of Simone for making history by becoming WWE’s first fourth-generation wrestler.
The Rock was also asked about Simone’s debut by Jimmy Kimmel Live guest host Kerry Washington.
“Very proud of her. Simone Johnson, my oldest daughter, the daughter I have with Dany [Garcia], she made her debut in WWE, their smaller federation, NXT. She did so good. She went out there on the microphone. You’ve gotta be poised when you go out there. She has a cool wrestling name. It’s Ava Raine,” The Rock said.
Washington then asked The Rock how someone comes up with their wrestling name.
“It comes from all different areas. Usually, it’s probably a mix. What she wanted to do, what she wanted to be called. Ultimately, what the powers that be want her to be called too as well. She’s the first fourth-generation of pro wrestlers in WWE. I always like to say that name Ava Raine could mean a lot of things, but to me in my mind, it means she’s going to lay the smackdown on candy asses.”
Simone Johnson has yet to have her first match or make her first televised NXT appearance. Simone signed with WWE in February 2020 but had to undergo knee surgery later that year.
Johnson’s full appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live is available to watch below:
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of his latest movie, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson commented on his daughter Simone making her NXT house show debut.
Simone Johnson (going by the in-ring name Ava Raine) appeared at an NXT house show in Citrus Springs, Florida last Friday. The next night at a house show in Orlando, she cut the first promo of her career.
“She’s made history [becoming WWE’s first fourth-generation wrestler]. Very, very proud of her,” The Rock told Entertainment Tonight. “She is fiercely independent. It’s very important for her to make her own way, blaze her own trail, blaze her own path. She doesn’t come to me looking for a lot, which I respect that. And I’m here watching and supporting.”
Simone revealed “Ava Raine” as her official NXT in-ring name this March. She’s also using the nickname “The Final Girl.”
Simone has yet to have her first match for NXT or make her first televised appearance.
Also during his interview with Entertainment Tonight, The Rock was asked if we could ever see him back in a WWE ring. “Of course,” he said. “Yeah, always open to that. For sure.”
“DC League of Super-Pets,” which stars The Rock in a voice-acting role, will be released in theaters on July 29.
Simone Johnson, under her new name Ava Raine, cut a live promo during tonight’s NXT house show.
Raine cut a promo at tonight’s show in Orlando and referred to herself as “The Final Girl”, which can also be seen in her Twitter profile. She also appeared during the Friday house show in Citrus Springs, Florida.
Johnson, 20, joined the WWE Performance Center back in 2020. She is the daughter of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. In September of 2020, she wrote on Twitter that she was undergoing her third knee surgery. In May, she changed her account name to Ava Raine, which WWE filed a trademark for on May 13.
Top matches from tonight’s house show had The Creed Brothers retain the NXT Tag Team titles over Joe Gacy and a member of the Dyad, Mandy Rose retaining the NXT Women’s title over Ivy Nile after interference from the rest of Toxic Attraction, and Bron Breakker retaining the NXT Championship over Tony D’Angelo.
Simone Johnson, the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, appears to have received her WWE in-ring name.
On Twitter, the 20-year-old Johnson has changed her account name to “AvaRaineWWE.” WWE filed a trademark for the name “Ava Raine” on May 13.
WWE announced the signing of Johnson in February 2020, which was right before the company was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson has yet to make her NXT in-ring debut.
Johnson underwent knee surgery in September 2020. It was the third time that she’s had surgery on her knee.
“It means the world to me,” Johnson said when she signed with WWE. “To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy.”
When Johnson makes her debut, she’ll become the first fourth-generation wrestler in WWE history. Her great-grandfather is Peter Maivia and her grandfather is Rocky Johnson.
Simone Johnson is undergoing knee surgery tomorrow.
Johnson revealed the news on her Twitter account today, writing the following: “so tomorrow i’m having knee surgery for the third time. as not fun as surgery is, i’m looking forward to my knees not popping out anymore. that said, please send me video games suggestions, movie suggestions (preferably scary) or anything else to help pass the time.”
Johnson, daughter of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, signed with the WWE back in February and has been training at the WWE Performance Center. She has not appeared on NXT television, but has been seen in the crowds during Raw, SmackDown, and NXT shows.
The Rock announced earlier this month that he and his family, excluding Simone, had all tested positive and were recovering from COVID-19. While his two younger daughters only had mild symptoms, Rock said that he and his wife, Lauren Hashian experienced harsher symptoms.
