Dwayne Johnson has indeed been one of the biggest favorites when it comes to fans’ choice of the best and most electrifying wrestlers. However, his recent return to the ring and taking Cody Rhodes’ place in WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns hasn’t been one of the most appreciable decisions in the eyes of the fans. And now, it is taking a toll on his family as well.
As per recent reports, angry fans have taken this one decision way too personally, and have allegedly taken to sending ‘death threats’ to Johnson’s daughter, Simone Garcia Johnson, or, as she is renowned by her ring name, Ava. And while Ava commented on it, even die-hard wrestling fans aren’t cool with this situation.
Dwayne Johnson’s Daughter is Getting Death Threats from Angry Fans
Ever since Dwayne Johnson announced that he would be battling against his real-life cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 instead of Cody Rhodes, fans seem to have mixed opinions on the situation. Since The Rock against The Tribal Chief has been a much-awaited match for quite some time now, fans were happy about it, but also sad that Rhodes would not be able to finish the story.
However, some of these fans have seemingly taken it a bit too far to let their displeasure known over this decision. While previously, this hatred was restricted strictly to the full segment of the YouTube video holding the announcement that The People’s Champ would be going against The Head of the Table, now it has crossed boundaries and attacked Johnson’s family as well.
Despite WWE reportedly monitoring the negative feedback from fans over this news (via Wrestling News) that has earned the YouTube full clip about 500,000 dislikes as compared to the 99,000 likes, the situation has escalated and is seemingly getting out of hand as The Brahma Bull’s daughter Ava has reportedly started getting death threats over the matter.
Ava, real name Simone Garcia Johnson, is signed to WWE as of this writing. She performs on the NXT brand under her ring name ‘Ava’, and is the onscreen GM, i.e. General Manager, of NXT. Recently, she even took to her X handle (@avawwe_) to comment on this matter and express her own displeasure over getting pulled into something she isn’t even a part of:
death threats over a situation i have nothing to do with … bffr
— A V A (@avawwe_) February 5, 2024
For those who don’t know, Cody Rhodes won this year’s Royal Rumble match as well, and bagged his ticket to a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, after his defeat at the hands of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion last year at WrestleMania 39.
However, this time, Dwayne Johnson took his place to fight against Reigns at WrestleMania 40, which has been yet another massively anticipated match for quite some time now. This is why fans were pissed off that even though Rhodes earned the ticket fair and square, he wouldn’t get to finish the story because of The Rock.
Even Die-Hard WWE Fans are Uncool with Ava Getting Death Threats
Although the angry fans have taken out their anger by pulling Dwayne Johnson‘s personal life and family into the matter as well (which, obviously, has nothing to do with this controversy), other die-hard fans are condemning these actions of whom they refer to as “toxic fans”.
Taking to X, many of them are even expressing how ashamed they get of being wrestling fans just because of people pulling stunts like these. Here’s what they’re saying:
This isn’t even Cody fans or anyone’s fans, these are just toxic fans, taking Cody’s chance being taken away TOO seriously😭 I mean yeh we want Cody to have his match back but don’t take it out on others that don’t even evolve around him, leave Ava and Sami out of it
— KingSympathy👑 (@thesympathyking) February 5, 2024
Like really dude she has nothing to do with that. Like really people smh.
— Antoine Parrish (@themoe85) February 5, 2024
LEAVE THE ROCK FAMILY OUT! This why I’m ashamed to be a wrestling fan.
— Haru Kiba/Cure Taurus (EN Vtuber) 🐮 ♉️ (@kiba_haru) February 5, 2024
This can't be real life 😪 smh 🤦🏿 these iwc "fans" terrible
— strip club kingz (@Maxkorp) February 5, 2024
That is sad and absurd. Everyone doing that needs to be tracked down and prosecuted.
— Kevin Blunt (@HuskerKev24) February 6, 2024
Ava does not deserve being treated this type of way. She's not head of creative in nxt like Shawn Michael's is. She's just a gm of nxt . Fans really get that super angry over how a match is booked and then decide to take it too far with a death threat. It really shows how toxic…
— Ryan Avedisian (@RyanAvedisian1) February 5, 2024
First of all no one should be getting death threats over sports entertainment storylines and Ava has nothing to do with what her dad does so people need to leave her out of all of this. Smh
— Jason Anthony (@MrJasonAnthony) February 6, 2024
I feel bad for Ava. She nothing to do with what is going on with her dad, Cody, or Roman.
— KRISTINA ZURAWSKY (@KRISTINAZ040579) February 5, 2024
Even though Cody Rhodes would no longer be fighting against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, he did say that he would come for The Tribal Chief to get “everything” from him in another scheduled match. Thus, fans need to calm down and let things unfold the way they are unfolding.
Just like how Dwayne Johnson’s match with Roman Reigns finally came to be, Cody Rhodes facing off against the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion doesn’t seem impossible either and may take place sooner than fans expect.
WrestleMania 40 (or WrestleMania XL) will be a two-night event and is scheduled to take place on the 6th and 7th of April, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can stream the event exclusively through Peacock and PPV.
