In the aftermath of last week’s “WWE SmackDown” episode, where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson received a warm welcome from the live audience in Birmingham, a wave of online backlash ensued. Many fans were upset, believing that Johnson’s appearance indicated he was replacing Cody Rhodes as Roman Reigns’ challenger at WrestleMania 40.
This backlash took an unfortunate turn, reaching Johnson’s real-life daughter, Ava, who serves as the “WWE NXT” General Manager. Ava, whose real name is Simone Johnson, revealed that she faced an influx of death threats from angry WWE fans, leading her to deactivate her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Dwayne Johnson addressed the negative response during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” expressing concern for his daughter and highlighting the need for mutual respect within the wrestling community. He emphasized the importance of understanding that, behind the scenes, everyone involved in the industry collaborates and can work together to navigate storylines.
In response to the confusion and fan backlash, Cody Rhodes has clarified his status for WrestleMania 40, confirming that he will indeed challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the premium live event in Philadelphia.
The role Johnson might play in WrestleMania plans remains uncertain. WWE has announced that Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque will address the fallout of the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff media event, including Cody Rhodes’ announcement, on the upcoming episode of “SmackDown.”
The incident highlights the emotional and intense nature of fan reactions in the wrestling community, with social media becoming a platform for both excitement and frustration. The wrestling world awaits further developments as the narrative unfolds on the road to WrestleMania 40.
