WWE held an NXT live event on Saturday night from Tampa, FL, that featured the singles in-ring debut of The Rock’s daughter, Ava, real name Simone Johnson.
Johnson signed with WWE and started training at the Performance Center in 2020. In September of that year, she had to undergo a third knee surgery. In May 2022 confirmed, her WWE ring name was Ava Raine, which WWE filed a trademark for on May 13.
At this year’s WWE NXT Stand & Deliver from Los Angeles, Ava made her in-ring debut when Schism (Joe Gacy, Ava, Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid) lost to Chase U (Andre Chase, Thea Hail & Duke Hudson) & Tyler Bate in an Eight-Person Tag Team Match.
At the house show last night, Ava go over Ivy Nile secured the pin thanks to a distraction by Joe Gacy.
History in the making. We are getting to see @avawwe_ ‘s first official singles match and she picked up the win over @ivynile_wwe #NXTTampa pic.twitter.com/s7a3AluiXf
— Mary-Kate Anthony (@marykayfabe) August 20, 2023
Heck yeah. @avawwe_ and @JoeGacy are here at #NXTTampa!!!! I can’t wait to see what Ava brings! pic.twitter.com/0IKn430Olz
— Rob Skaats Jr. (@SmileyMambo) August 20, 2023
#NXTTampa that was fast 😳 pic.twitter.com/kgAOeSMFP3
— Stephanie Sparks (@Stephan67156272) August 20, 2023
