Ava has opened up on what led to her decision to leave WWE, saying it came down to a number of things rather than any single moment.
The former NXT General Manager was asked about her exit during an appearance on The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi.
“There wasn’t one particular thing, unfortunately. It was like a lot of things and something that had been on my mind for a while,” Johnson said. “I am so grateful for my time at WWE. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I got to live out the dream. But I think it was just time for something new. It was time for something different. I don’t regret leaving and I’m really happy now.”
Johnson announced on January 30 that she had chosen not to renew her contract, with the January 27 episode of NXT serving as her final WWE appearance. The decision ended a run of roughly six years with the company she joined in 2020. A fourth-generation wrestler and the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, she debuted on NXT before transitioning to an on-screen authority role and, in January 2024, becoming the brand’s General Manager.
Reports at the time indicated WWE had offered Johnson a new deal with a pay increase in an effort to keep her, but she turned it down. In a statement following her exit, WWE thanked her and praised her “stellar work as Ava and beyond.”
If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