We look at the changes in WWE business and details on what Vince McMahon was talking about regarding changes in the network and PPV distribution in the lead story of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We examine the departure of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, the drop in the stock price, what it will take to get the price back up, McMahon talking business options, what WWE can learn from how UFC handled a similar situation, the business of WrestleMania, the key players, the different options, the UFC PPV deal, and McMahon talks AEW.
Also in this issue:
WWE fourth quarter numbers in every category, profits, losses, arena business, corporate spending and all categories.
McGregor vs. Cerrone business including details of it being the largest streaming PPV in history, how it did on traditional PPV, how UFC ha helped ESPN+ numbers, ESPN+ subscribers as well a the bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, and how successful it has been financially.
WrestleMania and the net Saudi Arabia show, a new WWE TV deal, Takeover Portland, what medical treatment wrestlers from many different companies are looking at doing, new WWE signings, John Cena in Fast 9, update on talent that has wanted their release, Jake Atlas debut, lots of ratings info, WWE Network price notes, Mauro Ranallo talks getting off twitter, Total Bellas story lines, Bret Hart update, most watched shows on WWE Network and coverage of all of last week’s WWE arena events.
New Beginning shows in Sapporo, with a full rundown of the booking, the business, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
A feature on the Jericho Cruise, the top matches, how TV was taped, and what happened.
UFC event from Raleigh with match-by-match coverage and business notes.
A feature on the death of Romeo Cormier and the famous Burke/Martin/Cormier family and the heyday of pro wrestling in Eastern Canada.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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AEW is holding an online pre-sale tomorrow for their Double or Nothing event in Las Vegas. It starts at 12 p.m. ET here and the presale code is FLEETDON.
Over the Top Wrestling released a video highlighting the David Starr vs. Jeff Cobb match that will take place at ScrapperMania 6 on February 15.
TJPW announced that Yuka Sakazaki will miss their March 1 card at KFC Hall due to scheduling reasons. AEW Revolution takes place a day prior.
Here is a trailer for the next DLC for Fire Pro Wrestling World, which includes Stardom wrestlers.
MMA
Nate Diaz is considering legal action after The Miami Herald reported that he was involved in an altercation with Miami police and was hospitalized. Zach Rosenfield, Diaz’s publicist, immediately denied the report. The publication later issued a correction saying it was not Diaz, but rather Michael Albert Nates, a local MMA fighter.
Police are investigating BJ Penn for a possible DUI violation stemming from an accident in Hilo, Hawaii last week. Penn allegedly was operating a truck that was involved in a single vehicle crash. Penn was taken to the hospital and, according to TMZ, was released shortly after.
UFC is currently finalizing a bout between Niko Price and Muslim Salikhov for April 11 in Portland.
Simone Johnson is officially beginning a career in professional wrestling.
WWE announced today that Johnson, the 18-year-old daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, has begun training at the company’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. WWE wrote that Johnson is on the path to becoming the first fourth-generation wrestler in their history, joining The Rock, her grandfather Rocky Johnson, and her great-grandfather Peter Maivia.
“It means the world to me,” Johnson told WWE.com. “To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy.”
“Simone Johnson’s unbridled passion and incredible drive has earned her a coveted spot training with the elite athletes from around the world at the WWE Performance Center,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque said. “Not only does Simone now have an opportunity to cultivate and display her passion for WWE within the Performance Center, but she’ll carry on the tradition of her incredible family lineage while creating her own impact as WWE’s first fourth-generation Superstar.”
In an interview with Good Morning America in 2018, The Rock spoke about Simone wanting to become a wrestler. “I said, ‘Honey, whatever your passion is I support that,’ And wrestling was good to me. I started my career in Madison Square Garden, so bring it on. She’s going to be a champ.”
Johnson had already done some training at the Performance Center prior to officially joining WWE.
“Simone knows she has a lot to learn,” NXT head coach Matt Bloom said. “She’s hungry to learn and picks the coaches’ minds, and the veteran Superstars’, as well. She’s not going to rest on her laurels. It’s been a short time, but she’s been crushing it.”
“Simone is a wonderful girl,” NXT assistant head coach Sara Amato said. “She’s like a sponge, it’s pretty amazing. She knows what it takes to succeed and all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into it. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”
Cathy Kelley will interview Simone at 3 p.m. Eastern time this Wednesday. It will stream on WWE’s digital platforms.
